ASSAM

Assam wants central forces deployed on Nagaland HIV-positive cases on the rise in Assam

The latest AIDS fact sheet released by Assam State Aids Control Society (ASACS) on Tuesday revealed a significant rise in the prevalence of HIV-positive cases in the men having sex with men (MSM) community. The cases have been increased to 2.40% as compared to 1.40% as it was from 2010-15.

The data in fact sheet, recorded till October 31, 2017, stated that 12737 people were detected HIV-positive out of the 12,62,601 who had been tested at integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) in the state. 11682 out of the 10,90,478 people tested had emerged HIV-positive last year. Similarly, there has been a rise of HIV cases among pregnant women this year. 1209 out of the 22,56,569 pregnant women tested have been detected HIV-positive this year as compared to the 1012 out of 17,08,918 last year.

INTERNATIONAL

7th world military games to be held at Wuhan in China

The 7th international military games will be held in Wuhan city in the central China’s Hubei Province.

It comprises 329 competitions in 27 categories and is expected to attract around 8,000 participants from more than 100 countries and regions.

The slogan is of the games is “Military glory, world peace”.

The games were inaugurated in Rome in 1995.

It is a multi-sport event organised every four years by the CISM.

· India and Greece sign Air Services Agreement

India and Greece have signed Air Services Agreement (ASA) and MoU on Cooperation (MoC) in the field of New and Renewable Energy.
The agreements were signed after bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and her visiting counterpart Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias in New Delhi.
ASA is signed between countries to decide on a number of flights that airlines can fly into each other’s countries.

NATIONAL

NK Singh appointed chairman of 15th Finance Commission

The government has announced that former revenue secretary NK Singh will be the chairman of the 15th Finance Commission (FC) that will recommend distribution of taxes between the Centre and the states.
Other members of the Commission are former economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das, former chief economic adviser Ashok Lahiri, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand and Georgetown University Adjunct Professor Anoop Singh.
Finance Commission is a body set up under Article 280(1) of the Constitution.

The recommendations of the previous 14th Finance Commission, chaired by former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Y V Reddy, are valid from 2015 to 2020.

The recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission will be implemented for the period starting 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025.

· Odisha Launches Rs 96-crores scheme to Increase Fish Production

Odisha government launched a scheme to boost fish productionin the state with a budgetary provision of Rs 96 crore.
The ‘Fish Pond Yojana’ schemewas launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while inaugurating a workshop on ‘Doubling of Farmer Income through Dairy and Allied Farming Practices’ in Bhubaneswar.
The scheme aims to create additional 2,200 hectares of freshwater aquaculture farming with 50 percent financial assistance to farmers.

· Union Government launches intensive program to train Elected Women Representatives of PRI

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD)launched an intensive training program for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Master Trainers in New Delhi.
It is capacity building program organized by National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) of WCD Ministry.
It is for the first time ever initiative of this scale has been taken up to train EWRs who will go out and administer villages professionally.

· One Hundred and Fifteen Backward Districts in India to be Transformed by 2022

The Union government embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 backward districtsacross the country by 2022.
Senior level government officials, at the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary, have been nominated as ‘Prabhari’ officers for each district.
A detailed briefing of these officials was held under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha.

· Health Ministry Wins Bronze Medal at the India International Trade Fair 2017

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare awarded the Bronze Medal for its creative and informative display at the 37th India International Trade Fair 2017being held at Pragati Maidan.
The award was presented by Shri C R Chaudhary, Minister of State (Commerce and Industry) at a function organized to award the winners.

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