Latest Current Affairs – August 07 & 08 2018
1. Walmart’s acquisition of Flipkart gets CCI’s approval
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved US retail giant Walmart’s proposed acquisition of Flipkart announced in May this year. Walmart had announced acquiring a 77% stake in Bengaluru-based Flipkart in a $16 billion deal. The deal values the 11-year-old e-commerce firm at nearly $20.8 billion.
2. Govt asks citizens not to use national flags made of plastic
Ahead of Independence Day, the government has urged citizens not to use national flags made from plastic. Since plastic flags don’t decompose for a long time, ensuring its appropriate disposal commensurate with the dignity of the flag is a practical problem, a Home Ministry advisory stated. The advisory added that paper flags shouldn’t be thrown on the ground after events.
3. RBI to transfer ₹50,000 crore surplus to government
The Reserve Bank of India’s board has approved the transfer of a surplus amount of ₹50,000 crore to the government for the year ended June 30, 2018. The RBI had transferred a surplus of ₹30,659 crore to the government for the fiscal ended June 2017, which was less than half of what it paid in the previous year (₹65,896 crore).
4. Mobile banking transactions cross 300 million mark for first time
The volume of transactions through mobile banking crossed the 300 million mark for the first time, according to RBI data. Transactions went up by around 14% to 306.42 million in June from 267.78 million in the previous month. The value of transactions increased to ₹1.9 trillion in June, an 11% rise from the previous month.
5. Goa govt launches its own app-based taxi service ‘GoaMiles’
In a bid to end the taxi issue in Goa, the state government has launched its own app-based taxi service ‘GoaMiles’. “The taxis will charge government approved rates,” Goa’s Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said after launching the app. As of now, ride-hailing platforms Ola and Uber have not been allowed to enter the coastal state due to regulatory norms.
6. DMK chief M Karunanidhi passes away aged 94 in Tamil Nadu
DMK chief M Karunanidhi passed away aged 94 at Kauvery Hospital in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai, where he was admitted last month after his blood pressure dropped. Earlier, he underwent treatment for fever and urinary tract infection at his residence for a week. Karunanidhi, also fondly known as Kalaignar, served as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister five times.
7. Google launches Android 9.0 named ‘Pie’
Google announced ‘Pie’ as the name for the latest version of the Android operating system, succeeding Android Oreo. Android 9.0 Pie version includes AI-powered adaptive battery system and navigation system featuring a single home button, among others. The version has begun rolling out to Pixel phones and will be available to other devices later this year.
8. World’s largest bird sculpture Jatayu sculpture will be inaugurated in Kerala
The Jatayu sculpture at the Jatayu Earth Center (JEC) at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district, Kerala, said to be world’s largest bird sculpture, will be inaugurated on August 17 by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This Rs 100 crore-project is a creation by film director and sculptor Rajiv Anchal.
9. Germany’s Mario Gomez retires from International Football
Veteran German striker Mario Gomez (33-year-old), who made his debut for Germany in 2007, scored 31 goals in 78 international appearances.
He represented his country at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2018 and the Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012. He is now looking to pay his full attention to the domestic football league, Bundesliga.
10. Maitree 2018 Joint Military Exercise between India and Thailand held in Thailand
Exercise ‘Maitree’ is a joint military exercise between Indian Army and Royal Thai Army and is running on in Thailand from 6 to 19 August 2018. Maitree 2018 was platoon level exercise that comprises of infantry component. The objective is to develope mutual understanding and bonhomie between the two armies in order to counter terrorism.
11. Italian Bike-Maker Benelli signs MoU for Plant in Telangana
The company would initially start assembling CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits of the bike for Benelli to assemble, manufacture bikes and import exclusive range of the bikes from Italy and SouthEast Asian regions. Benelli is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle-manufacturer and has a presence in over 60 countries such as America, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific regions.
12. International Conference on Sustainable Growth Through Material Recycling inaugurated in New Delhi
The conference was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.
The day-long conference has 5 technical sessions on Circular Economy in Material Recycling”, “Infrastructural Issues in Recycling Industry”, “Standardization and certification in Recycling Industry”, “Environmental Benefits of Material Recycling”, “Financial and Taxation issues in Recycling Industry”.
13. ISRO to launch its heaviest satellite GSAT 11 on November 30
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) heaviest satellite so far – the GSAT-11 (weighing over 5.7 tonnes i.e., 5,700-kg)- which the space agency had cleared for launch in June, will take off a spaceport in French Guiana on 30 November.
GSAT-11 carries 40 transponders in the Ku-band and the Ka-band frequencies, and is capable of providing high bandwidth connectivity with up to 14 GB per second data transfer speed. GSAT full form – Geo synchronous SATellites.
