Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 26 2019
1. 2019 Indo Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference to be held in Thailand
The 2019 Indo Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHOD) Conference will be held in Thailand’s capital city Bangkok. In this conference, India will be represented by Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Air Staff- Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa.
Theme for conference: “Collaboration in a free and Open Indo – Pacific”. It will see participation of Chiefs of Defence of more than 33 countries.
2. Akademik Lomonosov: Russia launches world’s first floating nuclear reactor
Russia launched world’s first floating nuclear reactor called Akademik Lomonosov, sending it on epic journey across the Arctic. It was launched and loaded with nuclear fuel from Arctic port of Murmansk for its 5,000 kilometre voyage to Pevek in northeastern Siberia.
On arriving in Pevek, it will replace local nuclear plant and closed coal plant. It will go in full operations by end 2019 and it will mainly serve region’s oil platforms in Arctic. One of its targets is also to power Chaun-Bilibin mining complex in Chukotka region, which also includes gold mine.
3. 7 new species of water treaders belonging to genus Mesovelia discovered
Scientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered seven new species of water treaders belonging to genus Mesovelia. Water treaders are semi-aquatic insects that can walk or run on surface of water.
These new discoveries include Mesovelia andamana is from Andaman Islands, M. isiasi and M. bispinosa are from Meghalaya, M. tenuia and M. occulta from Tamil Nadu and M. dilatata and M. brevia live both in Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu.
4. PM Modi launches $4.2 million redevelopment project of temple in Bahrain
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched $4.2 million redevelopment project of 200-year-old Shreenathji or Lord Sri Krishna temple in Manama, capital of Bahrain, during his two-day visit to Gulf nation. This is 1st ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Bahrain.
5. Prabhakar Singh, DG, CPWD chosen for Eminent Engineer Award- 2019
Prabhakar Singh, Director General, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has been chosen for elite and prestigious Eminent Engineer Award for Year 2019 by Institution of Engineers (India).
He is chosen for his distinguished and exemplary Service in field of Engineering and Technology. The award shall be conferred to him on Engineers Day observed on 15 September 2019 in New Delhi.
6. Celebrate September as Month of Nutrition: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to celebrate September 2019 as a month of nutrition. The announcement was made in his latest Mann Ki Baat programe in which he laid emphasis on creating awareness to fight malnutrition among children, particularly girl child.
7. Lt Gen Puri became first serving Lt Gen to complete 1,200 km Paris Brest Paris circuit
Lieutenant General Anil Puri completed France’s oldest cycling event, 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris circuit. He became the first serving Lieutenant General-rank officer of the Indian Army.
Lt Gen Puri, the 56-year-old officer completed the event by cycling non-stop for 90 hours. 367 participants represented India. Around 80 successfully completed the trek. Six army personnel secured berths at the event for having completed at least one 1,000-km non-stop cycling event during their respective careers.
8. CVC sets up panel to examine bank fraud above Rs 50 crore
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has constituted Advisory Board for Banking Frauds (ABBF) headed by former Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin to examine bank fraud over Rs 50 crore and recommend action.
The panel in its previous avatar called the Advisory Board on Bank, Commercial and Financial Frauds.
9. Govt Proposes New Guidelines For Safe Use of Nanotechnology in Agriculture
Nanotechnology has been supporting the Indian agricultural market to develop products and processes with higher efficiency and lower costs. With the increasing scope to commercialise this technology, the government has now proposed a set of guidelines to regulate and maintain quality and safety of the products and processes.
10. Centre for avian ecotoxicology inaugurated in Coimbatore
A National Centre for Avian Ecotoxicology was inaugurated at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithlogy and Natural Sciences (SACON).
The centre, inaugurated by Union Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar, would explore the impact of chemical contaminants on individual species of birds and, where possible, link them to population and communities.
11. PM Modi to attend G7 Summit in France
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address sessions on environment, climate, oceans and digital transformation at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France.
Although India is not a member of the G7 group, Prime Minister Modi will attend the G7 Summit as a special guest as he has been personally invited by French President Emmanuel Macron. External Affairs Ministry has said that the invitation is a reflection of the personal chemistry between the two leaders and also recognition of India as a major economic power.
12. MotoGP: Spain’s Alex Rins wins British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Alex Rins snatched a dramatic victory on the line on his Suzuki to win the British Grand Prix ahead of MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez. Marquez appeared to have held off the younger Spaniard, only for Rins to produce a spectacular piece of riding for his second win of the season.
But Marquez still extended his lead in the Championship to 78 points after second-placed Andrea Dovizioso of Italy suffered a bad crash on the first lap.
13. BHEL bags Rs 2,500 cr order from NTPC
State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on Monday said it has secured two orders worth Rs 2,500 crore from NTPC for setting up of emission control equipment at two of its thermal power plants.
“Valued at around Rs 2,500 crore, the orders have been placed on BHEL by NTPC. The orders involve supply and installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems for 13 coal based units at 2,600 mega watt (MW) Korba STPS stage I, II and III in Chhattisgarh and 2,100 MW Ramagundam STPS stage I and II in Telangana,” BHEL said in a BSE filing.
14. NHB to provide Rs 20,000 crore additional liquidity support to housing finance companies
In order to boost credit support for the purchase of houses, National Housing Bank (NHB) will offer additional liquidity support of Rs 20,000 crore to housing finance companies (HFCs). This will increase the total liquidity support to Rs 30,000 crore, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on August 23 while announcing a slew of measures to revive the economy.
