DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Aug. 17, 2024

Dr. Jitendra Singh Honored with 'Distinguished Mentor of the Year' Award by ACP

Tags: Awards

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister and Professor of Medicine and Diabetes, received the prestigious "Distinguished Mentor of the Year" award from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

An Overview of the News

• The award was presented during the 9th Annual International Conference of ACP - India Chapter by Dr. Elisa I. Choi, a distinguished international figure.

India's Leadership in Global Health Research:

• In his address at the conference, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that India is now recognized as a global leader in health research.

• He highlighted the country's significant contributions to medical health, research, and education.

About American College of Physicians (ACP)

• Focus: National organization of internal medicine physicians specializing in adult care

• Membership: 161,000 members

• Size: Largest medical-specialty organization; second-largest physician group in the U.S.

• Founded: January 8, 1915, by Heinrich Stern

• Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• President: Isaac O. Opole

India Sends 1,400 kg of Anti-Cancer Drugs to Syria

Tags: International News

India has sent a consignment of approximately 1,400 kgs of anti-cancer drugs to Syria as part of its humanitarian assistance.

An Overview of the News

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the dispatch, emphasizing India's commitment to supporting Syria.

Cordial Relations Between India and Syria

• India and Syria have historically shared strong and cordial relations, supported by deep-rooted people-to-people ties.

• The Indian Embassy in Syria has remained operational throughout the Syrian conflict, facilitating various exchanges.

Support Through Education and Capacity Building

• India has contributed to the development of Syrian youth through scholarship schemes and training courses under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) program.

• This support has played a significant role in building capacity among the Syrian population.

Health Challenges Facing the Syrian First Lady

• In May this year, Syria's First Lady Asma Assad was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, as reported by the state news agency SANA.

• The First Lady, who was born and raised in London to Syrian parents, had previously recovered from breast cancer in 2019.

About Syria

• Capital - Damascus

• Official language - Arabic

• Currency - Syrian pound (SYP)

• President - Bashar al-Assad

• Vice President - Najah al-Attar

• Prime Minister - Hussein Arnous

Prasar Bharati, Sansad TV Sign MoU

Tags: National News

An MoU was signed between Prasar Bharati and Sansad Television in Parliament.

An Overview of the News

• The MoU was exchanged in the presence of key officials, including CEO Sansad TV Rajit Punhani and CEO Prasar Bharati Gaurav Dwivedi.

Objectives of the MoU

• The MoU aims to facilitate content and program sharing between Prasar Bharati and Sansad TV.

• It includes provisions for telecasting Sansad TV content on Prasar Bharati’s OTT platforms.

• The agreement also covers the use of training facilities to enhance personnel skills.

Areas of Collaboration

• The MoU allows for resource sharing, including human resources, technology, and equipment.

• It includes the broadcast of special coverage, interviews, documentaries, live feeds, and archives produced by both networks.

Cross-Channel Promotion

• Both networks agreed to promote and advertise each other’s programs.

• Prasar Bharati will provide the facilities of PB-SHABD to Sansad TV for content sharing.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Approves 18 Major Appointments

Tags: Person in news

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved 18 senior-level appointments, marking a significant reshuffle in the Modi government’s third term.

An Overview of the News

• Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, will become the new Defense Secretary. 

• Singh will initially serve as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Defense before officially taking over on October 31, 2024. His tenure is extended until October 31, 2026.

Health Ministry Leadership Change: Punya Salila Srivastava

• Punya Salila Srivastava, a 1993-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, is appointed as the new Health Secretary. 

• She will start as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare until Apurva Chandra's retirement on September 30, 2024.

Other Key Appointments:

• Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, becomes the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training.

• K Srinivas, a 1989-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, will take over as Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

• Manoj Govil is appointed Secretary of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

• Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, a 1993-batch IAS officer, will become the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Additional Changes:

• Umashankar is appointed as Officer on Special Duty to the President, transitioning to the President’s Secretary role.

• Chandra Sekhar Kumar, a 1992-batch Orissa-cadre officer, will be the new Secretary for the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

• Ashok Kumar Kaluaram Meena, formerly Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India, is appointed Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Top Honors at 70th National Film Awards

Tags: Awards

The 70th National Film Awards were announced on 16 August 2024. 

An Overview of the News

• The ceremony to felicitate the winners, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient, will be held in October 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu presiding.

• The awards ceremony was initially scheduled for 3 May 2023 but was postponed to October 2024 due to delays following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selection Process

• Eligibility: Films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 were eligible. This includes feature films, non-feature films, and documentaries.

• Submission Details: Online entries were invited, with the deadline for submissions being 30 January 2024. Eligible entries include works in any Indian language and formats like 16 mm, 35 mm, or digital.

Award Winners

• Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya for Uunchai

• Best Film: Aattam (Malayalam)

• Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics): Brahmastra

• Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara

• Best Debut Film: Fouja (Haryanvi)

• Best Action Direction: Anbariv for KGF Chapter 2

• Best Actor: Rishab Shetty for Kantara (Kannada)

• Best Actress: Manasi Parekh for Kutch Express (Gujarati)

Germany Becomes 18th Member of UNC

Tags: International News

Germany become the 18th member state of the United Nations Command (UNC), following the trend of expanding participation, such as Italy's reinstatement in 2013.

An Overview of the News

• Representatives from Germany, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other UNC Member States gathered at Barker Field to recognize Germany's accession to the UNC on August 2.

• Germany wasn't a UN member in 1953, it offered to deploy a field hospital two months before the Armistice signing.

• The West German Red Cross Hospital in Busan, operated by 117 German doctors, nurses, and technicians from 1954 to 1959, treated nearly 300,000 patients and assisted with over 6,000 births.

• South Korea recognized Germany as a "Medical Support Nation" in 2018, acknowledging their contributions during the Korean War.

About the UNC

• Established in 1950: Created during the Korean War to support South Korea.

• Coalition: Composed of member states, not a standing army.

• Headquarters: Located in Seoul, guided by UN Security Council resolutions.

• Ceasefire: Upholds a ceasefire since 1953, without a formal peace treaty.

• Current Commander:  Major General Paul J. LaCamera.

• Humanitarian Work: Involved in humanitarian missions and disaster relief in the region.

About Germany

• Berlin Zoo: Founded in 1844, it’s the oldest zoo globally, with over 19,000 animals.

• Beer Varieties: Germany boasts around 1,500 types of beer, regulated by the Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot).

• Berlin Wall: A Cold War symbol, the wall was dismantled in 1989.

• Oktoberfest: Munich hosts the world’s largest beer festival annually.

• Car Production: Germany produces around 1 million cars each year, with brands like Volkswagen dominating the industry.

Union Minister C.R. Paatil Launches Enhanced 'FloodWatch India' App Version 2.0

Tags: National News

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Paatil, launched Version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile application.

An Overview of the News

• The app was developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the launch took place in New Delhi.

Enhancements from Version 1.0

• The original version, launched on 17th August 2023, provided flood forecasts at 200 level forecast stations.

• Version 2.0 has expanded coverage, now providing information at 592 flood monitoring stations across the country.

New Features in Version 2.0

• The updated app includes information on the storage positions of 150 major reservoirs in India.

• This helps users better understand potential flood situations in downstream areas.

Technological Advancements

• FloodWatch India uses advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring.

• These technologies ensure accurate and timely flood forecasts.

User-Friendly Interface

• The app is available in both English and Hindi, in readable and audio broadcast formats.

• Users can access flood forecasts for the nearest location directly from the home page of the app.