Latest Current Affairs – August 03 2018
1. Japan overthrows China to become world’s 2nd-biggest stock market
Following the latest slump, the value of China’s stock market fell to $6.09 trillion, losing its spot as the second biggest stock market to Japan ($6.17 trillion). This comes amid China’s trade war with the US and its campaign to cut debt. China’s stock market overtook Japan’s in 2014 and soared to an all-time high of over $10 trillion in 2015.
2. Mnangagwa re-elected Zimbabwe Prez in 1st post-Mugabe poll
Emmerson Mnangagwa has been re-elected Zimbabwe’s President after winning presidential elections held for the first time since the ouster of Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa took over as President last year after Mugabe was ousted by the Army. Mugabe ruled over Zimbabwe for 37 years, having been one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
3. PHDCCI and CNI sign MoU to set up Indo-Nepal Centre
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish India-Nepal Centre. The MoUaims to promote Indian investment in Nepal, Work with Indian ventures in Nepal to resolve problems being faced by them, Promoteindustrialization in Nepal and provide training to Nepali entrepreneurs.
4. Indian Army’s ‘Project Roshni’ illuminates remote villages in the Valley
Project Roshni by Indian Army is illuminating homes in remote villages of Jammu and Kashmir. The Army Persons have distributed solar lamps in remote areas. Under Project Roshni, the Army has distributed 17,000 such lamps till now.
Dozens of hilly villages in the state still have no access to electricity due to weather or other factors while difficulties continue for the residents in these villages. The Army is continuously taking steps to provide a solution and solar lamp distribution is a move in this direction and using such lamps and charging them is quite easy.
5. LS passes bill to create national sports varsity in Manipur
A bill to establish a National Sports University in Manipur to promote sports education was passed by the Lok Sabha. The National Sports University Bill 2018, which seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated on May 31, was passed by a voice vote.
The legislation was earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2017, but could not be passed. Hence, the government had to come out with an ordinance.
The bill seeks to set up a specialised university in Manipur, which would be the first of its kind, to promote sports education in the areas of sports sciences, sports technology, sports management and sports coaching.
6. Specially-bred mosquitoes help prevent dengue outbreaks in Australian city
In a first, Australian researchers have successfully protected an entire city from dengue outbreaks by deploying captive-bred mosquitoes that are unable to spread the deadly virus. Mosquitoes bred to carry naturally-occurring Wolbachia bacteria, which prevents the transmission of viruses, were let loose over 66 square kilometres of Townsville, Queensland in places where they could naturally breed. In four years since the mosquitoes were introduced, no new cases of dengue have been reported in the area.
7. Delhi celebrates its first ever dragonfly festival
This is First-ever festival for insects that help maintain ecosystem and is being organized from Aug 3 to Sept 1 jointly by WWF (World Wide Fund) India and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). This will culminate towards a dragonfly census on August 19.
India has about 500 different types of species at present, while around 3012 species were recorded worldwide until 2010.
8. Ministry of Textiles and Power launches SAATHI initiative
SAATHI (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help Small Industries) aims to accelerate the adoption of energy efficient textile technologies in the power loom sector and cost savings due to use of such technology.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) will replace old inefficient electric motors with energy efficient IE3 motors which will result in energy and cost saving up to 10-15% in the first phase.
Power loom clusters at Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi, Erode, Surat, Bhilwara and Panipat have been identified for pilot study.
9. Centre approved to elevate KM Joseph as Supreme Court judge
Centre approved the appointment of 3 judges to Supreme Court – Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph along with Madras HC Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Orissa HC Chief Justice Vineet Saran are elevated as Supreme Court judges.
10. Apple becomes First $1 Trillion Company in History
Apple Inc. became the first U.S.-based company with a market value of $1 trillion, four decades after it was co-founded by Steve Jobs in a Silicon Valley garage and later revolutionized the worlds of computing, music and mobile communications. The iMac desktop computer, the iPod, iPhone, and iPad were smash hits.
11. Indian origin prison guard Sashi Cheliah wins MasterChef Australia 2018
The 39-year-old Sashi Cheliah from Adelaide earned 93 out of 100 points to beat fellow contestant Ben Borsht, who scored 77 out of 100. He earned a prize money of $250,000 (almost Rs 1.7 crore).
Cheliah has served in the Singapore police force for over a decade and then relocated to Australia, where he started working as a prison guard in a women’s prison. MasterChef Australia 2018 is the popular culinary reality show.
12. Karnataka made Yoga mandatory for all colleges and universities in the State
The Karnataka government has made Yoga mandatory for all colleges and universities in the State. It was decided at a meeting of Vice-chancellors and other officials of state universities which was chaired by State Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda.
According to the officials, all government, aided and private degree colleges in the state must conduct yoga for 20-minutes. It also said that a proposal to recruit 5,000 teaching staff has been approved by the Chief Minister and the Finance Department of the State.
13. Reliance Jio partnered with SBI for digital services
RIL’s telecom subsidiary Reliance Jio partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) to extend the next generation of digital banking and payments services to customers.
MyJio platform will enable SBI YONO’s digital banking features and solutions for a seamless, integrated and superior customer experience. It will also extend the financial services capabilities of SBI and Jio Payments Bank.
14. DTAB to impose ban on Oxytocin
The Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) recommended the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to lift the ban on Oxytocin. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945, the ban will be imposed citing the serious misuse of oxytocin in the dairy sector.
Also, DTAB suggested that only Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a PSU, could manufacture and supply the drug across the country.
15. Lewis Hamilton Won 6th Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes won the Hungarian Grand Prix for the 6th time, at the Hungaroring circuit, in Hungary.
This is the 67th career victory for Lewis Hamilton. Daniel Ricciardo was named Driver of the Day by Formula One for finishing at fourth position after starting from the 12th position.
16. World Junior Squash Championships 2018 concludes In Chennai
A total of 171 players including 116 men and 55 women from 28 countries took part in the World Junior Squash Championship.
Cyrus Poncha was the tournament director.
Here is the list of winners
1.Men’s Individual- Mostafa Asal (Egypt)
2 Women’s Individual -Rowan Elaraby (Egypt)
3. Men’s Team – Egypt
Runners List
- Men’s Individual – Marwan Tarek (Egypt)
2. Women’s Individual – Hania El Hammamy(Egypt)
3. Men’s Team – England
17. Rajasthan is the first state to implement Biofuel Policy
Rajasthan become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on biofuels unveiled by the Central government. This policy on biofuels seeks to help farmers dispose of their surplus stock in an economic manner and reduce the country’s oil import dependence.
