Current Affairs : September 7, 2011

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Researchers: DNA Building Blocks can be built in Space

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration funded researchers have discovered proof that a few building blocks of DNA, found in meteorites were probably shaped in space
  
• This research supports the theory that a kit of ready-made parts created in space and delivered to Earth by meteorite and comet impacts assisted the origin of life
  
• The finding increases proof that the chemistry within asteroids and comets is competent of creating building blocks of vital biological molecules
  
• The team discovered adenine and guanine, which are constituents of DNA called nucleobases, as well as hypoxanthine and xanthine
  
• The team also discovered trace amounts of three molecules related to nucleobases: purine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6,8-diaminopurine; the latter two almost never used in biology
  

Jaipur declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance adopted by Health Ministers

• The Jaipur declaration adopted at the 29^th meeting of health ministers of 11 South East Asian countries on Antimicrobial Resistance, committing to maintaining the efficaciousness of antibiotics via intellectual use and regulation
  
• Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the meeting and 64th session of the WHO committee for south East Asia in Jaipur
  
• Through the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on antimicrobial resistance, the health ministers demanded for urgent measures to check further development of antimicrobial resistance
  
• They recognized that the significant driver of antimicrobial resistance is the unfounded use of these agents and national Governments must take vital action to safeguard the effectiveness of existing antimicrobial agents
  
• The Declaration emphasizes concern at the spread of antimicrobial resistance which is negating achievements made in protecting human life and health
  
• It acknowledged that such resistance could become a serious obstruction in global efforts towards controling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria etc
  

   

UN Trade and Development Report 2011

• A UN report has described the current global financial crisis as a warning to the international community, and suggested that the financial reforms
  
• The reforms include a rules-based floating currency regime rules-based regime and stricter regulation of the market to solve the problem
  
• The Report on Trade and Development 2011 (TDR 2011) of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released worldwide, stated that the rules-based floating currency regime was necessary to curb excessive speculation
  
• It also recommended measures for reformation of national banking systems and a stern regularization of financial markets, including for commodity derivatives
  

   

“Arogya Kosh” to establish by the Delhi Government to assist poor patients

• In order to render financial assistance to poor patients suffering from critical diseases, Delhi Government has resolved to establish “Delhi Arogya Kosh”
  An amount of Rs 100 Crore to be released for this Kosh
  
• BPL Card or Antodya Card holder Patients will be eligible for this scheme
  
• Maximum assistance of up to Rs 1.5 Lakh will be provided to the patient
  
• Nevertheless in case of certain treatments like kidney transplantation and liver transplantation, the maximum assistance up to Rs 2.5 Lakh will be admittable on one time basis
  

Aurobindo, Diod form JV for Russian market

• Aurobindo Pharma (a Pharma firm) has formed a joint venture with Russian healthcare equipment company, Ojsc Diod
  
• They will manufacture and sell medicines in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
  
• The Joint Venture named: Aurospharma
  
• Aurospharma Company, to set up a plant to make Non Penicillin and Non Cephalosporin Rx generics and other drugs that are categorized as Over-the-Counter products in Russia
  

Chief Dave Cameron Award 2010 for WCCB

• WCCB (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau), selected for Chief Dave Cameron Award 2010 for distinction in Environmental Crimes Enforcement and Education by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
  
• Award is presented to full-service law enforcement agencies that work to put into effect environmental laws and educate the public
  
• Award will be presented to the organization next month at the IACP Conference at Chicago, USA
  
• WCCB, is a statutory body of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for fighting organized wildlife crime and trans-boundary illegal trade
  

   

Tenure of the JPC collectively stretched by Lok Sabha

• The Lok Sabha collectively stretched the tenure of the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee), looking into the allocation and pricing of telecom licenses and 2G spectrum, till the last day of the 2012 budget session
  
• In the beginning, the tenure of the 30-member JPC was to end on the last day of the 2011 monsoon session of the Parliament
  
• Following the demands of the Opposition, JPC was constituted on March 4, 2011
  
• This demand even hindered the Parliament’s winter session in 2010
  The JPC (20 members-Lok Sabha + 10 members-Rajya Sabha) was responsible for looking into the pricing of telecom licenses
  

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Month: Current Affairs - September, 2011

Category: Government Schemes Current Affairs