ASSAM
Assam registers most cancer cases in Northeast’
Out of 39,000 new cancer cases that are reported in the northeast every year, Assam alone contributes 29,000 cases.
In India, almost two-third of the total number of all cancer cases can be detected at an early stage or prevented through lifestyle modification and timely screening. “About 80% of early-stage cancer cases can be cured. The northeast is the cancer capital of the country, largely due to higher consumption of tobacco, areca nut and alcohol in the region.
In 2018-19, the BBCI registered 11,195 cancer patients from Assam, 354 from Manipur and 315 from Meghalaya, 267 from Arunachal Pradesh, 228 from Nagaland, 68 from Tripura, 49 from Mizoram and three from Sikkim. While 123 patients came to BBCI for cancer treatment from other Indian states during the period, seven registered cancer patients were from outside India.
INTERNATIONAL
Russia S-400 missiles air defence systems to be delivered to India by 2025
Russia started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India. The five units will be delivered to India by 2025.
The S-400 air defence missile systems are among the best in the world. This will significantly bolster India’s air defence mechanism. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the air defence missile systems.The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300 previously been available to the Russian defence forces.
It is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.The Triumf interceptor-based missile system can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.The US imposed sanctions on Russia under the stringent Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
PM Modi, Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli to inaugurates ICP Biratnagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepali counterpart K P Sharma Oli inaugurated Integrated Check Post (ICP) Biratnagar.
ICP Biratnagar has been built on 260 acres of land at a cost of around 140 crore rupees.
It has the facilities for immigration clearance of foreign passengers, export and import cargo handling.
It is designed to handle around 500 trucks per day.
India and Nepal share over 1,850 kilometre- long border which is characterized by a unique and long tradition of free movement of people.
Jogbani-Biratnagar international trade point is one of the important trade points between the two countries.
Biratnagar is also the third-largest Revenue Collecting Customs Office of Nepal.
Presently, over 65 percent of Nepal’s trade is with India and also over 65 percent of Nepal’s exports are to India.
NATIONAL
India prepares for Corona Virus-Steps of Health Ministry
India monitoring the happenings in China and other countries after two died and 41 were confirmed to be infected with Coronavirus.
India is preparing from WHO (World Health Organization) that the infections of the virus are linked to the seafood market. International travelers from China examined thoroughly using thermal scanners. These are currently being done at Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata.
India is one of the world’s largest seafood producers and top exporter of fish and fish products to the major developed markets of the world such as US, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, and the Middle East. The sector contributes 1.1% of India’s GDP and 5.2% of the share of agriculture’s GDP of India. India’s buoyant seafood industry emerged as the largest group in agricultural exports of the country.
The government initiatives and policy support, The Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA), forecasts that India will achieve an export target of USD 10 billion by 2022.
Cabinet approves Model MoU for recognition of Certificates of Competency of seafarers
The Union Cabinet approved the Model Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for unilateral and bilateral recognition of Certificates, pursuant to Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978. It will be signed between the Directorate General of Shipping, GoI and its counterparts in foreign countries after the approval of Minister-in-charge of Shipping and the Minister of External Affairs (MEA).
The MoU will facilitate unilateral recognition by another country of the certificates issued by the Directorate General of Shipping to Indian seafarers. It will not seek similar recognition by India of the certificates issued by that country.
Under this MoU, Indian Seafarers will be eligible to be placed on ships under the flag of that country for employment
It will lead to increased employment opportunities.
Indian Navy signed MoU for offshore Data with GSI
Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geological Survey of India (GSI).
The MoU aims to ensure the sharing of seabed sediment data, products and expertise for Naval Application in Meteorology and Oceanography.
GSI’s Marine and Coastal survey Division based at Mangaluru has mapped most of India’s 2.1 Million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone and has a vast repository of offshore data.