Today Update

मालदीव, हिंद महासागर में चीन के साथ रद कर सकता है समझौता
भारत के मित्र देश मालदीव ने चीन को बड़ा झटका देने की तैयारी कर ली है। मालदीव, चीन के साथ एक बड़ी संधि (Deal) रद कर सकता है। मालदीव ने चीन के साथ हिंद महासागर में एक वैधशाला (ऑब्जरवेटरी) बनाने के लिए समझौता किया था। खबरों के मुताबिक अब मालदीव, चीन के साथ अपने इस समझौते को तोड़ सकता है। ये समझौता रद होना चीन के साथ भारत के लिए बड़ी जीत के तौर पर देखा जाना चाहिए।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20577-2019-06-18-04-50-53
#Maldives #Indian #Indiasfriendly #Pakistan #AbdullahYameen

अमेरिका और फ्रांस से हुए समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को लाभ
अमेरिका और फ्रांस के साथ हुए समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को हाल के वर्षो में काफी लाभ हुआ है। इन समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को हिंद महासागर के दूरस्थ इलाकों और अदन की खाड़ी में ईंधन, सूचनाएं और अन्य तरह का सहयोग हासिल होने लगा है। वरिष्ठ नौसेना अधिकारी के अनुसार दोनों देशों के साथ हुए समझौतों से भारतीय युद्धपोत हिंद महासागर, अदन की खाड़ी और फारस की खाड़ी में आसानी से अपने मिशन पूरे कर रहे हैं।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20576-2019-06-18-04-50-44
#IndianNavy #France #PersianGulf #NarendraModi #India

हथियारों की आपूर्ति में भारत को प्राथमिकता देगा अमेरिका
अमेरिकी संसद के दो सीनियर सेनेटर्स ने यूएस आर्म्ड कंट्रोल्स एक्सपोर्ट ऐक्ट में संशोधन का प्रस्ताव सदन में पेश किया है। इसके तहत भारत को भी नाटो देशों के समान दर्जा दिए जाने का प्रस्ताव रखा गया है। इससे भारत इंटरनैशनल ट्रैफिक इन आर्म्स रेग्युलेशन लिस्ट में अमेरिका के नाटो सहयोगियों की बराबरी पर आ जाएगा। फिलहाल अमेरिका की इस लिस्ट में इजरायल, ऑस्ट्रेलिया, न्यू जीलैंड और दक्षिण कोरिया शामिल हैं।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20575-2019-06-18-04-50-32
#America #NATO #NewZealand #ForeignMilitarySales #InternationalTraffic #ArmsRegulation

US-India ties on upward trajectory
The US and India have strengthened their ties in a number of key areas like defence, counter-terrorism, trade and energy over the years and would continue to take the cooperation to "new heights".
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20581-us-india-ties-on-upward-trajectory
#India #IACCGH #leading power #US #naturalallies #AtalBihari #MTCR

Bitcoin use causing huge CO2 emissions
The use of Bitcoin -- a popular virtual currency -- emits over 22 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually, comparable to the total emissions of cities such as Las Vegas and Vienna, a study has found. Researchers from Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany carried out the most detailed calculation of the carbon footprint of the Bitcoin system to date.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20580-bitcoin-use-causing-huge-co2-emissions
#Bitcoin #CO2 #BTC #MIT #emissions #TechnicalUniversityofMunich

ADB approves infrastructure projects
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a project worth Rs 1,650 crore to develop infrastructure in seven district headquarter towns of Tripura. The ADB will provide Rs 1,650 crore, out of which 80 per cent will be grant-in-aid and the state will have to repay 20 per cent loan in due course of time.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20579-adb-approves-infrastructure-projects
#ADB #DEA #Asia #AsianDevelopmentBank #PFR #infrastructure

Facebook to unveil new cryptocurrency
Facebook is set to unveil a bid to bring cryptocurrency payments into the mainstream, reportedly with the endorsement of governments and financial giants. The world's biggest social network is expected to outline details of a virtual currency launching next year that it hopes will avoid the rollercoaster volatility of “blockchain” technologies such as bitcoin.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20578-facebook-to-unveil-new-cryptocurrency
#Facebook #cryptocurrency #Libra #blockchain #Uber #Visa #bitcoin

Today's Headlines - 03 August 2023
New IPCC assessment cycle begins
GS Paper - 3 (Environment)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded its elections, marking the beginning of the seventh assessment cycle. The elections commenced, during the IPCC’S 59th session held in Nairobi, Kenya. In the process, the body elected James Skea, professor of sustainable energy at Imperial College, London, as the new IPCC Chair.

About IPCC

It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
The IPCC produces comprehensive assessment reports (ARs) that are considered the most authoritative source of scientific knowledge on climate change.
So far, it has released six ARs — the final synthesis report of the sixth AR came out in March 2023 — and with the latest elections, the body has initiated a new cycle of producing the next AR.

What does the IPCC Chair do?

The primary role of the IPCC Chair is to oversee the reports which come out in each assessment cycle.
Together with the IPCC Bureau, the Chair also sets the research agenda, which could include the release of additional special reports on specific topics.
The Chair is required to possess a rare combination of scientific and diplomatic skills, which are needed to get the approvals of governments on the report summaries.
The tenure of the Chair usually lasts five to seven years, depending on the duration of the assessment cycle, and they can serve up to two terms only — India’s RK Pachauri remains the only person till now to serve two terms as the Chair. He headed the fourth and fifth assessment cycles of the IPCC, between 2002 and 2015.

What are the IPCC assessment cycles?

So far, the IPCC has had six assessment cycles, during which it released six comprehensive assessment reports.
In each of these cycles, the body also produced several special reports on specific topics. Not only this, IPCC also publishes methodology reports during these cycles, in which it provides guidelines for governments to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
Kickstarter in 2015, the sixth assessment cycle, the most recent one, was concluded in March this year with the release of the synthesis report — a relatively non-technical summary of the previous report that came out during the cycle.
The previous reports included reports put out by the three working groups, including Working Group I, which aims at assessing the physical scientific basis of the climate system and climate change, Working Group II, which examines the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change and its consequences, and the Working Group III, which focuses on climate change mitigation, assessing methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
Notably, the IPCC doesn’t conduct its research, but asks the authors to “assess the thousands of scientific papers published each year to provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks”.

#upsc #news #headline #IPCC #cycle #panel #WMO #UNEP #ARs #agenda #report #bureau #diplomatic #greenhouse #methodology #technical #gas #emissions #synthesis #mitigation #research #focus #risks

Today's Headlines - 23 August 2023
The vegetated canopies for creating green spaces
GS Paper - 3 (Environment)

As Europe battles scorching temperatures this summer and wildfires blaze across the continent from the Mediterranean to Spain, the role of climate change in making heatwaves hotter and more frequent has come into focus. At a broader level, greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. These grim predictions have brought attention to a range of mitigation measures. One such initiative to bring greenery back to urban spaces in Spain involves installing vegetated awnings or canopies.

What are vegetated canopies?

Introduced in Santa Maria Street in Valladolid, Spain, the awnings are tensioned sail-like structures that have been anchored to the facades of surrounding buildings. They mimic natural canopies found in forests and various plant species.
The lightness and ease of installation of the ‘Greenshades’ allow for shade and the presence of greenery in commercial streets and public spaces, where trees or other vegetation are often absent.
Here is how they work:

The sails with anchors and supports are prepared by laying down the specific geotextile substrate or material. An irrigation system is installed at the highest side, from where the water falls by gravity, soaking the entire substrate.
In addition to water, fertilizer keeps the vegetation in perfect condition. The excess water is collected at the lowest point and into a connected drainage system.
The seed mixture is then projected onto the geotextile. After four months, the shade is expected to be completely covered with vegetation.
The awnings can be placed in streets, where planting trees may not be feasible owing to the lack of space. The plants grow hydroponically, with a water supply point and water outlet for draining purposes.
What are their advantages?

The plants chosen for these awnings belong to species that are optimised for the absorption of gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
The substrate also absorbs sound waves, reducing noise pollution. A square metre of a vegetated canopy generates the oxygen required by a person for the whole year, apart from filtering harmful gases, according to the company.
The hanging planter also allows for the centralisation of water and light installations.
This is meant to induce savings as the lights are equipped with movement sensors that illuminate the street according to its need.
The adoption of such canopies could eventually contribute to urban biodiversity, creating a healthier ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife.

#upsc #news #headline #vegetated #canopies #greenspace #enviroment #europe #battle #temperature #wildfires #blaze #mediterranean #emissions #spain #climatechange #heatwaves #hotter #preindustrial #structures #forests #greenery #commercial #greenshades #mimic #natural #work #gravaity #planting #lackofspace #hydroponically #gases #species #carbonmonoxide #hangingplanter #wildlife #biodiversity #ecosystem #illuminate