Latest Current Affairs – August 24 2018
1. AK-47 maker unveils own electric ‘supercar’ to rival Tesla
Russian arms maker Kalashnikov, known for making the AK-47 machine gun, has unveiled its concept ‘electric supercar’, inspired from a 1970s Soviet model. When fully developed, CV-1 would travel 350 km on one charge and go from 0-100 kmph in six seconds, Kalashnikov said. This technology would allow us to compete with electric car producers like Tesla, the company added.
2. India, Pakistan take part in SCO military drill for 1st time
India and Pakistan are for the first time taking part in a counter-terrorism drill organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The SCO Peace Mission Exercise 2018 is being held in Russia until August 29 and will involve the participation of at least 3,000 soldiers. Both India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in 2017.
3. India, China agree to expand military cooperation
India and China have agreed to expand military cooperation and implement confidence building measures to maintain peace. This came following a meeting between Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe. India and China have sought to improve their ties after being involved in the 73-day-long Doklam standoff last year.
4. Australia gets its fifth Prime Minister in five years
Liberal Party leader Scott Morrison was elected Australia’s fifth Prime Minister in five years after successfully challenging the leadership of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Morrison had earlier led a ‘stop the boats’ initiative to check illegal immigration to Australia and directed the country’s fiscal policy as the Treasurer since 2015.
5. India finish second in women’s kabaddi for 1st time at Asiad
India bagged silver medal in women’s kabaddi at the Asian Games 2018 after losing to Iran in the final . The Indian women’s kabaddi team finished second for the first time at Asiad after having won gold in the 2010 and 2014 editions. India have won six gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals at Asiad 2018 so far.
6. Sidhu bags bronze, India’s 9th shooting medal at Asiad 2018
Heena Sidhu finished third in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event to bag India’s third shooting and overall 13th bronze medal in shooting at Asian Games 2018. Manu Bhaker, who won gold in the event at Commonwealth Games earlier this year, finished fifth. Out of India’s 23 medals at Asiad 2018 so far, nine have come in shooting.
7. Japan gets its first female fighter pilot
First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima became Japan’s first female fighter pilot, having completed her training earlier this week. The 26-year-old will be stationed at the Nyutabaru Air Base and begin flying F-15 fighter jets. Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (ASFD) allowed women to fly fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft in 2015.
8. Bopanna, Sharan give India 2nd gold of the day at Asiad 2018
Indian tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan defeated Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in the men’s doubles final to give India their second gold medal of the day at the Asian Games 2018. This is India’s fifth men’s doubles gold medal in tennis in Asian Games history. India bagged gold in rowing in Quadruple Sculls event.
9. Prasar Bharati & Mizzima Media of Myanmar ink an MoU
Prasar Bharati and Mizzima Media of Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost centuries old ties between India and Myanmar. It will also strengthen India’s soft power in its neighbourhood.
The Agreement will realize cooperation and collaboration in various fields of broadcasting. It also envisions content-sharing covring a wide range of genres, including culture, entertainment, education, science, news and sports. India and Myanmar have shared history of their independent struggle and Prasar Bhart’s rich archive will help them relive tose precious moments.
10. India Banking Conclave 2018 held in New Delhi
Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and the government Think Tank NITI Aayog organised two-day ‘India Banking Conclave’ (IBC) in New Delhi between August 23 and August 24, 2018.
Focus:- On reform in the banking sector.
About Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) :
♦ CEPR is network of over 1100 researchers who are based mainly in universities throughout Europe and collaborate in research and its dissemination.
♦ It aims to enhance quality of economic policy-making within Europe and beyond
11. Government allowed Oxytocin sale through all private chemists
The Health Ministry has lifted the ban and allowed all private retail stores to sell Oxytocin, life-saving hormone, from 1st September. It has already banned the import of oxytocin and its formulation.
Earlier, the Ministry said that the sale of Oxytocin through private retail chemists will be banned from 1st July and the State-owned Karnataka Antibiotics Pvt. Ltd. (KAPL) will be the only company to manufacture and distribute oxytocin. It would be sold only in government hospitals and clinics.
Oxytocin has been misused in the dairy industry where livestock is injected with oxytocin to make them release milk at a time convenient to farmers. The hormone is also used to increase the size of vegetables such as pumpkins, watermelons, brinjals, gourds and cucumbers.
12. European wind survey satellite Aeolus launched from French Guiana
This satellite will be put into orbit at an altitude of 320 kilometers (200 miles) above the Earth which will track global winds, allowing for improved weather forecasting.
Aeolus is equipped with a single instrument: a Doppler wind lidar — an advanced laser system designed to accurately measure global wind patterns from space. Aeolus is the fifth of the ESA’s planned Earth Explorer missions.
13. Actor Raveena Tandon becomes brand ambassador of SGNP
Actor Raveena Tandon creates awareness about its initiatives like 50 crore tree plantation drive, eco-tourism in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), conservation of leopards. In the first week of September, a welcome programme will be held and the new website of SGNP and a Jan Dhan-Van Dhan shop will be launched.
