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By admin: Feb. 28, 2023

World Sustainable Development Summit

Tags: Summits

The 22nd World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) was held on 22-24 February 2023 in New Delhi. It is primarily the flagship annual event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

An overview of the news:

• Theme: “Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action”.

• The Summit is TERI’s annual flagship multistakeholder event and is the only independently convened event of such scale in the Global South that brings together world leaders, thinkers, scientists, industry and government representatives to work towards long-term solutions for the planet’s health.

• Other highlights at WSDS 2023 included high-level sessions on COP28, Women's Leadership, CEO Forum, Youth Plenary and G20 Leadership.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

• TERI is an independent think-tank, multi-dimensional organisation, with expertise in research, policy, consultancy and implementation.

• Established in 1974.

• Headquarter - New Delhi.

• It was formerly known as the Tata Energy Research Institute. It was later renamed The Energy and Resources Institute in 2003.

Sustainable Development:

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

DMRC plan to start 'Virtual Shopping App'

Tags: National News

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is going to start the country's first virtual shopping app soon for its passengers, so that passengers can shop during their journey and can also provide delivery facility of goods ordered at destination stations.

An overview of the news:

• This Momentum 2.0 has been designed a specially designed, in which the app provides instantaneous and direct facilities to its users to custom made services such as last mile connectivity options, e-shopping options and a digital locker for quick and safe delivery.

• Along with this, the smart card of Delhi Metro in the app will also get facilities like recharge and other uses.

• In addition, this app will provide passengers to recharge their smart cards quickly from anywhere. The app has an auto-top-up facility for inbuilt smart cards.

• This app will also provide a smart payment facility. In this, by setting the instructions in automatic mode, payment like insurance, electricity, gas payment or fast tag recharge will be easily made.

• The apps available at the app metro stations will be able to provide detailed information like gates, lifts, escalators, platforms, train time, space and location in coaches.

• With this app, the passengers will be helpful in booking a bike-cab before getting out of the metro.

‘Grand start-up Conclave’ on Animal Husbandry and Diary in Hyderabad

Tags: National News

A 'Grand Startup Conclave' was organised by the Central Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department on 28 February 2023 for current and emerging startups in livestock, dairy and animal husbandry areas in Hyderabad. It was inaugurated by Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Purushottam Rupala.

An overview of the news: 

• The aim of the conference is to promote startups in livestock, dairy and animal husbandry areas in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, Government of Telangana and Industry Organization Indian Industry (CII).

• This conference will bring entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts together to share its ideas and networks.

• The event was organised in partnership with the Department of Animal Husbandry of National Dairy Development Board, Startup India, CII and Telangana.

New Zealand becomes second team after West Indies winning Test match by one run

Tags: Sports News

The Tim Southee -led New Zealand team has established a work by defeating England by 1 run in the second Test.

An overview of the news:

• New Zealand has become the second team in the world to win the match by the lowest run in Test cricket. Earlier in 1993, West Indies set this record by winning 1 run against Australia in Adelaide.

• England had declared their first innings for 435 runs after which the New Zealand team was dismissed for 209 runs. Ben Stokes decided to follow the hosts with a lead of 266 runs.

• New Zealand took advantage of this to score 483 runs and set a target of 258 runs to win in front of England in the fourth innings. In front of this score, the entire English team was dismissed for 256 runs.

• With this achievement, New Zealand has become the third team in the world to win a Test match by taking a follow on.

• England did this work 2 times against Australia, while India defeated Australia after taking a follow on at the Eden Gardens ground in 2011.

• Till now in Test cricket, Australia was the only team that has lost by giving a follow on, but now England's name has also been added to this list.

Prime Minister inaugurated Shivamogga Airport

Tags: State News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2023 launched the newly built Shivamogga airport along with various development projects worth over Rs 3,600 crore in Shivamogga, Karnataka.

An overview of the news:

• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for two rail projects, the Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur New Railway Line and the Koteganguru Railway Coaching Depot and several road development projects worth over Rs 215 crore.

• The Prime Minister also inaugurated multi-village schemes worth over Rs 950 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and 44 smart city projects worth over Rs 895 crore in Shivamogga city.

Shivamogga Airport:

• Shivamogga Airport has been developed at a cost of about Rs 450 crore.

• The passenger terminal building of this airport is spread over 4340 square metres which is capable of handling 300 passengers per hour.

• There were only 74 airports in the whole country till the year 2014, while today the number of airports has doubled (148) after the inauguration of Shivamogga Airport.

• The Shivamogga airport is designed in the shape of a lotus flower and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 450 crore.

• It is suitable for A-320 type aircraft. This airport is spread over 758 acres of land.

• Night landing facility is also available at this airport which will start after some time.

International Conference on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products at Hyderabad

Tags: National Summits

The Coconut Development Board in association with the International Coconut Community (ICC) organised a two-day International Conference on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products with the participation of world stakeholders from February 27 to 28, 2023 at Hyderabad, Telangana.

An Overview of the news:

• The theme of the conference is “Global Coconut Industry - Cruising to the Pinnacle”. 

• The objective of the program is to disseminate knowledge on coconut industry and innovative industry practices on market potential and work towards realising the potential opportunities of the sector.

• This hybrid mode conference was organised with the participation of representatives from national and international organisations, policy makers, entrepreneurs, exporters and other stakeholders of the industry.

Coconut production in India:

• According to Dr. Vijayalakshmi Nadendla, CEO of the Coconut Development Board, India is currently the largest coconut producer with a 30.93% share in global production and ranks second in terms of productivity - 9,346 nuts per hectare after Vietnam at 10,547 nuts per hectare. According to 2020 ICC data, India is the world's largest coconut producer with a 30.93% share in global production, followed by Indonesia and the Philippines.
  The production of coconut in the country during 2020-21 stood at 21207 million nuts, which was 34 per cent of the global production.

• With the increase in coconut production, India has been exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka since April 2017, whereas till March 2017, India used to import coconut oil.

• Now for the first time India is also exporting desiccated coconut in large quantities to America and other European countries.

• In India, coconut is cultivated in states including West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

• World Coconut Day - 2 September

Australian women's cricket team won the T20 World Cup title for the sixth time

Tags: Sports News

Australia has won the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 title for the sixth time by defeating South Africa by 19 runs in the final.

An Overview of the news:

• It was the eighth edition of the ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup tournament, held in South Africa from 10 to 26 February 2023.

• The title match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 was held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, which was won by Australia.

• This was the seventh T20 World Cup final match for the Australian women's team.

• Batting first after winning the toss in the match played at Newlands in Cape Town, Australia scored 156 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. In response, the South African team was able to score 137 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs.

• The Australian team has become champions in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and now in 2023.

• The Australian team has scored a title hat-trick in the Women's T20 World Cup for the second time. For the first time, a team has scored a title hat-trick for the second time in an ICC tournament, including men's or women's cricket.

• Australia's all-rounder Ashley Gardner was awarded the 'Player of the Tournament' award.

• The Indian women's team lost to the Australian team in the semi-final match.

National Science Day: 28 February

Tags: Important Days

National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28 February in honour of India's great physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.

An overview of the news

Theme of the National Science Day:

• The main theme of National Science Day for the year 2023 has been declared by the Department of Science and Technology, Union Ministry of Science and Technology as 'Global Science for Global Wellbeing'.

• The theme reflects India's emerging global role and growing reach in the international arena.

Objective:

• To create a positive scientific research culture by promoting scientific consciousness among people with scientific temper.

Beginning of National Science Day:

• Celebration of National Science Day started from 28 February 1987.

• The discovery of the popular 'Raman Effect' by CV Raman, one of the country's physicists, was confirmed on 28 February 1928, after which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930, two years later.

• To celebrate this achievement, the Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Government of India, had advised to celebrate February 28 as National Science Day.

• World Science Day is observed on 10 November; Theme of World Science Day 2022: Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.