• World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is being observed on 19th August.
• The day aims to spread awareness about the need for humanitarian assistance worldwide.
• WHD is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and humanitarian partners.
• On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
• Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19th August as World Humanitarian Day.
• Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
• This year, WHD Organisation is highlighting the immediate human cost of the climate crisis by pressuring world leaders to take meaningful climate action for the world’s most vulnerable people.
• As per data projected by the United Nations, 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022. The number has witnessed a significant rise from 2021 when the figures were 235 million, the highest figure in decades.
• The United Nations and partner organizations aim to assist 183 million people most in need across 63 countries, which will require 41 billion dollars.

• An Indian Air Force contingent has reached Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2022. The exercise is being held in Darwin till 8th of next month.
• This is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force. Defence Ministry said that the exercise will see the participation of over 100 aircrafts and 2500 military personnel from various air forces.
• The Indian Air Force contingent comprises of over 100 air warriors, deployed with four Su-30 MKI fighter and two C-17 aircraft.
• They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices with the participating air forces.

• In Manipur, the 15th State Level Manipur Pineapple Festival and Celebration of 75 Years of Pineapple Cultivation kicked off today at Dr. Kalam Ground of Bunglon Village in Churachandpur.
• The inaugural function of the festival was attended by three State cabinet ministers and three MLAs with other state officials.
• The two days festival is organised by Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee and the pineapple cultivators of Bunglon Village and nearby villages.
• India celebrated its First ever Pineapple Festival on 21st July 2008 at Andro in Imphal East district where above one lakh of the spiky but juicy fruit had been reportedly produced.
• The First Manipur Pineapple Fair cum Youth Festival was organised with the effort of Andro Kendra Development Committee was held at Thambalnu Market of Andro region.
• This festival has acted as a new chapter in the annals of pineapple cultivation in Manipur.

 World

• Pineapple Festival was started in 1988 in the Bahamas and in the year 2008 they celebrated their 20th annual festival.
• The purpose for establishing the Pineapple Festival was to honor the many pineapple farmers for their outstanding contributions to the community.
• Secondly, to bring together farmers and visitors from all walks of life to enjoy and participate in pineapple events such as a pineapple eating contest, pineapple cooking contest, old-time pineapple crazy sports, 40-mile pineapple cycling classic, plaiting of the pineapple pole, Little Miss Pineapple Pageant, a Junkanoo parade, craft displays, dancing, and a non-stop pineapple party time.
• Pineapple Festivals are celebrated in all the major Pineapple producing countries around the globe.

• The 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2023 will be held at Indore in January next year.

About

• • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year since 2003 to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.
  • Since 2015, its format has been revised to celebrate the PBD once every two years and to hold theme-based PBD Conferences during the intervening period with participation from overseas diaspora experts, policy makers and stakeholders.
  • These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.
  • These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

• Over one lakh villages have declared themselves as open defecation-free (ODF) Plus. Jal Shakti Ministry said, these villages are sustaining their ODF status and have systems in place for managing solid and liquid waste. They are also working towards making their villages cleaner, greener and healthier.
• The top five performing states are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh where maximum number of villages have been declared as ODF Plus.
• Prime Minister started the Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014 with the goal of eliminating garbage and open defecation in the country through behavioural change.
• Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin Phase-II was launched in February 2020 with the aim to ensure that all villages in the country can declare themselves as ODF Plus by the end of 2024.
• The mission towards becoming ODF Plus has several components including biodegradable waste management including the GOBARdhan Scheme, Grey water management, Plastic waste management and faecal sludge management.

About open defecation-free (ODF) plus villages

• ‘Open defecation free’ (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that have shifted to using toilets instead of open defecation.
• ODF plus village is defined as “a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean.”
• This includes ensuring that all households in a village, as well as the Primary School, Panchayat Ghar and Anganwadi Centre, have access to a toilet and that all public places and at least 80% of households effectively manage their solid and liquid waste and have a minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.
• ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories; Aspiring, Rising, Model.

• Sushil Kukreja and Virender Singh were sworn in as the Judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
• Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to the newly appointed judges, at Raj Bhawan in a simple but an impressive ceremony. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed were also present on the occasion.
• The ceremony took place at the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan, where Chief Secretary R.D. Dhiman conducted the proceedings of the oath ceremony and read out the warrant of appointment issued by the President of India, regarding appointment of Sushil Kukreja and Virender Singh as Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.
• Secretary to the Governor Rajesh Sharma obtained the signature of the Governor and the newly appointed Judges on the oath form.

• Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the state had built 5,600 houses against the total sanctioned number of around 10,000 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban.
• Nearly 2,000 more houses will be ready in the next two months as the construction work is in final stage.
• He said the state had received Rs 133 crore and utilised around Rs 125 crore.
• The scheme was launched in 2015 with the aim of constructing over 1.12 crore homes in urban areas by August 15, 2022. The Centre has now extended this scheme up to December 2024 so that the construction of the houses already sanctioned is completed.
• Bhardwaj said, “Around 8000 houses will be ready by the end of October.” The number of houses sanctioned for district Bilaspur were 889, Chamba 496, Hamirpur 498, Kangra 3,428, Kullu 373, Mandi 1,171, Shimla 282, Sirmaur 676, Solan 409 and district Una 2187 houses.

• Paralympian Rahul Jakhar wins Gold, Avani Lekhara Silver while Pooja Agarwal bags Bronze on Day one of 2022 WSPS Shooting World Cup in Changwon, South Korea.
• Rahul won the Gold in 25 metre competition, in the same category, Pooja picks Bronze.
• Two-time Paralympic winner won the Silver in 10 metre event.

• National Fisheries Development Board (NPFB) conducted its 9th governing body meeting in New Delhi. The governing body meeting was chaired by Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala. Minister of State for Fisheries Dr. L. Murugan and Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan also attended the meeting.
• On this occasion, Parshottam Rupala released a book on Super Success Stories from Indian Fisheries. He also launched an online marketplace feature – ‘Aqua Bazar’ app.
• The app will help the fish farmers and stakeholders to source the inputs such as fish seed, feed and medicines and services required for fish culture. It will connect various stakeholders involved in aquaculture sector.
• L. Murugan said, fisheries departments need to focus in infrastructure development projects, such as fishing harbours, fish landing centers, ice plants and cold storages.
• He said, for the first time under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, government has taken up promotion of startups by the entrepreneurs to achieve the targeted fish production.

About

• The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006 as an autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India to enhance fish production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an integrated and holistic manner.

• Highways and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that ethics, economy, ecology and environment are the four important pillars of the country.  Mr. Gadkari said this while unveiling India’s first E-Double Decker air-conditioned bus in Mumbai.
• Switch mobility limited a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland has manufactured this unique electric double-decker bus called as Switch EiV 22. The bus is equipped with the latest technology, ultra-modern design and highest safety and best in class comfort features.
• Stressing on prioritising pollution-free country, he said 35 percent pollution in the country takes place because of petrol and diesel. He underlined that the size of the automobile industry is 7.5 lakh crore, and it is an important industry for the country as it has huge employment potential.
• Besides, he mentioned that automobile industry gives highest GST to state and central governments. He pointed out at import of crude oil as a main challenge which country faces at present. Mr Gadkari highlighted the most important thing for India is knowledge is power and conversion of knowledge into wealth is future.