Latest Current Affairs – August 25 & 26 2018
1. NASA’s 1st asteroid-bound spacecraft sends 1st image of rock
After an almost two-year journey, NASA spacecraft OSIRIS-REx, caught its first glimpse of asteroid Bennu and began its final approach toward the space rock. The spacecraft obtained the image from 2.2 million km and is scheduled to arrive at Bennu in December. OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s first mission aimed to visit a near-Earth asteroid and send back its sample.
2. Scientist G Satheesh Reddy appointed as DRDO Chairman
The government has appointed scientist G Satheesh Reddy as the Chairman of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), three months after S Christopher completed his term in May this year. Reddy has been appointed for a period of two years. He is a graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in Hyderabad.
3. Former US presidential candidate John McCain dies aged 81
Six-time senator and former US presidential candidate John McCain passed away, aged 81 after battling brain cancer. McCain, who lost to former President Barack Obama in 2008, had refused to support fellow Republican Donald Trump for presidency in 2016 over his remarks on women. The former fighter pilot had spent five years in captivity during the Vietnam war.
4. Govt ranks PNB as best state-run bank for digital transactions
Punjab National Bank (PNB) said that a Department of Financial Services report has ranked it as the best state-owned bank in terms of digital transactions. “The bank is fully committed to ‘Digital India’ initiative,” PNB said in a statement. It has been rated as the sixth-best in the overall category amongst all banks in India for digital performance.
5. Tejinderpal Singh wins India’s 1st Athletics gold at Asiad 2018
Tejinderpal Singh won India’s first Athletics medal at the Asian Games 2018 in the form of his Shot Put gold. The 23-year-old threw 20.75 metres in his fifth attempt to take the first spot in the final of the event. Tejinderpal’s gold-winning attempt was an Asian Games record and a national record.
6. Indra Nooyi honoured with Asia Game Changer of the Year award
PepsiCo’s India-born Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi will be honoured with the 2018 Asia Game Changer of the Year award by global cultural organisation Asia Society. Nooyi has been selected in “recognition of her pioneering business achievements, humanitarian record, and advocacy for women and girls”. She recently announced that she would be stepping down as PepsiCo’s CEO after 12 years.
7. Scotland 1st country to give students free sanitary products
Scotland has become the world’s first country to provide free sanitary products to all students in a bid to tackle “period poverty”. Nearly 4 lakh pupils and students are expected to benefit from the Scottish government’s scheme. The move primarily aims to ensure that students do not miss out on education due to lack of access to sanitary products.
8. India, Singapore sign protocol to boost bilateral trade
India and Singapore signed a second protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to boost trade ties. The two countries are also exploring the possibility of launching the Third Review of India-Singapore CECA in September 2018. India is the largest trading partner of Singapore in South Asia, with a bilateral trade of $17.7 billion in 2017-18.
9. Govt clears procurement of 111 naval helicopters at a cost of Rs 21K cr
In a major decision, the Defence Ministry gave its nod to acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore besides approving separate procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore, according to officials.
The procurement of the naval utility helicopters will be the first project under the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model which provides for roping in private firm to build select military platforms in India in partnership with foreign defence manufacturers.
10. August 26 : World Sanskrit Day
The World Sanskrit Day, also known as Sanskrit Diwas, is being celebrated on August 26. The Day is aimed at promoting and reviving the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit.
It is celebrated on Sravana Poornima every year, that is the Poornima day of Sravana month in the Hindu calendar. Sanskrit has been known as the primary language of Hinduism and forms the basis of several other languages. Sanskrit Day was first celebrated in 1969.
11. Kho-Kho gets recognition from Olympic Council of Asia OCA
Kho-Kho will be included as a demonstration sport in the Asian Indoor Games. Also, it has the possibility to be included as a discipline in the next Asian Games. Rajeev Mehta is the Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
12. Researchers develop ReMix an in-body GPS system to track tumours
Researchers able to track implants with centimeter-level accuracy in animal tests. Similar implants can be used to deliver drugs to specific regions of the body. The test was conducted by scientists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US.
13. Khaled Hosseinis new book Sea Prayer a tribute to Alan Kurdi
Sea Prayer”, the new book of writer Khaled Hosseini will be released on 30th August 2018. Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-born American novelist. He has written books like “The Kite Runner”, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and “And the Mountains Echoed”.
14. International Water Colour Festival in Ranchi
Five-day long ‘International water colour festival’ is held in Ranchi at Audrey House, to promote the rich art and culture of Jharkhand.
This is the first time in the country that international artists will paint together. In this program 24 countries of the world, 25 states of India and 24 districts of the state are participating.
15. ICOMOS launched initiative to save cultural heritage damaged in flood-hit Kerala
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a global monument conservation body, has launched an initiative to assess the damage to the rich cultural and built heritage in flood-devastated Kerala and set up an emergency response platform.
ICOMOS is also an advisory body to the UNESCO for cultural heritage, in particular for implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
16. Pacer Jhulan Goswami announced her retirement from Women’s T20 Internationals
Goswami is currently the leading wicket-taker in the women’s ODI format and also the first woman to pick up 200 ODI wickets. She played 68 T20 Internationals and took 56 wickets at an economy rate of 5.45.
