Current Affairs 08 September 2020

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Current Affairs 08 September 2020

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1. International Literacy Day: 08 September
  • Countries across the world celebrate International Literacy Day on 08 September. International Literacy Day-2020 will focus on Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond with a focus on the role of educators and changing pedagogies.
  • This day was declared International Literacy Day by UNESCO on 26th October 1966 at the 14th Session of UNESCO's General Conference.
  • It was celebrated for the first time in 1967 and its main aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 773 million adults worldwide lacking basic literacy skills.
  • According to the UNESCO’s ‘Global Monitoring Report on Education for All’ (2006), South Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate, at 58.6 percent and the causes for this illiteracy range from severe poverty and the prejudice against women.
Foot Notes:
About UNESCO:
Headquarters: Paris, France
Head: Audrey Azoulay
Founded: 16 November 1945
Director-General: Audrey Azoulay

2. India In talks to Join COVAX Global vaccine allocation plan: WHO
  • The World Health Organisation is in talks with India about joining the "COVAX" global vaccine allocation plan, a senior WHO adviser. "India is certainly eligible, like all countries in the world, to be part of the COVAX facility and discussions are ongoing in that regard," Bruce Aylward told a briefing in Geneva, news agency Reuters reported.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the GAVI vaccine alliance are leading the COVAX facility, aimed at helping buy and distribute vaccination shots against the novel coronavirus fairly around the world.
Foot Notes:
Health Minister:  Dr. Harsh Vardhan
 
About WHO:
Director-General: Tedros Adhanom
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founded: 7 April 1948

3. Tamil Nadu govt releases policy for electronics & hardware manufacturing
  • The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy released the state’s Electronic Hardware Manufacturing Policy-2020.A target is fixed in the new policy for the manufacturing of electronic goods worth 100-billion US Dollars by the year 2025.
  • It envisages making the state contribute 25 percent of the country's total electronic hardware export.It aims at attracting semiconductor fabrication units to the state.
  • Providing a 30-percent capital subsidy, 50 percent grant for taking land on lease, 5-percent interest grant for term loans and a monthly financial aid for the first-time trainees in the sector for six months at the rate of Rs. 4,000 for men and Rs. 6,000 for women are some of the features in the new policy. Mobile phones, LED’s, fabless chips, printed circuit boards, solar photovoltaic cells and medical and automobile electronics are some of the areas that are being given focus in the new policy.
Foot Notes:
About Tamil Nadu:
Capital: Chennai
Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami

4. WhatsApp, Cyber Peace Foundation partner to drive cyber safety awareness
  • WhatsApp announced a strategic partnership with CyberPeace Foundation with the aim to create awareness on cyber safety among students.This is an effort to build on their earlier partnership with WhatsApp under the “e-Raksha” program that reached thousands of students.
  • With the collaboration, the platforms aim to reach nearly 15,000 students across five states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra by the end of 2020.
  • In the first phase 15,000 students will be covered in five regions by the end of 2020.
  • The need for this awareness campaign was felt as students spend more time online and so they become more vulnerable to cyber threats such as cyberbullying, stumbling across child abuse material, cybercriminals disrupting online classes, the spread of misinformation, privacy issues etc.
5. Pierre Gasly wins F1 Italian Grand Prix 2020
  • Pierre Gasly (Scuderia Alpha Tauri, France) has won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix 2020 held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy. This is his first Grand Prix win.
  • Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren, Spain) came second followed by Lance Stroll (Racing Point, Canada) in third place.
  • Lewis Hamilton ended in 7th place after he earned a 10-second stop and go penalty.
 
6. At 96.2%, Kerala tops India’s literacy rate chart again, Andhra ranks last at 66.4%
  • With 96.2 percent literacy, Kerala has once again emerged as the most literate state in the country, while Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 percent, showed a report based on National Statistical Office (NSO) survey. The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of the 75th round of National Sample Survey – from July 2017 to June 2018’ provides for state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above.
  • According to the study, after Kerala, Delhi has the best literacy rate at 88.7 percent, followed by Uttarakhand's 87.6 percent, Himachal Pradesh’s 86.6 percent, and Assam’s at 85.9 percent.
  • On the other hand, Rajasthan is the second-worst performer with a literacy rate at 69.7 percent, followed by Bihar at 70.9 percent, Telangana at 72.8 percent, Uttar Pradesh at 73 percent, and Madhya Pradesh at 73.7 percent.The study has pegged the overall literacy rate in the country at about 77.7 percent.
Foot Notes:
About Kerala:
Capital:‎ Thiruvananthapuram
Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

7. Vice President Releases ‘The State of Young Child in India’ report
 
  • The Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu released ‘The State of Young Child in India’ report, a comprehensive account of the challenges related to early child development in India.The report has been prepared by Mobile Creches a policy advocacy organisation which works with the underprivileged children across India.
  • According to the report, from 159 million children aged below 6 years in India, 21 per cent are undernourished, 36 per cent are underweight and 38 per cent do not receive full immunization.
  • Based on ranking and values on the Young Child Outcome Index (YCOI), the report named Kerala, Goa, Tripura and Tamil Nadu to be among the top performers, while eight states-- Assam, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-- with scores below the national average lagged behind.
8. RBI’s loan recast plan ready, relief for 26 sectors; banks to follow these rules before restructuring
  • The Reserve Bank specified five financial ratios and sector-specific thresholds for resolution of COVID-19-related stressed assets in 26 sectors, including auto components, aviation and tourism.
  • The circular issued by the Reserve Bank for resolution of the stressed assets is based on the recommendations of the K.V. Kamath Committee, which submitted its report on 4th of September.
  • The 26 sectors specified by the RBI include automobiles, power, tourism, cement, chemicals, gems and jewellery, logistics, mining, manufacturing, real estate, and shipping among others.
Foot Notes:
About RBI:
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Bank rate: 4.00%
Interest on reserves: 3.35% 
Headquarters: Mumbai
 
9. Typhoon Haishen wreaks havoc in South Korea
  • A powerful typhoon damaged buildings, flooded roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes in South Korea after battering islands in southern Japan and injuring dozens of people.
  • The Korea Meteorological Administration said typhoon Haishen was passing waters off the eastern coastal city of Sokcho.
  • Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least 38 people were injured, five of them seriously, after Haishen lashed southwestern Japan over the weekend with strong winds and rain.
Foot Notes:
About South Korea:
Capital: Seoul
President: Moon Jae-in
Currency: South Korean won
Prime Minister: Chung Sye -kyun
 
10. Father of India's Radio Astronomy Govind Swarup passes away
  • Father of India's Radio Astronomy, Dr.Govind Swarup passed away in Pune.Dr. Swarup is known not only for his many important research contributions in several areas of astronomy and astrophysics, but also for his outstanding achievements in building ingenious, innovative and powerful observational facilities for front-line research in radio astronomy.
  • The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) was established at Narayangaon near Pune was established under Dr.Swarup's able guidance .He was awarded Padmashree, Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award, H. K. Firodia award and many international awards.
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