GUJARAT

Gujarat government drops the idea of artificial rain

The Gujarat government has dropped the idea of using artificial rain to save agriculture from the effects of delayed monsoon. The government went in for a consultation with the neighbouring state of Maharashtra and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and got negative feedback from both.

The Gujarat government had tried artificial rain in 2001 in the Kutch region to save cotton crops but that attempt had not paid dividends. The state government had also purchased a chopper especially for the purpose of artificial rains.

There are no big rivers in Gujarat like in the northern states of India where the ground water keeps recharging every year.

INTERNATIONAL

· World Bank to issue world’s first blockchain bond

The World Bank has mandated the Commonwealth Bank of Australia(CBA) to issue the world’s first blockchain-based bond.
The Kangaroo bond, referring to foreign bonds issued in Australia in the local currency, has been named bond-i, an acronym standing for Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument. (It’s also a reference to Bondi Beach, an iconic spot in Sydney.

BBC’s Women Who Changed the World List: Marie Curie Topped

BBC History Magazine conducted a poll of 100 women who changed the world. Marie Curie voted the woman who made the most significant impact on world history.
Women from several fields in areas like politics, science, sports, technology, and literature were shortlisted.
Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel prize in physics, a first female professor at the University of Paris and also the first person to win a second Nobel prize.

NATIONAL

Pune best city to live in, Bengaluru ranked 58^th

Bengaluru does not figure even in the top 25 Indian cities in the Ease of Living Index, which rates Pune as the best city to live in.

Bengaluru was rated 58th among major cities surveyed to assess living conditions of urban areas in the country.

Navi Mumbai bagged the second place followed by Greater Mumbai. Temple town Tirupati was ranked fourth in the country.

The survey was commissioned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 111 major cities.

· WSO alleged against the fencing that poses threat to wildlife

Forest departmenthas installed barbed wire fencing for its plantation projects causing a threat to movement of wildlife, especially elephants. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), an environmental pressure group, has expressed its concern by suggesting the Forest department to use green fences comprising bamboo and Amari (Ipomoea Carnea) instead of the artificial barricades like barbed wire fence or stone rubble walls.
The barbed wire fence remains a threat to wild animals as there is a high chance of the animals to get stuck or seriously injured if they run into them while being chased by predators or hunters.
WSO activists protested against the proposed rubble wall of over several kilometres for around 100 hectares of plantation project site near Pangatira village, Mahabirod range, Dhenkanal as this area is an ideal elephant habitat. This long and high stone wall shall block elephant movement lead to increase conflict between man and elephant.

· Exim Bank signed MoU with BRICS Development Banks

The MoU signed by Exim Bank Managing Director David Rasquinha.
The main objective is to strengthen the cooperation under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation
The signatories agreed to constitute a joint research working group which will formulate the research agenda and targeted outcome.

· WCD mulls incentive to promote adoption

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is planning to introduce monetary incentives for child care institutions if they promote adoption of children under their care.

Child care institutions are currently getting Rs 2,000 per child per month for their maintenance which makes them reluctant to give the child up for adoption as their income would reduce.

ð There are just 1,991 children available for adoption for about 20,000 prospective parents in the country.

ð According to the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System, there is just one child available for every nine adoptive parents in India waiting to take a child home.

· Rafael Nadal won Rogers Cup 2018

Rafael Nadal defeated Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas.
He clinched his fourth Canadian Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Earlier, Romania’s Simona Halep beat American Sloane Stephens in three sets to win the women’s event in Montreal.

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