1. Special maternity leave in case of infant death
Tags: National National News
All women employees of the Central Government will get 60 days special maternity leave in case of immediate death of a newborn baby or birth of a stillborn child.
Important facts
According to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, this decision has been taken keeping in mind the mental agony of death of the child before birth or soon after birth.
The ministry said that such cases have far-reaching effects on the life of the mother.
If the child dies immediately after birth or within 28 days, the mother will be eligible for special maternity leave.
This special leave will be given to the mother even if the baby dies in the womb after 28 weeks or so.
Special Maternity Leave will be given to only those women employees of the Central Government who have less than two surviving children and the delivery takes place in an authorized hospital.
2. Special maternity leave in case of infant death
Tags: National National News
All women employees of the Central Government will get 60 days special maternity leave in case of immediate death of a newborn baby or birth of a stillborn child.
Important facts
According to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, this decision has been taken keeping in mind the mental agony of death of the child before birth or soon after birth.
The ministry said that such cases have far-reaching effects on the life of the mother.
If the child dies immediately after birth or within 28 days, the mother will be eligible for special maternity leave.
This special leave will be given to the mother even if the baby dies in the womb after 28 weeks or so.
Special Maternity Leave will be given to only those women employees of the Central Government who have less than two surviving children and the delivery takes place in an authorized hospital.
3. GMR Group to sell its entire 40% stake in Philippines' Cebu airport
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The New Delhi based Multinational GMR Group, on 2 September 2022, has said that it will divest its entire 40 per cent stake in Cebu international airport in Philippines for a payment of Rs 1,330 crore.
However the GMR will continue to provide consultancy service to the Airport till 2026 and will earn revenue for it.
According to GMR, the company will now focus on high growth opportunities. It will now use the capital to invest in the Kualanamu International Airport at Medan, Indonesia. The Kualanamu International Airport is being developed and operated by GMR Airports International.
Mactan Cebu International Airport
It is the second largest Airport of the Philippines after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Manila.
In 2014, GMR Infrastructure in partnership with Megawide Construction Corporation of Philippines won the bid to operate and develop the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Both the Megawide Construction Company and GMR are selling their stake to Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. of Philippines.
Currency of Philippines: Philippine pesos
GMR Airports International
GMR Airports International is a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Ltd
GMR Group operates the IGI Delhi International Airport, Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport and Bidar Airport in (Karnataka).
It is building a Greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa and an International Greenfield Airport at Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram, and Andhra Pradesh.
It is the only Indian company to develop and operate foreign International airport. It is developing airports in Indonesia, Greece.
The GMR group was founded by Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao. It is in the business of Infrastructure, Energy, transportation etc.
4. United States announces hosting first-ever US-Pacific Island Country Summit
Tags: Summits International News
The United States has announced to host the US-Pacific Island Country Summit for the first time in the last week of this month amid China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This summit will be held in Washington from 28 to 29 September.
US President Joe Biden will host the summit.
The summit will showcase the United States' deep and enduring partnership with Pacific island countries and the Pacific region that is based on shared history, values, and people-to-people ties.
The conference was announced a week after the US accused Beijing of expanding its nuclear arsenal.
The US has claimed that the process of building an excessive nuclear arsenal by China could harm the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
The White House has invited 12 Pacific Island countries, including the Solomon Islands, which signed a security pact with China in April 2022.
About Indo-Pacific :
It covers half of the world's population and more than 60 percent of the global GDP.
It is a geopolitical region that spans two regions of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Extending from the west coast of the United States of America to the west coast of India, the Indo-Pacific is a regional structure of 24 countries.
It includes the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, western and central Pacific Ocean.
5. CCRAS ‘SPARK’ Program to Support Innovative Research in Ayurveda
Tags: National National News
The Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has prepared the 'Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken’ (SPARK) for the students of Ayurveda (BAMS) studying in recognized Ayurveda colleges.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and Vaidya Jayant Yashwant Devapujari, Chairman, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched this fellowship scheme and its application portal at an event held on 2nd September, 2022.
Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) :
SPARK is a unique initiative to support the research efforts of young talent of the country.
The SPARK program has been developed primarily to help students develop research skills and to further support and encourage their research ideas.
The application process for SPARK will be completely online through the portal www.spark.ccras.nic.in.
Interested candidates have to submit their research proposal through SPARK portal.
These proposals will be evaluated by eminent experts and reviewers.
Under this fellowship, a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 will be offered to the selected research scholar.
Initially, there will be a total of 100 seats in each session.
Purpose of SPARK :
It aims to support the research ideas of young undergraduate students enrolled in Ayurveda colleges across the country.
Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) :
CCRAS is an institute located in New Delhi to promote Ayurvedic science and research work on it in the country and abroad.
The Council is currently working on various R&D projects in collaboration with leading research institutions from Romania, Germany, Israel, USA, Canada and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In order to complement the efforts of the Ministry of AYUSH for the promotion and dissemination of Ayurveda education across the world, the Council has partnered with leading educational institutions across the world and established Ayurveda Chairs in 11 countries.
6. CCRAS ‘SPARK’ Program to Support Innovative Research in Ayurveda
Tags: National National News
The Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has prepared the 'Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken’ (SPARK) for the students of Ayurveda (BAMS) studying in recognized Ayurveda colleges.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and Vaidya Jayant Yashwant Devapujari, Chairman, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched this fellowship scheme and its application portal at an event held on 2nd September, 2022.
Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) :
SPARK is a unique initiative to support the research efforts of young talent of the country.
The SPARK program has been developed primarily to help students develop research skills and to further support and encourage their research ideas.
The application process for SPARK will be completely online through the portal www.spark.ccras.nic.in.
Interested candidates have to submit their research proposal through SPARK portal.
These proposals will be evaluated by eminent experts and reviewers.
Under this fellowship, a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 will be offered to the selected research scholar.
Initially, there will be a total of 100 seats in each session.
Purpose of SPARK :
It aims to support the research ideas of young undergraduate students enrolled in Ayurveda colleges across the country.
Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) :
CCRAS is an institute located in New Delhi to promote Ayurvedic science and research work on it in the country and abroad.
The Council is currently working on various R&D projects in collaboration with leading research institutions from Romania, Germany, Israel, USA, Canada and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In order to complement the efforts of the Ministry of AYUSH for the promotion and dissemination of Ayurveda education across the world, the Council has partnered with leading educational institutions across the world and established Ayurveda Chairs in 11 countries.
7. Saudi Arabia to launch new national carrier 'RIA'
Tags: International News
Saudi Arabia is finalizing the launch of its new international airline "RIA".
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The launch of this new project, backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, has been underway for the past 12 months.
Once launched, it will become Saudi's second national carrier.
It will be based at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
This is unprecedented in the history of the Saudi Arabian aviation sector.
Saudi Arabia is targeting 30 million international transit passengers by 2030, while it currently stands at less than 4 million.
This will mean the new carrier would need to operate more than 150 routes globally in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia.
This would require an investment of $30 billion.
Emirates currently flies to 158 destinations in 85 countries.
Saudi Arabia :
King - Salman
Capital - Riyadh
Currency - Saudi Arabian riyal
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
8. Home Minister launches CAPF's eAwas web-portal in New Delhi
Tags: Defence National News
Home Minister Amit Shah launched the e-Awas web-portal for the Central Armed Police Forces ((CAPFs) in New Delhi on 1 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The portal will help in bringing transparency and accountability.
There are seven CAPFs in India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assists in internal security and counter insurgency.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guards critical installations (such as airports) and public sector undertakings.
The National Security Guard (NSG) is a specialized counter-terrorism force.
Apart from this, the remaining four forces are – Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Assam Rifles (AR).
Other functions of CAPF :
Emergency Counter-Operations, Anti-Naxal Operations, Internal Security Operations
VIP Security, Intelligence Agency, Security of Diplomatic Missions Abroad,
Acting as the nodal agency for United Nations (UN) peacekeeping, disaster management, civil action for UN police missions
9. Canadian student wins 2022 Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Tags: Awards International News
Annabelle M. Rayson, a Canadian student, has won the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize for the year 2022 for her research on ways to treat and prevent harmful algae blooms.
IMPORTANT FACTS :
- Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, who is the official patron of the award, announced the winner during a ceremony at World Water Week in Stockholm.
Harmful algae bloom (HAB) refers to the uncontrolled growth of algae.
This causes toxic or harmful effects on organisms such as fish, sheep, marine mammals and birds.
About Stockholm Junior Water Prize :
It is an international competition in which students aged 15 to 20 submit solutions to major water challenges.
It has been organised annually since 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute in collaboration with Xylem, an American water technology provider.
The award is a part of World Water Week.
10. IMF agrees to lend Sri Lanka $2.9 billion
Tags: International News
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 1 September approved a loan of $2.9 billion to Sri Lanka.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- It has been extended for a period of four years with conditions on debt restructuring and action on corruption.
This step has been taken after a week-long discussion between the IMF and Sri Lankan officials.
The IMF mission was led by Peter Breuer and Masahiro Nozaki who were in Sri Lanka from 24 August to 1 September.
The newly expanded facility will help Sri Lanka in restoring macroeconomic and debt stability.
It will help in safeguarding financial stability, reducing corruption and unlocking Sri Lanka's growth potential.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948.
It is going through a period of skyrocketing inflation, dollar shortage and devaluation of the local currency due to wrong financial decisions.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF) :
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a United Nations (UN) specialised agency, was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference to secure international monetary policies.
The International Monetary Fund is an organisation with 189 member countries.
First Deputy Managing Director- Geeta Gopinath
Headquarters- Washington, D.C., U.S.
Managing Director- Kristalina Georgieva
Chief Economist - Pierre Olivier Gourinchas
