India, China led investments in Renewable Energy in 2015: UN report
i. India and China have led the developing countries in investments made in renewable energy in 2015.
ii. It was revealed by the ‘Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment’ Report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Key facts
- For the first time commitments of emerging economies in solar, wind and other renewables’ capacity have surpassed those by wealthy nations.
- The developing world committed a total of 156 billion dollars in new renewables capacity in 2015 year, these figures up 19% on 2014.
- Within the developing-economy category, the “Big Three” of India, China and Brazil saw investment rise 16% to USD 120.2 billion.
- In contrast, renewable energy investments by developed countries were down by 8 per cent in 2015 to 130 billion dollars.
- A large part of the record-breaking investment in developing countries took place in China, with its investment commitment up by 17% to 102.9 billion dollars.
- India was also among the top 10 investing countries in renewable energy with its commitments rising 22% to USD 10.2 billion.
- It for the second time since 2011, India enjoyed a second successive year of increasing investment, breaching the USD 10 billion.
- United States, Japan, UK Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and Chile also made it to the top 10 investing countries in 2015.
Arvind Kejriwal named among World’s 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine
i. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been named among the world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune magazine. He is sole leader from India in the list and has been placed at 42nd position.
ii. 2016 edition is Fortune magazine’s third annual ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’ list and it has been topped by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Key facts
- Top 10: Jeff Bezos (1st position), Angela Merkel (2nd), Aung San Suu Kyi (3rd), Pope Francis (4th), Tim Cook (5th), John Legend (6th), Christiana Figueres (7th), Paul Ryan (8th), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (9th) and Sheikh Hasina (10th).
- Indian Americans in the list: Indian-American Nikki Haley and Resham Saujani were placed at 17th and 20th position respectively.
- Nikki Haley is South Carolina’s Governor and Resham Saujani is founder and CEO of tech organization ‘Girls Who Code’.
- Others in the list: US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko (22th), IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (36), Melinda Gates and Susan Desmond-Hellmann (41th), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (48) and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay (50).
About World’s 50 Greatest Leaders list
The ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’ list of Fortune Magazine features men and women from across the globe from the fields of government, business, arts and the philanthropy who are transforming the world and inspiring others to do the same.
Mint plant can help fight cancer: CIMAP Researchers
i. Scientists at Lucknow based CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) have found that mint plant has medicinal values that can cure cancer.
ii. They have identified that a medicinal compound called ‘L-Menthol’ derived from Mentha plant popularly known as mint.
Key findings
- L-Menthol compound can kill the colon cancer cell line without affecting the normal cell line.
- The compound inhibits the division of cancer cell and prevents its growth and spread to other organs of the body.
- Its production is cost-effective, non-destructive and easily available in comparison to anti-cancer compound used at present obtained from the bark of European Yew tree.
- The Mentha is available in abundance across the world compared to the European Yew tree which is found only in Europe and some parts of Africa and Asia.
- Menthol can be derived easily without damaging the plant, whereas the European Yew tree has to be cut down for using bark for deriving anti-cancer compound.
- The discovery can be very useful for farmers in India where Mentha is grown in large quantity.
Union Government releases self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct for industry
i. The Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has released a self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct to be adopted by the Industry on providing best products and services.
ii. In this regard, Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) was inked between Department of Consumer Affairs and the industry bodies related to self-regulated code of fair business.
iii. The code contains provision of trustworthy products and services for the consumers, comply with the competition and anti-trust laws and respond to consumer complaints promptly.
iv. It covers six broad principles to be adopted by the industry viz (i) safety of products and services, (ii) building sustainable supply chains, (iii) marketing products ethically, (iv) non-indulgence in unfair trade practices, (v) complying with competition and anti-trust laws, (vi) prompt response to consumer complaints.
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