Current affairs : September 5, 2016
Real time video
monitoring of crowds at railway stations
The Indian Railways has deployed
‘intelligent video analytics’ to assess crowd density at major railway stations and initiate
crowd control measures when the number of passengers/visitors exceeds a
prescribed limit.
- The facility has been installed in the surveillance system on a trial basis at Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations.
- The technology incorporated in the integrated security system will give an automatic alert to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel to set in motion certain Standard Operating Procedures.
Indian scientists unlock
preterm birth mystery
Indian researchers have made a major
discovery by understanding the mechanisms by which preterm births (between 28
and 32 weeks of gestation) occur. At 35%, India
accounts for the highest burden of preterm births in the world.
- The researchers found that gram-positive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria produce small balloons called membrane vesicles, which contain toxins that kill both foetal and maternal cells and destroy the collagen that binds the cells together.
G20 countries score
poorly in climate goals report
A report from Climate Transparency, an open
global consortium, has shown that Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of G20
countries are continuing to increase. The study analysed key indicators,
including carbon intensity and share of coal in total electricity produced, to
assess the performance of these countries
- Between 1990 and 2013, the absolute carbon dioxide emissions of G20 countries, which account for three-fourths of global CO2 emissions, went up by 56%.
- The study found that half of G20 countries are inadequate as regards actions taken to curb climate change. This is despite energy intensity and the carbon intensity of the G20 economies decreasing as overall economic activity increased.
Mobile access scheme for
remote areas soon
The government is planning to unveil a new
scheme to provide mobile phone access to over 55,000 villages, particularly
those in border states and in the Himalayan region, to push forward its
flagship Digital India programme. The scheme will be funded by the Universal
Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
Sainthood for Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa has been declared a saint in a canonization Mass
held by Pope Francis in the Vatican. Mother Teresa set up her Missionaries of
Charity in Kolkata in 1950 and made it headquarters for nearly half a century.
- Earning global recognition for her unending work and compassion for the poor, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
TMC as National Party:
The Election Commission has granted national party status to All
India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party.
- The party has fulfilled one of the conditions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
- TMC qualified for the status as it is recognised as a state party in four states(West Bengal, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh) .
- The TMC is now the seventh party to be given the status after Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Canada’s British
Columbia becomes first foreign government to issue masala bonds
Canada’s British Columbia province has become
the first foreign government to issue of masala bonds, a rupee-denominated
bond.
- It had issued Rs 500 crore rupee denominated overseas bonds (masala bond) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and successfully raised $75 million (about Rs 500 crore).
World’s largest LEGO ship sets
Guinness record
The World’s largest LEGO ship named Jubilee
Seaways has created Guinness world record for set in Denmark, where
employees of a shipping company successfully constructed the incredible
2,860 kg boat using over one million interlocking plastic bricks.
Ricky Ponting
appointed brand ambassador for Tasmania
Former Australian cricket captain Ricky
Ponting has been appointed brand ambassador of his home state
Tasmania and will join a government-led trade mission to the subcontinent
that will explore export opportunities.
Kerala appoints Sachin
as brand ambassador for anti-liquor campaign
Legendary Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been
appointed as brand ambassador for anti- liquor and drug campaign by the Kerala
government.
- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
Abhinav Bindra announces
retirement from shooting
Abhinav Bindra, India's lone individual
Olympic gold medallist, has officially announced his retirement from shooting.
- In May 2016, the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) appointed Abhinav Bindra as the Goodwill Ambassador for Rio 2016 Olympic Games Indian Contingent.
