1. HAL to open office in Kuala Lumpur for business operations in Southeast Asia
Tags: International News
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a MoU to set up an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This office will help HAL to tap new business opportunities for Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) and other requirements of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) such as Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrade.
This will strengthen India's commitment in supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for a sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia.
HAL had submitted a proposal in October 2021 for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs against a global tender issued by RMAF to the Ministry of Defence, Malaysia.
Being one of the largest producers of Russian-origin Su-30 aircraft, HAL stated that it has the capability to provide necessary support to the RMAF for the Su-30 MKM fleet, which is facing low serviceability due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Other HAL platforms such as HTT-40, Do-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) are likely to be inducted by the RMAF in the future.
HAL's office in Kuala Lumpur will market promotion of HAL's range of products and services not only in Malaysia but throughout Southeast Asia.
2. Thai Public Broadcasting Service signs MoU with Prasar Bharati
Tags: International Relations International News
The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) on 18 August signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati for comprehensive cooperation between Thailand and India to strengthen their bilateral ties.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Thai PBS and Prasar Bharati share the same values as public broadcasters.
The MoU will contribute to better understanding between the peoples of the two countries and is the first step in cooperation in exchange of news and programmes.
Indian Ambassador to Thailand Suchitra Durai represented Prasar Bharati in signing the MoU.
Both countries also signed MoU on Health and Medical Research Cooperation between Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Medical Sciences, Thailand.
India -Thailand relations :
The year 2022 is the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Both countries share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.
Thailand was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with India in 1947.
In 2021, Thailand became India's fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN.
In 2021-22, Thailand was India's 22nd top trading partner, with a total trade of US$6.6 billion.
The MoU on Defence Cooperation between India and Thailand was signed on 25 January 2012.
Since 2015, India has participated in the largest Asia Pacific military exercise Ex-Cobra Gold as an 'Observer Plus' category.
3. India, Thailand jointly inaugurate Indian Embassy Residence Complex in Bangkok
Tags: International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the Indian Embassy Residence Complex in Bangkok along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai on 17 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Jaishankar is on a visit to Thailand to attend the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission meeting.
He also paid a visit to the Temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting was held in Bangkok on 17 August.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs of Thailand and S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India.
Both countries discussed advancing contacts in political, economic, security as well as defence, connectivity and health domains.
The two sides also discussed cooperation within ASEAN and BIMSTEC and shared their perspectives on the Indo-Pacific.
About Thailand :
Primeminister - Prayuth Chan-ocha
Capital - Bangkok
Head Of State - King Vajiralongkorn
Official Language -Thai
Official Name - Ratcha Anachak Thai (Kingdom of Thailand)
4. Amit Shah inaugurates National Security Strategies Conference
Tags: National News
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a two day National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference 2022 in New Delhi on 18 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- 600 officials from across the country are participating physically and virtually in this conference.
The conference is organized by the Intelligence Bureau.
On the first day of the conference, various aspects of national security were discussed, including terrorism, radicalization, issues related to cryptocurrencies, unwanted drone technology and challenges posed by Maoist organisations.
During the conference, the Home Minister emphasized the importance of human intelligence to combat terrorism.
He underlined the important role of district level police officers in identifying emerging terror hotspots.
National Security Strategy (NSS) :
It is an important framework for a country to meet the basic needs and security concerns of its citizens.
It addresses external and internal threats to the country.
Such a strategy should be executed within the parameters laid down by the Constitution of India and the democratic political system of the country.
Previous exercises undertaken under NSS was the Kargil Review Committee report (2000), the Report of the Naresh Chandra Task Force on Security (2012).
National Automated Fingerprint Identification System :
Amit Shah also inaugurated the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
This system will help in quick and easy disposal of cases with the help of a centralized fingerprint database.
It has been developed by the National Crime Records Bureau.
5. London home of Dadabhai Naoroji gets Blue Plaque honour
Tags: International News
Dadabhai Naoroji's south London home, where he lived for eight years in the late 19th century, has received a commemorative 'blue plaque' award.
Important facts
Under the 'Blue Plaque' scheme, the English Heritage Charity honours historically significant buildings across London.
Naoroji made seven trips to England and lived in London for more than three decades.
Naoroji's plaque was unveiled on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji (4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917) was a Parsi intellectual, educationist, cotton merchant and early political and social leader of British India.
He is also known as 'Grand Old Man of India' and 'Official Ambassador of India'.
He proposed the principle of economic exit or drain of money.
Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East India Association in London in 1866.
Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India is a major book written by him.
6. Centre notifies India’s 31st elephant reserve in Tamil Nadu
Tags: National News
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced notification of one more elephant reserve (ER) in the country in Tamil Nadu on 12 August 2022.
Important facts
The new reserve will be spread over an area of 1,197 sq km at Agasthyamalai.
This will be the 31st ER of the country after the Singphan Elephant Reserve (ER) in Nagaland was notified in 2018.
Agasthiyamalai is Tamil Nadu’s 5th Elephant Reserve and also a Bioshphere Reserve.
The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) is found in the central and southern Western Ghats, northeast India, eastern India and parts of northern India and southern peninsular India.
It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).
According to the 2017 Census the population of elephants in India has reached up to about 27,312.
Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054).
7. Italy's Lake Garda shrinks to historically low level due to drought
Tags: International News
Italy's worst drought in a long time threatens to shrink the country's largest Lake Garda, pushing its lowest ever recorded.
Important facts
Northern Italy received very little rainfall for months, and snowfall was also reduced by 70% in 2022, drying up important rivers such as the Po, which flow through Italy's agricultural and industrial region.
The dry condition of Italy's longest river, the Po, caused billions of euros in damage to farmers who usually depend on the river to irrigate their fields.
To make up for the loss, the authorities have allowed more and more water from Lake Garda to flow into the local rivers.
But at the end of July 2022, less money was spent protecting the lake and its associated economically important tourism.
Due to the diversion of large amounts of lake water into rivers, the lake has the lowest water level ever recorded.
About Garda Lake
It is best known as the playground lake.
Location - Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige and Lombardy regions in north-west Italy
Best - For fun and games for kids of all ages
8. North Korea fires two cruise missiles from west coast town of Onchon
Tags: International News
North Korea fired two cruise missiles from the west coast city of Onchon on the morning of August 17.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The launch comes as South Korea and the United States begin a four-day preliminary joint exercise in preparation for the long-suspended live field training Ulchi Freedom Shield, which takes place from August 22 to September 1.
South Korean President Yoon Sek-yol said that his country is ready to provide phased economic aid to North Korea if it ends the development of nuclear weapons and begins denuclearization.
Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are powered by jet engines and remain close to the ground, making them difficult to detect.
Most cruise missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Recent missile launches by North Korea :
North Korea has recently conducted a flurry of missile tests, making its 18th launch on August 17 this year.
North Korea only has four tests in 2020, and eight in 2021.
The last missile launch was on June 5 with eight short-range ballistic missiles – which were responded to by South Korea and the US firing eight more missiles into the waters off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.
About North Korea :
Capital - Pyongyang
Official Language - Korean
President - Kim Jong-un
9. US President signs major climate change and health care legislation
Tags: International News
US President Joe Biden has signed a historic climate change and healthcare spending bill into law on August 16.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This law will go a long way in reducing health care costs and combating climate change.
According to the White House, the $740 billion investment bill is the largest commitment to combat climate change in the country's history.
The White House claimed that Biden's Inflation Reduction Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a billion tons in 2030.
This law is ten times bigger than any climate law ever enacted.
The bill provides for significant investment in renewable energy through wind and solar power projects and heavy tax credits for electric vehicles.
The law would also stipulate the cost of the drug for Medicare recipients in excess of $2,000 annually.
The new law will also help the nearly 13 million Americans pay for their health insurance.
Similar climate packages announced by other countries :
In May 2022, Japan announced an ‘Invest in Kisida’ plan.
‘Invest in Kisida’ plan aims for a $1.1 trillion investment to bolster the Japanese economy.
Japan aims to transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030.
In June 2021, the European Union (EU) proposed a similar 'Fit for 55' plan to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030.
10. Ministry of AYUSH signs MoU with MeitY for digitalisation of AYUSH sector
Tags: National News
The Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the AYUSH Grid project.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- As a part of the MoU, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of AYUSH to digitise the AYUSH sector for a period of 3 years.
This MoU is a continuation of an MoU signed in 2019.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will provide technical support including adoption of emerging technologies for the AYUSH Grid project.
Advisory input on the AYUSH Grid project will be provided by a high level advisory committee. The committee will be headed by Secretary AYUSH and co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Ayush Grid Project :
AYUSH Grid is a proposed central information and communication platform that will provide various technical services for standardisation of all systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy) under AYUSH.
The AYUSH Grid project was launched by the Ministry of AYUSH in 2018 to form a backbone for the IT sector.
The project was launched under the Digital India program which supports 'Information and Technology' to enhance service quality and improve service delivery.
The project will allow integration of all stakeholders and services or functions related to AYUSH systems of health care.
