Current affairs : August 20, 2016
India ranks 39th in Asia Pacific on fixed broadband
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific (ESCAP), in its report, has placed India at 39th position in terms of
fixed broadband adoption among Asia Pacific countries.
- The report is named- ‘State of ICT in Asia and the Pacific 2016: Uncovering the Widening Broadband Divide’.
Prices of essential drugs capped
NPPA has fixed/revised ceiling prices of 22 scheduled formulations
of Schedule-I under Drugs (Price Control) Amendment Order, 2016 and retail
price of 13 formulations under DPCO, 2013. 22 essential drugs include drugs
used for treatment of cancer, HIV, bacterial infections and malaria among
others.
Poor air quality across 41 cities in 2015,
says CPCB survey
According to a latest analysis released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in 2015, 41 Indian cities with a million-plus population
faced bad air quality in nearly 60% of the total days monitored.
- Days wherein all monitored parameters like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter are within the prescribed norms were considered good days while remaining monitoring days when value of one or the other parameter exceeds the norms were categorised as bad days.
P.V.Sindhu won Silver medal in Rio Olympics-2016:
P.V. Sindhu is the first Indian woman to receive Olympic Silver medal.
P.V. Sindhu is the first Indian woman to receive Olympic Silver medal.
- She was defeated by Spanish player and world number one Carolina Marin.
It is a virtual-reality headset unveiled by Intel recently. The head-mounted display consists of a set of goggles that contain the computing power needed to run the headset.
- The headset is a completely standalone device, with no need to hook up to a computer or external sensors, so wearers can move around and explore virtual environments with total freedom.
- The headset uses Intel’s RealSense cameras, which have depth-sensing capabilities, to allow, without the need for additional sensors, objects such as the user’s hands to be tracked and entered into the virtual world displayed within the goggles.
- The device creates mixed reality, which drags real-world objects into the virtual realm using 3D cameras.
XMU-MP-1:
It is a drug discovered by Chinese scientists,
which can promote repair and regeneration in the liver, intestines and skin. In
the future, the drug may well do away the need for organ transplant or complex
biomaterial and cell therapies.
- The XMU-MP-1 has been proven to inhibit the activity of MST1/2, the central component of this pathway and promote cell growth in four different mouse models with acute and chronic injuries, including acetaminophen-induced injury, which is a common cause of liver failure worldwide.
Urjit
Patel appointed as next RBI Governor:
Urjit Patel is the new Reserve Bank of India
Governor, the Finance Ministry announced.
- Patel will succeed Raghuram Rajan as the RBI chair once
he steps down on September 3, after his term comes to an end.
- He will be India's 24th RBI Governor.
- One of the RBI's four deputy governors, Patel, 52, was reappointed in January for another three years. He has run the central bank's monetary policy department since 2013 and is viewed as a leading contender for the governor's job.
PM
Modi to be new brand ambassador of Incredible India
Indian government’s
Tourism Ministry has decided that instead of getting a brand ambassador for the
Incredible India campaign, it will make Prime Minister Narendra Modi the face
of the campaign.
- But his face will be used for the advertisements and promotional films. Even Gujarat Tourism’s prosperity will also be mentioned.
PM
Modi's monogrammed suit enters Guinness Records as 'most expensive suit sold'
The monogrammed suit
worn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with American President
Barack Obama last year, which created huge controversy, entered Guinness Book
of World Records as ‘the most expensive suit sold’.
- The suit was sold at an auction for Rs 4.31 crore.
Two-day
meeting of BRICS women Parliamentarian's forum to begin in Jaipur today
The two-day meeting of
the BRICS Women's Parliamentarian Forum will begin here on Saturday in which 42
delegates from member countries will participate.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will inaugurate the meeting which will have different plenary sessions.
- A total of 42 delegates are scheduled to attend the meeting.
Cipla,
Godrej recognized in Fortune ‘Change the World’ list:
India’s pharmaceutical
giant Cipla Ltd and consumer goods conglomerate Godrej have been recognized by
Fortune magazine in a list of global firms changing the world for the good and
having a positive social impact through their activities.
- Cipla is ranked 46th in the list of 50 followed by Godrej on the 48th spot, the only Indian companies in the list.
- The list has been topped by British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and includes Swiss food products major Nestlé (5), India-born Ajay Banga-led Mastercard (7).
KVIC
approves hike in wages of Khadi Artisans:
Khadi and Village
Industries Commission (KVIC) has approved a wage hike along with a hike in
Market Development Assistance.
- The KVIC has informed that spinners will now earn 5.50 rupees instead of 4 rupees per hank with an additional 10 percent Market Development Assistance.
Indian-American
inducted in Texas Women's Hall of Fame:
Renu Khator,
Indian-American woman academic, will be inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of
Fame for making significant contribution for the benefit of the US' second
largest state.
- Dr. Renu Khator – Public Service is the chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston.
Usain
Bolt wins 200m to complete hat-trick:
Jamaican's
sprinter Usain Bolt has won the 200 metres final to add to his 100m title
at the Rio Olympics 2016. Bolt eased to victory in the 200m final in 19.78
seconds.
- He had also won the 200 metres race in 2008 Bejing and London 2012. This was his ninth gold medal. The legendary runner announced that he will retire from the sport next year.
