Prelim Bits 10-03-2018

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

• India is to become the 69th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
• The London-headquartered EBRD is a multilateral development bank set up in 1991.
• It was set up after the fall of the Berlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe.
• In 2017, the EBRD signed an accord to strengthen ties with the International Solar Alliance.
• The EBRD works closely with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
• Click here to know more about EBRD.

Albania’s City of Ruins

• The ruins of Butrint are situated in Albania, Southern Europe.
• It was called as Buthrotum in ancient time.
• It was inhabited since pre historic times.
• The site has been under the control of Greeks, Romans and a bishopric (a district under a bishop’s control).

• It is a UNESCO world heritage site
• The city of ruins is a part of the Butrint National Park.

Safe and Nutritious Food Initiative

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has undertaken several initiatives under ‘Safe and Nutritious Food’ (SNF) for citizen guidance and behavioral change viz:

 i) SNF@Home

ii) SNF@School

iii) SNF@Workplace

iv) SNF@Eatout

• The SNF portal serves as an online resource centre containing information pertaining to this initiative.
• Resource materials, interactive guides on understanding food safety and nutrition are developed by FSSAI.
• For the campaign it has published resource book regarding the steps to be taken,

Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)

• India’s endangered Asiatic lion population rose to 600, following the conservation efforts.
• The species, which was found in the South West Asian region, is now restricted to the Gir Sanctuary in India.

• Five protected areas currently exist to protect the Asian lion:

1. Gir Sanctuary,
2. Gir National Park
3. Pania Sanctuary
4. Mitiyala
5. Girnar

• The lions face the usual threats of poaching and habitat fragmentation.
• Conservationists have suggested selective relocation of big cats to another sanctuary, to reduce human-animal conflict and avoid the risk of getting wiped out by disease or natural disaster.
• It is an endangered species according to the IUCN Red list.
• It is listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and also in Appendix I of CITES.

CBRN emergencies

• National Disaster Management Authority conducted training program for CBRN emergencies at Mumbai airport recently.
• CBRN emergencies pertain to threats emanating due to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear material.
• It is aimed at enhancing the preparedness of Airport Emergency Handlers (AEHs) to respond to CBRN emergencies at the airports.
• The training program is being conducted in collaboration with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS).

Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030

• The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015.
• It provides a comprehensive framework to guide countries in their efforts to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.
• The strategy sets the target of reducing global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.
• It emphasizes the need for universal coverage of core malaria interventions for all populations at risk.
• It highlights the importance of using high-quality surveillance data for decision-making.
• The WHO strategy was developed in close alignment with the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership’s Action and Investment to defeat Malaria 2016-2030.

Map of the Day

South America

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard