Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 07 Jul 2023

India-Singapore Extend MoU on Personnel Management and Public Administration

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, and The Public Service Division of the Republic of Singapore has signed a Protocol Document, extending the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed in 2018 on Cooperation in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration for five more years until 2028.
This extended MoU aims to enhance the partnership between the two countries by fostering cooperation among their Public Service officers. The areas of collaboration include Administrative Reforms & Public Sector Transformation, Public Service Delivery, Leadership and Talent Development, E-Governance, Capacity Building, and Training.

Read more: India-Singapore Ties

Methane-Rich Groundwater Springs in the Arctic

Climate change is causing the retreat of glaciers in the Arctic, revealing methane-rich groundwater springs, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience. These springs, found in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, are releasing over 2,000 tonnes of methane annually, equivalent to 10% of Norway's oil and gas industry emissions. The high methane concentrations in the water, detected year-round, suggest the presence of trapped methane under glaciers. These springs are not part of the global methane budget. The global methane budget estimates the amount of methane released through sources and captured through sinks.

Groundwater springs are natural occurrences where water from an underground aquifer emerges onto the Earth's surface. They are typically formed when pressure builds up within the aquifer, forcing water to flow through fractures or openings in the rocks.

Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant: Lower Risks Compared to Chernobyl

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ukraine, currently under Russian control, faces safety threats due to the ongoing conflict. However, a recent report by the Bellona Foundation highlights that risks and potential consequences at Zaporizhzhya NPP are not expected to be as severe as Chernobyl.

Zaporizhzhya is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It accounts for about 40% of the total electricity generated by all the Ukrainian NPPs and one-fifth of Ukraine’s annual electricity production.

Read more: Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

Cheetahs to be Relocated from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh

In an effort to ensure the preservation and expansion of the cheetah population in India, officials have announced plans to relocate some African cheetahs from Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary within the same state.

The wildlife warden of KNP stated that the relocation would be carried out in strict adherence to the Cheetah Action Plan, which involves identifying suitable habitats for the cheetahs.

The decision to relocate the cheetahs comes after the Supreme Court's directive to distribute cheetahs across a broader geographic range, following the deaths of three cheetahs within a 45-day period earlier this year.

Read more: African cheetahs, Cheetah Action Plan.