26th August 2020 Current affairs

1. Africa has been declared free of polio by the World Health Organisation in a significant public health milestone. WHO’s Africa Regional Certification Commission-certified 47 nations of Africa to be free of wild polio on August 25, 2020.

2. WHO has declared that two of the three strains of wild poliovirus have been eradicated worldwide. Africa was declared free from the last strain of the wild poliovirus. The disease is only prevalent in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan now.

3. The Government has extended the deadline to submit bids for Air India by two months till October 30, 2020 due to disrupted global economic activity in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. 

4. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 25, 2020 announced special open market operations (OMO) for an amount worth Rs 20,000 in two equal tranches. 

5. Mother Teresa’s 110th birth anniversary was observed across the world on August 26, 2020. Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 to a family of ethnic Albanians in Skopje. Mother Teresa was honoured with several peace awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize in 1962 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

6. Union Minister of Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju announced on August 25, 2020 that India is planning to host BRICS Games 2021 during the same time and at the same venues as of Khelo India Games 2021. 

7. England’s James Anderson has created history by becoming the first-ever fast bowler to take 600 wickets in Test cricket. The 38-year-old achieved the feat during England’s third test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground in Southampton on August 25, 2020.

8. Muttiah Muralitharan with 800 wickets is the highest wicket-taker in Test Cricket. He is followed by Shane Warne who has taken 708 wickets, Anil Kumble who has taken 619 wickets and James Anderson who has taken 600 Test wickets.