1. WHO calls for intensified actions to eradicate Tuberculosis in South East Asia region
Tags: International News
On World Tuberculosis Day (24 March) the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for intensified actions to eradicate the disease in the South East Asian region which bears the world’s highest TB burden.
An overview of the news
WHO highlighted the urgent need to advance innovations, better address social and economic determinants, and improve multi-sectoral collaboration.
TB burden in Southeast Asia
In 2021, the region is expected to account for more than 45 percent of global TB incidence and more than half of global TB deaths.
According to WHO, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated key social and economic determinants of TB such as poverty and malnutrition, pushing millions of people in the region into extreme poverty.
An estimated 7 million additional TB cases and 1.5 million additional TB deaths could occur between 2022 and 2026 across the region.
In 2022, the budget allocation for TB programs in the region is set to reach approximately US$1.4 billion.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April, 1948.
Headquarters of WHO : Geneva, Switzerland
Members : 194 countries
Director General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia.
2. MoU signed between Ministry of Ayush and Department of ex-servicemen welfare, Ministry of Defence
Tags: National National News
The Ministry of Ayush and Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare/ECHS, Ministry of Defence on 24 March signed a MoU to integrate Ayurveda in ECHS Polyclinics as an OPD service for a five year period.
An overview of the news
These will be set up in 10 polyclinics located at Ambala, Mysore, Ranchi, Nagpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Meerut, Danapur and Alleppey (Alappuzha).
Ayurveda centers already exist in 37 Cantonment Hospitals, 12 Military Hospitals of AFMC and AH R&R.
The Ministry will provide technical guidance from time to time and empanel Ayurveda doctors and pharmacists for their appointment and provide a list of essential Ayurveda medicines and other technical support.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defense will provide necessary infrastructure (room/furniture/other facilities) at a suitable location in the concerned polyclinic.
Both the Ministries have agreed to form a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to take forward the proposal for setting up OPD as per the MoU.
3. MoU signed between Ministry of Ayush and Department of ex-servicemen welfare, Ministry of Defence
Tags: National National News
The Ministry of Ayush and Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare/ECHS, Ministry of Defence on 24 March signed a MoU to integrate Ayurveda in ECHS Polyclinics as an OPD service for a five year period.
An overview of the news
These will be set up in 10 polyclinics located at Ambala, Mysore, Ranchi, Nagpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Meerut, Danapur and Alleppey (Alappuzha).
Ayurveda centers already exist in 37 Cantonment Hospitals, 12 Military Hospitals of AFMC and AH R&R.
The Ministry will provide technical guidance from time to time and empanel Ayurveda doctors and pharmacists for their appointment and provide a list of essential Ayurveda medicines and other technical support.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defense will provide necessary infrastructure (room/furniture/other facilities) at a suitable location in the concerned polyclinic.
Both the Ministries have agreed to form a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to take forward the proposal for setting up OPD as per the MoU.
4. Anti-submarine craft INS Androth launched
Tags: Defence National News
The INS Androth, second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was launched in Kolkata on 21 March.
About INS Androth
It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd for the Indian Navy.
It is 77.6 meters long and 10.5 meters wide.
It is powered by three diesel propellers, these ships can reach a top speed of 25 knots.
Its primary Role is to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine-laying operations.
The first ship was delivered in December 2022.
The contract for construction of eight ASW SWC vessels was signed on April 29, 2019.
The commissioning of two ships of the same class within three months reinforces the Prime Minister's commitment to indigenous shipbuilding as part of the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
5. Amit Shah chairs regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Bengaluru
Tags: Summits National News
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Bengaluru on 24 March.
An overview of the news
Representatives from 5 southern states and 3 union territories participated in the conference.
The Union Home Minister also supervised the destruction of 9,298 kg of seized narcotics worth Rs 1,235 crore during the meeting.
The Home Minister focused on aspects such as zero tolerance in the regional conference on ways to reduce drug trafficking through sea routes and consequential stringent punitive action on drug traffickers.
Drug addiction in India
India is situated between the world's two largest opium producing regions (the 'Golden Triangle' on one side and the 'Golden Crescent' on the other).
The 'Golden Triangle' region includes Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
The 'Golden Crescent' region includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
According to the World Drug Report 2021, prescription drugs and their ingredients are increasingly being converted into recreational use in India (the world's largest producer of generic drugs).
India is also linked to shipments of drugs sold in the 19 major darknet markets analysed in 2011-2020.
According to the report released by the Ministry of Social Justice and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the quantum of substance abuse in 2019.
There are 31 million cannabis users in India (of which 2.5 million were dependent users).
There are 23 million opioid users in India (of which 2.8 million were dependent users).
6. PM Modi addressed 'One World TB Summit' at Varanasi
Tags: National National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March addressed the 'One World TB Summit’ at Rudrakash Convention Centre, at Varanasi.
An overview of the news
To mark World Tuberculosis Day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership are organising the summit.
On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, the PM addressed the One World TB Summit.
International delegates from more than 30 countries participated in the event.
During the event, PM launched various initiatives including TB-free Panchayat Initiative
The official pan-India rollout of Abbreviated TB Preventive Treatment (TPT). Family Centered Care Model for TB and India's Annual TB Report 2023 released.
In March 2018, during the 'End TB Summit' held in New Delhi, the Prime Minister called for India to achieve SDG targets related to TB by 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
The One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further discuss the goals.
About Stop TB Partnership
Stop TB Partnership was founded in 2001.
This is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities, and countries affected by TB.
It aims to eliminate tuberculosis as a public health problem.
Secretariat - Geneva, Switzerland.
Other projects launched by PM
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt Station to Godaulia.
The PM also laid the foundation stone of a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur under the Namami Gange scheme. It will be built at a cost of over Rs 300 crore.
Under the Khelo India scheme, the foundation stone for Phase 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium was laid by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant at Iswar village in Sewapuri.
7. PM Modi addressed 'One World TB Summit' at Varanasi
Tags: National National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March addressed the 'One World TB Summit’ at Rudrakash Convention Centre, at Varanasi.
An overview of the news
To mark World Tuberculosis Day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership are organising the summit.
On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, the PM addressed the One World TB Summit.
International delegates from more than 30 countries participated in the event.
During the event, PM launched various initiatives including TB-free Panchayat Initiative
The official pan-India rollout of Abbreviated TB Preventive Treatment (TPT). Family Centered Care Model for TB and India's Annual TB Report 2023 released.
In March 2018, during the 'End TB Summit' held in New Delhi, the Prime Minister called for India to achieve SDG targets related to TB by 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
The One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further discuss the goals.
About Stop TB Partnership
Stop TB Partnership was founded in 2001.
This is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities, and countries affected by TB.
It aims to eliminate tuberculosis as a public health problem.
Secretariat - Geneva, Switzerland.
Other projects launched by PM
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt Station to Godaulia.
The PM also laid the foundation stone of a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur under the Namami Gange scheme. It will be built at a cost of over Rs 300 crore.
Under the Khelo India scheme, the foundation stone for Phase 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium was laid by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant at Iswar village in Sewapuri.
8. India, UK hold joint maritime exercise 'Konkan' in Arabian Sea
Tags: Defence International News
The annual bilateral maritime exercise 'Konkan' between the Indian Navy and UK's Royal Navy was held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea from March 20-22.
An overview of the news
The joint exercise by both the navies demonstrated operational readiness, enhanced interoperability and improved capability to conduct joint operations.
INS Trishul, a Guided Missile Frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 Guided Missile Frigate, participated in 'Konkan 2023' and conducted several maritime exercises to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.
The exercise covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and subsurface.
India and the UK agreed on new cooperation on maritime domain awareness, including new agreements on maritime information sharing,
The UK has been invited to join India's Information Fusion Center in Gurugram.
About 'Konkan' exercise
It is a bilateral naval exercise conducted between India and the United Kingdom.
The Konkan series of exercises was started in 2004.
Since then, the exercise is conducted by both the navies in rotation.
The exercise provided excellent training to the personnel of both the navies.
Other Exercises between India and UK
Exercise ‘Indradhanush’ (Air Force Exercise)
'Ajeya Warrior' (Joint Military Exercise)
9. Interpol withdraws Red Notice against Mehul Choksi
Tags: International News
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Interpol has withdrawn the Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued against Mehul Choksi, the main accused in the Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan scam case.
An overview of the news
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the restoration of the notice.
Case against Mehul Choksi
Mehul Choksi is the owner of Gitanjali Group, a jewelery firm with 4,000 stores in India.
He along with his nephew Nirav Modi is a culprit in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.
Choksi and Modi are accused of issuing fake Letters of Undertaking (LoU) and foreign letters of credit to companies owned by them in connivance with bank officials.
In this case, PNB did not keep any security before issuing the LoU.
The matter came to light in January 2018, when PNB submitted a fraud report to the Reserve Bank of India.
The CBI registered an FIR in the matter a week later. By this time Choksi had fled the country.
Choksi is wanted in India on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal conspiracy, cheating and financial embezzlement.
What is an Interpol Red Notice?
Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to escape justice.
A Red Corner Notice, or Red Notice (RN), alerts police forces around the world to fugitives who are wanted internationally.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement around the world to locate and temporarily arrest a person wanted for extradition, surrender or legal action.
A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.
About Interpol
The full name of INTERPOL is the International Criminal Police Organisation and is an intergovernmental organisation.
It was set up in 1923.
Member countries - 195
India became its member on 15 October 1949.
It helps police in all of them to work together to make the world a safer place.
Headquarter - Lyon, France.
Different Notices of Interpol - Red Notice, Green Notice, Yellow Notice, Orange Notice, Blue Notice, Purple Notice, Black Notice, and an INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice.
Its work focuses on public safety and combating terrorism, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, environmental crimes, etc.
10. Gujarat court sentences Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail
Tags: National Person in news National News
A court in Surat in Gujarat has convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed in 2019 over his remarks on Modi's surname.
An overview of the news
The court also sentenced him to two years in jail.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma convicted Rahul Gandhi under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
The court granted bail to Rahul Gandhi and stayed the sentence for 30 days so that he can appeal in a higher court during this period.
After this decision, Rahul Gandhi's membership of Parliament can also go from Wayanad parliamentary constituency.
Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi made an objectionable comment on the Modi surname while addressing a public meeting in Kollar, Karnataka.
What will be the effect of this decision?
The disqualification of an MP convicted of an offense can be in two cases.
If the offense for which he is convicted is listed in section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This includes offenses such as section 153A (offence of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) or section 171E (offence of bribery). Are.
Section 171F (offence of undue influence or impersonation at election) and certain others.
Second, Section 8(3) of the RPA states that an MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 2 years' imprisonment.
However, the section also states that disqualification takes effect only "after the lapse of three months" from the date of conviction.
Within that period, Gandhi can file an appeal against the conviction before the High Court.
