Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
As per the recent announcement of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the INOX Group will be the official sponsor of the Indian team for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
Due to the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics was rescheduled to next year, from July 23 to August 8 in 2021. The Group will also support the team’s promotions through its entertainment company – INOX Leisure Limited that owns a multiplex chain across the country.

Notes:
According to a new report by Purely Diamonds, Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city of Vietnam is the cheapest city to rent in the world.
The report also revealed that New York is the most expensive city to rent, in the world. The Indian Capital, Delhi is the second cheapest city in the world. Delhi is followed by the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. New York is followed by Los Angeles as the second most expensive city.

Notes:
E-commerce major Amazon announced that it will launch its online pharmacy in India. The first online platform will be set up in Bengaluru.
The new service named ‘Amazon Pharmacy’ will offer both prescription-based drugs and over-the-counter medicines. It will also sell health devices and traditional Indian medicines. Amazon is witnessing severe competition with Flipkart and JioMart.

Notes:
An Ayurveda Based Biodegradable Face Mask named “Pavitrapati” has been developed by Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, (DIAT) Pune.
In this regard, an agreement was signed between DIAT Pune and a private company for mass development of the product. The company has now offered the face mask for sale. Similarly, the technology of developing anti-microbial body suit named “Aushada tara” is also transferred to the company.

Notes:
Russia and Brazil have decided to cooperate in the production and marketing of Sputnik V, the world’s first registered coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RIDF) announced that it has entered into the agreement with Brazilian State of Parana. RIDF is organising the production of the vaccine and its distribution in Brazil and other American countries.

Notes:
As per the findings published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, a new low-cost nasal swab test named ‘N1-STOP-LAMP’ has been developed.
As per the researchers, the test can accurately diagnose the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, in just 20 minutes. It is also 100 per cent accurate in diagnosing the samples at high loads. It uses a single tube and involves only one step and so it is very efficient and affordable.

Notes:
A five-month time extension has been given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) from 25th March 2020 to 24th August 2020 to all the Renewable Energy Projects under implementation.
The implementing agencies have been directed to treat COVID 19 as a “Force Majeure”. This move is followed by the representation from various implementing agencies demanding extension of time due to COVID 19-imposed national lockdown.

Notes:
Google has collaborated with the Central Water Commission (CWC) for providing flood forecasting and public alerts.
Users in the affected region will receive alerts through their Android smartphones if they have enabled the location services. The timely and critical information is being used by several users amidst the heavy rains and floods across the country.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has stated that the Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2) on board the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter has recently captured the images of the “Sarabhai Crater” on the lunar surface.
The crater is located at north eastern quadrant of Moon on the “Mare Serenitatis”, which is a vast flat region due to larva deposition. The crater has an average depth of 1.7 km and its walls seem to have an average slope between 25 to 30 degrees.

Notes:
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new rapid saliva test to detect Covid-19 named ‘Saliva Direct’.
The new inexpensive test uses only saliva samples instead of the nasal and throat swabs to detect the coronavirus samples. As per the administration, the test also has higher sensitivity when compared to the usual methods of testing.