NATIONAL NEWS

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)

• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the 'Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)', a network managed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• It was launched during the concluding day of the G20 Health Ministers' meeting held in Gandhinagar on 19 August 2023.

• Apart from the launch of GIDH, Dr. Mandaviya also unveiled the World Bank's flagship report 'Digital-in-Health - Unlocking Value for Everyone'.

• Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: There is a special emphasis on combating antimicrobial resistance and adopting the One Health framework.

• Strengthening Pharmaceutical Sector Cooperation: Enhancing cooperation within the pharmaceutical sector to address common challenges.

• Digital health innovation: exploring innovative approaches in the realm of digital health to improve health care outcomes.

Central Water Commission Chairman Launches ‘Floodwatch’ Mobile App

• Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairman Kushwinder Vohra launched the ‘Floodwatch’ mobile application.
• The objective of the ‘Floodwatch’ mobile app is to disseminate real-time flood information and forecasts up to 7 days to the public through mobile phones.
• User-friendly app developed in-house with readable and audio transmission available in English and Hindi.
• Floodwatch uses satellite data analysis, mathematical modeling, and real-time monitoring.
• Its objective is to provide accurate and timely flood forecasts.
• Users can check the current flood conditions across the country in real-time.
• The app collects river flow data in real-time from various sources.

India’s First 3D-Printed Post Office

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the first 3D-printed post office of India in Bengaluru's Cambridge Layout near Ulsoor.
• Located in Cambridge Layout near Ulsoor, this post office has set a new benchmark for efficiency, sustainability, and design.
• The post office, encompassing an area of 1,021 square feet, was swiftly completed in just 43 days.
• The decision to employ 3D printing technology was underpinned by its potential to save costs by up to 30% and drastically reduce construction time.
• Unlike traditional methods, the layer-by-layer approach allowed for a more streamlined and efficient process, leading to substantial economic benefits.
• This technique significantly reduced construction time and costs, marking a departure from conventional construction techniques.

Tamil Nadu Government Launches Night Street Racing Circuit

• Tamil Nadu Government and Racing Promotion Pvt Ltd (RRPL) launched a new street circuit in Chennai.
• The 3.5 km track around the Island Ground is set to become the first street circuit in India and South Asia to host a night race.
• The circuit will have elevation changes and will feature 19 corners, including several straights.
• It will showcase two important racing championships: the F4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League.
• The State Department of Art and Technology (SDAT) is ready to allocate a substantial amount of Rs 42 crore for successfully organizing this event.

SPORTS

India Secures Double Gold Medal in Archery

• India won the gold medal in the men's and women's team compound archery event at the World Cup Stage 4 in Paris on 19 August 2023.
• Men's team win: India's men's compound team consisting of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Prathamesh Javakar defeated the second-seeded American team led by Chris Scheff, James Lutz, and Sawyer Sullivan with a score of 236-232. of.
• Women's team success: The Indian women's compound team comprising Jyoti Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swamy, and Preneet Kaur emerged victorious.
• Coming off their recent World Championship win in Berlin, this team defeated Mexico by a narrow margin of one point.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

• Spain secured their first ever Women’s World Cup title with a 1-0 win over England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
• The win marks a historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign for Spain.
• Captain Olga Carmona smashed the decisive goal as Spain defeated England 1-0 to lift the FIFA Women’s World Cup title.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MD and CEO of South Indian Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of PR Seshadri as the Managing Director and CEO of South Indian Bank.
• The appointment of PR Seshadri is for a period of three years, with effect from 01 October 2023.
• He is an accomplished banker with diverse experiences across various businesses, functional areas, and geographies.
• He has managed major commercial banking business lines, demonstrated enterprise-level management skills, and effectively handled investor relations, regulatory affairs, and boards across multiple locations.
• He is recognized as a respected business leader known for building and leading large teams to achieve complex business objectives.

DEFENCE

IAF's 'Tarang Shakti' Multinational Exercise Rescheduled

• The 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise originally planned for October has been postponed to mid-2024.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise.
• The rescheduling was due to several participating air forces being unable to attend this year's event.
• 'Tarang Shakti' will include several major air forces such as France, the UK, Australia, the US, and Japan.
• These countries will contribute fighter jets, military transport aircraft, and mid-air refuellers to the exercise.
• In addition, six other countries have been invited as observers, highlighting the global importance of the exercise.
• Expected to involve around 12 air forces, 'Tarang Shakti' aims to showcase international cooperation and military capabilities.
• The main goal of the exercise is to enhance military coordination and promote seamless interaction between the participating nations.
• The exercise is set to be India's most comprehensive air exercise, underscoring its growing role in global military cooperation.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Mosquito Day

• World Mosquito Day is celebrated every year on August 20.

• It is celebrated to commemorate the contributions of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross who was the first person to discover the connection between malaria and female anopheline mosquitoes.

• The main motive behind observing World Mosquito Day is to make a world free of mosquito-borne diseases.

• Every year, World Mosquito Day is celebrated to create awareness about the dangers of mosquitoes, the ways by which we can protect ourselves from these diseases, and to rise together to combat these insects.

OBITUTARY

Renowned Nuclear Physicist Awardee Bikash Sinha

• Renowned nuclear physicist Bikash Sinha passed away at the age of 78 in Kolkata.
• He was the former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre.
• Sinha specialised in nuclear physics, high energy physics, Quark Gluon Plasma, and early cosmology.
• For the first time, he led the Indian team to participate in the experiments of the European Atomic Research Organization in Geneva.
• Sinha was the recipient of N. Bose Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress Association in 1994.
• He was awarded the Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany, in November 2005.
• He was awarded the RD Birla Award for Excellence in Physics in 2002.
• He was awarded the Megnhad Saha Memorial Lecture Award (2007) from The National Academy of Sciences, India.
• He was conferred by the West Bengal government the state’s highest award ‘Bangabibhushan’ in 2022 and also the ‘Rabindra Smriti Puraskar’ in 2022.
• Sinha was conferred the Padma Bhushan Award in 2010 for his significant contribution in science and technology.
• He also received the Padma Shri in 2001.

Padma Shri Scientist Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao

• An eminent Indian scientist and Padma Shri awardee Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao, popularly known as MRS Rao passed away in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• He was the 1st scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology research in India.
• He was working as an Honorary Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and was actively running the Chromatin Biology laboratory in the institute.
• From 2003–2013 he was president of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bangalore.
• He was awarded the 4th-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, for Science and Engineering in 2010.
• He was also honoured by the Karnataka state government with the Sir MV Visvesvaraya Award for his contribution to the field of science and research.