1. UN warns 345 million people at risk of starvation
Tags: International News
The United Nations World Food Program warned on 16 September that the world is facing a global emergency, because 345 million people are marching toward starvation.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Program, said 345 million people in 82 countries are facing acute food insecurity.
He said that 50 million people in 45 countries suffer from acute malnutrition.
This widespread and growing food insecurity is the result of direct and indirect effects of conflict and violence.
Rising food, fuel and fertilizer prices have driven 70 million people near starvation since Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine on February 24.
United Nations World Food Program :
It is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.
It is the world's largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food security and the largest provider of school meals.
It aims to fulfil the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a priority on achieving SDG 2 for "zero hunger" by 2030.
It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to provide food assistance in areas of conflict.
Founded - 1961
Headquartered - Rome
2. Nitin Gadkari lays foundation of 7 NH projects
Tags: National National News
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on 15 September in Gwalior inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of seven National Highway projects.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The total length of the project is 222 km and total cost is Rs 1,128 crore.
The elevated road of both the phases on the Swarn Rekha in Gwalior city will be built with the state-of-the-art new technology of Malaysia.
Under this project, a 6-lane Agra-Gwalior Greenfield Expressway will be connected to Yamuna Expressway and a logistic park will also be set up along the Agra-Gwalior Expressway.
Considering the geographical importance of Madhya Pradesh in connecting the network of highways, the implementation of these projects will facilitate movement and save fuel.
National Highways in India :
The National highways are a network of roads owned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
It is constructed and managed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and the public works departments (PWD) of state governments.
The longest national highway is NH44, which runs between Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, with a total length of 3,806 km (2,365 mi).
The shortest National Highway is NH766EE, which spans 4.27 km (2.65 mi), from Hettikeri to Belekeri port in Karnataka.
3. Book titled 'Ambedkar and Modi : Reformer's Ideas Performer's Implementation' released
Tags: National National News
A book titled ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas Performer’s Implementation’ released by former President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on 16 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The book has been compiled by Bluecraft Digital Foundation, with a foreword by music composer and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja.
The book describes the life, works and achievements of Dr. Ambedkar.
It presents a convergence between the ideals of Dr. BR Ambedkar and the development journey of New India.
The twelve chapters of the book focus on infrastructure, education, socio-economic mobility, gender equality, self-reliance.
The book not only presents Dr. Ambedkar's vision of India, but also presents his perspective on the many achievements of the Narendra Modi government.
It also highlights the policies and reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the progress of the country in line with the vision of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
4. South Korea fines Google and Meta for violation of privacy law
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission has fined Google 69.2 billion won ($50 million) and Meta (earlier called Facebook) 30.8 billion won ($22 million) for violation of privacy law violation.
Both the companies were found guilty of collecting and analysing behavioural information of the customer without obtaining their prior consent.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Republic of Korea (South Korea) :
- It lies in the Korean peninsula in East Asia.
- The Korean peninsula was divided into communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Republic of Korea (South Korea) after the Korean War in 1953.
- Capital: Seoul
- Currency: South Korean Won
5. H E Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco re-elected as the President of Angola
Tags: Person in news International News
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has congratulated H E Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on being re-elected as the President of Angola on 15 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Angola is an important friend of India and the people of both the countries enjoy cordial and friendly relations.
With Lourenco securing another five-year term, the bilateral ties shared between India and Angola are expected to improve in terms of trade.
He has served as the president of Angola since 26 September 2017.
Prior to this, he was the Defence Minister from 2014 to 2017.
In September 2018, he became the Chairman of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the ruling party.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Angola :
Angola is a country located in South-West Africa
Capital - Luanda
Official Language - Portuguese
6. India launches ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’
Tags: National National News
Denmark and the Indian Delegation launched a Whitepaper on ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ at International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark on 14 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Urban Wastewater Treatment Scenario :
80 percent of household water is discharged into sewage.
According to statistics, 78 percent of sewage water remains untreated and is discharged into rivers, groundwater or lakes.
In India, only 10 percent of all sewage generated is treated.
32 percent of urban households are connected to a piped sewer system.
An alarming 70 percent of urban wastewater remains untreated in rivers and seas.
Therefore, urban waste water management has become a major concern for the city authorities.
There is a dire need to take concrete steps to create a sustainable model of growth and development in sync with the environment and ecology.
Highlights of the White paper :
Need for wastewater treatment
Scope for improvement and augmentation in existing infrastructure and technologies
Methods for public participatory approach
Smart technologies for rapid data collection
Spread and build capacity through training and stakeholder apex bodies to enhance the efficiency of urban wastewater treatment for India.
This white paper is part of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management and their bilateral relations.
7. 6th CICA summit to be held in Kazakhstan
Tags: Summits International News
Kazakhstan will be host the 6th Conference on Confidence Building Measures and Interaction in Asia (CICA) summit in October 2022.
The summit meeting will be held on 12-13 October 2022 at the Kazakhstan capital, Nur-Sultan.
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
The idea of convening CICA was first proposed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 5 October 1992, at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
27 countries including India, China, and Pakistan are members of CICA.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Summit meetings of CICA :
- The First summit meeting was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 4 June 2022. It was attended by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- The second CICA summit was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on June 17, 2006
- The third CICA Summit was held in Istanbul, Turkey on 8 June 2010
- The Fourth CICA Summit, was held in Shanghai, China on 21 May 2014
- The Fifth CICA Summit was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 15 June 2019.
Full Form :
CICA : Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia
8. Dharmendra Pradhan launches Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme
Tags: National National News
Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan launched Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme in New Delhi for students of classes I to V on 15 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The Minister called for creating a framework for value based education in all schools.
National Education Policy 2020 is deeply inspired by the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.
From Swami Vivekananda to Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhi, many great people had envisioned an education system that was progressive and full of moral values to take the country forward.
Awakened Citizen Program :
The program is an initiative taken up by Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi which is a branch centre of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, West Bengal.
Ramakrishna Mission is a worldwide philanthropic organization founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897.
Its motto is "Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Cha" which means "For your liberation, and for the welfare of the world".
The Delhi Center has conducted various spiritual, educational and social service activities since its inception in 1927.
The Awakened Citizen Program Success Formula :
Success Formula – I - A one-hour education program for students studying in classes VII, VIII and IX was started in 2009.
Success Formula – II - A four-hour program divided into two sessions that includes many interactive discussions and physical assistance.
9. Union Cabinet approves inclusion of tribes of five States in ST category
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to include about 15 tribal communities in the Scheduled Tribes list in five states namely Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh on 14 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The Hatti community of Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh has been given ST status in the latest cabinet decision.
The cabinet approved the proposal to bring the Gond community living in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh from the Scheduled Castes list to the Scheduled Tribes list. It consists of five subcategories (Dhuria, Nayak, Ojha, Pathri and Rajgond) of the Gond community.
Chhattisgarh has 12 castes out of the five states whose decision has been taken to include them in the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
In these, Bhuyan, Bhuyan, Bhuyan, Bhariya have been included in ST as synonyms of Bhariyabhumiya.
With this decision, the number of Scheduled Tribes in the country has increased from 705 to 720.
According to the 2011 census, the Scheduled Tribe population in the country is 10.43 crore, which is 8.6% of the total population of the country.
10. Bhutan ratifies International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement
Tags: International News
Bhutan on 14 September ratified the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Bhutan's Ambassador to India Major General Wetsop Namgyal handed over the ratification document to Secretary ER Dammu Ravi in the presence of DG International Solar Alliance.
International Solar Alliance :
It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization whose primary function is to promote solar development by reducing the cost of financing and technology.
It is the nodal agency to implement 'One Sun, One World, One Grid'.
It aims to transfer the solar energy generated in a specific region to meet the electricity demand of another region.
It was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30 November 2015 at the Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the UNFCCC in France (Paris) along with 121 solar resource rich nations.
Its key objectives include achieving a global potential of over 1000 GW of solar power generation capacity and mobilising about $1000 billion to invest in solar energy by 2030.
Member-106 countries have signed this Framework Agreement. 86 out of 106 countries have signed and ratified this Framework Agreement.
Headquarters - Gurugram, India
