The Daily Brief – 30th January 2020

World Neglected Tropical Diseases day is observed every year on 30^th January to create awareness in addressing the tropical diseases. It is the first time the day is being observed. The Neglected Tropical Diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, helminths, viruses and protozoa. They are common in low-income countries of Asia, Africa and America. WHO estimates that more than a billion population spread across 149 countries is affected from Neglected Tropical Diseases. The common NTD of India is Lymphatic filariasis.

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog on 29^th January, 2020 released the ranking of Aspirational Districts of the country for the month of December 2019. Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh has topped the list followed by Balangir (Odisha) and YSR (Andhra Pradesh) at the second and third positions respectively. The ranking is based on the incremental progress made by over 112 aspirational districts across six developmental areas- Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure- in December 2019.

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The limit of termination of pregnancy has been increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. The Bill is for expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the official amendments in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 (NCIM) which is pending in the Rajya Sabha. The proposed legislation will ensure necessary regulatory reforms in the field of Indian System of Medicine education. The proposed regulatory structure will enable transparency and accountability for protecting the interest of the general public.

Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thanihas been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Qatar on 28^th January, 2020 replacing Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani through a royal decree appointed him after the resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah was accepted. Qatar’s emir also appointed Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Muhammad Al Thani as the new commander of the nation’s internal security forces.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who last served as India’s envoy to the US, took charge as new foreign secretary on 29^th January, 2020 for a fixed two-year term. He will succeed Vijay Gokhale. Mr Shringla is a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service. He has served as High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh and Ambassador of India to Thailand. He has also served in France, Vietnam, Israel and South Africa. In the Ministry of External Affairs here, Shringla served as Joint Secretary looking after India’s ties with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. He has also headed the United Nations Political and SAARC divisions in the ministry. Earlier, he served as director of the northern division dealing with Nepal and Bhutan and as Deputy Secretary of the Europe West Division.

Indian Navy launched Operation Vanilla on 28^th January, 2020 to help cyclone-hit Madagascar. INS Airavat, which was mission deployed has been diverted for the relief operations. The Operation has been launched to assist the population of Madagascar that were affected by Cyclone Diane. Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is the fourth largest island in the world.