Daily GK update - 7th Nov 2014

1.    PM Modi adopts Jayapur village, seeks end to female foeticide 

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly pitched for ending the wretched practice of female foeticide as he adopted Jayapur village in his Lok Sabha constituency, urging villagers to give up dependence on governments for solving their problems. 
ii. The Prime Minister won many hearts when he got up from his seat to adjust the mike for the village head Durga Devi. 

iii. Referring to a recent report which found that 40 per cent of children died young in a neighbouring country as they did not wash their hands before eating, Modi said villagers should pledge that they would not let their kids eat without washing hands. 

iv. Pitching for modernisation of the textile sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked the weavers to utilise the growing e-commerce market to reach out to global consumers even as he announced a package of Rs 2,375 crore to revive banks in eastern UP. 

2.    Scientists developed a new drug Staphefekt to replace antibiotics

i. Scientists for the first time developed antibiotic-free drug named Staphefekt as an alternative to antibiotics.

ii. This new drug will aid in the fight against the antibiotics-resistant superbugs such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). 

About Staphefekt
i. Staphefekt is based on a naturally occurring enzyme called endolysins produced by viruses and attacks infections differently to antibiotics. Unlike antibiotics, it does not destroy the harmless bacteria that live in the body.

ii. Endolysins (enzymes) exist in nature but the scientist made a modified version that combines the bit that is best at binding to the bacteria with another bit so that it is best at killing it.

iii. Staphefekt is already used as a cream to treat skin infections and researchers hope to create pill and injectable forms in future.

iv. Healthcare experts looking for the alternative for antibiotics because 5000 deaths in a year are linked to drug resistance diseases.

3.    Indian economy to grow 5.4% this year: OECD

i. Paris-based think tank Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD has projected 5.4 percent growth for the Indian economy this year as global recovery continues at a moderate pace.

ii. Earlier in September, it had projected 5.7 per cent growth rate for India. According to the advanced G20 release of the OECD's latest Economic Outlook, growth will strengthen in India as investment picks up, from a 5.4 per cent rate in 2014 to 6.4 per cent in 2015 and 6.6 per cent in 2016. 

iii. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said a number of business-friendly measures have been adopted over the past few months in India.

iv. OECD is a grouping of 34 countries.

4.    Tribal leader Ganpat Vasava set to become Gujarat Speaker

i. BJP today nominated southern Gujarat tribal MLA and present cabinet minister Ganpat Vasava for the post of Speaker of State assembly.

ii. Mr. Vasava will be formally elected as Speaker of Gujarat assembly during a two-day assembly session scheduled to meet next week. He will replace former Speaker Mr. Vajubhai Vala, who had resigned after his appointment as Governor of Karnataka. 

5.    Facebook launches Ebola charity donation button

i. Facebook is stepping up its efforts to fight Ebola by adding a button designed to make it easier for its users to donate to charities battling the disease.

ii. The social media company is also deploying 100 satellite communication terminals to boost Internet and phone services to affected areas in West Africa, where the disease has killed nearly 5,000.

iii. The programmes come on the heels of a $25 million donation last month by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention toward the Ebola response.

iv. Facebook says that, over the coming week, its users will see an option to donate to three nonprofits fighting Ebola.

v. The groups are the International Medical Corps, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Save the Children. Facebook says it chose charities that work directly on the ground and are able to accept money globally.

6.    Govt allocates Rs 5,000 crore under AYUSH Mission

i. The government has allocated five thousand crore rupees under AYUSH Mission for promoting traditional methods of treatment in the country.

ii. Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that through the mission, the government will provide assistance to States in strengthening planning and infrastructure for promoting Ayurveda,Yoga Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, AYUSH. 

iii. Dr Vardhan also said that the 12 new AIIMS like institutes being set up in various parts of the country will have large department of AYUSH so there should be an integration with allopathic methods and holistic approach be developed.

7.    Cristiano Ronaldo received 2013-14 European Golden Boot award

i. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo received his 2013-14 European Golden Boot award on 5 November 2014 at the Meliá Castilla hotel in Madrid.

ii. The Portuguese star was awarded for being joint top-goal scorer last season in Europe along with Luis Suarez, having hit 31 goals. 

iii. Suarez was presented with his award by ex-Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish in October 2014 and now Ronaldo has followed suit.

iv. This was the third Golden Shoe for Ronaldo who also won the prize at Manchester United in 2007-08 with 31 goals and earlier in his Madrid career in 2010-11 with 40.

8.    India-Arab League officials meeting in New Delhi

i. Officials from India and the Arab League are meeting in New Delhi today to discuss enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, energy and food security.

ii. The two sides will hold deliberations on environment protection, agriculture and education besides regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Indian side is being represented by Secretary East, Anil Wadhwa.