Today's Current Affairs 24th August 2023

INTERNATIONAL

African swine fever: Highly contagious virus hit 49 countries since 2021

• Since its resurgence in January 2021, the highly contagious African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has rampantly spread across the globe, infiltrating 49 countries by August 2023. The virus, infamous for its nearly 100% fatality rate among domestic and wild pigs, has wrought havoc on pig populations, with over 1.5 million animals lost within this timeframe. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), a prominent intergovernmental organization dedicated to combatting animal diseases, released a report detailing this alarming spread on August 21, 2023.
• Since January 2021, the highly contagious African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has spread to 49 countries by August 2023.
• This virus affects both domestic and wild pigs, causing nearly 100% mortality.
• Over 1.5 million animals have been lost due to ASF, with devastating consequences for pig populations.

Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia among 6 countries to join the BRICS alliance

• In a significant geopolitical development, the BRICS alliance, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has announced the inclusion of six new member countries. This expansion marks a notable shift in the alliance’s composition and has the potential to reshape the dynamics of global cooperation.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the host nation of the recent BRICS summit, made a historic announcement on August 24th, revealing the names of the new entrants to the alliance. The expanded BRICS now welcomes Argentina, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt into its fold. This move not only diversifies the alliance but also provides a platform for emerging economies from different regions to align their interests on the global stage.
• This expansion was not a sudden development but rather the result of a well-considered decision. Official sources had previously indicated that BRICS was in the process of extending invitations to potential new members. This strategic move carries the potential to forge connections with nations eager to collaborate within a coalition dedicated to advancing the concerns of the “Global South.”

 NATIONAL

Govt To Launch GST Reward Scheme In 6 States, UTs From September 1

• In a significant move towards enhancing transparency in financial transactions and empowering consumers, the Indian government is set to launch the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘ invoice incentive scheme. This pioneering scheme, scheduled to commence from September 1, aims to promote the habit of requesting bills during purchases, thereby fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility and accountability.
• The ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ scheme, conceptualized by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), is designed to instill a sense of confidence and assurance among consumers while making purchases. The scheme is geared towards creating awareness about the importance of receiving genuine invoices for business-to-consumer transactions, fostering a more transparent economy.
• Under this scheme, consumers are offered a compelling incentive to demand bills for their purchases. The range of cash prizes extends from ₹10,000 to a whopping ₹1 crore. These prizes will be awarded through monthly and quarterly draws, making participation exciting and rewarding. The scheme’s architecture ensures that individuals stand a chance to win substantial cash rewards by simply requesting legitimate invoices during their transactions.

 SPORTS

Wrestling Federation of India membership suspended on International stage

• The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), India’s governing body for wrestling, has faced suspension from the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to ongoing controversies and prolonged delays in conducting essential elections. As a consequence of this suspension, Indian wrestlers will be unable to compete under the Indian flag in the upcoming World Championships. Instead, they will participate as ‘neutral athletes’ in the Olympic-qualifying World Championships.
• The WFI’s scheduled elections, initially set for June 2023, have been repeatedly postponed due to protests by Indian wrestlers and legal challenges from various state units. This delay prompted the UWW, the global authority for wrestling, to suspend the WFI’s membership. The suspension comes as a result of the federation’s failure to meet the required election timeline.
• With the WFI’s membership suspended, Indian wrestlers are compelled to compete as ‘neutral athletes’ in the upcoming Olympic-qualifying World Championships, commencing on September 16. This is a direct outcome of the ad-hoc panel, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, failing to organize the elections within the 45-day window. However, Indian athletes will still have the opportunity to compete under the Indian flag at the upcoming Asian Games, starting on September 23, as the entries were submitted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) rather than the WFI.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

LCA Tejas successfully test-fires ASTRA air-to-air missile: Aeronautical Development Agency

• The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas achieved a significant milestone as it successfully fired the Astra indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa. This achievement marks a notable advancement in the Indian defense capabilities and showcases the country’s progress in developing cutting-edge military technology.
• According to a statement released by the Defence Ministry, the missile release was executed flawlessly from the Tejas aircraft at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet. The test not only met all its predetermined objectives but also demonstrated a perfect textbook launch, affirming the precision and readiness of the Astra missile system. To ensure a comprehensive monitoring of the event, a Chase Tejas twin-seater aircraft closely observed the entire process, adding an extra layer of validation to the test.
• The successful test launch was carried out under the vigilant supervision of the Test Director and scientists hailing from prominent institutions like the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA) also played pivotal roles in ensuring the comprehensive assessment of the launch.

 OBITURY

Legendary statistical scientist CR Rao die at the age of 103

• C Radhakrishna Rao, one of India’s greatest mathematicians and statisticians of India, passes away at the age of 103. He had recently received the prestigious “International Prize in Statistics-2023”, often referred to as the “statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize”.
• C R Rao was born into a Telugu family in Ballari, which was part of the Madras Presidency and is now in Karnataka. In 1941, he completed his MSc in Mathematics from Andhra University and joined Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta in 1943 as research scholar.
• In 1945, when Rao was just 25, his paper titled ‘Information and accuracy attainable in the estimation of statistical parameters’ was published in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society, a lesser-known journal in the statistics community.
• His influential work has stretched beyond statistics, impacting diverse fields such as economics, genetics, anthropology, geology, national planning, demography, biometry, and medicine. Rao’s active contributions persist even today, leading him to be celebrated as a “living legend” whose influence extends, as recognised by the American Statistical Association.

Professional wrestling legend Terry Funk dies at 79

• Terry Funk, the pioneer of the World Wrestling Entertainment and the WWE Hall of Famer, has passed away at the age of 79. Funk had an intriguing and remarkable career over five decades (1965 to 2017). He was known for his hardcore style, his charisma, and his passion for the business. The late 79-year-old was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 by his longtime friend and rival, Dusty Rhodes. In 2021, he also received recognition from the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
• The iconic WWE figure has secured multiple championship victories, encompassing the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, and the WWF Tag Team Championship. He was also a part of several memorable feuds and matches with icons such as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Mick Foley, and Bret Hart. Funk was not only a wrestler, but also an actor, and performer. He appeared in several Hollywood films, such as Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze, Paradise Alley, and Over the Top with Sylvester Stallone. He also had roles in television shows like Quantum Leap and Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction.

 BOOKS & AUTHOR

The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir' by Vipul Rikhi

• The book, “Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir”, published by HarperCollins India and written by writer-singer Vipul Rikhi, presents the 15th-century poet, as he is described, quoted, and loved in popular imagination. A new book aims to capture the life of mystic poet Kabir through popular legends, his vision and his poetry that has been quoted and translated extensively.
• The book brings into one place stories from Kabir’s life, his most famous songs, “as well as his fiercely iconoclastic and inspiring vision”. The essence of Kabir to a contemporary readership. Through his lived, practical understanding of the centuries-old verses, he reacquaints us with their core wisdom, which we can apply to our own lives. This is Kabir for the modern mind to engage with and learn from,” Swati Chopra, associate publisher, HarperCollins.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI approves voluntary amalgamation of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank with Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank

• In a recent development, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted its approval for the voluntary amalgamation of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd with Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd. The amalgamation scheme is set to take effect from August 23, 2023. This decision, as outlined in an official release from the central bank, marks a significant step in the consolidation of cooperative urban banks.
• The RBI’s decision further entails that the branch of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank will seamlessly operate as a branch of Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank starting from August 23, 2023. This move ensures a smooth transition of operations and services, providing customers with continued access to banking facilities without interruption.
• The RBI had previously established a comprehensive framework for the amalgamation of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). This framework, introduced on March 23, 2021, serves as a guideline for facilitating amalgamation processes in the UCB sector.