NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Centre Launches “Surakhsya”- National Portal on Human-Elephants Conflict: Union Environment
Minister, Prakash Javadekar and Minister of State in the Environment Ministry,
Babul Supriyo jointly launched a beta version of a portal on Human-Elephants
Conflict called “Surakhsya” on the eve of World Elephant Day (12 August) in New
Delhi. Surakhsya is a National Portal on human elephant conflict to help in
collection of real time information as well as managing the conflicts on a real
time basis to help in policy formulation and for preparation of Action Plans
for mitigation of conflicts. The portal will help policy-makers to leverage HEC
data to frame the data collection protocols, data transmission pipelines and
data visualization tools. The beta version of the portal is currently being
launched for data testing before the pan India roll out for adoption by the
states. Shri Javadekar also released a booklet on “Best practices of
Human-Elephant Conflict Management in India” during the event.
2.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel launches Indira Van Mitan scheme to make
forest-dwellers self-reliant: The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh
Baghel launched ”Indira Van Mitan Yojana” on 9 August 2020, on the occasion of
the World Tribal Day, to bring prosperity to forest dwellers (especially
tribal) by opening up self-employment opportunities. Under the ‘Indira Van
Mitan scheme, a dedicated groups of youth will be constituted in around 10,000
villages in tribal-dominated areas to manage forest-based economic activities.
Each group will consist of 10 to 15 members. Each of the youth groups will look
after procurement, processing and marketing of forest produce in scheduled
areas. The state government will set up forest produce processing units in
every development block of the scheduled areas, at an estimated cost of Rs 10
lakh for each unit. An amount of Rs 8.50 crore will be spent for forest produce
processing units in 85 development blocks. The plantation of fruit-bearing and
medicinal plants will be encouraged in forest areas.
Note: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh:
Bhupesh Baghel; Governor: Anusuiya Uikey.
3.
Delhi Airport Launches Online Portal ‘AIR SUVIDHA’ for India-bound International
Passengers: The
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a GMR Group-led consortium, has
developed a first-of-its-kind web portal named ‘AIR SUVIDHA’. This portal is
meant for India-bound international arriving flyers, to enable them to fill the
mandatory self- declaration form. Eligible passengers can also apply online for
exemption from mandatory institution quarantine process. This facility is going
to help hundreds of AP bound passengers. The AIR SUVIDHA portal will make
traveling contactless as the passengers won’t have to fill physical copies of
self declaration and quarantine exemption forms when they arrive in India. The
online forms have been developed in collaboration with various state
governments, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Note: Union Minister of Health & Family
Welfare: Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Union Minister of External Affairs: Dr
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
4.
IIT Kanpur develops indigenous seed balls titled ‘BEEG’: Indian Institutes
of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in collaboration with Agnys Waste Management Private
Limited (start-up at IIT Kanpur) developed indigenous seed balls named ‘BEEG’
(Biocompost Enriched Eco Friendly Globule). This will help to safeguard people
and farmers in plantations during the COVID-19 times. The initiative is guided
by Prof. J. Ramkumar. The initiative provides employment opportunities to
unemployed workers and gardeners (due to the COVID-19 lockdown). BEEG is
enriched with the right indigenous ingredients (like compost & clay) and
seeds to germinate early. It is the best way to utilise Monsoon and plant as
many trees as possible without risking lives by social gathering during the
pandemic. BEEG should be thrown at the target areas and they will germinate
when they come into contact with water (rainy seasons are a perfect choice). It
eliminates the need to dig pits for planting saplings. The development of the
SEED balls will bring a revolutionary change in the agriculture process.
5.
Bihar Pollution Control Board signs MoA with IIT Delhi for air quality
management: The
Bihar State Pollution Control Board has signed a ‘Memorandum of Agreement’
(MoA) with IIT Delhi to set up geographical information system (GIS) based
platform to check air quality management in the state. IIT Delhi will help the
state to set up a comprehensive architecture for scientific analysis of air
pollution and monitoring and provide know-how to develop in-house capacity for
data analysis. The project will help in identifying sources and transport
(local hot spot) of particulate matter PM 2.5 in the non-attainment cities like
Patna, Gaya and Muzaffarpur and help the board to identify effective mitigation
measures. The project will not only identify geographical areas with poor air
quality based on statistical and spatial data, but will also enable to locate
the source of air pollutants in those areas.
6.
Webinar on ‘AtmaNirbhar Madhya Pradesh: Health and Education’: A webinar with
title ‘AtmaNirbhar Madhya Pradesh: Health and Education’ was inaugurated by
Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in New Delhi. The
webinar was held to discuss the topics namely education and health with subject
experts from across the nation for Madhya Pradesh as part of the ‘Atma Nirbhar
Bharat’ programme. While addressing the webinar, the Union Minister of
Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ highlighted the various initiatives taken
by the Ministry of Education during COVID- 19 pandemic. He also applauded the
state Government of Madhya Pradesh for swiftly responding to the COVID-19
crisis by introducing a series of interventions across all sectors.
Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Russia announces World’s first Covid-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’: Russian President,
Vladimir Putin has announced that a COVID-19 vaccine developed in the country
has been registered for use. Russian Ministry of Health has given regulatory
approval for what it claims is the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine, developed by
Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute. Russia is the first country to register a
coronavirus vaccine which is named as Sputnik V. It is named after the Soviet
satellite. The vaccine has proven efficient during tests, offering enduring
immunity from the coronavirus. Many scientists within the country and abroad
are sceptical, however, questioning the choice to register the vaccine before
Phase 3 trials that normally last for months and involve thousands of individuals.
Industrial production of Sputnik V is expected to start from September after
the completion of Phase 3 trials.
Note: President of Russia: Vladimir Putin;
Capital of Russia: Moscow.
2.
Walter Roger Martos Ruiz takes over as new Prime Minister of Peru: Walter Roger Martos
Ruiz, a retired Army General, has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of
Peru. A former major-general of the Peruvian Army, Martos had served as
Minister of Defense from October 2019 to August 2020. His appointment was confirmed
by President of Peru, Martin Vizcarra. Ruiz will succeed Pedro Álvaro Cateriano
Bellido. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government Palace in Lima.
He was former major-general of the Peruvian Army and has served in a variety of
leading military positions throughout his career.
Note: Peru Capital: Lima; Peru Currency:
Peruvian Sol.
3.
Mohamed Ould Bilal becomes new Prime Minister of Mauritania: Mohamed Ould Bilal
has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Mauritania. The appointment was
made by the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Mohamed Ould Bilal is
a veteran public administrator and has served as the head of the country’s
national water agency, a presidential aide and a cabinet minister. Appointment
of Mohamed Ould Bilal as the Prime Minister of Mauritania was made following
the resignation of his predecessor Ismail Ould Cheikh Sidiya and his entire
government.
Note: Capital of Mauritania: Nouakchott;
Currency of Mauritania: Mauritanian ouguiya.
4.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected for 6th consecutive term: Incumbent President
of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko (65 years) has been re-elected as the head of
the country for the sixth straight term. Lukashenko won landslide victory in
the elections on 9 August 2020, with about 80% of all votes in his favour. The
65-year-old is serving as the President of Belarus since the establishment of
the office on 20 July 1994. A former English teacher Svetlana Tikhanouskaya,
who emerged as Lukashenko’s main rival at the elections gets 9.9 per cent of
the vote.
Note: Capital of Belarus: Minsk; Currency
of Belarus: Belarusian Rouble.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Max Verstappen wins 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020: Max Verstappen (Red
Bull – Netherlands) has won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, held on 9 August
2020 in United Kingdom. This is the first win of the season for Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) came second while Valtteri Bottas came
third. The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (officially Emirates Formula 1 70th
Anniversary Grand Prix 2020) was fifth race of 2020 Formula One World
Championship, held at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, United Kingdom.
The race was held to commemorate 70-year of the Formula One World Championship.
The first championship Grand Prix was held at the same circuit in 1950.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
NPCI launches omni-channel loyalty platform ‘nth Rewards’: The National
Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a loyalty platform named ‘nth
Rewards’. Here nth represents “infinite possibilities”. It is an
analytics-enabled omnichannel multi-branded loyalty platform. It allows users
to earn “nth” (infinite) loyalty points through various bank transactions. These
rewards point can be redeemed for various purposes including online shopping.
Customers will earn loyalty points on almost every transaction made digitally,
especially while using the credit and debit cards. ‘nth Rewards’ platform has a
smart dashboard for users where they can see their points accumulation.
Note: MD-CEO of NPCI: Dilip Asbe
2.
Harsh Bhanwala appointed as executive chairman of Capital India Finance: Financial services
platform Capital India Finance Ltd has appointed former head of NABARD, Harsh
Kumar Bhanwala, as Executive Chairman of the company. Prior to this, Bhanwala
was chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
for over six years. Bhanwala was appointed as the chairman NABARD in December
2013 and demitted the office on May 26, 2020. Capital India Finance Limited
(CIFL) is an integrated financial services platform and provides customised
financial solutions to Indian Corporates for their growth and working capital
requirements among others.
Note: Capital India Finance Ltd Managing
Director: Keshav Porwal; Capital India Finance Ltd Head Office: Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
A.P. governent signs MoU with US Based IT Firm “Boston Group”: The Boston Group
has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up an IT company in
Visakhapatnam. The new IT Company stated to be installed in the state according
to the MoU is expected to create 250+ jobs in the IT sector. The employees of
this centre would be deployed in the R&D on Learning platforms and leverage
advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning
(ML), Cyber Security and Human Resources.
Note: Chairman of The Boston Group: Subu
Kota.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan
Mohan Reddy; Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.
OBITUARIES
1. Former Indian Footballer Laishram Manitombi Singh passes away: Former Indian footballer Laishram Manitombi Singh (39 years) passed away at his village near Imphal, Manipur. Manitombi was the member of Stephen Constantine-coached India Under-23 team that lifted the LG Cup in 2003 by defeating Vietnam with 3-2. It was Stephen Constantine’s first tournament as head coach and ended the senior national team’s 31-year wait for a title. He also represented India in the 2002 Busan Asian Games He served as the captain of Mohun Bagan for consecutive two seasons (2003-2004) where he scored 3 goals, and led the club to win the Airlines Gold Cup in 2004.
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