Increasing levels of Carbon Dioxide

As per a new study Antarctic Ocean has been absorbing increasing levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) , a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) over the past decade. The research study was published in journal Science and was undertaken by an international research team led by Nicolas Gruber, a professor at ETH Zurich. Key facts The study dispels fears that Antarctic Ocean’s (also known as the Southern Ocean) carbon sink might have begun to saturate due to increase in CO2 absorbing levels. Researchers have found that since the beginning of the millennium, Antarctic Ocean’s carbon sink has become much stronger, regaining its expected strength. Antarctic Ocean seasonally absorbs vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and releases it back later in the year. The seas surrounding Antarctica on an annual average absorb significantly more CO2 than they release. These seas help to remove a large part of CO2 that human activities emit into the atmosphere. Thereby, slowing down the growth of this GHG in the atmosphere, lessening the rate of climate change. Antarctic Ocean accounts for 40 per cent of the global oceanic uptake of that man-made carbon dioxide.

India and Pakistan have started a three-day Director General

India and Pakistan have started a three-day Director General (DG)-level border dialogue in New Delhi. Director General (DG) Border Security Force (BSF) D K Pathak is leading 23 member Indian delegation and his counterpart Major General Umar Farooq Burki, DG  of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) is leading a 16 members Pakistani delegation. Both the delegations also have representatives from respective Home and Foreign ministries along with officers from narcotics control and survey department. In this dialogue both sides have Decided to devise new strategies along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to put an end to incidents of ceasefire violations. Agreed maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border is the most important issue and this needs to be implemented on the ground. India also has suggested that rather than debating and contesting about the past incidents, both sides should work on a future strategy in order to make the border peaceful and safe for the troops and civilians alike.

National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

Union Cabinet cleared National Offshore Wind Energy Policy to generate electricity from offshore windmills located in areas within Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country. Under this policy, Offshore wind power projects and R&D activities will be carried in waters up to the seaward distance of 200 Nautical Miles (EEZ of the country) from the base line. Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be nodal Ministry. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) will be nodal agency for allocation of offshore Wind Energy blocks. NIWE has been authorized to carry out allocation of offshore wind energy blocks. It will also frame guidelines for coordination and allied functions with related ministries and agencies. The policy will provide a non-biased playing field to all domestic and international investors/beneficiaries. Implications Pave the way for offshore wind power projects along the 7600 km long Indian coastline to replicate the success of the onshore wind power projects in the offshore wind projects. It would also help India to attain energy security and achieve National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) targets.

Anirban Lahiri

Ace Indian Golfer Anirban Lahiri has become the first Indian to qualify for the prestigious President’s Cup of Golf. World No.40, Lahiri qualified to this prestigious cup through automatic qualifications as team member of the International Team. The International team is set to take on United States team in the biennial Presidents Cup 2015 to be held at Incheon, South Korea. In season 2015, he has won 2 European Tour, 7 Asian Tour including the Hero Indian Open in 2015 and Malaysian Open. So far, he has won 11 National titles in India including Ahmedabad Masters and Haryana Open. Union Government has bestowed Arjuna Award on him in 2014. President’s Cup of Golf:  The biennial Cup is a series of men’s golf matches between a team representing United States (US) and an International Team representing the rest of the world excluding Europe. In case of European competes against US, it is  the Ryder Cup which older than President’s Cup.

India and Belarus have set the bilateral trade target

India and Belarus have set the bilateral trade target of one billion dollar by 2018. The decision was taken at the Seventh Session of the India-Belarus Intergovernmental Commission held in Minsk, Belarus. The meeting was co-chaired by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman co-chaired and her Belarusian counterpart Minister for Industry Vitali Mikhailovich Vovk. Key highlights Both countries noted the potential to step up cooperation in pharmaceuticals, machinery, energy, fertilizer, mining and tourism. They also agreed to facilitate business to business contacts to promote investment flows in the two countries. Both sides also expressed satisfaction in successful supply of equipment by state owned BHEL for the reconstruction of Grodno Power Plant-2 in Belarus. They hoped for further boost the participation of Indian companies in projects for the reconstruction of power facilities in Belarus. Belarus is eager to boost investment and technology to India to supports its flagship Make in India programme. It should be noted that, presently the bilateral trade between both countries is around 400 million dollars.

The sixth Indo-Maldives joint Training Exercis

The sixth Indo-Maldives joint Training Exercise has commenced at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Aim of the Joint Exercise is to acquaint forces of both countries with each other’s operating procedure and increase understanding and interoperability between Armies of both countries. In this edition of joint exercise, total of 45 soldiers each from Indian Army (BIHAR Regiment) and the Maldivian National Defence Force will take part. The exercise will cover varied military training activities in order to enhance interoperability between the two defence forces. It will conclude with tactical exercises. It should be noted that the sixth Indo-Maldives joint Training Exercise commenced on 31 August 2015 and it will conclude on 13 September 2015 with the closing ceremony involving cultural events by various military display teams along with aerial acrobatics display by Sarang Team of Indian Air force.

Badarpur-Faridabad Metro

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Badarpur-Faridabad Metro in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). The metro corridor will connect the national capital with the satellite town and give impetus to economic growth in the region by fast transportation of people. It is also first environment-friendly metro in Indian as all the stations and depot have been equipped with solar power plants. Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Corridor It is the 14 kilometre long corridor and has nine stations from Sarai (Delhi) to Escorts Mujesar. It is an extension of the presently operational ITO-Badarpur section of the Delhi Metro. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is nodal agency in implementing this corridor and has been built at an estimated cost of 2500 crore rupees. Environment-friendly railway stations: The corridor is equipped with solar power generation facilities in all stations and depots to generate nearly 2 megawatt power. Ridership capacity: on the corridor is estimated to be around two lakh per day and help to shift a major portion of the road users to this mode of transport. It will also help to tackle the rush from satellite town as five to six coach-trains will be in service daily.

American Pulitzer Prize winner

Indian-American Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri has been selected for the prestigious 2014 National Humanities Medal of White House. She has been selected for this award for enlarging the human story and will be presented with it by US President Barack Obama. The award also recognizes her fictional works which have illuminated the Indian-American experience in beautifully wrought narratives of estrangement and belonging. About Jhumpa Lahiri Her original name is Nilanjana Sudeshna. Her Work: Her debut short story collection Interpreter of Maladies (1999) has won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her first novel was Namesake (2003) was adapted in a movie with the same name which was directed by Mira Nair. Suresh Kalpenn acted in this movie. The Lowland (2013) it was nominee for the Man Booker Prize. Currently, she is Professor of creative writing at Princeton University. About National Humanities Medal It is an annual award given by US President. Established: It had succeeded annual Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities (established in 1988) in 1996. Bestowed on persons, groups or institutions in recognition for their work which has deepened United States understanding of the humanities, broadened US citizens’ engagement with the humanities or helped to preserve and expand US’s access to important resources in the humanities. Since its inception in 1996 it has been bestowed

Punjab Government has established a special MGNREGA cell

Punjab Government has established a special MGNREGA cell to coordinate effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the state. It has been established by Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department at Chandigarh with an outlay of 233 crore rupees. This cell will monitor implementation of Union Government’s flagship 100 days employment guarantee scheme of MGNREGA. It will also monitor the wage rate under MGNREGA which has been fixed by Union Government on the basis of consumer Price Index- Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) which is implemented on 1st April every year and will be applicable for whole financial year. It should be noted that all the districts of Punjab are being covered under MGNREGA with effect from 1st April, 2008. The recent wage rate has been revised from 202 rupees to 210 rupees with effect from 1st April 2015. The wages will be directly transferred by state government in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries from 15th September 2015.

22nd edition of Commonwealth Games

South African city of Durban has been selected as the host for the 22nd edition of Commonwealth Games to be held in 2022. For the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games, African nation has been chosen as host of the Games. The city was chosen by the Federation’s general assembly in New Zealand as it was the only bidder for the multi-sports event. It was lone bidder after Canadian city Edmonton withdrew from contention race in February 2015 over the economic slowdown in Canada. 22nd Commonwealth Games would be held from 18 to 30 July 2022. The opening ceremony will be held on the birth date of the late South African President and Anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. Note: Australian City of Gold Coast is hosting 21st edition of Commonwealth Games to be held in 2018. About Commonwealth Games These multi-sport events feature athletes from over 50 member countries of Commonwealth nations. The games were first held in 1930 and since then they are held every 4 years. Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is nodal agency to oversee the games. It also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities. India had hosted 19th edition of Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from 3 to 14 October, 2010.