World Malaria Day 2018– April 25
Theme – “Ready to beat malaria”
- The World Malaria Day was observed across the world on April 25, 2018 with the theme ‘Ready to beat malaria’.
- Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquito.
STATE
UTTARPRADESH
PM releases commemorative postage stamp on Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a commemorative postage stamp on former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Late Shri Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna.
PRIZE
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
- Jailed Egyptian photo journalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, popularly known as Shawkan, will be awarded United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Press Freedom Prize for year 2018.
NATIONAL
Coastal security exercise Sagar Kavach held in Kerala
• ‘Sagar Kavach’ two-day coastal security exercise was held in Kerala to strengthen and evaluate the loopholes in the coastal security mechanism.
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Navy, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement wing and various other security stakeholders participated in the exercise.
Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI
- Indo-Malaysian defence cooperation, a joint training exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI will be conducted in the dense forests of Sengai Perdik, Hulu Langat, Malaysia from 30 April 18 to 13 May 18.
Increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute for 2018-19 seasons.
- The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of Raw Jute has been increased to Rs.3700/- per quintal for 2018-19 season from Rs. 3500/- per quintal in 2017-18 season.
CCEA approves restructured National Bamboo Mission
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on April 25, 2018 approved the centrally sponsored scheme ‘National Bamboo Mission’ (NBM) under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for the remaining period of Fourteenth Finance Commission (2018-19 & 2019-20).
WORLD
MoU between India and Sao Tome and Principe
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sao Tome and Principe for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy. The MoU was signed in March, 2018.
India, Mongolia to enhance bilateral trade and investments
- India and Mongolia on April 25, 2018 agreed to explore ways to identify new areas of cooperation in all sectors of mutual interest and to enhance bilateral trade and investments.
New pollution-forecast system India to tie up with US and Finland
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be tying up with the United States and Finland to develop new pollution-forecast system to anticipate particulate matter (PM) levels at least two days in advance and at greater resolution.
- The new system will be jointly developed with expertise from Finnish Meteorological Institute and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ECONOMY
Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project
- A Loan Agreement for IBRD credit of US$ 125 (equivalent) for the “Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project” was signed with the World Bank on 24thApril, 2018 in New Delhi.
- The objective is to nurture indigenous innovation, foster local product development and accelerate commercialization process by bridging critical skill and infrastructure gaps to promote affordable and innovative healthcare products generation for inclusive development and increasing competitiveness in India.
SCIENCE
Cambodia’s critically endangered dolphins population increased
- The population of critically endangered dolphins in Cambodia’s Mekong River has increased for the first time after years of constant decline that pushed the species almost to the brink of extinction
Giant mosquito discovered in China
- Scientists have discovered a giant mosquito with a wingspan of 15 centimetres in China.
- The giant mosquito was discovered by scientists in Mount Qingcheng in Chengdu, capital of south-west China’s Sichuan province.
- The mosquito was first found in Japan.
SPORTS
Champions League semi-final
- Liverpool beat Roma 5-2.
- Mohamed Salah scored two and assisted three goals before Roma pulled back two in the dying minutes of the match.