Current Affairs 08 july 2020

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Current Affairs 08 july 2020

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1. Andhra Pradesh celebrates July 8 as Rythu Dinotsavam(Farmer’s Day)
  • The birth anniversary of Former and the 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy is celebrated as Rythu Dinotsavam meaning Farmer’s Day.
  • The day was first celebrated in 2019 when the current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy issued a government order designating the day as Farmer’s Day in Andhra Pradesh.
Foot Notes:
About Andhra Pradesh:
Capitals: Amaravati, Hyderabad
Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
 
2. United States submits notice to U.N Secretary-General to withdraw from WHO by 6th July 2021
  • The formal notification to the United States Congress was provided on 7th July 2020 by President Donald Trump-led Administration on the decision of ending the United States relations with the World Health Organization (WHO: Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for public health globally).
  • As per the notification, the United States Government has submitted its notice to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to withdraw from the WHO by the 6th of July 2021.
  • The withdrawal of membership from the WHO will be a year long process as several factors are likely to come up in between in which the Donald Trump-led administration won’t have control. One such factor is the Presidential Elections in November 2020, if Trump loses and Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden is elected as the President of United States then United States will remain as a member of the WHO as Joe Biden has publically announced that he would have the United States rejoin WHO if elected as the President.
About US:
Capital: Washington, D.C.
President: Donald Trump
About WHO:
Founded: 07 Apr 1948
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founder: Brock Chisholm
 
3. Indian Coast Guard & Indonesia Coast Guard sign MoU to boost maritime relations
  • In order to bolster the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indonesian Coast Guard  on ‘Maritime Safety and Security’.
  • The MoU was signed through video conferencing amid the global travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was inked by ICG Director General (DG) Krishnaswamy Natarajan and Head of Indonesian Coast Guard Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia in the presence of Ambassador of India to Indonesia Pradeep Kumar Rawat, and Mochammad Rizki Safary, Minister Counsellor of Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, India and officials from Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of External affairs (MEA).
Foot Notes:
About Indonesia:
Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
President: Joko Widodo
 
4. Sijo Kuruvilla George Appointed to Centre’s Committee on Science and Tech Policy
  • Sijo Kuruvilla George, the CEO of startup village and founder of Re-think Foundation has been selected as a member of Central Government’s Expert Committee on Science and Technology Policy led by Harkesh Mittal (also heads the department of Science and Technology).
  • Sijo Kuruvilla holds International recognitions like the US State Department’s International Visitors Leadership program. He is in the advisory board of some of the Countries top start-up companies.
  • The Start-up village is India’s First Public Private Partnership Technology Business Incubator. 
Foot Notes:
About Ministry of Science and Technology:
Union Minister: Dr Harsh Vardhan 
 
5. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for Coronavirus
  • Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19 on July 7 2020. Bolsonaro had earlier played down the severity of the virus calling it a little flu. He had taken the test on July 6 after developing the symptoms. 
  • Bolsonaro took the test, his fourth after getting a high fever. Currently, he is in good health despite running a fever. He had begun feeling unwell on July 5. 
  • The Brazilian President had been taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug, the effectiveness of which is yet unknown against COVID-19.
Foot Notes:
About Brazil:
Capital: Brasília
President: Jair Bolsonaro
Currency: Brazilian Real
6. Dwayne Johnson named as Instagram's highest-paid celebrity
  • Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson has been named Instagram's highest-paid celebrity, the title which was earlier held by Kylie Jenner and Selena Gomez.
  • The 48-year-old star charges approximately USD 1,015,000 (Rs 7,59,93,050) for a sponsored post.
  • According to a BBC report, Kylie Jenner, who earlier held the position, used to charge USD 1.2 million (Rs 8,98,44,000) for a sponsored post last year.
  • As of now, while Kylie has 184 million followers, and Johnson has 189 million followers.
  • Before this, Dwayne Johnson was also named Hollywood's highest-paid actor of 2019 by Forbes.
7. Foreign and Indian coaches will now have a four-year contract
  • Foreign and Indian coaches for training Indian Athletes will now have a four-year contract in alignment with the Olympic cycle. 
  • Speaking about the decision, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said that by ensuring the right coaching for the country's elite athletes, India’s chances in all major international tournaments, including the Olympics will be improved.
  • The contract of all foreign coaches have been extended till 30th September of next year, in light of Tokyo Olympics-2020 being postponed till next year.
8. Karur Vysya Bank partners with Star Health Insurance to provide health insuarance to its customers
  • The Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has entered into a tie-up with Star Health and Allied Insurance to provide health insurance products to its customers.
  • By the agreement, all the health insurance products of Star Health & Allied Insurance will be made available through all 780 branches of the Tamil Nadu-based bank.
  • This agreement helps the bank to provide cost-effective insurance products and quick settlement of claims for its customers.
Foot Notes:
About Karur Vysya Bank:
Headquarters: Karur, India
CEO: Seshadri P R
Founders: M. A. Venkatarama Chettiar, Athi Krishna Chettiar
 
9. Himalayan Golden Birdwing butterfly named as India’s largest butterfly
  • A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest, a record an unknown specimen had held for 88 years.
  • With a wingspan of 194 mm, the female of the species is marginally larger than the Southern Birdwing (190 mm) that Brigadier William Harry Evans, a British military officer, had recorded in 1932. 
  • But the male Golden Birdwing (Troidesaeacus) is much smaller at 106 mm.
  • The female Golden Birdwing with 194 mm wingspan was recorded at Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district’s Didihat town, while the male Golden Birdwing with 106 mm wingspan was recorded at the Wankhar Butterfly Museum (in Shillong).
10. Indian Railways to transform itself as 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030
  • Indian Railways is taking decisive steps to transform itself as a 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030. 
  • It is endeavouring to be self reliant for its energy needs by utilising its vacant land for renewable energy projects.
  • Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete 'Green mode of transformation.
  • The Railways Ministry has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale.
Foot Notes:
About Indian Railways:
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 16 April 1853
Railway Minister: Piyush Goyal
 
 
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