TheIndia Meteorological Department issued an advisory to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and the Lakshadweep archipelago over cyclonic storm 'Sagar'.
Sagar is the name given by India, which is part of cyclone name list for the Northern Indian Ocean.
WMO maintains rotating lists of names which are appropriate for each Tropical Cyclone basin.
If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is retired and replaced by another one.
Infamous storm names such as Haiyan (Philippines, 2013), Sandy (USA, 2012), Katrina (USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998) and Tracy (Darwin, 1974) are examples for this.
Tropical cyclone is a localized, very intense low-pressure wind system, forming over tropical oceans and with winds of hurricane force.
Samoa
As part of goodwill gesture and to strengthen relations between India and Samoa, the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs (MoS) will embark on a weeklong visit to Samoa, Pacific Island country.
This is the first Ministerial level visit from Government of India.
The Independent State of Samoa, known as Western Samoa until 1997, is made up of nine volcanic islands.
Savai'i and Upolu 2 of the seven islands make up more than 99% of the land.
It was governed by New Zealand until its people voted for independence in 1961.
The Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen is the first European to explore Samoa.
Teams to clean beaches, river fronts
In the build-up to the World Environment Day 2018, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has formed 19 teams to take up cleaning of beaches, river fronts and lakes in the country.
The teams will include senior officers of MoEF&CC, state nodal agencies in-charge of eco-clubs of schools, State Pollution Control Boards, district administration, college of fisheries located along the coastal stretches and other educational/research institutions.
The Ministry will be engaging Eco-club schools, which are being provided assistance from MoEF&CC under the National Green Corps program.
State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) are the nodal points for implementing the programme of the Ministry in every State.
At the end of the program, the Minister will be awarding certificates titled ‘Green School/college’ to institutions that declare themselves free from plastic pollution.
India is the global host of World Environment Day celebrations 2018, the largest UN-led celebrations on environment.
The theme of this year’s edition of World Environment Day is - “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
NASA Cubesats
NASA’s first mini satellites, Mars Cube One, have beamed back an image of the Earth and the Moon.
The MarCO spacecraft are the first CubeSats ever launched to deep space.
NASA set a new distance record for CubeSats as Mars Cube One (MarCO) reached one million kilometer from Earth.
Cubesats generally stay below 800 kilometers above the planet.
The MarCO CubeSats were launched along with NASA’s InSight Lander, a spacecraft that will touch down on Mars and study the planet’s deep interior for the first time.
The MarCO CubeSats will follow along behind InSight during its cruise to Mars.
InSight won’t rely on the MarCO mission for data relay.
It will depend upon NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
However, the MarCOs would be a pathfinder so that future missions can bring their own to Mars.
Director General of Trade Disputes
Department of Commerce formally issued notification for creation of Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Commerce and Industry Minister has given his approval for creation of DGTR in Department of Commerce, consequent upon amendment carried out by Government of India to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.
DGTR will be the apex National Authority for administering all trade remedial measures including anti-dumping, countervailing duties and safeguard measures.
The DGTR will bring Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied duties (DGAD), Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) and Safeguards (QR) functions of Directorate General of Foreign Trade into its fold by merging them into one single national entity.
It will also provide trade defence support to our domestic industry and exporters in dealing with increasing instances of trade remedy investigations instituted against them by other countries.
DGTR will be a multi service organization drawing upon the skill-set of various officers from the field of International Trade, Customs, Revenue, Finance, Economics, Costing and Law.
Fisheries sector
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the Fisheries Ministers of Coastal states and Union Territories at National Conference of Fisheries Ministers of Coastal states.
The Government has introduced a sub-component 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing' under the Blue Revolution to promote the same.
The Government has made a budget provision of Rs 7,522.48 crore for the establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FAIDF).
It has the potential to benefit 40 lakh marine and inland fishermen, especially women, self-help groups, weaker sections by making available modern infrastructure facilities and increased value of the produce.
The Central Government has imposed a ban on the use of harmful fishing methods in EEZ such as LED or artificial light and pair trawling.
The Centre and the coastal states will have to work together for an effective implementation of the National Marine Policy.
