Current Affairs 24th-26th August 2019
Important Current Affairs
Current Affairs 24th-26th August 2019
Rajasthan's free medicine scheme secures top rank
Rajasthan’s free medicine scheme secured the highest position with first ranking issued by the National Health Mission (NHM) among the sixteen states of the country. NHM free drug service was introduced by the Ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) for all states/UTs.
Aim:
It aimed to supply free medication to patients coming back to public health facilities. The theme was launched in October 2011.
The Ministry has multiplied the number of free medicines from 608 to 712 and free tests from 70 to 90. The NHM has initiated the rankings to encouraging and supporting states to supply free medication to patients coming back to public health facilities.
Rajasthan’s free medicine scheme:
The main aim of Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) is to produce commonly used essential medicines freed from price to patients visiting government tending establishment in the year 2011-12. The scheme consists of 2 elements like free drugs and free tests.
The Free medicines theme was enforced on the Gregorian calendar of 2011 and the free check theme was introduced on World Health Day in April of 2013.
The primary part of the free check theme was enforced in hospitals connected with state medical schools likewise as district /sub-divisional and satellite hospitals.
Benefits:
Rajasthan’s population is higher than 7 crores. The number of beneficiaries at free tests is at 9.41 crore as of December 2017. The patients of the border districts of the adjacent states can also get free medicines and avail free tests. The price of free drugs beneficiaries stood at Rs.52.4 crore.
WHO says Microplastics does not pose a threat
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of Microplastics in drinking water does not pose a health risk at current levels. This is the WHO's first report into the consequences of microplastics on human health. WHO looked into the particular impact of Microplastics in faucet and drinking water. It conducted a lot of in-depth analysis into Microplastics and also the potential impact on human health.
Microplastics are larger than 150 micrometers will not be absorbed by the organic structure of the human body. The uptake of smaller particles is limited.
The drinkable studies have found Microplastics concentrations starting from 1 to 0.001 microparticles per litre with the balance of chemical, physical, and infection-related risks of drinking these particles.
Effects of Microplastics:
Microplastics contain chemicals that might probably hurt organs like flame retardants, or cause injuries many diseases. Even less is thought Nanoscale plastic particles can cause epithelial duct as just microscopic particles.
Researchers have developed a lens that works like the human eye
Harvard researchers have developed metalens, an electronic flat lens that works like the human eye.
About the Lens:
The technology used in the new artificial eye will revolutionize the lenses used in cameras, VR/AR headsets and eyewear. The special features of the lens include simultaneous focus, control of aberrations caused by astigmatisms and image shifts.
The Lens demonstrates the feasibility of embedded optical zoom and autofocus for a wide range of applications, including cell phone cameras. It uses tiny nanostructures to focus light and hence the entire visible light spectrum at a single point.
First World Youth Conference on Kindness was held in New Delhi
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the first World Youth Conference on Kindness on 23 August in New Delhi.
Aim:
The conference aimed to impart critical competencies like empathy, compassion, mindfulness and critical inquiry in global youth. It aimed to inspire, empower and enable them to transform themselves and build long-lasting peace in their communities.
Organized by:
The conference was organized by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Participants:
A number of youth leaders from around the world, representing over 27 countries, and young men and women participated in the first World Youth Conference on Kindness.
Henley Passport Index India slips 5 spots
Henley Passport Index for the year 2019 released. The report ranks India at 86th position of 189 countries in 2019. It secured a score of 58. It slipped 79th place in its previous index. The report stated that Japan and Singapore as the “world’s most powerful passport” in 2019. Japan topped the list for the second consecutive time in a row 189 countries.
Around 8 nations added to India’s list of visa-free access between 2010 and 2019 It is ranked lowest among BRICS nations. It shares the spot with Mauritania, and Sao Tome and Principe.
Mobility score mainly states that the no. of countries a person can visit without visa restrictions. India denotes that a person can access 58 countries to which holders are eligible to travel without a visa in prior.
The rankings are as follows:
Rank Country
1 - Japan and Singapore.
2 - South Korea, Germany & Finland.
3 - Denmark and Italy.
4 - France and Sweden.
5 - Austria, Netherlands, Portugal & Switzerland
6 - Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom(UK) and the United States(US).
7 - Malta
8 - Czech Republic.
9 - Australia, Iceland, New Zealand and Lithuania.
10 - Latvia, Slovenia & Slovakia
Henley Passport Index:
It is a global ranking of countries to travel freedom for their citizens.
It started in 2005 as the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI). Later it was modified and renamed in January 2018.
PV Sindhu won gold at the 2019 BWF World Championships
Indian badminton and World number five PV Sindhu won gold at the BWF World Championships 2019. She became the first-ever Indian badminton player to win a gold medal at the event. PV Sindhu defeated world number four Nozomi Okuhara of Japan and secured 21-7, 21-7. This is her fifth medal at the world championships. With this, she has become only the fourth singles player ever to have a full set of world championship medals.
In the previous editions of the World Championships, she secured:
♦ Bronze in 2013
♦ Bronze in 2014
♦ Silver in 2017
♦ Silver in 2018
♦ Gold in 2019
BWF World Championships 2019:
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships was held from 19 to 25 August in Basel, Switzerland. It is the 25th edition of the championship. 45 countries participated in the badminton tournament.
Result:
Men's singles: Kento Momota (Japan)
Women's singles: P. V. Sindhu (India)
Men's doubles: Mohammad Ahsan, Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)
Women's doubles: Mayu Matsumoto, Wakana Nagahara (Japan)
Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei, Huang Yaqiong (China)
PM received the highest civilian award in UAE and Bahrain
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa on 24 August. The award recognizes his efforts to build a strong friendship and bilateral ties with the Gulf nation. Indian Prime Minister Modi is the first Prime Minister to visit Bahrain.
Order of Zayed:
Modi also received the Order of Zayed, UAE's highest civilian award, by Abu Dhabi crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The award recognized his vital role in building the strategic relationship between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured during his 3-day visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The visit aimed to hold extensive talks with top leaders of the two countries on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The visit strengthens India's connect with the six-nation powerful Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Several alternative Muslim nations honored PM Modi with their high civilian award namely:
♦ Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen of Maldives in June 2019
♦ Grand Collar of the State of Palestine in February 2018
♦ Emeer Amanullah Khan Award of Afghanistan in June 2016
♦ King Abdulaziz Sash Award of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2016
PM Modi inaugurated Shreenathji Temple in Bahrain
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the $4.2 million improvement project on Shreenathji Temple and offered prayers.
Shreenathji Temple:
It is a 200-year-old Lord Sri Krishna avatar temple in Manama, Bahrain. It is the oldest temple with a land measure of 16,500 sq. feet and a new four-floor structure covering 45,000 sq. feet with an overall height of 30m civilized with the qualities of peace, faith. The temple has 80% more capacity to host devotees.
The temple mainly has facilities for ancient Hindu wedding ceremonies and different rituals, promoting Bahrain as a marriage destination and boosting touristry. The temple corridors are adorned with paintings by varied Indian and Bahraini artists and folks of all faiths area unit welcome. Around 3,50,000 Indian nationals live in Bahrain. The Indian community comprises a 3rd of Bahrain's total population of 1.2 million.
Shri Narendra Modi launches RuPay card in UAE
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the RuPay card. The UAE the first country in the Middle East to initiate the Indian indigenous system of electronic payment. RuPay card scheme was launched in 2012 to fulfill the Reserve Bank of India’s vision to have a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments.
RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.
India launched the RuPay card in Singapore and Bhutan.
RuPay Card
RuPay card scheme was conceived and launched by National Payments Corporation of India. It was created to fulfill the Reserve Bank of India's vision to have a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments. RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.