Current Affairs Today – Current Affairs 2020- 2021

Which country has recently put up EAGLE Act to remove cap on employment-based immigrant visa’s?
US House of Representatives has reintroduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate per country cap on employment-based green card. This legislation is called as “EAGLE Act” and was introduced to benefit Indian IT professionals who are waiting over decades for green card. EAGLE Act is called as “Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment Act”.

China has recently accused which brand(s) of selling products hazardous for children?

Amid ongoing calls across China to boycott Western fashion retailers, the Chinese government is now accusing
popular brands like Nike, H&M, and Zara of selling substandard products that are potentially hazardous for
children.
 In a notice published on its website, China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) listed over 80 batches of
children’s items imported over the last one year that were flagged for not meeting the country’s quality and safety
standards.

Recently Union Cabinet has approved the Model Tenancy Act (MTA) to streamline the process of renting a property in India. Its draft was released in which year?

After releasing the draft in 2019, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Model Tenancy Act (MTA) to streamline the process of renting a property in India and aid the rent economy in the estate sector. States will set up a grievance redressal mechanism comprising of Rent Authority, Rent Court, and Rent Tribunal to provide fast-track resolution of disputes. Disposal of a complaint/appeal by the Rent Court and the
Rent Tribunal will be mandatory within 60 days.

The Supreme Court recently quashed the sedition case registered against which journalist?

The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the sedition case against senior journalist Vinod Dua. Dua was booked for sedition in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh for some comments on Modi government in his YouTube channel. The court acquitted Dua by referring to the 1962 Kedarnath vs State of Bihar case and said that every journalist would be protected as per Kedar Nath Singh’s decision. In 1962, the Supreme Court gave an important ruling in Kedarnath vs State of Bihar. The court had said that criticizing the government or commenting on the administration does not constitute a case
of sedition.

According to recent data, the urban joblessness rate has increased by what percentage?
During May 2021, 1.5 crore people lost their jobs. At the same time, in the last week of May, the urban unemployment rate rose to 18 percent. This is the highest level in the last one year. This has come out from the data of the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). CMIE’s Consumer Pyramid Household Survey shows that daily wage workers were most affected during April and May. The rural unemployment rate stood at 9.6 percent in the last week of May.

Which fish has recently been put out of IUCN Red List of Endangered Species?

According to Tata Power, the Blue-finned Mahseer has been accorded the status of “least concern”, which was
earlier included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Rest List of Endangered
Species. was included.
These fishes are found across Vietnam in north and China in south, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Asia, Indian Peninsula, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Union government has extended validity period of Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualifying certificate from 7 years to lifetime with retrospective effect from which year?

Union government has extended validity period of Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualifying certificate from 7 years to lifetime with retrospective effect from 2011.
 According to Education Minister, this is a positive step which will increase employment opportunities for candidates who seeks to make a career in teaching field.

Which IIT has recently developed nano-fibre based oral tablets of Amphotericin B?

-Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, have developed an oral solution to treat Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) and other fungus and are ready to transfer the technology to take it forward.
– This medicine is reportedly cheaper, higher AmB absorption and less Nephrotoxicity.
– AmB was earlier available in injectable form only

Which bank has decided to turn carbon neutral by 2031-32?

-HDFC Bank has planned to become carbon neutral by 2031-32. Bank is now looking for reducing its emissions,
energy, and water consumption.
-HDFC will continue to incorporate and scale up use of renewable energy in its operations. Under its
environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategy, bank will also offer loans for green products
such as electric vehicles at lower interest rates.

When is World Bicycle Day observed every year?

United Nations General Assembly had declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day. UN resolution recognizes the “uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries.”. Campaign to promote
UN resolution for World Bicycle Day was led by professor Leszek Siblisk, a social scientist in the United States. The campaign is supported by 56 countries.