Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 and 28 September 2020

1. World Tourism Day: 27 September

• World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on 27 September to create awareness among the global community of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value. 
• Although tourism generates 10% of world jobs, its role in job creation is often undervalued.
• UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expects tourism to grow at an average of 3% annually until 2030. 
• UNWTO has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development.
• Theme 2020: “Tourism and Rural Development”
• Related SDGs:
  • SDG 8: Inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment
  • SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production

(Source: UNWTO)

2. International Day for Universal Access to Information: 28 September

• On 17 November 2015, a resolution was adopted by UNESCO declaring 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. 
• On 15 October 2019, UN General Assembly adopted 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to information.
• SDG 16.10- Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
• Theme 2020: “Access to information: Saving lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!”

3. Bhagat Singh birth anniversary: 28 September

• Bhagat Singh was a socialist revolutionary and Indian freedom fighter.
• In March 1926, Naujawan Bharat Sabha was founded by him. Along with other leaders, he also founded the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He also served as secretary of the Kirti Kisan Party
• In December 1928, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru confused John Saunders with James Scott and fired on him to take revenge on the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
• In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs inside Central Legislative Assembly.
• Along with Sukhdev and Shivaram Rajguru, he was hanged on 23 March 1931.

4. World Rabies Day: 28 September

• World Rabies Day is celebrated to raise awareness about Rabies prevention and highlight the progress in defeating this disease. 
• It also marks the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine.
• Rabies is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans.
• Theme: “End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate”

(Source: RabiesAlliance)

5. Virtual Bilateral Summit between PM Modi and Denmark’s PM.

• Virtual Bilateral Summit will be held between PM Modi and Denmark’s PM Mette Frederiksen.
• During the summit, India and Denmark will sign an MoU in the field of intellectual property cooperation.
• Denmark will also join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the summit.
• During 2016-2019, bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown by more than 30 %.
• Several Danish companies have invested in India and Indian companies have also invested in Denmark.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) was established in 2015 in collaboration with India and France. Currently, it has 67 member countries.
• Denmark:
  • Denmark is a Scandinavian country, consisting of the Jutland Peninsula and several islands.
  • It is connected to Sweden via the Oresund Bridge.
  • Its capital is Copenhagen and the currency is the Danish krone.

6. Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passes away.

• Jaswant Singh, who had earlier served as Union Minister of Defence, Finance and External Affairs, passed away recently.
• He has also served as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. He was elected to Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and held the post of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. He has also served in the Indian Army.
• Some books written by him are-
  • India at risk: mistakes, misconceptions and misadventures of security policy
  • Jinnah: India, partition, independence
  • In service of emergent India: a call to honor  
  • Defending India

7. Veera Vasantha Rayar Mandapam of Meenakshi temple being renovated.

• Veera Vasantha Rayar Mandapam (hall) of Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is being renovated.
• As part of the renovation, sixteen pillars of Mandapam (hall) are being rebuilt using special black rocks from Kalarampalli hills, near Rasipurm.
• Veera Vasantha Rayar Mandapam (hall) of Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple is four-century old. Its internal parts were destroyed by a fire in February 2018.
• Meenakshi temple is also known as Meenakshi Amman Temple or Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple. It is built in Dravidian Style of Temple Architecture. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi (a form of Goddess Parvati) and Sundareshwar (a form of Shiva).

(Source: Livemint)

8. Final grand slam of 2020, ‘French Open’ started in Paris.

• The final grand slam of 2020, ‘French Open’ has been started at Stade Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France.
• Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won over Danka Kovinić of Montenegro in the opening match in Women’s Singles.
• In Men’s Singles, Alexander Zverev will compete with Dennis Novak and Stanislas Wawrinka will clash with Andy Murray.
• The tournament will continue till 11^th October. French Open 2020 is the 124^th edition of the French Open. Earlier, it was scheduled in May.
• Grand Slam tournaments: There are four Grand Slam tournaments. They are US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

(Source: PIB)

9. CSIR launches national healthcare supply chain portal.

• CSIR has launched a national healthcare supply chain portal, www.aarogyapath.in, and an app called ‘Kishan Sabha’ on its 79^th Foundation Day.
• The portal has been launched to provide information on the requirements of healthcare essentials.
• Kishan Sabha will connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
  • CSIR is India’s largest research and development organization and an autonomous body. The Prime Minister is the president of CSIR.
  • Its current Director-General is Shekhar C Mande.
  • It was established on September 26, 1942.   

10. Five amphibians added to the list of fauna of Madhya Pradesh.

• Researchers from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, have carried out a study on amphibians in Panna Tiger Reserve and added five amphibians to the list of the fauna of MP.
• The researchers have also recorded a call library of eleven species. They also confirmed cryptic species through DNA.
• Cryptic species appear the same. But, they have different DNA and are different genetically.
• They recorded advertisement calls of western burrowing frogs for the first time.
• The names of newly added amphibians are given below:
  • Dwarf toad (found in peninsular India)
  • Odisha paddy frog (found in eastern India)
  • Wrinkled cricket frog (earlier observed in Karnataka)
  • Pierre’s cricket frog (seen in Nepal, Bhutan and Assam)
  • Western burrowing frog (earlier seen in western India)

(Source: The Hindu)