INTERNATIONAL
CERN formally confers its Associate Membership to Pakistan
Pakistan was formally conferred Associate Membership status by European Organisation for Nuclear Research (also known as CERN). The membership was granted after Pakistan formally completed the required internal ratification process. With this, Pakistan became the first Asian country to become member of CERN.
193 UN members reach agreement on New Sustainable Development Agenda
On 3 August 2015 United Nations 193 member states have reached an agreement on the outcome document New Sustainable Development Agenda for the next 15 years i.e. Till 2030. The new agenda draft document called “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” was built on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The draft agreement outlines 17 nonbinding goals with 169 specific targets that comprise different socio-economic issues. These goals will succeed 8 MDGs which was adopted in 2000. It has broader sustainability agenda dealing with ‘five Ps’ people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the second time
Sri Lanka present Prime Minister Ranil Singhe is again elected as the Prime Minister for the second time in the Parliament elections held on 17 August, 2015. United National Party (UNP) of Singhe secured 106 seats and with the support of Tamil parties Ranil is again elected as the Prime Minister. The former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s party United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is in the second place in the Parliament elections.
China, Pakistan signed deals worth 1.6 billion US dollars to implement CPEC
China and Pakistan on 12 August 2015 signed 20 agreements worth 1.6 billion US dollars to implement the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. These agreements were signed during the CPEC Forum that was held at Karamay city in Xinjiang province of China bordering.Both the countries together also issued the Karamay Manifesto on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Bangladesh became first country to receive funds from UN for Solar Home Systems
Bangladesh became the first country to receive funds from the United Nations (UN) for its fast growing solar home systems. The UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) issued 395286 carbon credits worth 3.56 million US Dollar to two Bangladeshi organisations. Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) and Grameen Shakti are the two organisations that won the carbon credits. The UNFCCC has issued 212482 carbon credits to the IDCOL&182804 credits to Grameen Shakti.
INDIA & WORLD
India & World Bank signed agreement with NCRMP-II
On 11th August 2015, to support the second phase of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Program (NCRMP-II) an agreement of 308.40 million US dollar was signed between World Bank and Union Government. State Governments of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal also signed the agreement.On behalf of the World Bank, John Blomquist, Program Leader and Acting Country Director in India and Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Union Government signed the agreement.
Union Cabinet approves proposal to sign agreement with UNESCO
Union Cabinet gave its nod to a proposal to sign an agreement with UNESCO for establishment of a Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia-Pacific region. This centre will be established as a category-2 centre (C2C) of the UN body at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. By signing this agreement WII Dehradun will be first existing institute to be accorded recognition by UNESCO. It will be also the first institute to get natural heritage recognition by UNESCO as currently there are 9 C2C institutes related to cultural heritage. It should be noted that this agreement has been mooted by the Union Environment Ministry.
Xiaomi launched first India-made phone “Redmi 2 Prime”
Chinese Smartphone maker Xiaomi has announced its first manufacturing unit in India in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. China’s Xiaomi launched it’s first India-made phone, the ‘Redmi 2 Prime’, and announced a tie up with Taiwan’s Foxconn to make smart phones in the country. Foxconn would make Xiaomi phones at the Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh. Xiaomi is 3rd largest smartphone maker in the World while Samsung and Apple are at 1st and 2nd place respectively.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, Nepal for construction of petroleum pipeline
The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for construction of petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul (Bihar) in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal. The MoU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector between both neighbouring countries and secure long term supply of petroleum products to Nepal. Raxaul-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline: In the first phase it will be constructed by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on behalf of Indian Government at a cost of 200 crore rupees. IOC will be also engaged in re-engineering and construction of the Amlekhgunj Depot and allied facilities.
Government of India approves MoU bet-ween India &America to establish PACE-setter Fund
The Union Cabinet gave its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between America and India to establish the PACE setter Fund. The PACE setter Fund is a fund that supports the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) an initiative between US and India through Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE). Accordingly both the countries has raised corpus of about 8 million US dollars (Rs. 50 crore) on a 50:50 sharing basis.
Read more: Current Affairs August 2015 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/august-2015-current-affairs-study-material/10788/#ixzz5SPEnz0xv
No comments:
Post a Comment