Defence
Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

What's the NEWS
• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully flight tested Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha
• The flight test was carried out from an Indian Naval Ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target for demonstration of vertical launch capability.
• The missiles, equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, intercepted the target with high accuracy. The VL-SRSAM system has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO.
• It is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.

VL-SRSAM system

• The VL-SRSAM system has been designed to strike high-speed airborne targets at the range of 40 to 50 km and at an altitude of around 15 km.
• Its design is based on the Astra missile, which is a Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile.
• Two key features of the VL-SRSAM are cruciform wings and thrust vectoring.
• The cruciform wings are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and give the projective a stable aerodynamic posture.
• The thrust vectoring is an ability to change the direction of the thrust from its engine control the angular velocity and the attitude of the missile
• VL-SRSAM is a canisterised system, which means it is stored and operated from specially designed compartments.
• In the canister, the inside environment is controlled thus making its transport and storage easier and improving the shelf life of weapons.
• VL-SRSAM was successfully tested in February and December last year and again in June this year.

Health
TOMATO FLU

What's the NEWS
• A new infection dubbed tomato flu, or tomato fever, has been detected in India mostly among children younger than five
Know! about the flu
• The ‘tomato flu' is caused by Coxsackie virus A 16.
• It belongs to Enterovirus family.
• The "non-life-threatening" virus was first identified in Kollam district of Kerala
• The primary symptoms of tomato flu are similar to those of chikungunya, which include high fever, rashes, and intense pain in the joints.
• As with other viral infections, further symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches, and common influenza-like symptoms, which are similar to those manifested in dengue.
• As tomato flu is similar to chikungunya and dengue as well as hand, foot, and mouth disease, the treatment is also similar - isolation, rest, plenty of fluids, and hot water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes.
• Supportive therapy of paracetamol for fever and body ache and other symptomatic treatments may be required.
• Young children are also prone to this infection through the use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces, and putting things directly into the mouth.

Personalities in NEWS
ONDIVEERAN

What's the NEWS
• Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan has expressed his gratitude to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for authorizing a commemorative postal stamp for freedom fighter Ondiveeran.
• The stamp will be released on 20th August in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.
Know! about freedom fighter Ondiveeran
• Ondiveeran Pagadai (or Ondi Veeran) (died 20 August 1771) was an Indian commander-in-chief who fought against the British East India Company in Tamil Nadu.
• Ondiveeran came from the Arunthathiyar community and is viewed by them as a hero.

Places in NEWS
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD ON ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS (IOAA)

What's the NEWS
• India secured the third rank in medal tally at the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA).
• India held the third position jointly with Singapore with students winning three gold and two silver medals.
• The 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2022 was held in Kutaisi, Georgia, from 14 to 21 August, 2022.

Personalities in NEWS
PANDURANG KHANKHOJE

What's the NEWS
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is currently in Canada for the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, will travel to Mexico where he will unveil statue of Maharashtra-born freedom fighter and agriculturalist Pandurang Khankhoje (1883-1967).
Know! about Pandurang Khankhoje
• Khankhoje had a close connection with Mexico, the country in which he sought refuge due to his association with the radical pro-Indian independence Ghadar Party.
• Born in Wardha, Maharashtra, in the late 19th century, Pandurang Khankhoje came in contact with other revolutionaries early on.
• Khankhoje was one of the founding members of the Ghadar Party, established by Indians living abroad in 1914, mostly belonging to Punjab.
• Its aim was to lead a revolutionary fight against the British in India.
• The Mexican Revolution of 1910 had led to the overthrow of the dictatorial regime, and this inspired Khankhoje.

Personalities in NEWS
ANNA MANI
What's the NEWS

What's the NEWS
• Google on August 23, 2022 celebrated the 104th birth anniversary of Indian physicist and meteorologist Anna Mani, one of the country's first female scientists, with a special Doodle.
Know! about Anna Mani
• Anna Mani (1918 - 2001) was an Indian physicist and meteorologist.
• She retired as the Deputy Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department and further served as a visiting professor at the Raman Research Institute.
• She made several contributions to the field of meteorological instrumentation, conducted research and published numerous papers on solar radiation, ozone and wind energy measurements.

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