INTERNATIONAL
Patel most common Indian surname in UK: dictionary
Patel has emerged as the most common Indian surname in the UK, according to a new Oxford dictionary. The ‘Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland’ has put together the origins of nearly 50,000. One of the most common Indian surnames, Patel, was a status name from a Hindu and Parsi name for a village herdsman. It is one of the most common Indian surnames in Britain, with over 100,000 bearers recorded in the 2011 census.
2016 will be hottest year on record
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the year 2016 was the warmest year on record globally. It was mentioned in the WMO’s preliminary assessment provided in its ‘Status of the Global Climate in 2016’ report. WMO is the United Nations’s authoritative voice on Weather, Climate and Water. Global temperatures for January to September 2016 were 1.2 degree Centigrade above pre-industrial levels and 0.88°C above the average for the 1961-1990 reference period (baseline).
Moon came close to Earth after 1948
The Supermoon was observed after the moon was closest to the Earth at 356,509 km. This is for the first time moon came closest to Earth since 1948. Last time, the moon came closer to earth on 26 January 1948. Next time the supermoon will be observed on 25 November 2034. During this time moon will be even closer than this year. Supermoon or perigee full moon is a phenomenon that occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon being the closest to the Earth on its orbit. During this time, the natural satellite appears roughly 30% larger in area and 30% brighter than the smallest full moons.
Peru to host 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit
The 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum’s Leaders Summit will be held in Lima, Peru from November 19 to 20, 2016. The theme of the summit is “Quality Growth and Human Development” and the official logo is the architecture of the ancient city of Caral. It will be the second time Peru hosting to the APEC Summit, previously it had hosted the event in 2008. The 2016 summit will gather leaders from the world’s 21 most important member economies, as well as over 1,500 investors and entrepreneurs. These 21 member countries collectively account for nearly 50% of the world’s trade and about 57% of GDP.India is observer of APEC since 2011 and has applied for membership.
Coradia iLint – World’s first zero-emissions hydrogen train unveiled in Germany
World first hydrogen-powered and zero-emission passenger train named as Coradia iLint was un-veiled in Germany. The first of its kind ecofriendly train has been developed by French rail company Alstom. The Coradia iLint only emits excess steam and condensed water into the atmosphere. Coradia iLint is powered by a hydrogen fuel tank fitted on its roof. The fuel cell is supplied with hydrogen and oxygen from the air.The train is totally carbon-neutral and carbon-free which makes it a much more sustainable alternative conventional diesel trains.
Paris climate agreement becomes international law
The Paris Agreement to combat climate change officially entered into force after 55 parties to the convention accounting for at least 55% of total GHG (green-house gas) emissions ratified it. The threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved on 5th October 2016. 94 parties have ratified the convention. India was 62nd country to ratify it on 2 October 2016. It is an international climate deal to combat climate change. It facilitates enforcement of global GHGs reduction measures in the post-2020 Under it, all countries must pursue to keep global temperature rising below 2°C by 2100 above pre-industrial levels with an ideal target of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C. It forces developed countries to provide 100 billion dollars annually to the developing counterparts beginning in 2020 to deal with climate change.
Bangladesh introduces temporary ban on catching Hilsa Fish
Bangladesh has arrested more than 900 fishermen and deployed the army to patrol its waterways after introducing a temporary ban on catching hilsa in an effort to save the hugely popular fish. Some 60 percent of the world’s hilsa are caught in Bangladesh, but indiscriminate fishing has depleted much of the stock, driving up prices and putting the fish beyond the reach of the poor.
CO2 level reaches record high in 2016 WMO
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere has reached a record high. The globally averaged concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached to 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in 2015. It is expected to surge again to new records in 2016 on the back of the very powerful El Niño event. This is for the first time CO2 levels have reached the 400 ppm barrier on a global average basis for the entire year.
World Bank must aid countries to manage shift away from coal
The global development lenders like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ABD) must provide help countries including India to shift away from coal for energy purpose. It was proposed by the World Coal Association to finance countries to help them to shift fromtheir to more efficient technologies so that they can meet their COP21 commitments. Super critical and ultra-super critical (USC) plants technologies have capability to substantially reduce CO2 emissions and virtually eliminate PM emissions. It will help countries in reducing their emissions from coal, rather than reducing coal itself and meet target provided in Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Thus some target of Paris agreement on Climate Change about reducing the emissions from coal power plants will be achieved.
Read more: Current Affairs Nov 2016 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/nov-2016-current-affairs-study-material/14582/#ixzz5TM6N7Mnf
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