Current Affairs - February 18, 2024 Current Affairs

CAR-T cell therapy, recently approved in India, is a groundbreaking cancer treatment. This personalized therapy involves collecting T cells from the patient, genetically modifying them in the lab to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and then infusing them back into the patient to target and attack cancer cells.

AIIMS collaborated with State Bank of India (SBI) to introduce the Smart Payment Card, facilitating cashless transactions at AIIMS, New Delhi. The card, issued free of cost to patients, is linked to their Unique Hospital Identification number and Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID, aiming to enhance convenience and safety for patients and their caretakers.

Uttarakhand is poised to introduce India's inaugural Helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS), aimed at swiftly transporting accident victims and patients from remote and hilly regions to AIIMS in Rishikesh. This initiative, operating under project 'Sanjeevani', marks a significant advancement in emergency medical services infrastructure.

The MoU signed between JSW Group and the Odisha government aims to establish the project in Cuttack and Paradeep, focusing on electric vehicles, thus highlighting Odisha as the intended location for the initiative.

The Indian Productivity Week, initiated by National Productivity Day on February 12, extends until February 18 annually. This week serves as a reminder of India's commitment to enhancing productivity across sectors and features activities and discussions centred around boosting economic development.

The three-day Nagi Bird Festival is set to occur in Jamui, Bihar. Organized by the Bihar Forest and Environment Department, the festival aims to promote bird conservation and raise awareness about migratory birds and their habitats, fostering tourism in the region.

The Assam cabinet, under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, aimed at curbing magical healing practices that exploit individuals suffering from congenital diseases.

NTPC's innovative USSC was awarded the first prize at the 9th Global Procurement Summit 2024 for its strategic initiative, bringing uniformity, standardization, and process simplification in procurement practices.

Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, has joined the Board of Directors of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). This appointment reflects his leadership and expertise in driving market transitions in areas such as hybrid cloud business, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.

The Andhra Pradesh government partnered with edX, an e-learning platform, to offer world-class higher education courses to the youth. This agreement allows over 12 lakh students access to 2,000-plus online courses from top universities worldwide, making it a pioneering initiative in the realm of online education.

Usha Kiran Khan, a renowned Hindi and Maithili writer, passed away at the age of 78. She received several awards, including the Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, and Mahadevi Verma Award, for her significant contributions to Hindi and Maithili literature, demonstrating her prowess as a writer.

Dubai has signed agreements to launch the world's first air taxi service by 2026, aiming to introduce electric-powered taxis with a range of 161 km and a top speed of 321 km/h, thus enhancing transportation efficiency and reducing emissions.

The 14th Global Immigration Summit took place at the Shangri-la Hotel in New Delhi. Organized by BLS Global and Acquest Advisors, the summit centred on various immigration programs such as EB-5, Portugal Golden Visa, UK Business Immigration, and Europe Golden Visa, bringing together immigration experts from around the world.

The Farmers' Protest march, known as "Delhi Chalo," is organized to advocate for several demands, including a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops and the withdrawal of cases against farmers from the 2020 protest.

The first trial movement of vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh signifies the collaboration between the two countries, with 11.5 kilometres of waterways falling within Bangladesh's territory.

The Pineapple Express Storm, an atmospheric river phenomenon, is affecting California, United States. This weather pattern transports moisture-laden air from the tropics to higher latitudes, causing heavy rainfall upon landfall. The term "Pineapple Express" originates from its association with drawing moisture from the tropical waters near the Hawaiian Islands.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has secured the order for establishing Haryana's inaugural ultra-supercritical thermal power plant, marking a significant advancement in the state's power infrastructure. BHEL's longstanding contribution to Haryana's power sector dates back to 1974.

IIT Guwahati inaugurated the "SWASTHA" Project, along with state-of-the-art clean room facilities, aiming to revolutionize healthcare with advanced nanoelectronic theranostic devices, emphasizing innovation and scientific collaboration.

World Human Spirit Day is observed on 17th February each year. Established in 2003 by Michael Levy, this day encourages reflection on the human spirit, mindfulness, and meditation, fostering a deeper connection with our spiritual selves.

AIIMS New Delhi and the University of Liverpool have signed an agreement to establish the 'AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for Translational Research in Head and Neck Cancer - ALHNS,' aiming to enhance medical innovation and personalized cancer treatments.