Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
Technology major Microsoft has launched a new program to teach quantum computing skills to train around 900 faculty from across the country.
As a part of this initiative, Microsoft is organizing a ‘Train the Trainer’ program in association with Electronics and ICT Academies at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur and National Institute of Technology, Patna.

Notes:
The UEFA Champions League 2020 has been won by the Germany-based football club, the Bayern Munich.
The team won 1-0 against the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at the final match held at Estadio da Luz, Lisbon. Kingsley Coman scored the only goal of the match during the 59th minute. Bayern Muncih has won the league after 7 years.

Notes:
As per the recent notification from the Personnel Ministry, over 700 districts have participated in the Prime minister’s awards for excellence in public administration.
The awards will be conferred on October 31, the Ekta Diwas (Unity Day), at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award is to recognise the performance of District Collectors towards economic development of their regions.

Notes:
The state of Kerala is set to host the first-ever State Dragonfly Festival named ‘Thumbimahotsavam 2020’.
This is a part of the National Dragonfly festival being organised by the WWF India, Bombay Natural History Society & Indian Dragonfly Society. It also involves the collaboration of NBB, UNDP, UNEP and IUCN- CEC. The official mascot of the festival is named ‘Pantalu’.

Notes:
A team of scientists of Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune has discovered Ultra Violet light originating from a galaxy named AUDFs01 which is 9.3 billion light years away from Earth.
The UV light was detected by India’s first multi wavelength satellite “Astrosat”. This discovery was made by the team of scientists, led by Dr Kanak Saha.

Notes:
The Manila headquartered Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued USD denominated, 5-year Global Benchmark Bonds amounting USD 3 Billion.
The bonds bear a coupon rate of 0.375% per annum payable half yearly. These bonds would mature by September 2025. These ADB bonds have recorded 41 % placement in Asia, 34 % in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and 25 % in America.

Notes:
Rosatom, the Russian nuclear energy agency, has recently released a documentary footage, titled ‘Top Secret: Test of a clean hydrogen bomb with a yield of 50 megatons’, that shows the detonation of the Tsar Bomba or Tsar’s bomb.
It is claimed to be the world’s most powerful hydrogen bomb and it is over 3000 times as destructive as the bomb used in the Hiroshima attack. Tsar’s bomb was initially tested over Novaya Zemlya islands.

Notes:
The United States has imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies and officials recently. These companies are said to be involved in building and militarization of an artificial island in South China Sea.
All the 24 firms are state owned companies of China. These companies have been put under USA’s “Entity List” by which USA would block exports of materials and goods to these companies.

Notes:
Japan’s Prime Minister (Premier) Shinzo Abe, who is also the longest-serving premier, has resigned due to poor health.
The term of the ruling party leader and Premier ends in September 2021. After his resignation, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will select a nominee and the winner must be formally elected in Parliament. Abe is known for his famous economic strategy named ‘Abenomics’.

Notes:
The think tank of India, NITI Aayog is set to virtually launch the India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)-Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA).
This discussion will have a main focus on the challenges faced by the Indian transport sector and how they are related to the Carbon dioxide reduction ambitions. This will also provide technical support on reducing Green House Gas emission.