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 INDIAN AFFAIRS
Overview of 4 day visit of China’s Defence Minister Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe in New Delhi from August 21-24, 2018.
i. On August 21, 2018, the Defence Minister of China Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe visited New Delhi for an official visit for 4 days till August 24, 2018.
ii. This visit comes on the backdrop of the Wuhan informal summit between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2018.
iii. PM Modi met Chinese Defence minister to deepen cooperation and to build trust
iv. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe held extensive talks on military cooperation and exchanges………………………………………………..Click here to Read more
Bhopal and Kolkata topped in CSE rankings of ‘Urban Commute’ on clean transportation
On August 26, 2018, the New Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released its analysis – titled The Urban Commute in Kolkata on pollution in urban commute.
Objective:
To understand the way people travel how it contributes to air pollution and energy consumption.
Highlights of the analysis:
i.It is a study analyzed by CSE that ranks the 14 cities on the basis of emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants in urban commute.
ii.The 14 cities studied include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad (henceforth called megacities); and Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi, Bhopal, Vijayawada and Chandigarh (grouped as metropolitan cities).
iii.The Rankings were of 2 categories:
Overall emissions and energy consumption and
Per-travel trip emissions and energy consumption.
iv.In the Overall emissions and energy consumption category: Bhopal topped and Delhi ranked last (14th).
v.In the Per-travel trip emissions and energy consumption category: Kolkata topped and Hyderabad ranked last (14th).
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE):
Headquarters: New Delhi.
Executive Director-research and advocacy: Anumita Roychowdhury
Tamil Nadu CM K.Palanisamy launches app, website on plastic pollution free Tamilnadu
On 23rd August 2018, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palanisamy launched an app and a website on plastic pollution free Tamilnadu.
i. He inaugurated a campaign to highlight the impact of plastic pollution. He appointed actor Vivek as the brand ambassador of the project.
ii. Tamil Nadu Government has announced plastic ban with effect from 1st January 2019.
TamilNadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami lays foundation stone for Special Investment Region (SIR) at Krishnagiri
On 25th August 2018, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for developing a Special Investment Region (SIR) in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu.
Special Investment Region (SIR) at Krishnagiri:
i. The Special Investment Region (SIR) is developed as part of Tamil Nadu’s efforts to enhance economic growth in northern parts of the state.
ii. The SIR will be developed by GMR Infrastructures Ltd and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO).
iii. The GMR Krishnagiri SIR will be developed on an area of 2,100 acres in Denkanikottai and Shoolagiri taluks of Krishnagiri.
iv. It will have world-class roads, drainage systems, water and sewage treatment plants, power and internet supply to attract investments.
v. The SIR is estimated to cost Rs 2,420 crore. It will be completed in 7-8 years. It will attract investments of nearly Rs 5,000 crore. It will generate jobs to nearly 60,000 persons.
About Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO):
♦ Chairman and Managing Director – Ramesh Chand Meena
♦ Ownership – Tamil Nadu Government
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Reliance Power unit wins dispute and gets $56 million international arbitration award
On August 26, 2018, Reliance Power Netherlands BV, a wholly owned subsidy of Reliance Power won an international arbitration award of $56 million (Rs 390 crore) from the Arbitration Tribunal regarding a dispute.
i. This sum of money will be paid to Reliance Power Netherlands BV by Prestige Capital Holdings (a Seychelles-based company) and Kokos Jiang.
ii. This decision was taken by the Arbitration Tribunal constituted under Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
iii. This is related to a contractual dispute in the context of the company’s coal mines in Indonesia.
Background:
Reliance Power had acquired the entire economic interest in three coal mining concessions in Indonesia in 2010 from Kokos Jiang is the owner of Sugico Group in Indonesia.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi to be honoured as Game Changer of the Year 2018: Asia Society
On August 26, 2018, Asia Society, a global cultural organization announced that PepsiCo’s CEO Indra Nooyi will be honoured with the Game Changer of the Year title of the 2018 Asia Game Changer Awards in October 2018.
Citi is the founding partner of Asia Society’s Asia Game Changer Awards.
Key Points:
About the Game Changer of the Year Awardee:
i. She will be honored in recognition of her business achievements, humanitarian record and advocacy for women and girls around the world.
ii. Under her guidance, Pepsi Co had a life-saving collaboration with the United Nations on food, nutrition, global water, climate, and women’s empowerment issues.
About the award:
♦ The 2018 Asia Game Changer Awards will be given in October 2018.
♦ It is given to individuals and institutions who have broken barriers, defined courage, worked miracles, and in turn inspired their fellow citizens of the world.
About Asia Society:
♦ Headquarters: New York City, USA.
♦ Founded in 1956.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Lalchand Rajput appointed head coach of Zimbabwe cricket team
On August 26, 2018, former India opener Lalchand Rajput was appointed the head coach of Zimbabwe national cricket team by the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
i. He is likely to remain in charge for the 2020 World T20 and beyond.
ii. He was earlier appointed as the interim head coach of Zimbabwe in May.
iii. He has been the manager of the MS Dhoni-led Indian team during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.
iv. He has secured Full Membership at the ICC and won six limited-overs series under Rajput Afghanistan.
v. He had also coached Assam and a team in Mumbai Premier League and had held administrative position in the Mumbai Cricket Association.
vi.Rajput has also coached Afghanistan, who played their first Test against India in June this year, and was praised for his work. He was appointed Afghanistan coach in 2016.
Zimbabwe:
♦ Capital: Harare.
♦ Currency: US Dollar, Euro, South African rand.
♦ President: Emmerson Mnangagwa.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
BeiDou 3: Twin navigation satellites aboard  Long March-3B carrier rocket launched by China
On August 26, 2018,China successfully sent twin BeiDou 3,navigation satellites into the space on the Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
This was the 283rd mission of the Long March-3B carrier rocket.
Key Points:
i. They were developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
ii. The twin satellites entered orbit more than three hours after the launch. They will work together with 10 other BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit.
iii. They were named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper and started serving China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012.
Lithium-ion batteries that will not catch fire has been developed
US Scientists have developed lithium-ion batteries that do not catch fire, using components that harden on impact.
i. Lithium-ion batteries are used in consumer electronics. They catch fire when damaged or improperly packaged.
ii. Researchers have developed a practical and inexpensive way to prevent these fires by utilizing the property of some liquids that solidify on impact.
Indian-American scientist finds simple way to detect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Chander Mohan, an Indian-American scientist, has identified 50 protein biomarkers that can non-invasively detect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
i. IBD is caused when the body’s immune system fights its intestinal cells. It leads to diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, blood in stools and weight loss.
ii. Chander Mohan is a professor at University of Houston in the US. He has received a grant of USD 347,490 from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
iii. He is examining stool protein biomarkers that indicate IBT along with Subra Kugathasan, an IBD expert and a gastroenterologist at Emory University in the US.
SPORTS
Japan wins its first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title in France (Football)
On 24th August 2018, Japan won its first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title at the La Rabine Stadium in Vannes, France.
Japan wins first women’s world under-20 title:
i. Japan defeated Spain 3-1 in the final and won its first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
ii. England defeated France 4-2 and finished in the third position.
About FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup:
♦ Dates – 5 – 24 August 2018
♦ Location – France
OBITUARY
Gopal Bose : former Bengal cricket captain passes away at 71
On August 26, 2018, the former Bengal opener and captain Gopal Bose passed away at 71.
i. He started his career with the first-class cricket in the 1968-69 season and accumulated 3757 runs at an average of 30.79.
ii. He was part of India’s squad for the England tour in 1974 and played one-day international.
iii. He was the selector and coach of the Bengal junior team.
iv. He was also appointed manager for the Virat Kohli-led India Under-19 side during the 2008 Under 19 World Cup.
v.He was bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cricket Association of Bengal(CAB).
Samajwadi Party leader Nand Lal Passi passes away
On 24th August 2018, Former MLA and Samajwadi Party leader Nand Lal Passi died following a long term illness, at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
i. Nand Lal Passi was 84 years old. In 1993, he was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly as a Samajwadi Party candidate.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Atal Ji Ne Kaha: A book on Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched
On 24th August 2018, “Atal Ji Ne Kaha” a book on former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Atal Ji Ne Kaha:
i. Atal Ji Ne Kaha has been written, compiled and edited by Brijendra Rehi. The book has been published by Darpan Publication.
ii. The book consists of 320 pages and 26 chapters. It has Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s select speeches on economy, policies, small industries, social development, nuclear programme, science and technology, terrorism etc.
iii. It also has his photographs and three interviews by Brijendra Rehi.
About Brijendra Rehi:
- Doordarshan producer, senior journalist and then advisor to the former Highways Minister C P Joshi.
- He is at present the editor of Jansamachar.com.
- He started his career in 1965 from Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
- He has written, produced and directed more than 200 documentaries and has published 12 books.
