1. World
Health Organisation declares Somalia free of polio
i. The UN
World Health Organisation (WHO) said that it had not recorded any case of polio
disease in Somalia in the last three years, declaring the country polio free.
ii. The WHO
said the country recorded the last case of polio in 2014 in the central part of
the country but has since then remained free of the paralyzing disease.
iii. The UN
health agency, however, warned Somalia remained vulnerable, calling for continued
vaccination campaign.
iv. The head
of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean, which covers Somalia, Mohamed Fiqi said that
massive vaccination campaigns and commitment from government and international
actors had ensured the polio virus did not recur in the Horn of Africa country.
2. 15th
August 2017: 71st Independence Day
i. India
celebrates its 70th anniversary of independence and Prime Minister Narendra
Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort.
ii. This is
a special year- 75th anniversary of Quit India, 100th anniversary of Champaran
Satyagraha, 125th anniversary of Ganesh Utsav.
iii. We have
to take the country ahead with the determination of creating a ‘New India’.
iv. In 1942,
the nation’s call was ‘Bharat Chhoro’ (Quit India). In 2017, the nation’s call
is ‘Bharat Jodo’ (A United India)… that is our true strength. Irrespective of
caste, community and religion we are one India.
3. Home
Minister launches live twitter wall on ‘Bharat Ke Veer’
i. The Union
Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched the live twitter wall for promoting
Bharat Ke ii. Veer portal here on the eve of Independence Day 2017.
Bharat Ke
Veer portal was launched by the Union Home Minister and actor Shri Akshay Kumar
on April 9, 2017.
iii. This
portal facilitates online donation directly to the families of CAPF Martyrs who
have sacrificed their lives for the country in line of duty from January 1,
2016.
iv. This
social media awareness campaign will display all tweets with hashtag Bharat Ke
Veer (#BharatKeVeer), at Connaught Place, CGO complex and Khan Market in New
Delhi where huge LED display screens have been installed.
4. PM
launches website to honour gallantry award winners
i. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi launched a website to honour all the gallantry award
winners since Independence.
ii. Announcing
the launch of the website http://gallantryawards.gov.in Mr. Modi said “the
portal will preserve and tell the stories of our bravest men and women,
civilians as well as armed forces personnel.”
iii. PM Said
“If you have any information/photo that is missing and can be added to the
portal, please share it through the feedback link on the site”.
5.
India’s first online course on Infusion Therapy launched
i. Infusion
Nurses Society (INS), a global authority in infusion therapy ,launched India’s
first online course on Infusion Therapy for nurses, under which it aims to
train over 3,000 nurses in the vital medical procedure.
ii. Announcing
the initiative, which will boost nurses even in rural parts of India, INS said
that utilising the reach and ease of the digital platform, the course will
enable members to access the various infusion therapy modules and presentations
through its website.
iii. According
to President of INS India Binu Sharma “The thinking behind such initiatives is
to engage healthcare professionals to intensify the best safety and quality
practices in infusion management across the country”.
6. “Fete
de Puducherry” Begins
i. Artistes
from 11 states and the union territory of Puducherry took part in ‘Fete de
Puducherry,’ a three-day annual cultural festival organised by the government.
ii. Department
of Art and Culture said that troupes from the states would present programmes
in urban and rural areas during the three days.
iii. The
festival is held in association with the South Zone Cultural Centre Thanjavur
(Tamil Nadu) every year to bring to focus the multi-faceted cultural features
of various states.
iv. The
Puducherry government has been holding the festival since 1985 as part of
celebrating Independence Day and also Liberation Day of Puducherry (August 16).
7.
Maharashtra CM launches ‘Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra’
i. Chief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra, a farmers’
market on wheels, which aims at delivering farm-fresh organic produce at
reasonable prices.
ii. A total
of 125 farm-to-home delivery vans will tour the city to sell the product. The
vegetables sold in the mobile vans will be priced 25% lower than the average
market rate. The initiative aims to generate jobs for uneducated youth and
women.
iii. Namo
Yuva Rojgar Kendra is the brainchild of Prasad Lad, president of Mi Mumbai
Abhiyan-Abhiman and Shri Swami Samarth Shetkari Utpadak. Mr. Lad said the
initiative will be different from the now defunct Maharashtra Agro and Fruit
Processing Corporation (MAFCO).
8. India
Honours Its Bravehearts on 71st Independence Day
i. On the
eve of 71st Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind honoured the
bravehearts of India.
Kovind, who
is also a Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had approved 112 gallantry
awards to Armed Forces Personnel and members of Paramilitary Forces which
includes five Kirti Chakras, 17 Shaurya Chakras, 85 Sena Medals, three Nao Sena
Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
ii. Five
bravehearts who have awarded Kirti Chakra include Major Preetam Singh Kunwar of
the Garhwal Rifles; Havildar Giris Gurung (Posthumous) from the First Gorkha
Rifles; Major David Manlun (Posthumous), of the Naga Regiment; Pramod Kumar
(Posthumous), Commandant, 49 Batallion, Central Reserve Police Force and Chetan
Kumar Cheeta, Commandant, CRPF.
iii. Kirti
Chakra is the second highest gallantry award given to armed forces officials in
peace time.
9. First
plant-based vaccine against Zika virus
i. Scientists
have developed the world’s first plant-based Zika vaccine that may be more
effective, safer and cheaper than other vaccines against the mosquito-borne
virus.
ii. The
vaccine developed by researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) in the
U.S. works against a part of a Zika viral protein, called DIII, that plays a
key role for the virus to infect people.
iii. The
worldwide Zika threat first emerged in 2015, infecting millions as it swept
across the Americas. It struck great fear in pregnant women, as babies born
with severe brain birth defects.
10. India
beat SL Test Series 2017
i. India
claimed their first ever 3-0 series win overseas, beating Sri Lanka in the
third and the final Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
by an innings and 171 runs.
ii. Earlier,
India won the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle by 304 runs and the second
by an innings and 53 runs in Colombo.
iii. Hardik
became the first Indian batsman to score 26 runs in an over in test match and
surpassed the previous record of 24 runs which was scored by Sandeep Patil off
Bob Willis in Manchester in 1982 and by Kapil Dev off Eddie Hemmings at Lord’s
in 1990.
Also Read:
Get
More GK
Updates
0 comments:
Post a Comment