Banks have restricted their lending to microfinance institutions (MFIs), especially mid-size and small-size ones.
In general, about 60 per cent of funding for MFIs come from banks.
The rest was met through instruments such as securitisation and debentures, among others.
Even securitization has been affected as the market for which had dried after demonetization.
The goal of microfinance is to give impoverished people an opportunity to become self-sufficient and MFIs play a major role in it.
Microfinance, also called microcredit, is a type of banking service that is provided to unemployed or low-income individuals or groups who otherwise have no other access to financial services.
World s first floating nuclear plant
Akademik Lomonosov is the world’s first “floating” nuclear power plant (FNPP).
It has headed out on its first sea voyage from the St.Peterburg, Baltic shipyard.
At Murmansk, Russia, its reactors will be loaded with nuclear fuel.
Russian state-run atomic energy corporation Rosatom is responsible for FNPP.
The Lomonosov is expected to be put into service in early 2019
LED street lights and cancer risk
The blue light emitted by street lights including LEDs, and commercial outdoor lighting such as advertising, may significantly increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
The people lving in large cities with heavy exposure to blue lights at night had double the risk of prostate cancer and 1.5 times higher risk of breast cancer.
Older lighting schemes emit a glow within the ‘orange’ spectrum,
New lighting creates a bright ‘blue’ light emission.
It was found the bluer the light that people in big cities were exposed to, the higher the risk of cancer.
CCAFS
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security or CCAFS has promoted the Direct Rice method in India.
CCAFS will address the increasing challenge of global warming and declining food security on agricultural practices, policies and measures.
CCAFS is led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
CCAFS brings together some of the world's best researchers in agricultural science, climate science, environmental and social sciences to identify and address the most important interactions, synergies and trade-offs between climate change and agriculture.
CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food-secured future.
Climate change could decrease overall crop yields by 30 per cent in South Asia by the mid-21st century.
Agreement to reduce emissions
The Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently reached an agreement on halving greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050.
This holds significance because the CO2 emission from shipping industry is expected to rise dramatically by 2050 with progress in global trade.
The sector contributes to about 3 % of total annual carbon dioxide emissions.
Currently, ships rely heavily on carbon-rich fuels such as heavy diesel.
When heavy oils are used by ships it emits black carbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons.
IMO is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
Lake Victoria species under threat
About 75 % of freshwater species endemic to East Africa’s Lake Victoria basin face the threat of extinction.
It includes freshwater species like fish, mollusks, dragonflies, crabs and aquatic plants native to Africa's largest lake.
These freshwater species are important sources of food, medicine for the millions of people living in the area surrounding the lake.
The lake stretches into Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Its catchment also touches Burundi and Rwanda and is known for its high-level of unique biodiversity.
