Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 12 December 2018

::NATIONAL::

PM to inaugurate partner’s forum in New delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fourth Partners’ Forum in New Delhi today. The objective of the conference is to improve knowledge, alignment and accountability to accelerate action on women's, children's and adolescents health.
The Partners’ Forum is a global health partnership launched in September 2005 to accelerate efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality, improve adolescent, child, newborn and maternal health.
Ministry of Health in association with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, PMNCH is hosting the two-day international conference. 1500 participants from across 85 countries will participate in the conference to improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.
This is the second time India is hosting the Partners’ Forum. The programme has been framed around the objectives of the Global Strategy of Survive - Thrive - Transform. The programme will include four high-level plenaries that will focus on political leadership, multi-sectoral action, accountability and power of partnership.
The forum will also present and explore the findings of the 12 Success Factors case studies that showcase how countries are collaborating across sectors to improve women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.

Supreme court directs centre to declare area around national parks as eco sensitive zones

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Union Environment Ministry to declare 10 km area around 21 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country as ‘eco-sensitive zones’.
A Bench led by Justice Madan B. Lokur took the initiative after its amicus curiae informed the court that the State governments have taken no effort to protect the area around these sanctuaries and parks.
The court recorded that the issue has been pending for the past 12 years.
The parks and sanctuaries are the Pobitora sanctuary in Assam; Hemis and Kishtewar national parks, Changthang, Hokersar, Trikuta sanctuaries in Jammu and Kashmir; Jogimatti, Thimlapura and Yadahalli Chinkara sanctuaries in Karnataka; Deolgaon Rehekuri and Thane Creek Flamingo sanctuaries and the Malvan marine sanctuary in Maharashtra.
Also Siroi National Park and Khongjaingamba Ching sanctuary in Manipur; Baghmara Pitcher Plant sanctuary in Meghalaya; Fakim and Puliebadze and Rangapahar sanctuaries in Nagaland; Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar bird sanctuary and Pilibhit sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and the Jorepokhri sanctuary in West Bengal.
The court ordered the Centre to make the declaration “at the earliest”. Any plea for modification by the States concerned should be made to the Environment Ministry in two weeks.

::ECONOMY::

ENSURE’ portal launched to connect direct benefit transfer

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh launched a portal ENSURE- National Livestock Mission-EDEG developed by NABARD and operated under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries today.
On this occasion, he informed that the National Livestock Mission has been conceived by Modi government for the sustainable development of the livestock sector. Under the Mission’s component called Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG), subsidy payment for activities related to poultry, small ruminants, pigs etc. through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) goes directly to the beneficiary’s account.
In order to make it better, simpler and transparent, the NABARD has developed an online portal “ENSURE” (https://ensure.nabard.org) so that the information related to beneficiary and processing of application can be made readily available.
Shri Singh added that under the new process, controlling officer/branch manager of the bank, after scrutinizing & sanctioning of proposal, uploads the subsidy claims in the portal. The subsidy will be approved within 30 days from the date of sanction of loan. Earlier, even after the loan approval, subsidy took a long time to reach the beneficiary’s account.
Through this process, the flow of information/funds will also be quicker and more accountable. The burden of extra interest due to delay in the disbursal of the subsidy would now be reduced after the launch of the portal. Access from the portal will also be on real-time basis and list of beneficiaries can be easily prepared.

India reiterates commitment to 2030 agenda for sustainable development

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India attaches utmost importance to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He was interacting with the Member, Chamber of Deputies (Lower House of Mexican Parliament) & President, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron who called on him, here today.
The Vice President said that Mexico is a very important partner for India and India attaches great importance to relations with Mexico. India has been an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and participated in all meetings/events, he said. We cherish our relationship and engagements with the IPU family, he added.
The Vice President said that India takes note of the IPU is working on priority areas such as human rights, gender equity, child protection, sustainable development, climate change, migration etc. We look forward to greater engagement with IPU under your leadership, he said.
Shri Naidu said that India attaches utmost importance to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He further said that the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) mirror our own vision of development. Several of our initiatives like the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana etc., closely relate to several targets of SDGs, he added.
The Vice President said that terrorism is a big menace to world community and it has no religion, but our neighbour is unfortunately funding and abetting it. Poverty is also a challenge for all of us and we have to support each other and move forward with much greater coordination and cooperation, he added.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India expands cooperation with Myanmar

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, commenced his three-day state visit to Myanmar by paying a visit to the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and formally received by President U. Win Myint of Myanmar.
Subsequently, the President led delegation-level talks between the two sides. The President said that India attaches special priority to its relations with Myanmar. Myanmar is a key partner for India’s “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies. President Kovind also described Myanmar as a “natural bridge” from India to Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
The President said India takes pride in its development cooperation partnership with Myanmar and is committed to completing all connectivity projects. The port and inland waterway components of the Kaladan project have been built. India seeks Myanmar’s support to expedite completion of the remaining projects. It is privileged to contribute to capacity development in Myanmar.
The President also met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders discussed various bilateral and multilateral issues. The President said that India deeply appreciates the reforms underway in Myanmar. We understand that this is a particularly challenging time for Myanmar. India is in full support of the objectives of the National Peace Process.
India is building 250 houses in Myanmar’s Rakhine province as part of a developmental project. The first batch of 50 houses was formally handed over to the Myanmar authorities today.
Coinciding with President Kovind’s visit, and to further people-to-people relations, Myanmar has also announced a visa-on-arrival facility for Indian tourists entering the country through the international airports of Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay.

Angela merkel and EU leaders bring out more negotiations for Brexit

Germany's Angela Merkel and other European Union leaders ruled out more negotiations on Brexit but were looking for ways to offer Britain reassurances after British Prime Minister Theresa May pulled a parliamentary vote rather than lose heavily.
With less than four months left until the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, May’s Brexit deal is floundering, opening up prospects that run the gamut from a disorderly no-deal divorce to calling Brexit off.
A day after abruptly pulling the vote, May rushed to the Hague for breakfast with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, then to Berlin to meet Chancellor Merkel, followed by a trip to Brussels.
The message from the EU was clear that it can give legally-binding assurances about how it interprets the exit treaty, but will not countenance reopening the text itself.Meanwhile, May told Merkel that it was in nobody’s interest for Britain to leave with no accord.
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said that there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation .The deal which we achieved is the best possible deal.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, echoed that view. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Britain could still revoke or delay its departure.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Home ministry launches twitter account to spread awareness on cybercrimes

Home Ministry has launched a Twitter account to spread awareness about cybercrimes and normal precautions to be taken. The Twitter handles - @CyberDost - is aimed at enhancing people's basic knowledge about cybercrimes and precautions to be taken for prevention.
Home Ministry said in the release that government is committed to creating an ecosystem to prevent and control cyber crimes to mitigate the possibility of disruption in normal business activities or losses due to cybercrimes.
It said capacity building and public awareness are critical components for obviating impact of cybercrimes and creating a suitable climate for trust-based transactions.

::SPORTS::

Mary Kom honoured with Meethoilema title

Manipur Government yesterday honoured AIBA World Women Boxing Gold medalist MC Mary Kom with the title "Meethoileima" (par excellent queen) at a function in Imphal yesterday.
On the occasion, State Chief Minister N. Biren Singh handed over a cheque of ten lakh rupees to her. The Chief Minister also declared that the Imphal West DC Road towards Game Village will be named as MC Mary Kom Road.