Evening News Digest: 18 October 2017

PM dedicates All India Institute of Ayurveda to the nation

• The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, dedicated the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), in New Delhi, to the nation on the second Ayurveda Day on October 17, 2017.
• Ayurveda: Ayurveda is not just a medical practice, but encompasses public health and environment health as well. That is why the Government has laid stress on integrating Ayurveda, Yoga and other AYUSH systems into the public healthcare system.
• Herbal and medicinal plants can be a significant source of income, globally, and India should leverage its capabilities in this regard. The Union Government has approved 100 percent FDI in healthcare systems.

Source: PIB

Ministry WCD launches #IamThatWoman campaign

• Who launched the Campaign: In an attempt to end Gender bias in women against women, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is undertaking an online campaign #IamThatWoman
• Objective: Through the campaign, the Ministry seeks to highlight the various aspects of women standing 'by' and 'for' women. Twitter and Facebook users have been encouraged to tag and share stories of women helping women with a photograph and post online with the hashtag #IamThatWoman.

 Source: PIB

Environment Pollution Control Authority bans Diesel generators in Delhi

• Why Diesel Generators banned In a move that will impact marketplaces, housing societies and the upcoming wedding season, diesel generator sets were banned in the capital from Tuesday as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to improve Delhi's air quality during the high-pollution winter months kicked in. 
• Ban will remain till: The ban was among a slew of measures enforced, when Delhi's air quality index fell to the "very poor" category , and will remain in place till March 15, 2018.
• Ban will not include: The ban won't apply to "essential services" such as hospitals, mobile towers and Metro. However, generators can't be used at weddings, housing societies and malls.
• EPCA said all measures mentioned in the GRAP for pollution levels up to `severe' were being implemented in one go for the entire season.

Source: TOI

50 Indian peacekeepers in Sudan awarded UN medal

• Indian peacemakers awarded with UN Medal for: 50 Indian peacekeepers stationed in South Sudan have been awarded the UN Medal for their professionalism and service in protecting civilians and building durable peace in the conflict-ridden country.
• Who gave away the Award: They are deployed with the Indian battalion stationed at Bor in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. They were presented with the award recently by UNMISS Force Commander General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.
• India is committed to the objectives of the UN Charter and therefore is ready to support the United Nations' peacekeeping efforts globally.

Source: TOI

Indian-American attorney Ajay Raju gets American Bazaar Philanthropy award

• Noted Indian-American attorney Ajay Raju has been honoured with the third American Bazaar Philanthropy award in recognition of his philanthropic activities in the US. He has supported both the US Institute for Peace and the Woodrow Wilson Center, which bring scholars and practitioners to develop programmes to try to find peaceful means for conflict resolution
• Previous recipients: Previous recipients of the award include, Indian-American philanthropist Frank Islam and Suri Sehgal, founder of the SM Sehgal Foundation.

Source: TOI

Google Maps announces to provide virtual visits to all planets, Moon

• Google has announced that one can now virtually visit all planets and moons in our solar system using Google Maps. Google Maps now enables a visit to Saturn’s natural satellites such as Enceladus, Dione or Iapetus, Rhea and Mimas as well as Jupiter’s Europa and Ganymede.
• Google has also added to its lineup imagery of Pluto, Venus and several moons as well as made it easier to find them in Maps.
• To access the new imagery, one can just zoom out from terrestrial Google Maps view until you hit outer space. One can also visit the International Space Station, which also joined Google’s Street View program.

Source: Indian Express

AYUSH Festival of Stamps 2017 inaugurated in Panaji

• When and Where: The AYUSH Festival of Stamps 2017 was inaugurated at Maquinez Palace, Panaji on 17 October 2017.
• Who Inaugurated: The two-day exhibition event, which is being jointly organised by the Goa Postal Region, Indian postal department and the ministry of AYUSH, was inaugurated by Rajya Sa.
• Objective: The event is aimed to spread the message of Ayurveda and Philately as a hobby for the young generation.

Source: PIB

India, Brazil & South Africa sign IBSA Trust Fund Agreement

• IBSA Trust Fund Agreement Signed between: India, Brazil and South Africa signed the IBSA Trust Fund Agreement that seeks to fight poverty in developing countries, in Durban.
• The agreement was signed by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh who led the Indian side at the 8th IBSA trilateral Ministerial Commission Meeting in Durban.
• The IBSA Trust Fund brings together the three emerging economies of India, Brazil and South Africa to combat poverty in other developing countries.

Source: India Today

Pak, Afghanistan, Nepal among 15 nations elected to UNHRC

• Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal have been elected to the UN Human Rights Council along with 12 other countries.
• Other Nations include: The other nations elected to the human rights wing of the UN are Angola, Australia, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, and Ukraine.
• This Human Rights Council election by the UN General Assembly was the first one conducted with new ballot papers.

Source: India Today

Assam to hold Global Investors Summit in February, 2018

• Who will inaugurate the event: The first Global Investors Summit in Assam will be held here in February next year and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it.
• Under the new policy, it will be made mandatory for all government and semi-government offices to make at least 25 per cent of all purchases from local MSMEs
• The state government plans to utilise the event to showcase Assam's business potential with attractive policies so that investments are made.

Source: PTI