1. National Health Authority and Google Tie up for Ayushman Bharat Implementation
The National Health Authority (NHA) has joined hands with Google to collaborate and strengthen the implementation of the government's flagship health scheme, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
The two organizations will be working closely to explore various user cases for increasing process efficiencies in day-to-day applications.
Google will also support NHA in improving PM-JAY's digital presence and showcasing relevant content to the 50 crore entitled beneficiaries.
In addition, Google will also help provide training and support to NHA personnel to build on digital skills.
The collaboration will seek to bolster PM-JAY's objective of reaching the poor and vulnerable, reducing their high out-of-pocket health expenditure, and improving access to quality healthcare.
Note:
NHA is the programme implementing authority of the world's largest public-funded health insurance scheme “Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
NHA's CEO: Indu Bhushan
Source: News18
2. Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog, UNDP India Jointly Launch Youth Co:Lab
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India jointly launched Youth Co:Lab which aims at accelerating social entrepreneurship and innovation in young India.
To mark the launch, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between AIM, NITI Aayog and UNDP India.
Through Youth Co:Lab, young entrepreneurs and innovators will get a chance to connect with governments, mentors, incubators and investors, who will help equip them with entrepreneurial skills.
AIM and UNDP, as part of UNSDF signed between NITI Aayog and UN India, are collaborating to spread awareness about different issues pertaining to youth, the future of work and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through Youth Co:Lab.
Source: PIB
3. CISF to set up permanent deployment at Baglihar Hydro Electric Power plant
According to sources, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is all set to have a permanent deployment of more than 300 highly-trained personnel at Baglihar Hydro Electric PowerPlant in Jammu and Kashmir.
This Hydroelectric Power Project is one of the most sensitive hydroelectric plants. Recently, the security forces gunned down two militants along with a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander.
Another senior government official also said that there have been consistent threats on Baglihar Dam as Pakistan has opposed its construction claiming it as a violation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
Note:
Baglihar Dam also known as Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, is a run-of-the-river power project on the Chenab River in the Ramban district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project was conceived in 1992, approved in 1996 and construction began in 1999.
4. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launches 'Trans-Fat Free' logo
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched the "Trans-Fat Free" logo during the 8th International Chefs Conference in New Delhi.
The logo can be used by the Food establishments which use trans-fat free fats/oil and do not have industrial trans-fat more than 0.2g/100g of food, in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
The logo can be voluntarily used by food business operators in their outlets and also on food products.
India is committed to eliminating it from the food supply and is progressing towards its objective of trans fat elimination by 2022 in a phased manner.
"The FSSAI is committed to reducing trans-fatty acids produced in industries by 2 percent in a phased manner by 2022.
Note:
CEO of FSSAI: Pawan Agarwal.
Source: Business Standard
5. India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal.
It would enable segregation, processing, and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.
The clinic is a three-month pilot project, if successful, would be replicated elsewhere in the country.
Electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee.
Source: The Hindu
6. Union govt launches eco-friendly crackers to fight air pollution
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched eco-friendly green firecrackers, which have been manufactured in India and are available in markets for sellers and consumers.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs have been successful in developing various environment-friendly fireworks such as sound-emitting crackers, flowerpots, pencils, chakkar and sparklers.
A green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR) coding system has been developed for the differentiation of green crackers from conventional crackers.
Source: Economic times
International Affairs
7. Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples.
Ms. Aparicio is committed to the fight against racism and for the rights of women and indigenous peoples. She was chosen to play in Alfonso Cuarón’s film Roma while studying to be a teacher.
Her performance in the film, for which she had to learn the Mixtec language of her father’s family, won her an Oscar nomination for best actress, the first indigenous Mexican woman to be so recognized by the US Academy Awards.
TIME magazine (USA) listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.
Note:
UNESCO Goodwill ambassadors are personalities who place their notoriety at the service of the Organization’s campaigns.
They commit to raising public awareness of the Organization’s mission for a period of two years.
The Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay
Source: The Tribune
8. Festival of Fulpati being celebrated in Nepal
The festival of Fulpati is being celebrated with gaiety and religious fervor in Nepal.
Fulpati is observed on the seventh day of the Dashain festival.
In Nepali, “Ful” means flower and “Pati” means leaves and plants.
There is a tradition in Nepal to bring nine types of Fulpati into homes on the seventh day of Navaratri.
It is believed that Fulpati represents nine Goddess and they bring health, wealth and prosperity to the homes.
State News
9. Punjab govt. appoints Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma as Lokpal
Punjab government has appointed Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma as Punjab Lokpal.
This is done without amending Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996 in which CM of Punjab and cabinet ministers are out of its ambit.
Justice Satish Kumar Mittal resigned from the post of Lokpal in April 2018 and became the chairman of Haryana Human Rights Commission, since then this post was lying vacant.
Justice Sharma had worked as an advocate in Punjab and Haryana High Court from 1974 till his elevation as Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 2006.
He retired as a judge of Madras High Court on May 2013. At least 3,000 of his judgments have been quoted in various law books and journals.
The Lokpal holds the office for a term of six years.
Source: Indian Express
Defence Exercise
10. India-Kazakhstan joint military exercise begins
KAZIND-2019, the fourth joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan that began on 03rd October in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
The exercise was inaugurated by Brig SK Mandal, Commander of the 111 Independent Infantry Brigade.
According to military officials, this joint exercise will enhance defence cooperation between the two countries as well as strengthen bilateral relations.
The soldiers of both the countries involved in Kajind-2019 will be trained in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism operations in forests and hilly areas.
Along with this, there will be important lectures, demonstrations, and exercises related to counter-terrorism operations during military exercises.
The first exercise took place in Kazakhstan in the year 2016. Till now two maneuvers took place in Kazakhstan while one in Shimla. This is the fourth joint maneuver.
In this, the soldiers will be mainly taught the tricks of dealing with terrorists in crowded areas without any damage.
11. Indo Mongolian Joint Exercise Nomadic Elephant- XIV started
14thedition of Indo – Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Nomadic Elephant–XIV started on 5th October.
The exercise will be conducted from 05 to 18 Oct 19 at Bakloh. In this exercise, the Indian Army is being represented by a battalion of the RAJPUTANA RIFLESRegiment.
Nomadic Elephant – XIV is the fourteenth edition between the two nations aimed at training troops in counter-insurgency & counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.
The joint exercise will enhance defence co-operation and military relations between the two nations.
Source: PIB
Sports News
12. Novak Djokovic won first Japan Open title in Tokyo
World number one Novak Djokovic won his first Japan Open title and the 76th of his career by defeating Australian John Millman in the final in Tokyo.
It was a triumphant return to the tour for Djokovic, who had withdrawn from the U.S. Open in the fourth round due to a shoulder injury
It was the 10th time Novak Djokovic had won a title on his tournament debut.
Djokovic has already qualified for next month’s season-ending ATP Finals in London.
Source: Times of India
13. Naomi Osaka won China Open by defeating world number one Ashleigh Barty
Naomi Osaka won the china open tennis tournament by defeating world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia on 6th October 2019.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka emerged victorious after 110 minutes in chilly Beijing, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
This was the third title of 2019 for Osaka and fifth in her short career.
Source: Times of India
14. Christine Wolf clinches Hero Indian Women’s Open golf title
Austria’s Christine Wolf clinched her maiden Indian Women’s Open golf title on 6th October 2019 in Gurugram, Haryana.
It was Christine’s first title after six years on the Ladies European Tour.
Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord finished as runner-up while England’s Meghan MacLaren finished third in the competition.
Among the Indians, amateur Anika Varma finished fifth at 285 while highest-ranked home-grown professional Tvesa Malik (72) remained at sixth position.
Source: The Hindu
15. Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first Indian to play 100 T20Is
Indian women cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian to play 100 T20 International matches. Harmanpreet is the captain of India in the shortest format of the game.
She achieves this feat in the sixth T20I against South Africa in Surat.
Harmanpreet Kaur is among 10 female players who have reached the three-figure mark in terms of appearances. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Australia’s Ellyse Perry top the list with 111 appearances.
Overall, Harmanpreet has two more appearances in T20Is than MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have played the highest number of matches for India in men’s cricket.
Source: Times of India
Books and Authors
16. New book documenting Gandhi’s legacy launched in South Africa
On the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, a book is launched in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The book titled ‘150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma–the South African Legacy’ is authored by author and journalist Fakir Hassen.
The book is a 160-page coffee table that records how commemorations of Gandhi’s activities, including his birth and death anniversaries, were confined to the local Indian community.
The book also documents how attempts to remember his sojourn in South Africa were stifled by the apartheid-era minority white government and revived after former president Nelson Mandela acknowledged his role in starting off democracy in the country.
The book will be placed in public, university and high school libraries across the country free of charge through sponsorship from South African and expatriate Indian companies.
It includes chapters about statues, busts and exhibitions; awards and accolades, both to Gandhi and to others made in his name; the Phoenix Settlements and Tolstoy Farm commune that he started in Durban and Johannesburg respectively; and how Gandhi even inspired coins, comics and sporting activities in the country.
