Weekly Ca {PART-2} (11th - 20th FEBRUARY)
PREFACE
It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI - Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.
The PRAVAHINI February-2022 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of February. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.
Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.
The PRAVAHINI February-2022 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.
We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.
Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)
Website: www.successmantra.in
Mail Id: [email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. National Affairs
2. International Affairs
3. Economic Affairs
4. Appointments
5. Important Dates & Sports
6. Reports & Indexes
7. Science & Technology
8. Miscellaneous
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
INTEGRATED PLANT NUTRITION MANAGEMENT BILL
Central government has proposed a law to empower it to fix the maximum selling price of fertilizers and control its quality and distribution.
The Department of Fertilizers has asked comments on the draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022, from all the stakeholders.
It is convenient in the public interest that the central government should take control of the distribution, price and quality standards of fertilizers.
The bill seeks to establish an ‘Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Authority of India’.
It is aimed at promoting development and sustainable use of balanced fertilizers, including bio-fertilizers, nano-fertilizers, bio-stimulates, and organic fertilizers.
It seeks to simplify the process for manufacturing production, distribution and price management of fertilizers across India. This will help in improving the ease of doing business.
INDIA TO ACHIEVE ZERO-DIESEL USE IN AGRICULTURE
Union Power Minister R K Singh has announced that India will achieve zero-diesel use in agriculture and replace fossil fuel with renewable energy by 2024.
For this, states should develop action plans to achieve the assigned targets and specific agencies dedicated to energy efficiency and conservation.
This initiative is a part of the government’s commitment to increase the share of non-fossil fuels by 2030 and become a net-zero emitter by 2070.
The Union minister chaired a virtual meeting with additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of power in states for collaboration between the Central and state governments for achieving energy transition goals.
BANNING ONLINE GAMES HELD UNCONSTITUTIONAL
On February 14, 2022, Karnataka High Court struck down provisions of Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021, that had banned online games.
The division bench was headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Krishna S. Dixit.
According to the bench, to the extent the provisions ultra vires the constitution, however not the entire Act.
This judgment was interpreted for preventing an appropriate legislation concerning the subject like betting and gambling in line with the provisions of the constitution.
A writ of mandamus was issued to restrain the respondents from interfering with online gaming business and allied activities of the petitioners.
Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021
The law includes all forms of betting or wagering in connection with any game of chance, except horse racing.
However, this law was opposed by online gaming companies, stating that this policy would affect the prospectus of Karnataka, which is emerging as an online gaming companies’ hub.
GOI APPROVES NEW INDIA LITERACY PROGRAMME
The Government of India approved the New India Literacy Programme scheme for the fiscal years 2022-2027 that will cover all areas of adult education and match with the national education policy 2020.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced the ‘New India Literacy Programme’ for the next five years, to cover all aspects of adult education.
The ministry has decided to use the term ‘Education for All’ instead of ‘Adult Education,’ because the previous term didn’t represent all non-literates who are in the age group of 15 years and above.
This scheme’s objectives are to teach not only foundational numeracy and literacy, but also critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy, awareness and health care, commercial skills, education and child care, and family welfare.
Vocational skills development will also be focused upon so that obtaining local employment becomes easier and basic education including preparatory, middle, and secondary education.
Education courses in sciences, arts, culture, technology, recreation, and sports as well as various other areas of interest to local learners, such as more advanced material on key life skills, are also to be included under this programme.
FIRST UT TO INTEGRATE WITH THE (NSWS)
Jammu & Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to integrate with the National Single Window System (NSWS) which marks a major leap in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the UT.
Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha launched the J&K Single Window Clearance System integrated with NSWS.
NSWS is linked with the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) which hosts 45 industrial parks of J&K that will help Investors to discover available land parcels in J&K.
• J&K Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha.
• J&K Formation (Union territory): 31 October 2019.
NCB ORGANIZED DARKATHON-2022
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is organising a “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through the darknet.
The initiative aims at involving students, youth and technical experts to find effective solutions to unravel the anonymity of darknet markets.
The agency recently smashed three groups of drug peddlers that were operating on the network that is accessed through encryption software which enables anonymity of users.
The prize money for the first winner is Rs 2.50 lakh, the runner-up would get Rs 2 lakh and the third winner Rs 1.50 lakh.
• Narcotics Control Bureau Director-General: Satya Narayan Pradhan.
• Narcotics Control Bureau Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Narcotics Control Bureau Founded: 1986.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
4TH QUAD FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING
Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan recently noted that QUAD is cooperating on sharing intelligence information on threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ministers called for justice for the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai (2008) as well as Pathankot airbase attack in 2016, for the first time since this group was formed.
They held their fourth Quad ministerial meeting in Melbourne on February 11, 2022, resolved to boost up delivery of more than billion Covid vaccines to be manufactured in India, step efforts to ensure maritime security in the region and to hold a special meet on climate change in 2022.
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)
QUAD is the informal strategic dialogue between India, Japan, USA, and Australia with a shared objective of ensuring and supporting a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. Idea to form QUAD was first mooted in 2007, by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
But it couldn’t move ahead as Australia pulled out of it, due to Chinese pressure. Shinzo Abe again floated the concept of “Democratic Security Diamond” comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan for safeguarding maritime commons from the Indian Ocean to western Pacific.
Finally in November 2017, India, Australia, US and Japan formed the QUAD Coalition to come up with a new strategy to keep sea routes free of any influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
PM MODI TO ADDRESS 'ONE OCEAN SUMMIT'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the high-level segment of “One Ocean Summit” on February 11, 2022, through a video message.
The summit will also be addressed by several other heads of states and governments from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Canada.
The summit will be an opportunity for gathering political leaders and all stakeholders to make a decisive contribution with tangible, bold, and actionable initiatives and commitments.
It is the first major event, which will take place in the first year of the decade dedicated to the ocean.
Summit will be held in light of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The summit is being organised from February 9 to February 11, 2022 by France, in cooperation with the World Bank and United Nations in Brest.
Objective of the Summit: The One Ocean Summit is being organized with the objective of mobilising the international community to take tangible action to support and preserve healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.
United Nations Ocean Conference
This conference was first held in June 2017 in New York. It sought to mobilize action for conservation and sustainable use of the seas, oceans and marine resources.
It was organised with the theme of “Our oceans, our future: partnering for implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14”. The conference was hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden.
RUSSIA & BELARUS MILITARY DRILLS
Russia and Belarus started joint military exercises near Belarusian border with Ukraine on February 10, 2022.
Military exercises started as a part of 10 days of drills. These exercises are seen as a significant element in the Kremlin's menacing posture towards its neighbour.
Around 30,000 Russian troops and all of Belarusian armed forces are taking part in the drills.
Forces have joined when Russia has amassed forces along its border with Ukraine as well in the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Several equipment for the drills travelled thousands of miles across Russia. Russia’s S-400 missile defence systems have been activated in Belarus, near the border with Ukraine.
Russia’s missile tests in Black Sea: Russia is also preparing for missile tests in the Black Sea, which Ukraine says will make shipping impossible in Black Sea as well as the Sea of Azov.
What is the Minsk Agreement?
The Minsk agreement was written in 2014 by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, composed of Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
It was written with mediation by the leaders of Germany and France in Normandy Format. The agreement sought to end war in the Donbas region of Ukraine.
INDIA BANNED 54 CHINESE APPLICATIONS
India banned 54 Chinese apps that pose a threat to India's security.
These 54 apps were banned because they allegedly obtained critical permissions and collected sensitive data of users. Collected real-time data is being misused and is being transmitted to servers located in hostile countries.
The list of banned apps includes Beauty Camera-Selfie Camera, Sweet Selfie HD, Viva Video Editor, Garena Free Fire – Illuminate, Dual Space Lite, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Arena and AppLock.
Garena Free Fire: Garena Free Fire is Singapore-based and its developer is not from China. This game was one of the most downloaded games in India 2021.
It had filled up the space created by PUBG Mobile after its ban in September 2020. The app was already removed from the App store and Play Store in India.
In June 2021, India banned 59 Chinese mobile applications including widely-used social media platforms like TikTok, WeChat, and Helo, as they were posing threat to India's sovereignty and security.
India has blocked 321 apps, since border tensions started with China in May 2020. India announced the first round of bans in June 2020, following the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a clash with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
PHILIPPINES STANCE ON RCEP
The Philippines Senate has postponed the ratification of RCEP after Farmers, and other civil society groups within the country took a cue from I ndia’s decision to remain out of RCEP.
The Philippines also expressed strong reservations against the mega trade deal signed by the Duterte government.
The decision to defer ratification was taken within the backdrop of solid opposition by farmers, civil society organizations, fishers, and the personal sector within the Philippines.
The Philippines took this decision before the three-day visit of the Indian secretary of state to Manila from February 13, 2022.
The visit was scheduled after India, and therefore the Philippines signed a USD 374.96 million deal in January 2022.
Under this deal New Delhi will export BrahMos missiles to the ASEAN country.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
RCEP may be a trade agreement among Australia, Brunei, China, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Laos, South Korea, Myanmar, Malaysia, The Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Fifteen member countries of RCEP account for around 30% of the world’s population and 30% of worldwide GDP.
Thus, RCEP is the largest trade bloc in history. It's the primary trade agreement involving the largest economies of Asia, including China, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea.
RCEP was first introduced during the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2011. Negotiations started in early 2013.
Initially, India was a member of the RCEP drafting committee in 2011. However, in 2019, it opted out of the agreement citing some concerns that were left unaddressed.
CANADA INVOKED EMERGENCY ACT FOR 1ST TIME
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has invoked never-before-used emergency powers to support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18 days at the hands of participants in the so-called “Freedom Convoy.”
The demonstrations shut a main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was reopened on the 13th Feb.
What is the Emergencies Act?
The act gives the government temporary powers it does not normally have, such as the power to impose special restrictions on public assembly and travel and to mobilize federal support for the local and provincial police.
It gives the federal government power to implement temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies.
US & BANGLADESH CONDUCTED EXERCISE 'COPE SOUTH 22'
The air forces of Bangladesh and the United States will conduct a joint tactical airlift exercise ‘Cope South 22’. The six days exercise has been sponsored by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).
The bilateral exercise will be held at Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Kurmitola Cantonment, Dhaka; and Operating Location-Alpha, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
The goals of the Pacific Air Forces-sponsored bilateral tactical airlift exercise include improving interoperability with the Bangladesh Air Force and supporting the armed forces of Bangladesh’s long-term modernization efforts in order to maintain regional stability.
The goal of the exercise is bolstering bilateral ties between the two countries through tactical airlift sorties and subject-matter expert exchanges.
4TH INDIA-AUSTRALIA ENERGY DIALOGUE
The 4th India-Australia Energy Dialogue was co-chaired by Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, RK Singh and Australian Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor.
Energy Transition was a major area of discussion in the dialogue and both the Energy Ministers. Energy Transition activities in their respective countries with a focus on renewables, energy efficiency, storage, EVs, critical minerals, mining etc.
The need of Climate Finance was also highlighted by India for meeting the Energy Transition goals of developing countries.
Both the countries signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for working towards reducing the cost of new and renewable energy technologies and scaling up their deployment to reduce global emissions.
Apart from the power sector, there are many desirable areas of cooperation agreed under the other JWGs like reducing costs of Green Hydrogen; cooperation in the sphere of coal-based energy security and resource deployment; investment opportunities in the minerals sector; exploring the potential for an LNG Partnership, among other areas.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
FIRST COUNTRY TO ADOPT INDIA'S UPI SYSTEM
The first country to adopt India’s UPI system will be Nepal which will be critical in modernising the neighbouring country’s digital economy.
To deliver the services in Nepal, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), NPCI’s international arm, has partnered with Manam Infotech and Gateway Payments Service (GPS).
In Nepal, GPS is the authorized payment system operator, and Manam Infotech will implement the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) there.
It will open the way for real-time cross-border P2P transfers between Nepal and India in the future.
UPI’s real-time payment system can help accelerate Nepal’s financial inclusion process while also expanding business opportunities.
JPMORGAN: WORLD'S FIRST BANK TO SET UP METAVERSE
JPMorgan has become the world’s first bank to set up shop in the metaverse. The largest bank in the US has opened a lounge in the blockchain-based world Decentraland.
Users can create their virtual avatars, build virtual spaces and roam in the lounge christened ‘Onyx Lounge’ after its suite of Ethereum-based services.
The lounge also features a digital image of the bank’s CEO Jamie Dimon.
What is Metaverse?
Metaverse is a virtual universe where users can do multiple activities like socialising, shopping or even attending events through their avatar.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are becoming more pocket-friendly, and both technologies have together contributed to a significantly enhanced user experience.
UNCTAD'S GLOBAL TRADE REPORT
According to UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update published on February 17th, global trade in goods continued strong in 2021, and trade in services finally returned to the levels of pre-COVID-19.
Global trade touched $28.5 trillion which is a record level in 2021, according to the research. This shows a 25% increase over 2020 and a 13% increase over 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
While the majority of global trade growth occurred in the first half of 2021, it continued in the second half of the year.
After a slow third quarter, trade growth accelerated in the fourth quarter, with goods trade increasing by about USD 200 billion to USD 5.8 trillion.
Meanwhile, service trade increased by USD 50 billion to USD1.6 trillion, which is slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
According to the report, imports and exports in all major trade economies rose sharply over pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter of 2021.
However, goods trade increased more quickly in developing countries than in developed countries. Exports of underdeveloped countries increased by roughly 30% compared to the same period in 2020, compared to 15% for wealthy nations.
As commodity prices rose, growth was faster in commodity-exporting regions. Also, with a 32 percent year-on-year gain, trade grew faster than the global average.
With the exception of transportation equipment, all economic sectors had significant growth in the value of their trade in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The report stated that high fuel costs are behind the considerable increase in the value of trade in the energy sector, and trade growth for metals and chemicals was also above average.
The global shortage of semiconductors slowed the growth of trade in communication equipment, automobiles, and precision instruments.
APPOINTMENTS
ILKER AYCI APPOINTED AS CEO & MD OF AIR INDIA
Ilker Ayci has been appointed as the new CEO and MD of Air India. He will assume his responsibilities on or before 1st April 2022.
Ilker Ayci is a former chairman of Turkish Airlines. Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there.
About Ilker Ayci: Ayci was born in Istanbul in 1971. After graduating from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Bilkent University, he served as a researcher in the Department of Political Sciences at Leeds University in the U.K.
INDIA'S 1ST NATIONAL MARITIME SECURITY COORDINATOR
Retired Vice Admiral, G Ashok Kumar has been appointed as India’s first national maritime security coordinator by the government.
The government of India has taken the decisive move to ensure reliability of security and its objective to strengthen the country’s maritime security.
The appointment of G Ashok Kumar, who is a former Navy vice chief, is seen as part of India’s consistent efforts to bolster its maritime security following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack 14 years back when a group of sea-borne terrorists struck at the heart of the country’s financial capital.
The NMSC (National Maritime Security Coordinator) will be working in coordination with the National Security Council Secretariat which is headed by NSA Ajit Doval.
The main task will be given to NMSC to make coordination among the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard, security agencies those tangled in coastal and maritime security and 13 coastal states and Union Territories.
AWARDS & HONOURS
HILAL-E-PAKISTAN AWARDED TO BILL GATES
Bill Gates, noted philanthropist and creator of Microsoft have been awarded the Hilal-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian honor, for his efforts to help eradicate polio in the country.
Through Gavi, the vaccine alliance, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been a major donor towards global polio eradication.
Gates also met with Asad Umar, the Minister of Planning and Development and the NCOC’s director, and Dr. Faisal Sultan, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health.
He was briefed on the NCOC’s function, as well as its accomplishments since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the non-pharmaceutical initiatives taken to prevent disease spread.
About GAVI
GAVI is a public-private global health collaboration that aims to improve vaccination access in low-income countries.
By monetary measure, Gavi distributed more than half of total donor aid for health and the majority of donor help for immunization. GAVI is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY DAY OBSERVED ON FEB 12TH
India celebrated National Productivity Day on February 12, 2020 which provides for planning time, skills, energy, intelligence, resources, and opportunities in order to achieve goals.
National Productivity Day is organised by National Productivity Council (NPC), with the objective of stimulating and promoting productivity and quality awareness in all sectors of India.
Productivity Week: National Productivity Council will celebrate “National Productivity Week” from February 12 to 18, 2022.
Theme of the day: National Productivity Council will celebrate productivity week under the theme “Self-Reliance through Productivity.”
WORLD RADIO DAY CELEBRATED ON 13TH FEB
World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February each year to recognize radio as a powerful medium, which brings people together from every corner of the globe, to promote diversity and help build a more peaceful and inclusive world.
The day was Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).
On the occasion of World Radio Day 2022, UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate the Day through three sub-themes:
Trust in radio journalism: Produce independent and high-quality content; Trust and accessibility: Take care of your audience; Trust and viability of radio stations: Ensure competitiveness.
INTERNATIONAL EPILEPSY DAY OBSERVED ON 14TH FEB
International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the Second Monday of February across the world. In 2022, International Epilepsy Day falls on February 14, 2022.
International Epilepsy Day seeks to raise awareness and educate the general public on the true facts about epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.
The day is organised jointly by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to raise awareness about epilepsy and highlight the kinds of problems faced by victims, their friends and family.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that makes a person go through sudden and recurrent episodes of sensory disturbances.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
INDIA RANKED 46TH IN EIU'S DEMOCRACY INDEX
India has ranked 46th position in the 2021 Democracy Index’s global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. With the highest score of 9.75, Norway topped the Democracy Index 2021 by Economist Intelligence.
The list was published on February 10, 2022. India scored 6.91 to rank 46th on the list. Our neighbour Pakistan has been placed further below in the hybrid regime with a rank of 104.
Top 5 countries in the list:
Norway: In the full democracy segment, Norway topped the charts. It had an overall score of 9.75.
New Zealand: New Zealand ranked second in the Democracy Index 2021 with an overall score of 9.37.
Finland: The beautiful nation Finland came in at number three on the Democracy Index 2021 with an overall score of 9.27.
Sweden: Sweden slipped from the third position last year to the fourth rank, this year. It had an overall score of 9.26.
Iceland: Iceland witnessed the biggest slump. It slipped to the fifth rank from the second position last year after it scored 9.18, overall this year.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FIRST TAIWAN PRESENCE IN ISRO: INSPIRESat-1
On February 14, 2022, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a satellite called “INSPIRESat-1”.
INSPIRESat-1 has jointly been developed by a team of international researchers including from universities of India, US, Taiwan, and Singapore.
INSPIRESat-1 stands for International Research & Teaching Satellite Project satellite one.
This satellite has been developed by Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at University of Colorado, Boulder.
It was launched onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C52.
INSPIRESat-1 is a student satellite. Mission life of the satellite is one year. It will study orbital heating of the sun and about dynamics of the ionosphere.
MISCELLANEOUS
AUSTRALIA DESIGNATED KOALA AS ENDANGERED SPECIES
On February 10, 2022, Australia designated the koala as an endangered species amid pressure on the marsupials’ eucalyptus tree habitats in eastern states of Australia.
The species was classed as vulnerable for 10 years also in Queensland, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.
Now, there would be increased protection for the animal.
Why was Koalas designated as an endangered species?
Population of Koalas is declining dramatically across the country because of habitat loss, impact of prolonged drought, black summer bushfires, Urbanization and cumulative impacts of disease.
Furthermore, thousands of koalas are thought to have been killed in fires that swept Australia’s eastern and southern states in 2019 and 2020. Thus, this designation would provide more protection to the species.
Background: Proposal to list Koalas in Endangered category was given by WWF-Australia, Humane Society International and International Fund for Animal Welfare, in April 2020.
This proposal was made after research found a decline in population by 62 percent in New South Wales and 50 percent in Queensland since 2001.
ATAL TUNNEL AS WORLD'S LONGEST HIGHWAY TUNNEL
Atal Tunnel has been officially certified as ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet’ by the World Book of Records.
Atal tunnel is a Highway tunnel built under Rohtang Pass in eastern Pir Panjal Himalayan range on Leh-Manali Highway.
It is the longest highway single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world with a length of about 9.02 km.
World Book of Records, UK is an organization that catalogues, verifies extraordinary records with authentic certification around the globe.
WHO LAUNCHED 'QUIT TOBACCO APP'
The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) has launched a ‘Quit Tobacco App’. This application helps people to give up the use of tobacco in all forms, including smokeless and other newer products.
The App was launched by Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO-SEAR, during WHO’s year-long ‘Commit to quit’ campaign, is the latest tobacco control initiative by the WHO South-East Asia Region.
The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms of tobacco, helps users to identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused to quit tobacco.
Tobacco is the world’s leading cause of preventable death and kills nearly 8 million persons every year.
It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region which is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.
• World Health Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• World Health Organization Founded: 7 April 1948.
• World Health Organization Director-General: Tedros Adhanom.
WATER TAXI SERVICES IN MUMBAI
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal virtually flagged off the ‘Most Awaited’ Water Taxi for citizens of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The Water Taxi services will commence from the Domestic Cruise Terminal (DCT) and will also connect nearby locations at Nerul, Belapur, Elephanta island and JNPT.
The service promises a comfortable, stress-free journey, is time-saving and promotes eco-friendly transport.”
The Ministry also informed that the newly constructed Belapur jetty, built at a cost of Rs. 8.37 crore was funded in the 50-50 model under the Sagarmala scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
“The new jetty will enable movement of vessels to locations like Bhaucha Dhakka, Mandwa, Elephanta and Karanja.
