Daily Current affairs - August 10th, 2017 for all competitive exams
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched its 2nd round of National Deworming Day (NDD) 2017 in 33 States/UTs targeting. A total of 7.8 crore
children are targeted in private schools and 3.5 crore out of school children
will be covered in this program through Anganwadi workers and ASHAs.
- The NDD program has been launched in 2015 as WHO
estimates that 220 million children below 14 years of age are at risk of
STH infections in India.
- National Deworming Day is organised twice in a
year covering all the children from 1-19 years of
age except the States of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh where deworming is
carried out once in a year. The Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH)
prevalence in these two States is less than 20%.
India ratifies second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol
India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that
commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its
stand on climate action. With this, India became the 80th country to accept the
amendment relating to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the
international emissions reduction treaty.
- The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement
linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding
emission reduction targets.
Anti-dumping duty on 93 products from China
Anti-dumping duty is in force on 93 products including chemicals and
machinery items imported from China.
- The other Chinese products on which India has imposed
this duty include steel and other metals, fibres and yarn, rubber or
plastic, electric and electronics and consumer goods.
- Anti dumping is a measure to rectify the situation
arising out of the dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect.
Gujarat First State to
Implement Coal Utilisation Between Power Units
The Gujarat
government has issued a tender for power developers to receive cheap coal
marked for the state in return for selling coal-based power at less than
Rs 2.82 a unit.
- Through the auction, Gujarat will transfer the coal
allocated to power generating stations owned by Gujarat State
Electricity Corporation (GSECL) to more fuel-efficient private power
plants.
- The aim is to reduce the cost of fuel for
financially ailing distribution companies and ensure effective
distribution of domestic coal.
Approval of Industrial Parks in Andhra Pradesh
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry of
Commerce and Industry has approved two projects under ‘Modified Industrial
Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIIUS)’ for development of industrial
clusters at Hindupur and Bobbili in the respective districts of Ananatapur and
Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh.
- The objective of the approved projects is to provide
quality and reliable infrastructure to industrial units located in these
clusters; specifically these projects aim to provide road network,
drainage, power and water supply networks and some other common services
like health centres, canteens, crèches, dormitories, parking areas, etc.
Oxford Launches Tamil,
Gujarati Online Dictionaries
After the Hindi
version, Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched online
dictionaries in Tamil and Gujarati as part of its special focus on
Indian languages.
- Launched in September 2015 Oxford Global Languages
(OGL) is a major initiative from Oxford Dictionaries which aims to build
dictionaries and lexicographical resources for around 100 of the
world's languages and to make them available online.
ISRO to develop full-fledged Earth observation satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says it plans to launch a
full-fledged niche Earth observation (EO) satellite — called the Hyperspectral
Imaging Satellite or HySIS — using a critical chip it has developed. With this
satellite, it can see in 55 spectral or colour bands from 630 km above ground.
- Hyspex’ imaging is said to enable distinct
identification of objects, materials or processes on Earth by reading the
spectrum for each pixel of a scene from space. ISRO first tried it out in
an 83-kg IMS-1 experimental satellite in May 2008. The same year, a
hyperspectral camera was put on Chandrayaan-1 and used to map lunar
mineral resources.
Sushma Swaraj Attends BIMSTEC
Meeting in Nepal
External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj departed for Kathmandu to participate in the 15th
BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting (10th and 11th August).
- During the two-day meet, Foreign
ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries will review
the progress in identified fourteen areas of cooperation and discuss ways
to accelerate cooperation.
NITI Aayog Selects 6 States
for Transformative Change in Health & Education Sectors
NITI Aayog has shortlisted Uttar
Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka under its ‘Sustainable Action for
Transforming Human Capital’, SATH initiative to handhold them and
transform their health sector.
- The Aayog has also selected Madhya
Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha under its SATH initiative to
transform their education sector.
Amazon Launches Virtual
Customer Service in Four Indian Cities
Amazon announced the
launch of virtual customer service (VCS) model, an initiative
launched to create cost efficient employment prospects for skilled candidates
seeking more flexible work opportunities.
- VCS has currently been launched
in Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore, and Noida and is hiring for
entry level job opportunities along with opportunities for team managers
and group managers in these cities.
- This initiative will help many
people resume their career and find an earning with the comfort of being
at home.
French index for retirement says India is worst place to
retire
As per the report of French asset management company Natixis Global, India
ranks lowest among BRICS countries in terms of retirement. In a list of global
retirement index of 43 countries, India has ranked the lowest.
- The index created by French asset management company
Natixis Global, ranks countries on the basis of four factors — the material means to live comfortably in retirement;
access to quality financial services to help preserve savings value and
maximize income; access to quality health services; and a clean and safe
environment.
- The index ranks 43 countries which include International
Monetary Fund (IMF) advanced economies, members of the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the BRIC countries
(Brazil, Russia, India and China).
- India ranks 43rd in this year’s GRI and has the same
score compared to last year. Its
sub-indices all rank in the bottom five. On all the four parameters, India
ranked lowest whereas Switzerland, Norway and Iceland help top positions.
- Compared to last year’s report, India declines in
the Material Wellbeing (41st) and Health (43rd) sub-indices but gains
ground in Finances (39th) and Quality of Life (43rd).
BitBay launches trading
platform for digital currency
BitBay, one of the top
ten cryptocurrency trading platforms in the world, has launched a dedicated
platform for trade and exchange of digital currencies such as
bitcoin, litecoin, ether,
Lisk, monero, dash and gamecredits.
- The company will also work towards creating
awareness about digital currencies and also removing misconceptions
related to these currencies in a market like India.
SoftBank Vision Fund Invests
in Flipkart to Become One of its Largest Shareholders
Flipkart Group
(Flipkart), India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, has announced an
investment - a mix of primary and secondary capital - from SoftBank Vision Fund
(Vision Fund), the world’s largest technology-focused investment fund.
- This is the biggest ever private investment in an
Indian technology company and will make the Vision Fund one of the largest
shareholders in Flipkart. The amount is about $2 billion.
Peepli Live Actor Sitaram
Panchal Passes Away
Bollywood actor Sitaram
Panchal passed away after almost a year-long battle with kidney and lung
cancer. He was 54.
- Sitaram Panchal, who made his Bollywood debut in
1994 with Bandit Queen, was best known for his work in films like Peepli
Live, Pan Singh Tomar, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Slumdog Millionaire.
Kynan Chenai Wins Bronze at
7th Asian Shotgun Championships
Indian shooter Kynan
Chenai won a bronze in men’s trap event, his first international
medal at the senior level, at the 7th Asian Championship Shotgun
at Astana, Kazakhstan.
- He shot a score of 30 to finish behind gold medallist Abdulrahman Al Faihan of Kuwait, who shot 39 for a new Asian finals record and another Kuwati Talal Al Rashidi, who bagged the silver with an effort of 38.
