1) Women’s Equality Day 2020
•The 100th anniversary of the Women’s Equality Day is being observed in the United States on August 26, to commemorate American women getting the constitutional right to vote. Women’s Equality Day is now often observed across the world to encourage and spread awareness about women’s empowerment.
2) World Water Week 2020: 24-28 August
•The World Water Week 2020 is observed as the World Water Week at Home (WWWeek at Home) from 24th August to 28th August 2020. The theme for World Water Week 2020 at Home is ‘Water and Climate change: Accelerating Action’.
•The World Water Week is an annual global event organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) since 1991 to address the planet’s water issues and related concerns of international development. The World Water Week 2020 has been organised from 24-28 August in virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3) NITI Aayog to launch NDC-TIA India Component
•The India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)–Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA) will be launched by the NITI Aayog. It will aim to set up a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform in order to decarbonize transport in India. NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner for the India Component of NDC-TIA.
•The NDC-TIA India Component will offer inputs about the transport challenges of India and how they relate to CO2 reduction ambitions. It will also offer technical support on GHG emission reduction measures. NDC-TIA is a joint programme supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The programme having a duration of 4 years, aims to encourage a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India, Vietnam, and China.
4) NHAI develops a “Vendor Performance Evaluation System”
•National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a “Vendor Performance Evaluation System” to create a transparent and comprehensive ‘Performance Rating’ System for its Consultants, Contractors and Concessionaires. NHAI has also commenced the portal based objective assessment of vendors to track the performance of the vendors for various NHAI projects.
•The vendors are required to conduct a self-assessment on the portal. They are required to upload the documents pertaining to the project activities being executed by them. NHAI will evaluate this data and generate ratings for the Vendors and will be shared with them. Those vendors who were unable to upload the requisite documents on the portal will not be permitted to participate in the bids of NHAI.
5) Vinay Tonse becomes new MD and CEO of SBI Mutual Fund
•Vinay Tonse has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBI Mutual Fund (MF). He will replace Ashwani Bhatia, who has been now appointed as the managing director (MD) of State Bank of India.
•Tonse joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1988 and has worked across different locations in India and abroad. Over his tenure of 32 years with the State Bank of India, he has traversed through various functions and assignments possessing rich experience in several facets of commercial banking such as corporate credit, treasury, retail and international banking.
6) A book title ‘Cricket Drona’ on renowned coach Vasoo Paranjape
•A book title ‘Cricket Drona’ on renowned coach Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe or Vasoo Paranjape will be released on September 2, 2020. The book is written by Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe’s son and current national selector Jatin Paranjpe along with Cricket Journalist Anand Vasu and published by Penguin.
7) ISRO signs MoU with VSSUT to set up Incubation Centre
•Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to set up the first of its kind innovation cum incubation centre, VSSUT Space Innovation Centre (VSSSIC) to promote space research. ISRO and VSSUT will collaborate to develop high-end simulation tools, miniature test facilities like Static test facility and solid propulsion research lab and establishment of testing facilities for the scaled-down model.
8) CCI approves acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A.
•The acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A., for and on behalf of Lightstone Global Fund (LGT) of certain equity stakes has been approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002, the Lightstone Fund S.A. will acquire certain equity stakes in 91Streets Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (91Streets), Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Ascent), API Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (API), Aahaan Commercials Pvt. Ltd. (Aahaan) and Lokprakash Vidhya Pvt. Ltd. (Lokprakash).
9) James Anderson becomes 1st fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets
•England’s James Anderson became the first-ever fast bowler to take 600 wickets in a Test Match Cricket. He achieved this feat against Pakistan when he dismissed Azhar Ali. Overall he is the 4th bowler to take 600 test wickets after 3 spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble.
•Anderson, who made his Test debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe, had become the highest wicket-taker among seamers in 2018 when he dismissed Mohammed Shami against India at The Oval to go past Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets.
