National
Sanjeevani - Lifestyle Clinic
⇒ An integrated facility, aptly named the “Sanjeevani – Lifestyle Clinic” has been inaugurated at the Armed Forces Clinic, New Delhi by Mrs Archana Pande, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) on 11 October 2022.
“Sanjeevani – Lifestyle Clinic” is to provide advice on diet, exercise and behavioural counselling thereby rendering comprehensive preventive and curative care on lifestyle diseases to all serving & retired personnel and their dependents.
Aim:
The aim of “Sanjeevani-Lifestyle Clinic” is to sensitise Armed Forces personnel and dependents identified to be at risk, regarding lifestyle disorders, prevent and manage chronic disorders like diabetes, hypertension and obesity etc, without pharmacologic interventions by promoting a healthy lifestyle through dietary education, exercise and positive motivation.
Key Points:
- The lifestyle disease clinic team will consist of a Dietician, Physical Trainer and a Counsellor, having expertise in their respective fields.
- An automated device named “Health Kiosk” has also been installed in the clinic for recording anthropometric parameters at baseline and follow-up, to keep track of progress made over time.
- This novel initiative by the Indian Army, will promote healthy lifestyle as a method of preventive healthcare, and ensure safe and drug free therapy, for reversing various metabolic disorders.
- This initiative will bring a positive change to quality of life and self-confidence of affected serving soldiers, veterans and their families.
International
10th Meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments
⇒ The tenth meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (‘The Joint Task Force’) took place on 11 October 2022 in Mumbai.
Co-chaired by:
It was co-chaired by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Highlights:
- During this tenth meeting of the Joint Task Force, the co-chairs recognized the early trends of positive impact of the historic India-UAE CEPA on bilateral trade between the two countries since it entered into force in May 2022.
- The two delegations reviewed the status of the negotiations of the India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty. Both sides noted that much progress could have been achieved since the commencement of the negotiations, and therefore reiterated their commitment to accelerate the process for an early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.
- Discussions also took place on ways of enhancing bilateral investments in key sectors like food security, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and technology. In this context, it was agreed that the concerned authorities in both countries will explore establishment of efficient and integrated Single Window Solutions and Virtual Trade Corridors to reduce costs and time involved in trade and investment related procedures. From the UAE side, it was agreed that the Department of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi will explore this area of cooperation with the concerned counterparties in India in order to agree a mutually beneficial implementation approach.
- An important area discussed was the creation of a mechanism for carrying out bilateral trade in national currencies. Referring to the ongoing discussions between Reserve Bank of India and Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) as a common digital payments platform, both sides agreed to continue discussions.
- It was also agreed that a similar India Fast Track Mechanism would be set up in the UAE immediately to resolve issues pertaining to the Indian investors in the UAE, and to assist Indian companies in market entry and expansion when investing in the UAE. In this context, issues pertaining to some Indian companies in UAE were noted and it was agreed that the UAE side will provide the necessary support to ensure speedy and mutually satisfactory resolution of these issues.
Background:
- The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 to promote trade, investment and economic ties between the UAE and India.
- This was the first meeting of the Joint Task Force since the signing of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and unveiling of the Joint UAE-India Vision Statement in February 2022.
- The CEPA is a major trade agreement set to transform bilateral economic, trade and investment ties and propel economic growth. Both these historic landmarks provide a clear roadmap for continued strengthening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries at an accelerated pace.
3rd edition of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Symposium
⇒ The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) organized the “WADA Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Symposium- 2022” from 12th to 14th October, 2022 in New Delhi.
Participation:
The symposium brought together the athlete biological passport experts across the world to deliberate upon recent trends, successes and challenges with the ABP, evolving strategic testing for the ABP and working towards the detection and eradication of doping in sports through APMUs.
- Two hundred plus participants from 56 Countries, WADA Officials, representatives and Experts from different National Anti-Doping Organizations, Athlete Passport Management Units (APMUs) and WADA Accredited Laboratories participated in this Symposium.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur addressed the inaugural session of three days “WADA Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Symposium- 2022” on 12 October 2022 in New Delhi.
Discussions:
- The main topic of discussion in this symposium was recent trends, successes and challenges with the ABP, Managing confounding Factor affecting the steroidal Module, Evolving strategic testing for the ABP etc.
- Discussions on ABP included need to create a robust legal framework. The major challenges elaborated were resources, funding and reactive follow up testing. The future endeavours of ABP program were also discussed.
About ABP:
- Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), a powerful anti-doping tool that monitors selected biological variables over time to reveal the effects of doping rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself. It works against doping through enhanced target testing and analysis, investigations, deterrence, and as indirect evidence for use of prohibited methods or substances.
- The first WADA ABP Symposium was hosted by the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar (ADLQ) in November 2015, in Doha, Qatar.
- The second WADA ABP Symposium was organized by the Italian Federation of Sports Medicine (FMSI) ain 2018, in Rome, Italy.
- This is the third WADA ABP Symposium and is being hosted in India for the first time.
Important Day
International Day of the Girl Child
⇒ International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated every year on 11 October since 2012.
The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
Theme:
The theme of the International Day of the Girl Child for 2022 was “Our time is now—our rights, our future.”
» The purpose of recognizing this International Day is primarily to increase public awareness of the problems that girls worldwide suffer, including lack of access to education, inadequate nutrition, forced child marriage, legal rights, and medical rights.
» The Ministry of Women and Child Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Minority Affairs organized “Betiyan Banein Kushal”, an inter-ministerial conference on non-traditional livelihoods for adolescent girls. It was organised on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child.
History:
On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
» In India, National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on 24 January.