16th August, 2022 Current Affairs

Archana Lakkavajula

NATIONAL
Defence forces, RBI and PM Office Most Trusted Institutions

Defence forces, RBI and Prime Minister of India are the three most trusted institutions in the country, according to a survey by Ipsos India. The Supreme Court of India came fourth and it was followed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Defence Forces with at least 2 in 3 (65 per cent of respondents) reposing faith in them was ranked first, followed by Reserve Bank of India with 1 in 2 (50 per cent). Prime Minister of India as an institution was at the third spot with 49 per cent citizens having trust in it, the survey said. Smack in the middle was the Parliament (33 per cent) ranked 7th, ranked 8th was the media (32 per cent) and placed 9th was the Election Commission of India (31 per cent), it said.
The institutions at the bottom of the heap were politicians (16 per cent), political parties (17 per cent), community leaders (19 per cent) and religious leaders (21 per cent), it said, adding, these institutions have least credibility according to the opinions of the citizens across the cities and target groups polled.

IAS Piyush Goyal named NATGRID CEO by the Union government

IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, Piyush Goyal has been appointed by the Central Government as the new CEO of NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid). Along with this, the Central Government has also issued an order to post 26 other officers on the post of Additional Secretary. PiyushGoyal is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry.
NATGRID is the central organization for intelligence gathering with the aim of enhancing India’s counter-terrorism capabilities. It is the integrated intelligence master database structure for counter-terrorism purposes connecting databases of various core security agencies under the Government of India collecting comprehensive patterns procured from 21 different organizations that can be readily accessed by security agencies round the clock.

Arunachal’s 3rd Airport Named ‘Donyi Polo Airport’

The third airport in Arunachal Pradesh, which is now under construction in Itanagar, the state capital, has been given the name “Donyi Polo Airport” by the Arunachal Pradesh administration.
The “Donyi Polo Airport” in Itanagar would be Arunachal Pradesh`s third airport after Pasighat and Tezu airports and northeast India`s 16th airport.
The name of the only airport in the capital city, according to the official, would represent the long-standing customs and rich cultural legacy of the tribally dominant state and would also reflect the long-standing indigenous respect for the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo) among the populace. The Airport Authority of India has undertaken aRs 650 crore project to develop the airport to boost air connectivity in the mountainous areas.

World’s Highest Chenab Railway Bridge Inaugurated

The golden joint of the world’s highest railway bridge over River Chenab was inaugurated. For the first time ever since independence, Srinagar will be linked to the rest of India after the overarch deck on the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge over River Chenab. The bridge will be 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower.
Chenab Bridge was a famous bridge with intricate engineering that had to overcome several challenges. The geology, the harsh terrain, and the hostile environment were just a few of the challenges that the engineers and railway officials had to overcome to get to this point.
The Chenab is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga, in the western (Punjab) Himalayas in India’s Himachal Pradesh state. It flows west through Jammu and Kashmir union territory—the Indian-administered portion of the disputed Kashmir region)—between the steep cliffs of the Shiwalik Range (south) and the Lesser Himalayas (north). After receiving the Jhelum River near Trimmu, the Chenab empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River.

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INTERNATIONAL
Nepal's EC intensifies preparation for elections of Provincial, Federal Parliaments

In Nepal, the Election Commission(EC) has said that it has intensified the preparation for the upcoming elections of the Provincial and Federal Parliaments.
The Elections will be held on the 20th of November. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya informed that EC had called for the registration of the political parties willing to participate in the election.
International organizations have also been called for election observation in order to hold the election in a free and fair manner. The Commission said that around 10,825 polling stations will be set up for voting.

Kenya: William Ruto declared the winner of presidential election

In Kenya, Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election.
According to the official results, he narrowly beat his rival, RailaOdinga, taking 50.5 per cent of the vote. However, the announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga's campaign.
Mr Odinga's party agent earlier alleged that there were irregularities and mismanagement in the election. This was the first time Mr Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years.

India gift Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka

India gifted a Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka towards strengthening the maritime security of the island nation at a special event in Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake.
Navy and Air Force personnel of Sri Lanka who received training in India for close to four months shall operate the aircraft. They will also receive operational support from their Indian counterparts.
Sri Lankan President RanilWickremesinghe and Indian High Commissioner GopalBaglay graced the occasion among others. The landmark event coincided with the celebration of India’s Independence Day. The aircraft would act as a force multiplier, enabling Sri Lanka to tackle multiple challenges such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling, and other organized forms of crime in its coastal waters more effectively.
Induction of the aircraft is timely in view of the current challenges to Sri Lanka’s maritime security.The capability of the aircraft to undertake Search and Rescue operations exemplifies its direct benefit to the people.

UK becomes 1st country to approve Omicron vaccine

The UK has become the first country to authorise a Covid-19 vaccine tailored to the Omicron variant. The move will pave the way for an autumn booster campaign using Moderna’s two-strain shot.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority - which was the first in the world to approve an original Covid-19 jab - has granted conditional authorisation to the vaccine, which targets both the original strain of the virus and Omicron BA.1.
The vaccine is authorised for use in people aged 18 and over but, to prepare for an expected rise in cases over the winter, the UK plans to focus its booster programme on the over-fifties and those at higher clinical risk of developing severe Covid.

Myanmar court jails Aung San SuuKyi for six years for corruption

A court in Myanmar has found the former State Counsellor and deposed head of the civilian government Aung San SuuKyi guilty of corruption. The court sentenced Aung San SuuKyi for 6 years in jail.
The court has found her guilty of misusing funds from a health and education organisation named Daw KhinKyi Foundation established by her in the memory of her late mother. She faced charges of building a home for the organisation and leasing government-owned land to it at a concessional rate.

Russia, North Korea to expand comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations

Russia and North Korea will expand their comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations. In a letter sent to his counterpart Kim Jong-un on Pyongyang's liberation day, Mr. Putin said the move would be in both countries' interests.
In turn, Mr. Kim said the friendship between both nations had been forged in World War Two with victory over Japan. He added that their "comradely friendship" would grow stronger. The Soviet Union was once a major communist ally of North Korea, offering economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and aid.

ENVIRONMENT
Ramsar sites: 11 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition

India has added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make a total of 75 such sites covering an area of 13,26,677 hectares in the country. 75 Ramsar Sites in 75th Year of Independence India. The 11 new sites designated as Ramsar sites included: four sites in Tamil Nadu, three in Odisha, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
From 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 Indian sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, However, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites. During this year itself, a total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites.
The 11 Indian wetlands which have been designated as new Ramsar sites:
1. Tampara Lake in Odisha;
2. Hirakud Reservoir in Odisha;
3. Ansupa Lake in Odisha;
4. YashwantSagar in Madhya Pradesh;
5. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;
6. SuchindramTheroor Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu;
7. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;
8. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;
9. Thane Creek in Maharashtra;
10. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir;
11. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir.

IMD-UNDP and Japan collaborate for climate action in 10 States and UTs

IMD-UNDP initiates a new project to speed up climate action in 10 States and Union Territories throughout the nation has been unveiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the government of Japan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
During the years 2022–2023, the project of IMD-UNDP will be implemented in the following states: Bihar, Delhi–NCR, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. UNDP India has received a $5.16 million climate grant from Japan for the project of IMD-UNDP. This is a component of the worldwide assistance provided by Japan to 23 nations through the UNDP‘s “Climate Promise — From Pledge to Impact” initiative.

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SPORTS
FIFA suspends All India Football Federation (AIFF)

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFFs.
The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022™, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned.
FIFA is assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.
FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.

Published date : 16 Aug 2022 06:08PM