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US Military package to Ukraine

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  The United States has announced a USD 775m military aid package in line with its promise to provide all possible help to Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia war. This assistance will include “additional arms, munitions, and equipment”. Highlights USD 775 million aid package will include 15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops move forward in the south and east, where Russian forces have placed mines. The aid package also includes 1,500 anti-tank missiles, 1,000 javelin missiles and an undisclosed number of high-speed, anti-radiation or HARM missiles that target radar systems. Also US is sending 40 heavily armored MaxxPro mine-resistant vehicles, originally developed for U.S. forces in Iraq during the height of the fighting there when roadside bombs were taking a heavy toll on U.S. forces. This latest aid comes as Russia’s war on Ukraine is about to reach the six-mont...
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NASA’s Moon landing sites for Artemis III mission

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  NASA is in full preparation to send its astronauts to moon again. Ths US space agency is currently focusing on the launch of its Artemis I rocket which is scheduled to be launched on August 29, 2022. This rocket is moved to the launch pad for final preparation. Highlights Amid all these happenings, NASA has now identified multiple potential landing sites for Artemis III, which will be the first mission to bring crew to the lunar surface, including the first woman to set foot on the Moon. The agency has identified 13 candidate landing regions near the Lunar South Pole. All 13 regions contain sites that provide continuous access to sunlight throughout a 6.5-day period which is the plan duration of the Artemis-III surface mission. The 13 locations, each about 15 by 15 kilometers, are located within six degrees of latitude of the south pole. They are named: Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1, de Gerlache Rim 2, de Ger...
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Air Pollution and Health in Cities Report- Highlights

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  On August 17, 2022, Health Effects Institute (HEI) released “Air Quality and Health in Cities” on air quality. As per report, biggest cities and urban areas of the world are witnessing worst air quality on the Earth.  The report includes a comprehensive and detailed analysis of air pollution and global health effects for over 7,000 cities worldwide. It is focused on two harmful pollutants viz., fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Important findings of the report are; In 2019, 7239 cities reported 1.7 million deaths due to exposure to PM2.5. Greatest health impacts can be seen across cities in Asia, Africa, and Eastern & Central Europe. By 2050, around 68% of the world’s population is likely to live in urban areas. Due to rapid urbanization, it would be challenging for top cities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to reduce the health effects of air pollution. Exposure to fine particulate or PM2.0 pollution is higher in...
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5 years of UDAN Scheme

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  Regional Connectivity Scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) has successfully completed 5 years. This scheme was initiated in 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched first flight under UDAN on April 27, 2017. The scheme aims to connect small and medium cities with big cities through air service. In the five years, scheme has benefited more than 1 crore passengers till August 4, 2022. In 2014, there were just 74 operational airports in India. The number has now increased to 141 by now. 68 underserved or unserved destinations, including 58 Airports, 8 Heliports and 2 Water Aerodromes have been connected under UDAN Scheme, as of now. This scheme has provided air connectivity to over 29 States/UTs by initiating 425 new routes. In next four years, government is expecting to add more of 40 crore travellers in India. Another 220 destinations including airports, heliports or water aerodromes under UDAN are likely to compete by 2026. 1,000 new routes will ...
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  Union Cabinet recently approved the “Widening access of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library database to users, apart from the patent offices”. Widening of Traditional Knowledge Digital database to users is an ambitious step of the government. Significance of widening access include; Widening of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library will drive research & development, and innovation on the ..
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Start-up loan for Compostable Plastic

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  Start-up loan of Rs 1.15 crores was approved by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to commercialise “compostable” plastic. This move also seeks to eliminate the usage of Single Use Plastics (SUP). To commercialise the compostable plastic, Technology Development Board and M/s TGP Bioplastics Private Limited (Satara, Maharashtra) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Start-up loan for ‘compostable plastic”: Start-Up has brought alternative solution to Single Use Plastic (SUP) in form of “prototype of a compostable plastic material”. This material breaks into a compost in soil and does not affect the environment. This project got seed funding under NIDHI Prayas (DST), UNIDO and Niti Aayog to develop the prototype compost plastic. Manufacturing & commercialization of the developed compostable plastic is in line with ongoing Coastal Clean Up Campaign in India. This composite is a unique mix of Thermoplastic-Starch (TPS)-glycerin and some chemical modifications, that provides hi...
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U.S Inflation Reduction Act 2022

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  Government of US recently passed the “Inflation Reduction Act, 2022”. With this, it joins hands with central bank to decrease inflation. Inflation has reached to the level that was last witnessed 40 years ago. Fighting inflation is the top priority of policymakers in US. Highlights: The US Federal Reserve has hiked policy rates by 225 basis points in last four monetary policy meetings. Government also aims to increase the revenue by imposing a minimum corporate tax, tax enforcement and fees on stock buybacks. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 This Act was passed to control inflation in United States, by lowering the deficit, prescription drug prices and by investing in domestic energy production. Bill was cleared by 117th United States Congress. US President signed it on August 16, 2022. Inflation Reduction Act is aimed at increasing government revenues by around USD 737 billion. It will also spend USD 437 billion for the period of 2022-31. This will lead to savings of USD 300 ...
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