ASSAM
IIT Guwahati’s ‘Made in Assam’ world class viral transport media kits launched
‘Made in Assam’ world class and affordable viral transport media or VTM kits, which are the first stop source used to collect the nasal and oral swab specimens from the individual source to the laboratory safely for culture and testing, developed by IIT Guwahati have been put to use in the state.
The “SPILD” VTM kits developed at IIT Guwahati, consist of a comprehensive solution specially formulated for the collection and transport of SARS-CoV-2. These kits comprise of a CDC recommended and validated transport medium and one each Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal specimen collection swabs.
The ‘Made in Assam/India’kits will spur affordable and high quality healthcare products development in Assam and provide access to world-class kits and product development as well as career opportunities to healthcare professionals and student and an important step in PM’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Tripura announces schemes to combat infant, maternal mortality, malnourishment
In an effort to combat infant and maternal mortality and malnutrition, Tripura announced Mukhyamantri Matru Pushti Uphaar.
It is an ambitious scheme to provide nutrition kits to pregnant and lactating women.
Pregnant women would be tested four times in nearby Primary Health Centers (PHC), and be given a nutrition kit after each test as per the Matru Pushti Uphaar scheme.
The kit, costing Rs500, would have food items and grocery supplies, such as peanuts, soybeans, mixed pulses, jaggery and ghee. As many as 40,000 women will benefit annually under the scheme.
The state government estimates to incur an expense of around Rs 8 crore for the scheme.
The state scheme will be in addition to the Pradhan Mantri Matru Bandana Yojana.
INTERNATIONAL
China to join the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty to regulate its arms sales
China announced that it has decided to join the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (UN-ATT) to regulate its arms sales.
China has always strictly controlled the export of military products.
China’s move to join the treaty is an important step towards the country’s effort to enhance & maintain peace and stability across the globe and support multilateralism.
Under this, China will export military products to sovereign countries and will not export military products to non-state actors.
China launched last BeiDou Satellite System
China launched the satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System 3 (BDS-3) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on 23 June 2020.
BDS-3 Satellite was carried by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.
It is the 30th BDS-3 satellite and also the 55th of the whole BeiDou satellite family.
BDS-3 will offer its users services including high-precision positioning and short message communication. It will bring new highlights to global navigation satellite systems.
The final BDS satellite weighs over 10,000 pounds. It is the largest of its kind in the family.
Money in Swiss banks: India at 77th place, accounts for just 0.06% of all foreign funds
India has moved down three places to 77th rank in terms of money parked by its citizens and enterprises with Swiss banks at the end of 2019.
The UK has retained its top position, as per the latest data from Switzerland’s central
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