Focus Merit

Category: All Current Affairs

8 May celebrated as World Thalassemia Day 2020

May 8, 2020
World Thalassemia Day
  • To respect patients suffering from this disease, World Thalassemia Day is observed on 8 May.
  • Theme 2020: ‘The dawning of a new era for thalassemia: Time for a global force to make novel therapies available and affordable to patients’.

8th May observed as World Red Cross Day

May 8, 2020
World Red Cross Day
  • World Red Cross Day, also known as Red Crescent Day, is observed on 8th May. It is an annual celebration of their principles. The day is celebrated by the Red Cross society across all the countries.

UNEP continues actress Dia Mirza term as goodwill ambassador till 2022

May 8, 2020
UNEP continues actress Dia Mirza term as goodwill ambassador till 2022
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on 7th May continued environmentalist and actor-producer Dia Mirza’s term as its National Goodwill Ambassador for another two years till the end of 2022.

Moody’s pins FY21 GDP growth at 0%

May 8, 2020
GDP
  • Moody’s Investors Service on 8th May displayed India’s growth at 0 percent for the current fiscal and said the negative outlook on the sovereign rating displays rising risks that GDP growth will remain significantly lower than in the past.

Tripura govt releases online scholarship portal

May 8, 2020
Tripura govt releases online scholarship portal
  • Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on 6th May released an online Scholarship portal.
  • The portal scholarships.gov.in was started under ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’ at the state secretariat.

MP to be the first state in the country to give mid-day meal ration

May 8, 2020
MP to be the first state in the country to give mid-day meal ration
  • Madhya Pradesh comes up as the first state in the country to provide mid-day meal ration.
  • Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Manoj Shrivastava informed that this information has been given in the review meeting conducted by the Central Government.

African swine fever found in India; 2,900 pigs die in Assam

May 8, 2020
African swine fever found in India
  • Since February, more than 2,900 pigs have died in Assam because of African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF does not affect humans but can be fatal for pigs.

Union Health & Family Welfare Minister releases “AYUSH Sanjivani” App

May 7, 2020
AYUSH Sanjivani
  • Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has released the mobile application ‘AYUSH Sanjivani’ App and two AYUSH based studies related to COVID-19 situation.
  • The app was prepared by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).

World Athletics Day 2020 celebrated globally on 7 May

May 7, 2020
World Athletics Day
  • The World Athletics Day-2020 is celebrated on the 7 May. The date is subject to adjustment, the date of World Athletics Day is decided by the International Amateur Athletic Federation(IAAF), however, the month stays the same as May.
  • The aim of World Athletics Day is to encourage the participation of youths in athletics.

IIT Alumni council starts “COVID-19 test bus”

May 7, 2020
COVID-19 test bus
  • The Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Alumni Council has started a “COVID-19 test bus” in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • The COVID-19 Testing bus will lessen 80% of the testing cost without compromising on the testing capacity.