Current Affairs 18 August 2026
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International Current Affairs
Hara Forests of the Persian Gulf
The Hara forests, located around the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, are mangrove forests dominated by the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina). They are ecologically important because these mangroves can survive in highly saline water through specialised root-based salt filtration mechanisms. Recent satellite images have revealed a major environmental threat to these forests due to West Asia conflicts.
Largest Wildfire in Belgium
Belgium has been battling its largest wildfire on record, which broke out in the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes) Nature Reserve in eastern Belgium near the German border. By August 17, 2026, the fire had scorched around 3,000 hectares.
The High Fens is characterised by peatlands, forests and heathland, making firefighting difficult because fires can penetrate peat and continue smouldering below the surface. Around 500 firefighters and other emergency personnel, supported by aircraft and neighbouring European countries, were involved in containing the blaze.
Science and Technology
Friedreich’s Ataxia
A recent study by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has explained why Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is found mainly in people of European, North African, West Asian and South Asian ancestry, while being rare or unreported in several other populations.
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a rare inherited genetic disorder that progressively damages the nervous system and the heart. It commonly affects coordination, balance, speech and movement, and symptoms often begin during childhood or adolescence.
Committees and Conferences
Conference of the Parties (COP17)
India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India on 17 August 2026 at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Guide documents India’s major grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, rocky plateaus, ravines and other open natural ecosystems. These include the Himalayan and Terai grasslands, the Thar and Banni landscapes, and the Deccan savannas.
Awards and Honours
National Sports Awards 2025
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August 2026. The awards recognise outstanding achievements of sportspersons, coaches and organisations involved in the promotion of sports. A total of 17 sportspersons were selected for the Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2025.
Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2025
- Tejaswin Shankar — Athletics
- Muhammed Ajmal V — Athletics
- Priyanka Goswami — Athletics
- Treesa Jolly — Badminton
- Pullela Gayatri Gopichand — Badminton
- Narender — Boxing
- Vidit Santosh Gujarathi — Chess
- Divya Jitendra Deshmukh — Chess
- Dhanush Srikanth — Deaf Shooting
- Lalremsiami — Hockey
- Rajkumar Pal — Hockey
- Surjeet — Kabaddi
- Pooja — Kabaddi
- Rudransh Khandelwal — Para-shooting
- Ekta Bhyan — Para Athletics
- Arvind Singh — Rowing
- Akhil Sheoran — Shooting
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2025
- I. Arumainayagam — Football
Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games 2025
Regular Category
- Parveer Singh — Athletics
- Chhote Lal Yadav — Boxing
- Neha Nandkumar Chavan — Shooting
Lifetime Category
- Dharmendra Singh Yadav — Boxing
- Virender Kumar — Wrestling
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025
- Army Paralympic Node, Pune
Miscellaneous
Historian Sumit Sarkar Passes Away
Eminent historian Sumit Sarkar, one of India’s influential scholars of modern Indian history, passed away on August 13, 2026, at the age of 87. His scholarship significantly shaped the study of colonial India, nationalism, social history, and popular participation in the freedom struggle. His influential book Modern India 1885–1947 deals with colonial India and the Indian national movement. The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal is one of his major works on the Swadeshi Movement and the Bengal Partition.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Q1. Which one of the following noted historians, author of Modern India 1885–1947, passed away in August 2026?
A. Bipan Chandra
B. Sumit Sarkar
C. R.C. Majumdar
D. Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
Show Answer
Answer: B. Sumit Sarkar
Explanation: Eminent historian Sumit Sarkar, known for his influential work Modern India 1885–1947, passed away in Delhi on August 13, 2026, at the age of 87. He was noted for highlighting the role of peasants, workers and ordinary people in modern Indian history.
Q2. Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA), recently in the news, is which one of the following types of disease?
A. A bacterial respiratory disease
B. A rare inherited genetic disorder affecting the nervous system and heart
C. An autoimmune skin disorder
D. A viral disease affecting the liver
Show Answer
Answer: B. A rare inherited genetic disorder affecting the nervous system and heart
Explanation: Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a rare inherited genetic disorder that progressively damages the nervous system and can also affect the heart. It is mainly associated with abnormal GAA repeat expansion in the FXN gene.
Q3. The Hara forests, recently in the news, are located in which country?
A. Oman
B. Iran
C. Saudi Arabia
D. United Arab Emirates
Show Answer
Answer: B. Iran
Explanation: The Hara forests are mangrove forests located in Iran, particularly around Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. They are dominated by the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, and form an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve ecosystem.
Q4. The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in August 2026, took place in which city?
A. Nairobi, Kenya
B. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
C. Baku, Azerbaijan
D. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Show Answer
Answer: B. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Explanation: The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August 2026. India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at the conference.
Q5. In which of the following countries was the largest wildfire on record reported in August 2026?
A. Belgium
B. Germany
C. Netherlands
D. Denmark
Show Answer
Answer: A. Belgium
Explanation: Belgium experienced its largest wildfire on record in August 2026 in the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes) Nature Reserve near the German border. The fire scorched about 3,000 hectares.
Q6. Who was selected for the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2025?
A. I. Arumainayagam
B. Sunil Chhetri
C. Bhaichung Bhutia
D. Shabbir Ali
Show Answer
Answer: A. I. Arumainayagam
Explanation: Former footballer I. Arumainayagam was selected for the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2025. The Lifetime Arjuna Award honours sportspersons who have contributed through their sporting performance and continue to promote sports after retirement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Hara mangrove forests?
The Hara mangrove forest is a unique marine ecosystem located in the shallow coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, primarily around Iran’s Qeshm Island.
What is the main cause of most wildfires?
Most wildfires are caused by human activity, accounting for 85%-90% of all wildland fires globally. Natural events like lightning strikes cause the remaining fires, though weather and dry vegetation determine how large and fast a fire spreads.
What is the cause of Friedreich ataxia?
Friedreich’s ataxia is caused by an inherited genetic mutation in the FXN gene on chromosome 9.
Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.
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