Daily GK Updates - 14th August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  NGT directed to maintain a minimum 15 to 20% E-flow in rivers: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all states to maintain a minimum environmental flow of 15 to 20% of the average lean season course in their rivers. E-flow means environmental flow. E-flow defines the quantity, timing and quality of water flow required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, besides human livelihood. If any state is unable to adhere to this average percentage then it may approach the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The order came after the counsel for the environment ministry told the tribunal that it has completed study of six river basins — Siang, Tawang, Bichom, Subansiri, Dibang and Lohit.

2. DAMON - Special programme to prevent spread of malaria in Odisha: A special program would soon be launched to prevent the spread of malaria in remote areas of Odisha’s Ganjam district. The programme has been christened as “Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran” (DAMON) and people testing positive for malaria will be provided treatment under the programme. Besides other diseases like malnutrition among the children and complicacy among the pregnant women will also be identified in the camps and necessary treatment will be provided.

3.  Religious Freedom Bill passed in Jharkhand: Jharkhand state assembly has passed Religious Freedom Bill 2017, which ait to stop the forced conversions in the state. Now, the bill will be sent to the governor of the state, following whose approval it would go to the President for assent. A person converting willingly will have to inform the Deputy Commissioner about details such as time, place and the person who administers the conversion proceedings.

4. The five-day India-ASEAN Youth Summit has begun in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: The event is being organized by Foreign Ministry, Madhya Pradesh government and India Foundation. The state has been chosen for this event as the Sanchi stupa here strengthens the state’s cultural affiliation with the ASEAN countries. Over 175 delegations of youths from Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and India will attend the Summit. The exercise will mark the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership in the ongoing year and also the commemorative year’s theme of “Shared Values, Common Destiny”

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. WHO declares Somalia free of polio: The UN health agency, World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Somalia free of polio. According to the UN health agency, it had not recorded any case of polio disease in Somalia in the last three years. Somalia recorded the last case of polio in 2014 in the central part of the country.

2. The Flying Sikh - 'Milkha Singh' as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for physical activity in South-East Asia Region: Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh has been appointed WHO (World Health Organisation) Goodwill Ambassador for Physical Activity in South-East Asia Region. He will promote WHO South-East Asia Region's NCD Prevention and Control Action Plan which seeks to reduce the level of insufficient physical activity by 10% and NCDs by 25% by 2025. An estimated 8.5 million people die due to NCDs every year in WHO South-East Asia Region. A ‘goodwill ambassador’ is a person who advocates for a specific cause on the basis of their notability.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  The great sprinter Usain Bolt (30-year) said good bye to the Athletics world: Running the final race of his career, after taking the baton from his Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake, suffered cramps on his left hamstring as he tried, in vain, to chase down his rivals in the men's 4x100m relay race at the World Athletics Championships in London. Britain won the gold in 37.47 seconds while United States (38.01) and Japan took the silver and bronze respectively.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Newly appointed MD (Exim Bank) -  David Rasquinha: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed ‘David Rasquinha’ as the Managing Director (MD) of Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) for a period of three years. EXIM Bank commenced operations in 1982 under the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981 and head office in Mumbai.