Uttar Pradesh becomes first state to geotag community kitchens

1.UN Chinese Language Day: 20 April

The UN Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20.This event is celebrated every year by UNESCO.

It was first observed in 2010 by the organisation to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official working languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) through the organisation.

The first UN Chinese Language Day was held on November 12, 2010. In 2011, the date

was moved to April 20.

2.World liver day: 19 April

World liver day is observed on every 19 April, to spread awareness about liver related disease.The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain.

It is a key player in your body’s digestive system.

It is also responsible for detoxification of drugs, alcohol and control of infections.

3.Facebook launches third party fact checking in Bangladesh

Facebook announced the launch of its third party fact checking system in Bangladesh to discourage the spread of fake news in the country.Facebook in partnership with Boom Fact check will review and rate the stories.

It will debunk misinformation on topics from health and medicine to current affairs so that Facebook users in Bangladesh are able to identify factual information and news online.

When third party fact-Checkers rate a post as false or fake, it will appear less or at the bottom of the news feed. This will reduce the spread of the post.

Boom is an Indian fact checking website which is available in English, Hindi and Bengali.

Facebook started its fact-checking programme in 2016 and now it covers 60 partners in 50 languages.

4.ARI researchers develop bug sniffer for efficient detection of pathogens

Researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have developed a sensitive and low-cost sensor to rapidly detect bacteria. The device has been called as ‘bug sniffer,’.

The portable device can detect as low as ten bacterial cells from a sample size of one milliliter in just 30 minutes.

The bug sniffer is affordable, and the raw materials required for making it are readily available.

5.Home Ministry issues guidelines for movement of stranded migrant labourers for their work engagement within States and Uts

The Home Ministry issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the movement of stranded migrant labourers for their engagement in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MNREGA works within States and Union Territories where they are currently located.Under it, they have been allowed to go to places of work within a state with certain conditions.

The SOP said, in the event that a group of migrants wish to return to their places of work within the state where they are presently located, they will be screened and those who are asymptomatic will be transported to their respective places of work.

During the journey by bus, it will be ensured that safe social-distancing norms are followed and the buses are sanitized as per guidelines of the health authorities.

6.IIA scientists connect Lithium abundance in interstellar space to new Lithium rich red giants

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have discovered hundreds of Li-rich giant stars indicating that Li is being produced in the stars and accounts for its abundance in the interstellar medium.They have also associated such Li enhancement with central He-burning stars, also known as red clump giants, thereby opening up new vistas in the evolution of the red giant stars.

Lithium (Li), is one of the three primordial elements, apart from Hydrogen and Helium (He), produced in the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN).

However, the present measurement of Li in the interstellar medium and very young stars is about 4 times more than the primordial value.

7.Telangana extends lockdown period till May 7

The Telangana government has decided to extend lock down till 7th of May.The state cabinet also decided not to give any exemption to any sector as suggested by the Central Government.

Night curfew and all other restrictions under implementation in the state will continue till 7th of May.

CM also asked air travellers not to come to Telangana till 7th May as lock down will continue.

8.Uttar Pradesh becomes first state to geotag community kitchens

Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to geotag its 7,368 community kitchens and community shelters across 75 districts which produce 12 lakh food packets a day.The state government has also tied up with Google to ‘Geo-map’ the locations of all these establishments on the Google Maps app for ease of beneficiaries.

Out of these 7,368 community kitchens, 668 are being run by NGOs and religious institutions.

More than two crore food packets have been distributed in Uttar Pradesh since March 25.

9.Mohun Bagan declared I-League champions as season gets called off

Mohun Bagan were officially crowned as the winners after the remaining 28 matches of the I-League were cancelled as coronavirus continues to rage.The committee recommended that the 2019-20 season be deemed to be concluded.

Mohun Bagan declared as the I-League champion for the 2019-20 season as they stand atop current standings in the Hero I-League until the point of suspension.

10.Bhaichung Bhutia among 50 footballers to take part in FIFA’s initiative to applaud ‘humanity’s heroes’

Former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia was among the 50 footballers to take part in the FIFA’s initiative to pay tribute to ‘humanity’s heroes’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.FIFA expressed gratitude towards all the healthcare workers and other professionals who are giving their all to ensure society continues to function in the face of the coronavirus.

FIFA shared a video on their official Twitter handle where footballers from present and past came been seen applauding the frontline workers.

11.Tom and Jerry director Gene Deitch dies

Gene Deitch, an American Oscar-winning illustrator, animator, film director and producer has died.Deitch’s movie Munro won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960.

Earlier, he had created the Tom Terrific series, while Sidney’s Family Tree, which he co-produced, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1958.

Working from behind the Iron Curtain, he directed 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry and also some of the Popeye the Sailor series.

12.Veteran Kolkata based sports journalist Samir Goswami passes away

Veteran journalist Samir Goswami, a much-liked figure in Kolkata sports journalism fraternity passed away.Goswami worked for more than two decades in the popular Bengali newspaper ‘Bartaman’.

Goswami was one of the few journalists, who would devotedly cover first division cricket league games and unfailingly updated the scores of hockey league matches as well results of lower division (second to fifth division) football leagues.

He also diligently covered senior and junior level swimming competitions as well as table tennis events.