Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 May 2020

1. 73^rd World Health Assembly concluded through video conference

• Recently the 73^rd World Health Assembly was concluded through video conference.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan participated in this meeting on behalf of India.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged all governments, industry and philanthropists in this meeting to prioritize long-term benefits and ensure their resources, so that everyone can benefit.
• The World Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.
• World Health Assembly (WHA):
  • The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization. It includes delegations from all WHO member countries.
  • It was founded in 1988.
  • Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

2. India supported the draft resolution of the European Union

• Recently India has supported the proposal of the European Union to examine the response of the World Health Organization during the worldwide coronavirus crisis.
• A total of 120 countries have sponsored the resolution, including Australia, the European Union, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, and the UK.
• The proposal was made in the annual session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

• World Health Organization (WHO):
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It was established on 7 April 1948.
  • Its current Director General is Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

3. National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting in New Delhi

• Recently the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting was held in New Delhi.
• The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
• In this meeting, preparations and requirements for minimizing the loss due to upcoming super cyclone Amphan were discussed.
• National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC):
  • A National Crisis Management Committee is formed in the Cabinet Secretariat.
  • The committee consists of cabinet secretaries and secretaries of all concerned ministries and departments as well as other organizations.
  • The cabinet secretary is the chairman of the committee.
  • The purpose of this committee is to ensure effective implementation of relief operations in times of natural disasters.
  • At the time of Cyclone Fani in Odisha in May 2019, the National Crisis Management Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha.

4. ICMR issued a revised strategy for testing COVID-19

• Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released a revised strategy for testing COVID-19.
• Under this strategy, all pathological persons with a history of international travel in the last 14 days will be tested.
• Also, all those exposed to COVID-19 confirmed people in the laboratory will be tested.
• In addition, all patients with severe acute respiratory infections will also be tested.

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
  • It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
  • The Indian Council of Medical Research is the apex body in India for the creation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
  • The current Director General of this institution is Dr. Balram Bhargava.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was founded in 1911.

5. DB Shekatkar Committee recommendations related to construction of border infrastructure implemented

• Recently, the Central Government has implemented the recommendations related to the construction of border infrastructure of the Lieutenant General DB Shekatkar Committee.
• These recommendations are for accelerating road construction leading to socio-economic development in the border areas.
• These recommendations are as follows:
  • Adoption of Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) Mode for implementing of all works worth more than Rs 100 crore.
  • Increase the limit from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore for procurement of modern construction plants, equipment and machinery under domestic and foreign procurement by BRO.
  • Blasting techniques for precision blasting, use of geo-textiles for soil stabilization, cement base for pavements, plastic coated aggregates for surfacing will also be used to speed up construction.
  • Empowerment of field officers by delegating financial and administrative powers has shown significant improvement in the rapid financial completion of tasks.
  • Also, all statutory clearances such as land acquisition and forest and environmental clearances have also been made part of the approval of the Detailed Project Report.
  • It is compulsory to allocate the work when 90% of the statutory approval has been received.

6. Famous Marathi writer Ratnakar Matkari dies from Coronavirus

• Recently the famous Marathi playwright and litterateur Ratnakar Matkari died at the age of 81 from coronavirus in Mumbai.
• Sri Ratnakar Matkari was adorned by both the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi for his musical compositions.
• His film Investment received the National Award in the regional category section.

(Source: News on AIR)

• His first play was Vedi Manasa.
• Some of his famous Marathi plays include Arannyak, Lok Katha 78, Dubhang, Ashwamedh, Char Diwas Premache and Indira, etc. based on Mahabharata.

7. Charan Paduka campaign launched in Madhya Pradesh

• Recently the Charan Paduka campaign, the first of its kind, has been launched in Madhya Pradesh.
• This campaign is for migrant laborers passing through the state.
• Under this campaign, migrant laborers going barefoot are being provided with shoes and slippers to ease their pain.
• This campaign is being carried out by the police in most places. The campaign began from Rau police station in Indore.

• Madhya Pradesh:
  • Madhya Pradesh ranks second in terms of area in the country after Rajasthan.
  • The state is famous for Sanchi Stupa and Bhimabetka Caves.
  • Bhopal is the capital of the state.
  • The Chief Minister is Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Governor is Lalji Tandon.
  • The state animal of the state is Barasingha.
  • The state bird of Madhya Pradesh is the Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Dudhraj).
  • The state's state flower is Palash.

8. Launch of new technology of lung treatment of newborns in Jaipur

• Recently a new technique of lung treatment of newborns was launched in Jaipur.
• This medical technique is known as Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA).
• It is used for the treatment of premature children with lung disease or respiratory distress syndrome.
• This procedure was initially introduced for newborns weighing less than 1,500 grams.
• The LISA technique has been developed as a lung protective strategy for respiratory management and ventilation so that mechanical ventilation does not damage the lungs of the uterine neonates.
• Regular use of Lisa will help save the lives of premature children.

9. Oxford University made corona vaccine failed to stop the spread of virus in monkeys

• The Corona vaccine, recently created by researchers at the Oxford University, failed to stop the spread of virus in monkeys.
• Although, it provides protection from pneumonia.

• This vaccine is currently being used for testing in humans as well. The vaccine is one of the eight vaccines that have been tested in humans.
• The name of this vaccine is ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

10. May 18: International Museum Day

• International Museum Day is celebrated on 18 May each year.
• The day marks the basis of the prejudices of the international museum community every year.
• The International Council of Museums presented International Museum Day in 1977.
• Each year a theme is selected for International Museum Day.
• Its theme this year is the “Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”.