BRICS for Partnership in Strengthening Agro-biodiversity for Food Security
BRICS nations have pitched for closer ties in strengthening agro-biodiversity to ensure food and nutrition security.
The issue was discussed in the working group of agriculture represented by top agriculture officials from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) virtually on August 12-13.
The group stressed on having closer ties in strengthening cooperation and research in the field of agriculture.
In the meeting, the group shared that the United Nation has noted BRICS countries are well positioned to take a leading role in helping to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate hunger and poverty.
Kabul Falls to Taliban as President Flees
The Taliban has claimed victory in Afghanistan after taking over the capital Kabul, bringing to a swift end almost 20 years of a US-led coalition's presence in the country.
Fighters have seized the presidential palace. The government has collapsed, with President Ashraf Ghani fleeing.
Kabul has descended into chaos, and residents and foreign nationals have been trying to escape.
As per report, at the capital's international airport staff had abandoned their desks and people were running to planes.
The US has moved all of its embassy staff to the airport. The US military has secured the perimeter and is in the process of taking over air traffic control to evacuate American and allied personnel from the country.
Kabul was the last major city in Afghanistan to hold out against the Taliban offensive, which began months ago but has accelerated in the space of days as they rapidly gained control of territories, shocking many observers.
The militants were able to seize control after most foreign troops pulled out.
Biden Authorises Deployment of Approximately 5,000 US Troops to Afghanistan
US President Joe Biden has ordered deployment of 5,000 troops to Afghanistan to ensure an orderly and safe drawdown of American personnel from the war-torn country.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a secure video conference with the national security team to discuss the ongoing efforts to drawdown American civilian footprint in Afghanistan, evacuate SIV applicants, and monitor the evolving security situation.
Ghaziabad is World's Second most Polluted City of 2020
Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad was adjudged the second most polluted city out of the 50 'most polluted cities' in the world in 2020 by a report prepared by British company HouseFresh. Ghaziabad reported an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 2.5 particulate matter (PM) in 106.6µg/m3.
Preceding Ghaziabad, Chinese city of Hotan in Xinjiang province has been named the most polluted city with a PM2.5 of 110.2µg/m3. The report attributed the air pollution in Hotan to sandstorms resulting from its closeness to the Taklimakan Desert, which is the largest shifting sand desert in the world.
Manikganj in Bangladesh stood third in the list of 'most polluted cities' in the world with a PM2.5 of 80.2µg/m3.
July 2021 is Officially the Hottest Month Ever
Global warming and climate change can't be ignored any longer. July 2021 has earned a dubious distinction - of being the hottest month EVER, in recorded history of the world. Reseachers further point out that it is quite likely that 2021 will rank among the 10 warmest years on record. According to new global data released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extreme heat is also a reflection of the long-term changes outlined in a major report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The combined land and ocean-surface temperature was 1.67 degrees Fahrenheit (0.93 of a degree Celsius) above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees F (15.8 degrees Celsius), making it the hottest July since records began 142 years ago.
Four more Indian Wetlands Added to Ramsar List
Four more wetlands from India have been added to the Ramsar list and have been recognised as wetlands of global importance in accordance with the Ramsar Convention.
India is home to more than a dozen of threatened and near threatened bird species.
Four sites that have been included are Thol from Gujarat, Wadhwana from Gujarat, Sultanpur from Haryana and Bhindawas from Haryana.
These sites are home to endangered Egyptian Vulture, Sociable Lapwing, Saker Falcon, and near threatened Dalmatian Pelican.
With the latest addition, the number of Ramsar sites in India has reached to 46.
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Close Spectrum Trading Deal
Bharti Airtel closed a pact to transfer the 'Right to Use' of its 800 MHz spectrum in three circles to rival Reliance Jio for Rs. 1,004.8 crore. In addition, Jio will assume future liabilities of Rs. 469.3 crore relating to the spectrum.
In April, Jio had signed an agreement with Airtel to acquire a portion of spectrum in 800 MHz band for Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Mumbai circles at an aggregate value of Rs 1,497 crore. Jio now has its holding in these circles to 10MHz, 10MHz and 15MHz, respectively.
This was the first such deal between the two competitors.
Jindal Stainless Hisar Ties up with MNIT Jaipur
Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd has signed a pact with Jaipur-based Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) to conduct product research and development in the iron and steel industry.
The partnership is for three years.
JSHL said it has "signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with MNIT, Jaipur... With this partnership, JSHL envisions to take up research, new product development, solid waste management, and skill development along with MNIT."
It added that the three-year partnership kicked off with a joint research proposal submission under the government's 'promotion of research and development in iron and steel sector's scheme.
RBI Cancels Licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, Panvel in Maharashtra
The Reserve Bank has cancelled the licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, Panvel in Maharashtra for not having adequate capital and being unable to pay its present depositors in full.
The bank ceased to carry on banking business with effect from August 13, 2021.
As per the data submitted by the bank, 95 per cent of the depositors will receive full amounts of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)," the central bank said while announcing cancellation of the bank's licence.
The licence of the bank is cancelled as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
India's First Drone Forensic Lab Comes up in Kerala
India's first Drone Forensic Lab and Research Center has come up in Kerala. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan was inaugurating the State police department's 'Drone Forensic Laboratory' at the Kerala State Police CyberDome. Cyberdome is a technological research and development centre of the Kerala Police Department.
The centre will help in keeping a watch over unauthorized drones and also for the production of drones for the use of the police force. This lab-cum-research centre will look into both utility and threat aspects of a drone.
The police have forayed strongly into the relatively new field of drone forensics. It had recently analysed a drone brought down by the Border Security Force (BSF) near the international border in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir and helped the local enforcement zero in on its illegal operator.
Indian archers won all their matches in the recurve under-18 section to grab two gold and three bronze medals at the Youth World Championships.
The men's team defeated their French rivals 5-3, while the mixed pair followed suit with a 6-2 win over Japan to continue their winning run on the country's 75th Independence Day.
Overall in recurve and compound sections, India have won five gold, two silver and five bronze medals in their best-ever show in the tournament.
Unmukt Chand Inks Multi-year Deal with Major League Cricket
Former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has signed a deal with Silicon Valley Strikers for the 2021 season of the Minor League Cricket (MLC) in the US.
Unmukt who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, will make his debut for the Strikers against the Socal Lashings at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex in a Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship.
Chand has relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and signed a multi-year agreement with Major League Cricket to support the development of the game in the United States by playing with and mentoring the next generation of American cricketers.
Alexander Donchenko Wins RTU Open Chess Tournament
S.L. Narayanan (7 points) finished runner-up after a draw with Israel's Ilia Smirin in the ninth and final round of the RTU Open chess tournament in Riga, Latvia.
A win with black over Igor Kovalenko in round 9 gave Alexander Donchenko tournament victory at the RTU Open in Riga. In the end, Donchenko was the only player to score 7½ points, so he did not even need to bother with tiebreak-criteria calculations. After losing in round 3 against a lower-rated opponent, Donchenko sensationally won six games in a row to win the event.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel greeted people on the country's 75th Independence Day and announced the creation of four new districts in the state as well as development of parks exclusively for women in all districts of the state.
The CM also said that steps taken to curb the Naxal menace in the state were "showing encouraging results".
"Taking the process of decentralisation further, four new districts will be created - namely Mohla-Manpur, Sakti, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh and Manendragarh, while 18 new tehsils will also be formed", Baghel said.
The four new districts will take the total number of administrative districts in the state to 32.
BJP to Fight Gujarat Elections under CM Vijay Rupani's Leadership
Amid speculation over a change of leadership in the Gujarat government, state unit president of the ruling BJP, C. R. Paatil, said that the party will contest the next year's Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel.
Meghalaya Home Minister Resigns
After the encounter of a former leader of banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui resigned from his post.
Former India Defender Chinmoy Chatterjee Passes Away
Former India defender Chinmoy Chatterjee, who played for the three Maidan heavyweights in his prime in the 1970-80s, died. He was 68.
He was a member of the Arun Ghosh-coached Indian team at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games where they finished fourth in the quarter-final league.
A dependable right-back, Chatterjee switched from Mohun Bagan to arch-rivals East Bengal where he played from 1976-79 and 1982-86, during which they won the Calcutta Football League (CLF) thrice.
Chatterjee also represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy four times, with the team becoming champions in three of them.
August 14 Will be Observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. Pakistan celebrates August 14 as its Independence Day.
"Partition's pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day", tweeted Modi.
More than 140 personnel of the armed forces and the paramilitary forces were awarded gallantry awards by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The total 144 gallantry awards include one Ashok Chakra, the country' highest peacetime military awards, awarded posthumously to J&K Police ASI Babu Ram.
J&K Police Constable, Altaf Hussain Bhat, was awarded the Kirti Chakra, also posthumously.
The Defence Ministry mentioned in a statement that 15 Shaurya Chakras, four Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 116 Sena Medals (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) were awarded.
The President has also approved 28 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations, which include three posthumous for 'Operation Rakshak' and 'Operation Snow Leopard'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs. 100 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti initiative which will create employment opportunities for the country's youth and help in a holistic infrastructure growth.
Modi said Gatishakti will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and also develop possibilities of new future economic zones.
PM Launches Vehicle Scrappage Policy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, the voluntary vehicle-fleet modernisation programme, aimed at modernising India's "vehicular population" and removing unfit vehicles from roads in an environment-friendly and scientific manner.
Elaborating on its economic and environmental benefits, the PM said that the policy would play a big role in the modernisation and phasing out the old, polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner.
Assam Passes Cattle Preservation Bill
Assam Assembly passed the "Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021".
Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 prohibits the sale and purchase of beef in areas inhabited by non-beef-eating communities.
It also prohibits the sale and purchase of beef within a radius of 5 km of a temple or a satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
This bill will repeal the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950.
It was passed with the aim of regulating "slaughter, consumption, illegal transportation" of cattle.
It prohibits inter-state transport of cattle to/from and through Assam without any valid documents. This clause was included ostensibly to look after cattle smuggling to Bangladesh.
The bill was introduced in the Assembly July 12, citing that, the 1950 Act lacked "sufficient legal provisions" of regulating slaughter, consumption and the transportation of cattle. Thus, the new legislation was the need of the hour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that all Sainik Schools in the country will now be open for girls also. At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.
During his Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister said that two-and-a-half years ago, the maiden experiment of admitting girls in Sainik schools was carried out in Mizoram.
"Now, the government has decided that all the Sainik schools in the country will also be open for the daughters of the country," he said.
Sainik schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
Ministry of Social Justice Launches an E-study Platform "TAPAS"
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched an online portal named TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services) to provide filmed lectures/courses and e-study material in the field of social defence. TAPAS is the initiative of the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The course can be taken up by anyone and is free of cost.
Vice President Releases Book 'Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government'
The vice president, M. Venkaiah Naidu has released a book 'Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government' at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas. The book commemorates the achievement and evaluation of two elected terms of PM Modi as the Head of Parliamentary. Releasing the book, VP Naidu said that as India will celebrate 75 years of independence, it was time to study the progress of the constitutional promise of a 'dignified life to the common man.
Sisodia Inaugurates Archival Exhibition on Freedom Struggle
An archival exhibition on the freedom struggle in Delhi was inaugurated at the Secretariat as part of programmes to celebrate India's 75th year of Independence.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia inaugurated the exhibition, which has been put together by the General Administration Department in collaboration with the Department of Delhi Archives, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. He said: "The exhibition is a showcase of the vibrant history Delhi has, and the great fight put up by our freedom fighters for an independent India.
The exhibition showcased events of India's freedom struggle in Delhi starting from the first war of Independence in 1857 up to 1947.
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