Latest Current Affairs For Monday 22nd August, 2022

India, Australia conclude maritime exercise near Perth

The Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) between the navies of India and Australia concluded. 

INS Sumedha participated with HMAS Anzac in the exercise reaffirming the strong navy-to-navy links and interoperability between Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy.

The MPX included cross deck landing of helicopters, tactical manoeuvres and a farewell steam past.

Indian Navy's INS Sumedha was docked at Perth in Australia to celebrate India's 76th Independence Day.

India's star Olympic football captain Samar 'Badru' Banerjee' passes away

Former India football team captain Samar 'Badru' Banerjee, passed away.

He led the country to a historic 4-place finish in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Fondly known as ‘Badru Da’, he was suffering from Alzheimer’s, Azotemia and high-blood pressure-related ailments.

Besides guiding Mohun Bagan to several trophies including their 1st ever Durand Cup (1953), Rovers Cup (1955), Banerjee has also won the Santosh Trophy twice as a player (1953, 1955) and once as coach (1962).

Scotland museum signs deal to return 7 ancient artefacts to India

Seven artefacts, including a stone door jamb stolen from a Hindu temple in Uttar Pradesh, have been transferred back to India by Glasgow’s museums.

This is the part of Scotland’s “largest-ever” repatriation of objects from a single collection.

Glasgow Life, a charitable organization that runs the city’s museums, had confirmed the handover earlier this year and the arrangement was formalized.

The 7 antiquities include a ceremonial Indo-Persian talwar or sword. 

Odisha to prepare wildlife management plan in newly allotted coal blocks

The Odisha government has decided to prepare a comprehensive wildlife management plan through national-level institutes for newly allotted coal block areas.

The developments come keeping in view the safety of wild animals including elephants.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra to engage reputed organizations like the Wildlife Institute of India or the Indian Institute of Science.

Larsen & Toubro commissions new green hydrogen plant at Hazira in Gujarat

Larson & Toubro commissioned a new green hydrogen plant at Hazira in Gujarat.

The development comes 5 months after the company inked a joint venture with Indian Oil Corporation and ReNew Power for the production of green hydrogen. 

L&T and IOC had also inked a separate joint venture for the production of electrolysers.

The plant will produce 45 kg of green hydrogen daily, which will be used for captive consumption in the company’s Hazira manufacturing complex.

Flipkart signs pact with IIMR to groom FPOs, SHGs

Flipkart has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) to give Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) access to markets.

As part of the partnership, Flipkart aims to empower local farming communities and SHGs by providing a pan-India market access to more than 400 million customers.

ICAR-IIMR will extend support with infrastructure and necessary approvals to take the partnership forward.

RBI cancels licence of Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank

The Reserve Bank of India has canceled the licence of Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank, Karnataka the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

As per the data submitted by the bank, more than 99 percent of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

The cooperative bank ceases to carry on banking business, with effect from the close of business on 18 Aug.

Manisha Kalyan becomes 1st Indian to play in UEFA Women's Champions League

Young striker Manisha Kalyan has become the 1st Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women's Champions League.

She made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus.

She replaced Cyprus' Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute at the Makareio Stadium. 

She was recently awarded the AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

Kalyan is the 2nd player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club. 

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy.