Daily Current Affairs, 21st August 2020

1) World Senior Citizen Day: 21 August

•The World Senior Citizen Day is observed globally on 21st August every year. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about issues affecting older people, such as deterioration with age and the abuse of the elderly and support, honour and show appreciation to seniors and to recognize their achievements. The World Senior Citizen’s Day also recognises and acknowledges the contributions of older people to society.

2) International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

•United Nations observes 21st August every year as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The day is observed to pay tribute to the individuals across the globe who have been attacked, injured, traumatized or lost their lives because of terrorist attacks. This year, the 3rd commemoration of the day will focus on the response to the pandemic and cancellation of many memorials and commemorations, it is critical to take the time to remember and honour the victims of terrorism.

•An online high-level event entitled “Not Forgotten: Stories of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism”, will be held with the participation of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, for victims to speak about remembrance on their own terms, reminding the audience that it is not only about bereavement, but also about acknowledging the experience of survivors.

3) MoTA partners MoRD to promote sustainable livelihood in Rural India

•Ministry of Tribal Affairs has signed a joint communication with Ministry of Rural Development to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through the joint communication, both ministries will together promote sustainable livelihood opportunities among tribal women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Ministry of Rural Development will identify and map the tribal women SHG members including their individual livelihood assets while Ministry of Tribal Affairs will offer planning support to SRLM to finalize the State Annual Action Plan and include the same in its Livelihood Annual Action Plan.

•The partnership between the two ministries will support the efforts of each other, such as the initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and objectives of DAY-NRLM deeply complement each other. Hence, they will together improve the economic opportunities available to tribal women by conducting the series of activities to synergize the efforts to fetch tangible results.

4) Harsh Vardhan launches game on COVID-19 “The Corona Fighters”

•Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched a game on COVID-19 titled as “The Corona Fighters”. The game has been launched with a target to influence the players’ actions in the real world, reminding them to take the right precautions and escape infection. So, this game is a new and extremely creative method to teach people the right tools as well as behaviours to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.




•Along with “The Corona Fighters” game, the minister also launched IEC’s two promotional videos urging adherence to key COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviours. Both products will seek to influence children, and through them the elders in the community, and spread the message as well as importance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

5) Francisco Asue reappointed as PM of Equatorial Guinea

•Francisco Pascual Eyegue Obama Asue was reappointed as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for 3rd consecutive term. On 14th August 2020, The Asue government tendered the resignation to President Teodoro Obiang, following the criticism of the president. The government was dissolved to resolve the economic situation. Francisco Asue was first appointed as the Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea on 23rd June 2016. 

•Equatorial Guinea, a central African oil producer, has suffered double economic shock due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in the price of crude, which is the source of three-quarters of the state’s revenue. According to the International Monetary Fund figures, the country’s economy is expected to contract by 5.5% in 2020.

6) Keith Rowley becomes PM of Trinidad and Tobago for 2nd consecutive term

•Keith Rowley sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for a 2nd consecutive 5-year term. He is from the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM).

•As per the preliminary result, PNM won 22 of the 41 electoral seats, while the opposition United National Congress (UNC) led by former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar won 19 seats.

7) Ministry of Skill Development partners with Ministry of Shipping

•Ministry of Skill Development has inked an MoU with Ministry of Shipping to promote skill development in port and maritime sector. The partnership between the two ministries seeks to skill, re-skill and up-skill the manpower for the growing maritime industry as well as development of coastal community.

•The Memorandum of Understanding will offer extensive employment opportunities to the youth of coastal areas. It will also strengthen the commitment of Coastal Community Development under Sagar Mala programme launched by the Ministry of Shipping. It will work towards nurturing the skilled manpower for the development of ports as well as maritime sector of India and globally.

8) Atal Innovation Mission signs SoI with Business Sweden

•Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and Business Sweden on behalf of India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre has signed a virtual Statement of Intent (SoI) to expand the culture of innovation in the country. The partnership aims to encourage the disruptive potential of Indian entrepreneurs, and to give impetus to the vibrant start-up ecosystem across the country.

•Through this partnership, various initiatives of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) like Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC), Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL), Atal New India Challenge (ANIC), Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), and Atal Research & Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE), will receive support with the help of programs, awareness campaigns, various activities and events which will improve the overall innovation grid of both the countries. India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre is an association between AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur and Business Sweden. It seeks to create an ecosystem of open innovation in both the countries.