CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 27 ENGLISH

1. G7 to finance fire-fighting aircraft for Amazon

G7 has agreed to spend 22 million US Dollars to tackle the huge forest fires engulfing the world's biggest Amazon rain-forest.

• This was stated by Presidents of France and Chile at the G7 summit in the French town of Biarritz.
• The G7 group comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, has also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September.
• The initiative was announced after G7 leaders held talks on the environment, which focused on the fires destroying chunks of the Amazon rain forests.
• Nearly 80,000 forest fires have been detected in Brazil since the beginning of the year a little over half in the Amazon region.

2. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa to embark on 3-day visit to Thailand

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa will embark on a three-day visit to Thailand.

• During his visit, he will attend the Indo Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The conference will provide perspectives on common challenges faced by attending nations and elicit open discussions on the same.
• The Chiefs of Defence of over 33 countries are scheduled to attend the Conference.
• The theme for the conference is "Collaboration in a free and Open Indo - Pacific”.

3. 7th Community Radio Sammelan begins in New Delhi

The 7th Community Radio Sammelan begins in New Delhi.

• The three-day Sammelan, being organized by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will witness the participation of all operational Community Radio Stations across the country.
• The theme of this year’s event is ‘Community Radio for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’.
• During the meeting, the participants will discuss the experiences and possibilities of programming for better public awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.

4. HRD Ministry launches National Digital Library of India

Human Resource Development Ministry under its National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology, NMEICT has launched the National Digital Library of India project.

• It will develop a framework of virtual repository of learning resources with a single-window search facility.
• As of now, there are more than 3 crore digital resources available through the National Digital Library.
• More than 50 lakh students have registered themselves in the National Digital Library with about 20 lakh active users.
• National Digital Library has been integrated with UMANG App and users can register through www.ndl.gov.in or through the mobile app.

5. RBI to transfer Rs 1.76 lakh cr as a dividend to government

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to transfer 1.76 lakh crore rupees as dividend and surplus reserve to the government.

• RBI informed that this amount includes over 1,23,000 crore rupees of surplus for the year 2018-19 and 52,637 crore rupees of excess provisions identified as per the revised Economic Capital Framework.
• The statement informs that RBI’s Central Board has accepted the recommendations of a high-level panel headed by former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan on the transfer of excess reserves to the government.

6. Microsoft, ISB partner to build AI solutions for better research and leadership

The Indian School of Business (ISB) and Microsoft India announced a new partnership on to take forward their shared vision for an AI-empowered India in Hyderabad.

• The two organizations will collaborate in research which will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to study issues that are relevant for business and public policy.
• In addition, the partnership will also jointly introduce a new executive program titled “Leading Business Transformation in the Age of AI" in October 2019.

7. Sumit Nagal becomes first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer

Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer.

• Nagal achieved the feat during his first-round match against Federer in the ongoing US Open as he outclassed him in the first set.
• Nagal ended up losing the match 6-4, 1-6,2-6,4-6 against Federer.
• Nagal had become the youngest Indian in 25 years to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam as he had defeated Brazil's Jaao Menezes 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
• He had earlier won the Wimbledon Boys' doubles title in 2015.

8. Bumrah became the first Asian to pick fifers in SA, Eng, Aus & WI

India pacer, Jasprit Bumrah galloped to the record books by becoming the first Asian bowler to grab a five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies, all in his first tour to all these countries.

• Bumrah’s magical figures of 5/7 are also the cheapest five-for by an India bowler.
• Recently, Jasprit Bumrah has also become the quickest Indian fast bowler to 50 wickets in Test cricket.

9. Country's first woman DGP Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya dies

The first woman Director General of Police (DGP), Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, passed away following an illness.

• Bhattachary, a 1973 batch IPS officer, made history when she was appointed the DGP of Uttarakhand in the year 2004.
• She retired as the DGP on October 31, 2007.
• After retirement, she took a plunge into politics by contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on an Aam Aadmi Party's ticket from Haridwar constituency.

10. Naval war hero Noel Kelman dies at 92

Naval war hero and Kirti Chakra awardee, Commander Noel Kelman, passed away at the age of 92.

• Commander Kelman was awarded the Kirti Chakra for valour during the liberation of Goa in 1961.
• He was involved in an operation to flush out the Portuguese from the Anjadip Island.
• Kelman had also been awarded the King's commendation in the Second World War for his role in sinking a Japanese submarine.