Current Affairs : September 16, 2011

September 16, 2011: International Day for protection of Ozone layer

• September 16, 2011: International Day for Protection of Ozone Layer
  
• Government released the UN’s prepared 13^th edition of Montreal Protocol, to mark the event
  
• The Environment Minister presented this years’ National award for prevention of Pollution to Ultra Tech Cements
  

UNICEF: 7.6 million Children below 5 Years die world over

• The no: of children below 5 years who die yearly all over the world has dropped sharply from 12 million, 20 years ago, to 7.6 million
  
  
• As per the UNICEF and the WHO, there are many reasons for the change, together with better access to health care and immunisation
  

In order to encourage scientific innovations for BRICS $ 2 million fund proposed by INDIA

• India has proposed two million dollars fund to promote scientific innovations for BRICS countries
  
• India will contribute an initial sum of $ 2 Mn as its share in the proposed $ 10 Mn aid
  
  
• India to follow assistance in the areas of mutual priorities such as Energy, Water, Health and Natural Disaster Management
  

Former World Boxing Champion Nikolai Valuev in hunt for ‘yeti’

• The tallest and the heaviest world champion in Boxing history, the Russian giant, is trying to track down another giant, the “Yeti” in a remote part of Siberia
  
  
• Nikolai Valuev is heading an expedition after reports of several sightings in recent years
  
• The former WBA heavy weight champion has gone east in a search of a very different beast, the Yeti
  
• There have been several sightings of a hairy humanoid, about 6 ft tall but sufficient large and mystifying enough to be dubbed the Siberian snowman
  

US declares IM as terrorist organisation

• US slapped sanctions on India-based terrorist group IM (Indian Mujahideen) by declaring it as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation
  
  
• US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton put sanctions on the organisation
  
  

11 IID projects in Assam approved by the Centre

• The Central Government has approved setting up of 11 Integrated Infrastructure Development (IID) projects for endorsement of small-scale industries and rural economy in Assam
  
• The IID centres to offer infrastructural requirements to endorse firm linkages b/w agriculture and industry in addition to generating rural employment in those areas not covered by the Industrial Growth Centre project
  
• Every IID centre to cost around Rs 5 Crore , of which, Rs 4 Crores to be granted by the Centre
  

Singhvi reappointed as chairman of Lokpal standing Committee

• Mr. Abhishek Singhvi has been reappointed as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice, paving the way for early consultations over the Lokpal Bill
  
• The 31-member Committee is among the several Parliamentary Committees reconstituted by Speaker Meira Kumar in consultation with Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari
  
• The Committee to give its report in 3 months
  
• The term of the previous Committee chaired by Mr. Singhvi ended on the August 31, 2011

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2011