1) NASA Launches Satellite to Help Astronauts Talk to Earth
•NASA launched the latest in a series of satellites aimed at ensuring astronauts at the International Space Station can communicate with Earth. The $408 million Boeing-made Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) soared into space atop an Atlas V rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
•The satellite will support critical space communication into the mid-2020s. TDRS-M is the last of 13 such satellites that have been launched since 1983.
2) Home Minister Rajnath Singh Launches Digital Police Portal
•A digital police portal under the CCTNS project, which aims to create a national database of crimes and criminals has launched by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The digital police portal will provide the citizen, facility for online complaint registration and request for antecedent verification.
•The police portal will provide 11 searches and 46 reports from the national database for state police and central investigation agencies. Central investigating and research agencies have also been provided logins to the digital police database to access crime statistics.
3) AIADMK Merger: O Panneerselvam Sworn in as Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu
•Panneerselvam was on 21 August 2017 sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu, following the much speculated merger of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) factions.
•The two factions of the AIADMK merged six months after their split following the death of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Panneerselvam was appointed as the Coordinator of the merged AIADMK.
4) IOC to Invest Rs 52,000 cr in Paradip Refinery Post Pact with Odisha Govt
•State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will invest about Rs 52,000 crore in expanding Paradip refinery in Odishaand setting up petrochemical complex after the Odisha State Gvernment agreed to restore part of tax incentives.
•Odisha Government has agreed to restore part of tax incentives and has agreed to give Rs 700 crore per annum of an interest-free loan for 15 years to make up for the withdrawn incentive.
5) NABARD Approves Rs 1,350-cr Loan to Rajasthan Government
•The National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a loan assistance of Rs 1,349.55 crore to the Rajasthan government for the creation of rural infrastructure in the state under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
•The sanction includes assistance for construction of two rural drinking water supply projects, strengthening/ rehabilitation of 1,614 rural roads and modernisation of three major irrigation projects.
6) Android Oreo released by Google
•Keeping up its tradition of naming its Android upgrades with delectable desserts, Google has launched its version 8.0 of the operating system as Android Oreo.
•The Oreo boasts of a two times faster boot speed, autofill option, and a longer battery life. The new update comes with a Picture-in-Picture feature that allows the user to see two apps simultaneously.
