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By admin: June 13, 2023

WHO Award for 'When Climate Change Turns Violent'

Tags: Awards

The documentary titled 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' has bagged the special award in the 'Health for All' category at the 4th annual Health for All Film Festival held at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva on 7 June 2023.

An Overview of the News:

• This documentary has been directed by Vandita Saharia from Rajasthan. She was the only Indian in the list of winners.
• The 4.32-minute documentary 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' focuses on the relationship between domestic violence, climate change and human trafficking.
• The ceremony announced the winning films for seven different categories, while four films received special mentions by the jury.

World Health Organization (WHO):

• Establishment: 1948 (Started functioning from 7th April, 1948)
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Member: 194 countries
• It is an intergovernmental organization that usually works in collaboration with the ministries of health of its member states.

Foundation stone for ten National Highway projects worth over Rs 8000 crore laid in Uttar Pradesh

Tags: State News

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for ten National Highway projects worth over Rs 8000 crore at Pratapgarh and Deoria in Uttar Pradesh on 12 June 2023.

An Overview of the News:

• The Union Minister laid the foundation stone of 5 NH projects worth Rs 2,200 crore in Pratapgarh region and 5 NH projects worth Rs 6,215 crore in Deoria in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
• According to the Union Minister, the 43 km widening of National Highway 330 from Pratapgarh to Sultanpur being constructed at a cost of Rs 1290 crore will reduce the travel time from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh via Ayodhya.
• He said that the construction work of the proposed 14 km bypass in Pratapgarh at a cost of Rs 309 crore would also start soon.
• Road safety work for street lights, bus shelter etc. will be done on National Highway 31 at a cost of Rs 27 crore.
• The construction of Pratapgarh-Musafirkhana section will accelerate the development of cement plant, gas plant, bottling plant and dairy milk factory industries.
• All these projects will encourage investment in Uttar Pradesh and create new employment opportunities.

Uttar Pradesh:

• Capital: Lucknow
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Number of seats in the assembly: 403
• Number of Legislative Council seats: 100
• Number of seats in Lok Sabha: 80
• Number of seats in Rajya Sabha: 31

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was in power for 17 years, dies

Tags: International News

On 12 June 2023, former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86.

An Overview of the News:

• Berlusconi previously served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.
• Berlusconi was Italy's longest-serving prime minister despite allegations of corruption.
• Berlusconi was admitted to the hospital on 9 June for treatment of chronic leukemia. He was also suffering from heart disease, prostate cancer for a long time and was hospitalized in 2020 after getting infected with Kovid-19.

Italy:

• Capital: Rome
• President: Sergio Mattarella
• Prime Minister: Georgia Meloni
• Currency: Euro

ADB gives 130 million dollars to increase horticulture in Himachal Pradesh

Tags: State News

The Government of India on 8 June 2023 signed a $130 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance the income of Himachal Pradesh farmers.

An Overview of the News:

• This $130 million loan will be used to increase agricultural productivity, improve irrigation facilities and promote horticulture agribusinesses in Himachal Pradesh.
• The agreement was signed by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, and Takeo Konishi, Director of ADB's India Resident Mission, on behalf of ADB.

Benefits from the Agreement:

• Improvement of sub-tropical horticulture in southern regions of Himachal Pradesh,
• Crop diversification in rural areas of the state,
• opportunities for climate adaptation and more equitable economic and social development.
• Supporting horticulture value chains will also encourage the contribution of this sub-sector to the development and food security of the country.
• The implementation of this project will help at least 15,000 agricultural families in 7 districts of the state – Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, Solan and Una – to increase their income and combat the effects of climate change.
• The project will also help create an ecosystem to improve farmers' access to markets for subtropical horticulture.

Himachal Pradesh:

• Capital: Shimla (Summer) Dharamshala (Winter)
• Governor: Shiv Pratap Shukla
• Chief Minister: Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu

Asian Development Bank (ADB):

• ADB was established on December 19, 1966 as a regional development bank.
• Members: 68 countries (India is a founding member)
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Objective: To promote social and economic development in Asia.

Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department signed agreement with private sector to generate employment

Tags: National News

The Directorate General of Rehabilitation (DGR), Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare under the Union Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited on June 12, 2023 in New Delhi.

An Overview of the News:

• The objective of this MoU between DGR and the Company is to bring Corporate Companies and Ex-Servicemen on a common platform to generate employment opportunities for the respected Ex-Servicemen retired from Defense Services.
• This partnership will provide greater visibility for ex-servicemen to the industry and corporate world and help in achieving the objectives of providing skilled manpower and providing a dignified second career to ex-servicemen.

M/s Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited:

• Mahindra Kotak Life Insurance, a 100% subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, was established in 2001.
• Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance companies in India with over 34.8 million life insurance covers across the country as of December 2021.

World Cup Squash Championship begins in Chennai from today

Tags: Sports

The World Cup Squash Championships began in Chennai on 13 June.

An Overview of the News 

• 2023 Squash World Cup to be held in Chennai till June 17
• The games were formally inaugurated by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Udhayanidhi Stalin at Express Avenue Mall.
• Notable players who have participated in the tournament include Joshna Chinappa, Saurabh Ghosal, Abhay Singh, Khanna and Jessica Turnbull.
• On the first day of the championship, India will play against Hong Kong and China in Pool B matches.
• In Pool A, Egypt will face Australia and Malaysia will take on Colombo.
• Tournament Chairperson - Jenna Woolridge
• Indian coach - Chris Walker

About Tamil Nadu

• The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.
• It is situated at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
• Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of bananas and flowers, second largest producer of mangoes, rubber, groundnut, coconut and third largest producer of coffee.

Governor - Ravindra Narayan Ravi

Chief Minister - MK Stalin

Assembly seats - 235 seats

Rajya Sabha seats - 18

Lok Sabha seats - 39

G20 Third Framework Working Group meeting held in Kochi

Tags: National News

The G-20 Third Framework Working Group meeting is currently held in Kochi, Kerala under the G20 Presidency of India.

An Overview of the News 

• More than 75 delegates from G-20 member states, invited countries and international/regional organisations participated.
• The meeting was jointly chaired by Dr V Ananth Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Union Ministry of Finance and Tom Hemingway, Deputy Director of the UK Treasury.
• The focus of the meeting includes discussions on the global economic outlook, the macroeconomic impact of food and energy insecurity, and the impact of climate change and transition pathways on the economy.
• The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate a shared understanding of member countries' policy experiences and to identify areas where global cooperation can support national efforts.
• A panel discussion on “Financial Globalization - Opportunities and Risks” was organised along with the working group meeting.

About the G20

• It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.
• Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.
• The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.

About Kerala

Capital - Thiruvananthapuram

Official Bird - Great Hornbill

Governor - Arif Mohammad Khan

Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

Origin of rivers in Kerala

• Periyar River
• Bharathapuzha River
• Pamba River
• Chaliyar River
• Chalakudy River

India's longest lake - Vembanad, Kerala

International Albinism Awareness Day - 13 June

Tags: Important Days

International Color Blindness (Albinism) Awareness Day is observed annually on 13 June.

An Overview of the News 

• The day aims to create awareness about albinism, a genetic skin condition.
• It seeks to promote the rights and regulation of persons with albinism globally.
• The theme for the International Albinism Awareness Day 2023 is "Inclusion is Power."
• The theme is based on the previous year's 2022 theme "United in making our voices heard".

History of International Albinism Awareness Day

• In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized albinism as a human rights issue.
• The resolution condemns global violence and discrimination against persons with albinism.
• On 18 December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly designated 13 June as the International Color Blindness Awareness Day.
• The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) actively participated in a United Nations program following the adoption of the resolution.

Albinism:

• Albinism is a group of heritable conditions associated with decreased or absent melanin in ectoderm-derived tissues (most notably the skin, hair, and eyes), yielding a characteristic decrease in skin pigmentation.
• Patients with albinism are particularly susceptible to solar damage, and these patients must utilise lifelong sun protection precautions.
• These patients should be educated on avoidance of prolonged UV light exposure and avoidance of medications that increase photosensitivity.
• This activity reviews the evaluation and management of albinism and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in the recognition and management of this condition.

Indo-Maldives joint military exercise “Ekuverein” at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand

Tags: Defence

The 12th edition of the joint military exercise “Ex Ekuverin” between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defense Force has commenced on 11 June 2023 at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.

An Overview of the News:

• Ekuverein, meaning 'friend', is a bilateral annual exercise held alternately in India and Maldives.
• The joint military exercise "EX EKUVERIN" between the two countries will be held from 11 to 24 June 2023.
• A platoon-strength contingent of the Indian Army and Maldives National Defense Force will participate in the 14-day long exercise.
• The 14-day exercise aims to enhance interoperability in UN counter-insurgency/anti-terrorist operations and promote joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
• It will focus on sharing best practices, enhancing coordination and cooperation between the two forces at the tactical level.
• The 11th edition of joint military exercise "EX EKUVERIN" was held in Maldives in December 2021.

Maldives:

• Capital: Malé
• President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
• Currency: Rufiyaa

Uttarakhand:

• Capital: Dehradun
• Governor: Gurmeet Singh
• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami

'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' ceremony in Rajasthan

Tags: State News

According to Jaskaur Meena, MP from Dausa, Rajasthan, people in Dausa, Rajasthan celebrate 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' (Baby Shower) ceremony.

An Overview of the News: 

• In this ceremony all the pregnant women of the area come together and they are provided with 'nutritional kits' for the health of their babies.
• According to MP Jaskaur Meena, about 3.5 lakh women have benefited from this scheme during 2022-23 only in Rajasthan.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the new initiative of celebrating 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a 'baby shower' ceremony in Dausa, Rajasthan.
• This unique initiative of Dausa will give new energy to 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana'. This initiative will ensure the health security of not only the mothers but also the babies.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):

• PMMVY was launched on January 1, 2017 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• This scheme, run by the Union Ministry of Child Development, was done for the welfare of pregnant and lactating women across the country.
• Under this, cash benefits are provided to pregnant women directly into their bank accounts to meet increased nutritional requirements and partially compensate for wage loss.
• All pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment under the Central Government or State Governments or Public Undertakings or who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law.
• Under this, five thousand rupees are given to all the eligible beneficiaries in three installments and the remaining amount of one thousand rupees is given after institutional delivery as per the conditions of maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• Thus on an average a woman is given Rs.6000.

Rajasthan:

• Capital: Jaipur
• Governor: Kalraj Mishra
• Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
• Number of seats in the Legislative Assembly: 200
• Number of seats in Lok Sabha: 25
• Number of seats in Rajya Sabha: 10