Current Affairs Daily Digest – July 12 2019
1. Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs
India’s current High Commissioner to Canada Vikas Swarup has been appointed as Secretary in the Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs division, with effect from August 1. The 1986-batch IFS officer takes over from Sanjiv Arora, who was appointed to the post earlier this year. Swarup is a former spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry.
2. India Holds First Ever Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Tanzania
The doctrine of Humanity, India offering to the world since long ago through ‘actions’. The six-week-long Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Tanzania which benefited over 500 differently abled Tanzanians. The camp was jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Jaipur Foot and held at Muhimbilli Orthopedic Institute, Dar es Salaam.
3. MoEF has recommended for the survey and exploration of uranium in Amrabad Tiger Reserve
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has recommended for the survey and exploration of uranium in Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana. The exploration was approved by the Atomic Minerals Directorate. The approval comes inspite of the contrary reports by forest officials after field inspections which was conducted in 2016.
4. Union Cabinet takes big ticket Cabinet decisions
In a major boost to rural connectivity Cabinet approves launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll; 1,25,000 Km of Roads to be networked at estimated cost Rs 80,250 Cr; Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill gets green signal; 13 Central Labour Laws brought in the ambit of New Code; Rules framed for women working in night shifts.
5. WHO declares Sri Lanka measles free
The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday said that Sri Lanka had successfully eliminated measles from the island country. The WHO praised Sri Lanka’s achievement in a statement at a time when measles cases were increasing globally.
The WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said Sri Lanka’s success demonstrated its commitment, the determination of its health workforce and parents to protect children against measles
6. Samsung partners with Paisabazaar.com to offer financial products on Samsung Pay
Paisabazaar.com, India’s largest online marketplace for financial products, today announced its partnership with Samsung, the country’s most trusted smartphone and consumer electronics company. Paisabazaar.com supports Samsung Pay users by providing one stop solution to their financial requirements.
By using the facility, Samsung Pay users can apply for Credit Cards and Personal loans from the platform. The move will enable millions of existing and potential Samsung Pay users to get the benefit of seamlessly opting for a host of financial services.
7. India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in the works at Kerala’s Kottoor
The Kerala government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The first phase of the Rs 105 crore-project was launched last month by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The centre, expected to have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured and older elephants. It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.
8. Overall Homicide Rate Declines by 10% in India, Increases ‘Noticeably’ in Some Northern States: UN Report
The overall homicide rate in India has decreased by 10 per cent over a period of six years till 2015 but the trend increased “noticeably” in some northern states, according to a UN report.
The Global Study on Homicide 2019 published on Monday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also found that the number of female homicide victims were more than that of males in India.
9. National Simplicity Day is celebrated on 12 July
National Simplicity Day is observed in honour of the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, He encourages to step back and look the ways to simplify life in such a busy lifestyle. This provide us an opportunity to eliminate the unnecessary burdens that weigh us down.
10. Amazon invests ₹51 crore in Quess Corp arm
US-based e-commerce giant Amazon has made an equity investment of ₹51 crore in QDigi, an after-sales support company for electronic products. QDigi is a subsidiary of Quess Corp, a Bengaluru-based listed business services firm.
Quess Corp board has approved issue of 754,437 equity shares to Amazon.com at an issue price of ₹676 on a preferential basis, according to a stock exchange filing. The issue price is nearly 50% higher than its current trading price of ₹430.
11. Odisha Government implements Centre’s Witness Protection Scheme
The state government on Monday informed the Orissa High Court that it has implemented the Centre’s Witness Protection Scheme-2018.Endorsing the Central scheme on December 5 last year, the Supreme Court had directed all States and Union Territories to implement it in letter and spirit.
