Current Affair 1:

What is the Black Sea Grain Initiative?

 

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched in Istanbul by the Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine and United Nations on 22 July 2022. Through this initiative, a mechanism was established for the safe transportation of grain, related foodstuffs and fertilizer, including ammonia, from designated Ukrainian ports to global markets.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, exports of grain from Ukraine, as well as food and fertilizers from Russia, have been significantly hit. The disruption in supplies pushed soaring prices even higher and contributed to a global food crisis.   The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye, was set up to reintroduce vital food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world. Here are some key points to understand.

 

The purpose of the Initiative is to contribute to the prevention of global hunger, to reduce and address global food insecurity, and to ensure the safety of merchant ships delivering grain and foodstuffs.

To facilitate the implementation of their Initiative, a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was set up in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. The Joint Coordination Centre consists of senior representatives from Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations. Türkiye is the host of the JCC and facilitates along with the UN discussions in the JCC. The UN serves as secretariat.

Millions of tonnes are leaving Ukraine:

Current Affair 2:

Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes

 

The non-binding document, known as The Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes was adopted in the Indian capital, following a series of panels that involved Member States representatives, UN officials, civil society entities, the private sector, and researchers.

The declaration aims to cover the main concerns surrounding the abuse of drones, information and communication technologies, new online payments and fundraising methods for terrorist purposes, and create guidelines that will help to tackle the growing issue.

Current Affair 3:

The Horn of Africa has had years of drought, yet groundwater supplies are increasing — why?

 

First see the map of Horn of Africa:

The Horn of Africa — which includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and some surrounding countries — has been hit by increasingly frequent and devastating droughts. Despite this, it seems the region has an increasing amount of groundwater. And this water could help support drought-stricken rural communities.

That’s the key finding from new research, in which discovered that

‘while overall rainfall is decreasing, an increase in “high-intensity” rainfall has led to more water being stored deep underground. It’s a paradoxical finding, yet one that may help one of the world’s most vulnerable regions adapt to climate change’.

These most intense rainfall events are increasing in the “short rains”, And despite a decrease in overall rainfall in the “long rains”, intense rainfall has remained consistently high over time.

In the Horn of Africa, rural communities live in a constant state of water scarcity punctuated by frequent periods of food insecurity. People there rely on the “long rains” between March and May and the “short rains” between October and December to support their lives and livelihoods.

Current Affair 4:

Cabinet approves Mechanism for procurement of ethanol by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)

 

News:

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a higher price for ethanol under the Ethanol Blending Program. Govt. is notifying ethanol price (administered price) for blending since 2014.

Since 2018, differential price of ethanol based on different feedstock (ex. C heavy molasses, B heavy molasses, sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup etc.) utilized for ethanol production is being announced by the government.

Higher ethanol price will help in early payment (of FRP) to cane farmers. Actually the price of sugar in the market is not that much and hence sugar mills are delaying the payment of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to the farmers. Increasing the price of by-products (ethanol) helps sugar mills to get more revenue and repay the farmers dues.

The EBP programme will reduce import dependence for energy requirements and give boost to agriculture sector.

Government has advanced the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from earlier 2030 to 2025-26 (Ethanol Supply Year).

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