1. IMF agrees to lend Sri Lanka $2.9 billion
Tags: International News
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 1 September approved a loan of $2.9 billion to Sri Lanka.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- It has been extended for a period of four years with conditions on debt restructuring and action on corruption.
This step has been taken after a week-long discussion between the IMF and Sri Lankan officials.
The IMF mission was led by Peter Breuer and Masahiro Nozaki who were in Sri Lanka from 24 August to 1 September.
The newly expanded facility will help Sri Lanka in restoring macroeconomic and debt stability.
It will help in safeguarding financial stability, reducing corruption and unlocking Sri Lanka's growth potential.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948.
It is going through a period of skyrocketing inflation, dollar shortage and devaluation of the local currency due to wrong financial decisions.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF) :
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a United Nations (UN) specialised agency, was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference to secure international monetary policies.
The International Monetary Fund is an organisation with 189 member countries.
First Deputy Managing Director- Geeta Gopinath
Headquarters- Washington, D.C., U.S.
Managing Director- Kristalina Georgieva
Chief Economist - Pierre Olivier Gourinchas
2. Super Typhoon Hinnamnor
Tags: International News
According to a forecast by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the strongest tropical storm of 2022 'Super Typhoon Hinnamnor' is moving toward the East China Sea, threatening Japan's southern islands.
About Super Typhoon Hinnamnor :
It is similar to a category-5 hurricane.
It is currently moving across the East China Sea, threatening the southern islands of Japan and the eastern coast of China.
It is bringing about 257 kilometres per hour and gusts of 314 kilometres per hour.
Hinnamanor is the 11th and strongest tropical storm of 2022.
The epicentre of the storm was about 643 km south-southeast of the island of Kyushu, Japan.
About Tropical Storms :
Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are types of tropical storms.
But they are given different names depending on where they appear.
Hurricanes are tropical storms that form over the North Atlantic Ocean and the Northeast Pacific.
Cyclones form over the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
Typhoons form over the northwest Pacific Ocean.
To be classified as a super typhoon, a hurricane needs to attain sustained wind speeds of at least 240 kmph.
3. US grounds Chinook chopper fleet over engine fires
Tags: Defence International News
The US military has stopped its fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters from flying due to the threat of a helicopter engine fire.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The US military operates approximately 400 Chinook helicopters which are medium-lift, multi-role helicopters manufactured by Boeing.
They perform a variety of tasks in military operations.
The Chinook fleet has been halted by the US military because it is suspected that some of its engines may catch fire.
India's concern :
The Indian Air Force (IAF) too operates a fleet of Chinook helicopters.
The IAF operates a fleet of 15 Chinook helicopters and it has not grounded them so far.
Chinook was inducted into IAF in 2019.
One helicopter of Chinook unit is based in Chandigarh whereas the other is based at Mohanbari airbase in Assam.
The Indian Air Force has sought details from US defence manufacturer Boeing on the reasons for shutting down its entire fleet of Chinook helicopters.
About Chinook Helicopters :
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined, heavy-lift helicopter.
It is developed by the American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems).
Each helicopter can carry goods and cargo up to 9.6 tonnes.
It can provide assistance during disaster relief, medical, search and rescue missions, aircraft recovery and parachute drops.
4. G20 Digital Innovation Network event organised at Bali, Indonesia
Tags: Summits International News
The G20 Digital Innovation Network event will be held from September 2-4 at the Bali International Convention Centre, Bali, Indonesia.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Startups based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) will participate in this program.
Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) has announced that four startups from Telangana AI Mission have been selected by MeitY to represent India in the G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN).
T-AIM is a state government initiative supported by NASSCOM.
The four startups representing India in the G20 Digital Innovation Network are Aarficus, EduBooks, Unimart and MayaMD.
All these are supported by the Revv Up program of Telangana Government.
Goal of the G20 Digital Innovation Network :
The forum aims to find 100 most promising startups in 5 priority areas (Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Smart Society, Financial Inclusion and Supply Chain).
Theme of G20 Digital Innovation Network 2022 :
The theme of this year's event is 'The Rise of Digital Economy: Post-Pandemic Recovery and Beyond'.
G20 Digital Innovation Network program launched :
This forum was started by Italy in the year 2021 by selecting the ten best startups in the name of G20 Digital Innovation League.
This year it has been renamed the G20 Digital Innovation Network.
About Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) :
Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) Mission is an AI mission run by the Government of Telangana, which is operated by NASSCOM.
Under T-AIM, a program called "Revv Up" is also run to enable AI startup. Which helps in providing a global platform to these startup groups for emerging technologies.
Revv Up is a free-of-equity-or-cost acceleration program by T-AIM specifically designed for early-stage AI startups.
5. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev dies at the age of 91
Tags: Person in news International News
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev died on 30 August at the age of 91.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- In June, he was taken to the hospital after suffering from a serious kidney ailment.
He played an important role in ending the Cold War.
About Mikhail Gorbachev :
He was born in 1931 in southern Russia.
Gorbachev was the last leader of the former Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, he pushed for stronger Soviet-India ties.
During his tenure, he visited India twice in 1986 and 1988.
He became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party in 1985.
He wanted to reform the communist regime on the lines of democratic principles by giving freedom to the citizens.
Gorbachev's policies helped to open up the Soviet economy and liberalize society in the late 1980s.
He played a major role in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from a nearly decade-long military operation in Afghanistan.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 "for his role in the radical change in East-West relations".
Cold War :
The Cold War was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and its allies that developed after World War II.
This enmity between the two superpowers was first named the Cold War by George Orwell in an article published in 1945.
Its period is considered to be between 1945 to 1991.
The term "cold" is used because there was no direct large-scale war between the two sides.
6. NASA postpones launch of Artemis 1 mission to Moon due to malfunctioning core stage engine
Tags: Science and Technology International News
NASA has postponed the launch of the Artemis 1 mission to the Moon on August 29 due to a faulty core stage engine.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The launch was postponed due to fuel leakage and engine problems.
- After many years of hard work, the US space agency was going to send its mission to the Moon.
- The mission is important because in view of its success, humans have to be sent to the moon in the future.
- Once launched, Artemis 1 will test the Orion spacecraft, which will orbit the Moon and one day take human crew members there.
- The cost of Artemis 1 is estimated at $4 billion.
What is Artemis 1?
- It is named after the mythical twin sister of Apollo, Artemis.
- This spacecraft is the world's most powerful rocket, capable of carrying more payloads into deep space than any other vehicle.
- The first flight of the new Space Launch System (SLS), Artemis 1 is a heavy-lift vehicle.
- Artemis 1 is an uncrewed mission.
- It will have three test dummies – Helga, Zohar and Moonikin Campos – equipped with sensors to measure vibrations, cosmic radiation and other conditions.
- During the six-week long mission, Artemis 1 and the capsule will cover a distance of about 65,000 km to the Moon.
Why was the launch postponed?
- The launch was postponed due to a fault in the RS-25 engine, which had to be mixed with liquid hydrogen and oxygen to condition it before launch.
- One of its engines was not bleeding as expected.
- The launch was postponed because the launch team was unable to resolve these issues.
- A crack was also visible on the side of the inner tank.
About Artemis 1 mission :
- For the first time in 50 years since the end of the Apollo program, the launch of Artemis 1 is an ambitious US mission to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon.
- The Artemis 1 launch will also be the first flight of NASA's 21st century moon-exploration program.
- With Artemis 1 on the surface of the Moon, NASA aims to demonstrate new technologies, business approaches and capabilities that are essential for future explorations, including Mars.
- The launch aims to further aid in the study of the Moon, its origin and history.
ISRO’s Moon Exploration Mission :
- Chandrayaan 1
- Chandrayaan-2
- The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently announced India's third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, which will consist of a lander and a rover.
7. Africa adopt PEN-PLUS strategy against non-communicable diseases
Tags: International News
Recently Africa has adopted a new strategy called the Pen-Plus strategy to promote access to diagnosis, treatment and care of serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Pen-plus strategy :
It is a regional strategy to address serious non-communicable diseases in first-level referral health facilities.
The strategy aims to bridge the gap in access to care for patients with chronic and severe NCDs.
It urges countries to establish standardised programs to combat chronic and serious non-communicable diseases to ensure that essential medicines, technologies and diagnostics are available and accessible in district hospitals.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Non-Communicable Diseases :
Non-communicable diseases are medical conditions or diseases that are not spread by infectious agents.
Non-communicable diseases are also known as chronic diseases because they are long-lasting and result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
NCDs include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma etc.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these cause 71% of deaths globally.
The proportion of mortality due to NCDs in the African region ranges between 27-88%.
Status of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India :
About 58 million people in India die from NCDs every year (WHO report, 2015) or in other words 1 in 4 Indians are at risk of dying from NCDs before they reach the age of 70.
Further it has been found that the duration of 'Disability-adjusted Life Years' (DALYs) due to NCDs has increased by 30% in the year 1990 to 55% in the year 2016 and the proportion of deaths due to it has also increased .
NCDs (for all types of deaths) increased from 37% in 1990 to 61% in 2016.
8. For the first time, India votes against Russia in UNSC during procedural vote on Ukraine
Tags: International News
India for the first time on August 24 voted against Russia during a “procedural vote” at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Ukraine.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The UNSC held a meeting to take stock of the six-month-old Russia-Ukraine conflict on the 31st anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
A procedural vote was requested regarding the participation of the Ukrainian President in the meeting held by video tele-conference.
The 15-member UNSC invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address a meeting through a video tele-conference.
This is the first time India has voted against Russia on the Ukraine-Russia issue since Russian military action began in February.
So far, India has not participated in the UN Security Council on Ukraine due to the displeasure of the Western powers led by the United States.
Western countries, including the US, have imposed major economic and other sanctions on Russia after the attack on Ukraine.
India has so far not criticised Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
India has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue.
India has also expressed its support for all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the two countries.
About UNSC :
It was established in 1945 by the United Nations Charter.
It is one of the six major organs of the United Nations.
The other 5 organs of the United Nations are - the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.
It has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, collectively known as the P5.
India is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC for a two-year term, which expires in December.
Any one of them can veto a resolution.
Headquarters - New York
9. Argentina shows interest in Made in India 'Tejas' fighter aircraft
Tags: Defence International News
Argentina has shown interest to buy Tejas fighter aircraft manufactured in India under Make in India.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged Argentina's interest in Tejas fighter aircraft and highlighted the importance of the proposal to enhance strategic cooperation of bilateral ties.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Argentina Minister of Foreign Affairs Santiago Cafiero jointly presided over a Joint Commission Meeting in Buenos Aires.
During the meeting, both sides underlined the importance of bilateral relations in defence, nuclear energy, space, pharma, science and technology, yoga, climate change and economic cooperation.
Australia, Egypt, the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines are also interested in Tejas jets.
TEJAS fighter aircraft :
It is an 'Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft'.
It has been jointly developed by 'Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)' and 'Hindustan Aeronautics Limited' (HAL).
It is the smallest-lightweight single-engine 'Multirole Tactical Fighter Aircraft'.
It has been designed with an aim to reduce India's dependence on Russia's MiG-21 fighter jets and move towards self-reliance in the field of national security.
It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface weapons.
It is capable of refueling in the sky during the journey and has a maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
It can achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has a range of 3,000 km.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Types of tejas :
Tejas Trainer
LCA Navy
LCA Tejas Navy MK2
LCA Tejas Mk-1A
Argentina :
President - Alberto Fernández
Capital - Buenos Aires
Currency - Argentine peso
Official Language -Spanish
location - South America continent
10. Thailand constitutional court suspends PM Prayuth Chan-ocha
Tags: Person in news International News
The constitution court of Thailand on 25 August temporarily suspended prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha over allegations that he has continued in the post after the expiry of his term.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The court ruled that the PM would remain suspended until the allegations were investigated.
According to the Constitution of Thailand, the prime minister cannot hold office for more than eight years.
Prayuth Chan-ocha became prime minister after a coup in 2014, and eight years have passed since then.
As military leader, Prayuth seized power after a coup in May 2014 and, in August 2014, appointed himself prime minister of the new military government.
Hence the opposition argues that his term as prime minister began in August 2014 and ended this week.
The court considered the petition and supporting documents and gave this decision on the basis of factual doubts.
The court, with a majority of four out of five judges, with effect from 24 August 2022, said that Prayuth be suspended as prime minister until the court issues a final decision.
Deputy Prime Minister Pravit Wongsuwan will currently be the interim head of government.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Thailand :
Capital - Bangkok
Official Language - Thai
