Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)
7th GECF summit concluded with the adoption of Algiers declaration.
- GECF -Intergovernmental organisation, consisting of the world’s leading gas exporting countries.
- Members – Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad, UAE, Venezuela.
- Headquarters – Doha, Qatar
- India’s Status – India is neither a member nor an Observer.
- Algiers Declaration – The declaration aims to “promote natural gas as an affordable, reliable energy source, and harness sustainable natural gas technologies”
Internally Displaced Persons
Election Commission of India notified a ‘scheme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Manipur to cast vote at relief camps’ in upcoming elections.
- Internally Displaced Persons – Those forced to leave their homes due to armed conflict, violence, human rights violations, or disasters, without crossing international borders (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- Key challenges faced by IDPs –
- Higher rates of mortality compared to the general population
- Increased risk of physical attack, sexual assault, etc.
- Deprivation of adequate shelter, etc.
Dry Ice
Diners at Gurgaon eatery hospitalised after mistakenly being served dry ice.
- Dry Ice – It is the common name for solid carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Features –
- It does not melt into a liquid when heated, instead it changes directly into a gas
- The process is known as sublimation
- It is manufactured by compressing and cooling gaseous CO2 (lethal for human health)
- It does not melt into a liquid when heated, instead it changes directly into a gas
- Applications – Hospitals & Clinics, Food Processing & Distribution, Industrial Cleaning and Technical Processes and Theatrical and Special Effects.
Project Seabird
Infrastructure facilities of Project Seabird Phase IIA will soon be inaugurated.
- Initiated by – Indian Navy in 1986
- Objective – To undertake planning for establishment of 3rd major naval base at Karwar (Karnataka).
- Phase IIA of project – Focus on constructing infrastructures that comply with guidelines of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and MoEFCC.
- IGBC – Part of Confederation of Indian Industry and works to facilitate India become a global leader in the sustainable built environment by 2025
Advanced Oxidation Technology
A new technology called The Advanced Oxidation Technology or TADOX was developed.
- Developed by – TERI, New Delhi
- TADOX – Utilises UV-Photocatalysis as an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) during the secondary treatment stage of wastewater treatment leading to oxidative degradation and mineralisation of targeted pollutants.
- Significance – It reduces dependence and load on biological and tertiary treatment systems to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).