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Current Affairs – August 22 2023
1. FIDE Chess World Cup: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa enters semifinals; beats compatriot Arjun Erigaisi
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa becomes 1st Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach Chess World Cup semis since 2002.
The Grandmaster defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 5-4 to enter the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup Chess tournament at Baku in Azerbaijan. He will now face American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the semi-final.
No Indian had reached the last four stages of the FIDE World Cup since Viswanathan Anand won the first two editions of the tournament in 2000 and 2002.
India will be rooting for Praggnanandhaa to win as this brings him closer to becoming the World Chess Champion.
He is also one of the youngest chess wizards in the country who has brought glory to the country on several occasions.
2. India’s First Hydrogen Bus Hits the Public Roads in Leh, Ladakh
NTPC Limited, a prominent Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) operating under the Ministry of Power (MoP), has embarked on a groundbreaking venture by launching the trial of India’s inaugural hydrogen bus in the picturesque region of Leh, situated in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.
This remarkable endeavor not only marks the country’s first utilization of hydrogen buses on public roads but also reflects NTPC’s commitment to fostering sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
The maiden hydrogen bus has arrived in Leh, symbolizing the commencement of a significant three-month-long process.
This process encompasses rigorous field trials, comprehensive roadworthiness assessments, and essential regulatory clearances, all of which are vital steps toward integrating hydrogen-powered buses into Ladakh’s transport ecosystem.
3. India, ASEAN agree to review FTA by 2025
In a significant move, India and the ASEAN countries have come to an agreement to reevaluate their existing free trade pact for goods. The aim of this review is to address the existing trade imbalances and disparities between the two parties.
The announcement was made by the Commerce Ministry, indicating the commitment to enhance bilateral trade relations.
4. India announces ‘Green’ Hydrogen standard
India has announced the definition of Green Hydrogen. The Green Hydrogen Standard for India sets a criterion of 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg H2 as a 12-month average emission threshold.
It is a significant move for the progress of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The guidelines established by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, delineate the emission benchmarks that must be fulfilled for hydrogen production to qualify as ‘Green’, signifying its origin from renewable sources.
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has characterized Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission (encompassing processes like water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, hydrogen drying, and compression) that does not exceed 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg H2.
5. Viacom18 Appoints Google’s Kiran Mani as CEO of Digital Business
In a strategic move to bolster its digital business operations, Viacom18 has welcomed Kiran Mani, a seasoned executive from Google, as the new CEO.
Mani’s impressive track record and extensive experience position him well to lead Viacom18’s digital endeavors.
Currently serving as General Manager and MD for Android and Google Play in the Asia Pacific region, Mani’s 13-year tenure at Google underscores his deep understanding of digital markets.
6. Neelkanth Mishra appointed part-time chairman of UIDAI
The Centre has announced the appointment of Neelkanth Mishra as the part-time Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Mr. Mishra, known for his expertise in economics and research, currently serves as the Chief Economist of Axis Bank and also holds the position of Head of Global Research at Axis Capital.
7. Canara Bank Pioneers UPI-Interoperable Digital Rupee Mobile App for CBDC Transactions
Canara Bank, a leading player in the Indian banking sector, has taken a monumental step by introducing the UPI interoperable digital rupee mobile application.
This move places Canara Bank at the forefront of innovation, becoming the first bank across both the public and commercial sectors to offer this pioneering feature.
The app, named the Canara Digital Rupee app, marks a significant milestone as a part of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project.
8. World Water Week 2023 is observed from August 20 to 24
World Water Week is a global event that is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute every year since 1991. The program will be held from August 20 to 24 at the Waterfront Congress Center.
It is a non-profit event that aims to develop solutions for the international water crisis (alongside several other problems). Water is one of the most essential gifts of nature that we require in our daily lives. From drinking to cleaning, water serves multiple purposes in our lives. Hence, it becomes equally important for us to conserve it.
World Water Week 2023: Theme
The theme, Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World
9. International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2023 is observed on Aug 22
The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed annually on August 22nd.
It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, following the adoption of the landmark resolution 73/328 on “Combating intolerance, discrimination, stigmatization, violence and acts of violence against persons based on religion or belief”.
The day aims to remember the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
10. Adobe Co-Founder And The Innovator Of PDF Files Passes At 82
Dr. John Warnock, co-founder of Adobe and creator of the PDF, passes away at age 82. The reason for death wasn’t disclosed.
Early in the 1980s, Warnock worked for Xerox; nevertheless, he eventually quit and helped Charles Geschke start Adobe. He later invented the Portable Document Format (PDF) as a result of his work with Adobe.
The innovative technology that started the desktop publishing revolution was their initial offering, Adobe PostScript. Dr. Warnock left his post as CEO in 2000 and continued to serve as board chairman until 2017. He shared this role with Dr. Geschke.
Dr. Warnock received the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama.
Also, the Marconi Prize for contributions to information science and communications, the IEEE Computer Society’s Computer Entrepreneur Award, and the American Electronics Association’s Medal of Achievement.
