Today's Current Affairs-16th August 2022

INTERNATIONAL

UK becomes world's first country to approve vaccine against both Omicron & original COVID strain

• The UK on Monday became the world's first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for both the Omicron variant and the original coronavirus strain.The 'bivalent' vaccine has been made by US drugmaker Moderna.
• "An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna that targets two coronavirus variants (known as a “bivalent” vaccine) has been approved for adult booster doses by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after it was found to meet the UK regulator’s standards of safety, quality and effectiveness," the UK government in a press release said.
• The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in a statement said it had approved the vaccine for adult booster doses "after it was found to meet the UK regulator's standards of safety, quality and effectiveness".

About UK:

Prime Minister: Boris Johnson 

Capital: London

Currency: Pound sterling

 NATIONAL

Operation Yatri Suraksha: RPF nabs 365 suspects, recovers stolen property worth Rs 1 crore in July

• Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF), have launched a pan-India operation known as Operation Yatri Suraksha. Under this initiative, several steps are taken to provide round-the-clock security to passengers. To kickstart Operation Yatri Suraksha, the RPF launched a month-long pan-India drive against criminals who loot passengers in July 2022. During the drive, the RPF caught 365 suspects who were handed over to the concerned GRPs for legal action.
• As part of this initiative, several steps are being taken to provide foolproof security to passengers i.e., train escorting, visible presence on stations, surveillance through CCTV, surveillance on active criminals, collection of intelligence about the criminals and action thereupon, identifying black spots and crime-prone trains/sections and enhancing security thereat among others to formulate an actionable strategy to reduce crime against passengers.

About Railway Protection Force (RPF):

Minister of Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Agency executive: Sanjay Chander, IPS, Director General, RPF

Founded: 1959

General nature: Federal law enforcement

President Smt Droupadi Murmu approves President’s Tatrakshak Medal and Tatrakshak Medals to ICG Personnel on the eve of Independence Day

• President Smt Droupadi Murmu, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to the following Indian Coast Guard Personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished/meritorious service on the eve of the Independence Day 2022.

President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service)

1. IG Shri Dinesh Rajaputhran, TM (0142-V) (Retd)
2. Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry)
3. Commandant Kunal Chandrakant Naik (0637-V)

Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service)

1. DIG Shri Prashant Kumar Sharma (0396-X)
2. DIG Shri Pankaj Verma (0465-E)
3. Shri Prakash, PSE (ER), 07246-T

 IMPORTANT DAYS

Happy Navroz 2022: 16^th

• Happy Navroz! The Parsi New Year is being celebrated on 16th August 2022, as per the Shehenshai calendar. Also known as 'Jamshedi Navroz', it is a joyous occasion for Parsis all over the world. The term 'Navroz' is the combination of the Persian words 'Nav' meaning new, and 'Roz' meaning day. Thus, it signifies the first day of the new year and is also believed to be the day when Persian king Jamshed ascended the throne. A lavish feast is customary to the Parsi New Year, comprising many delightful dishes. We have collated a wonderful list of dishes that are a must-have on Navroz 2022.

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

IRDAI organises hackathon, invites innovative solutions for insurance sector

• Insurance regulator IRDAI has invited entities to develop technology-driven innovative solutions for automated death claim settlement, curtail miss-selling, and other areas of the insurance ecosystem, with an aim to protect the interest of policyholders. Applications have been invited by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) as part of its first hackathon -- Bima Manthan 2022 -- with the theme 'Innovation in Insurance'.
• "The hackathon invites participants to identify and develop solutions that have the potential to make the insurance available to every individual in a seamless and swift manner with the use of technology and protecting the interests of the policyholders," the regulator said in a statement.
• IRDAI has sought innovative ideas/solutions for automated death claim settlement using technology and tech-based solution to curtail miss-selling of insurance products

About IRDAI:

Founded: 1999

Sector: Insurance

Headquarters: Hyderabad

Chairperson: Debasish Panda

Key people: Debasish Panda, IAS (Chairperson)

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

1082 Police personnel awarded Police Medals this year

• A total of one thousand 82 Police personnel have been awarded Police Medals on the occasion of Independence Day, 2022. 347 personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, 87 with President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 648 personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
• 109 CRPF personnel and 108 Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel have been awarded Police Medal for Gallantry.
• Seven personnel have been awarded President’s Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service and 38 personnel have been given the Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Kotak Mahindra Bank launches lifestyle-focused corporate salary account

• Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a lifestyle-focused salary account named “Kotak Creme”. This account will offer an upgraded experience to its customers working in MNCs, retails, law firms, unicorns etc. The account will be available to all corporates in India and will also come with a host of privileges and rewards across lifestyle, travel, healthcare, dining, skilling and learning experiences.
• Kotak Crème is being launched in Bengaluru owing to the city’s diverse hotbed of talent and corporates. Each salary account comes with preferential banking services, including a complimentary Zen Credit Card. The account holder can avail of complimentary airport lounge access and also gift Privy League privileges to their family members. Kotak Crème also offers subscriptions to top lifestyle brands offering Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Knowledge/Learning & Fitness experiences.
• It provides access to unlimited learning and entertainment powered by content and podcast platforms including Amazon Kindle and Disney Hotstar and health and fitness benefits led by special offers from Pharmeasy and Curefit.

About Kotak Mahindra Bank:

CEO: Uday Kotak;

Headquarters: Mumbai;

Founded: February 2003.

India's wholesale inflation in July 2022 eases to 13.93 percent, lowest in 5 months

• The wholesale price-based inflation (WPI) eased to a five-month low of 13.93 per cent in July 2022 on easing prices of food articles and manufactured products. It was 11.57 per cent in July last year.
• The WPI-based inflation softened for the second consecutive month in July, raising hopes of further decline in wholesale prices in the months to come.
• The Wholesale Price Index-based inflation, after scaling a record high of 15.88 per cent in May, declined to 15.18 per cent in June. It was 13.43 per cent in February.
• The WPI inflation continued its declining trend for the second month in July but remained in double-digits for the 16th consecutive month beginning April last year.
• Inflation in food articles in July eased to 10.77 per cent from 14.39 per cent in June.

India may become a $5 trillion economy by FY29 if GDP grows at 9% for 5 years

• India may become a USD five trillion economy by 2028-29 only if the GDP grows at nine per cent per annum consistently for the next five years, former RBI Governor D Subbarao said on Monday.
• Speaking at Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry on India @75- Marching Towards USD 5 Trillion Economy on the occasion of 75 years of Indian Independence, he said there are eight key challenges for India to overcome to achieve the dream of 5 trillion economy.
• "India can become a 5 trillion economy as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not before 2028-29. Also for this we need to clock an annual GDP growth of 9 per cent consistently for the next 5 years… I see eight key challenges for India to overcome to achieve the dream of USD five trillion economy," a press release from FTCCI quoted Subbarao as saying.

 India to start supplying petrol with 20% ethanol from April 2023

• India will start supplying petrol with 20 per cent ethanol at select petrol pumps from April next year and will ramp up supplies thereafter as it looks to cut oil import dependence and address environmental issues. Oil Minister Hardeep Puri said a fifth of petrol will be made up of ethanol by 2025.
• "E20 petrol (petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol) in some quantity will be available from April 2023 and the rest to be covered by 2025," he said.