19-20 September
19 September
President & PM of Burkina Faso ousted in a military coup
Members of the Regiment of Presidential Security (RPS) on 17 September 2015 detained the transitional President Michel Kafandoand Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida in the capital Ouagadougou.
As a replacement, the RPS declared General Gilbert Diendere as the chief of the newly established National Democratic Council (NDC) that is set to oversee the governance in the country.
The military coup led to Burkina Faso’s suspension by the African Union (AU) and sanctions on the leaders of the RPS.
Further, it has also casted doubts on conduction of elections that are scheduled for 11 October 2015.
Diendere is considered one of the most important military allies of Blaise Comparore who was forced to resign on 31 October 2014 during mass protests.
Compaore ruled for 27 years after seizing power in a coup in 1987.
Indian Railways developed prototype of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet
Indian Railways on 18 September 2015 announced that it has developed a prototype of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet. It is hybrid because the design is based on both vacuum toilets and biotoilets.
It was developed by the Development Cell of the Indian Railway Board and is considered as the first of its kind to be used in any railways in the world. At present, the technology is only seen aircrafts.
It was installed in the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani train on trial basis.
Features of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet
• The prototype was built by modifying the standard flushing protocol of a vacuum toilet so as to create water seal and additional post flush cycles.
• The vacuum toilet evacuates its discharge into a biodigester tank is fitted underneath the coach.
• The biodegester tank contains anaerobic bacteria that convert human fecal matter into water and small amount of gases before discharging the same on the ground or track.
Significance of the technology
It will result in saving very precious natural resource as it uses water to the tune of at least 1/20th of the quantity (500 ml) that is used in the current design of biotoilets or conventional toilets (15-20 litres) per flush.
Further, it will eliminate the need to create separate ground handling installations to evacuate holding tanks that contain untreated human fecal matter.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare banned sale of Diclofenac in multidose vial for human use
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 18 September 2015 banned the sale of Diclofenac in multidose vial for human use. From now, it will be sold only in single-dose vial packaging.
It should be noted that the use of Diclofenac for treating cattle has been in place since 2006.
The decision was based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and is aimed at protecting vultures from extinction.
Why restrictions on use of Diclofenac?
Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat mild to moderate pain or signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Apart from human use, the drug is also effective in treating cattle.
Though the drug is harmless to the cattle it is administered to, but is fatal for the vultures, who routinely feed on the carcass of dead cattle. Studies have shown that the drug causes kidney and liver failure in vultures.
Against this background, the Union Government banned the use of Diclofenac for cattle use in 2006.
However, it was found that the multi-dose vials available in the market for human use were widely misused for veterinary purpose.
Apart from the environmental point of view, vultures have cultural significance also.
The loss of vultures has had impact on the Indian Zoroastrian Parsi community that traditionally uses vultures to dispose of human corpses in Towers of Silence. Due to the loss of vultures in the wild they are compelled to seek alternative methods of disposal.
Hence, to protect the Critically Endangered species, as per the IUCN Red List of threatened species, the government imposed the ban on its use.
Japan’s Diet removed restrictions on overseas deployment of Self Defense Forces for military use
The Diet, Japan’s parliament, on 18 September 2015 passed two security bills that allow overseas deployment of the Self Defense Forces (SDF) for military purposes.
The remilitarization bills can be termed as historic as they allow Japan to be militarily pro active after 70 years.
Article 9 of the Japanese constitution imparted the principle of pacifism to the governance framework.
The 1945 constitution was sponsored by the USA and was aimed at curtailing war mongering tendencies of Japan that was defeated in the World War II.
Features of security bills
• One of them amends 10 existing security-related laws to lift various SDF restrictions, including Article 9’s long-standing ban on collective self-defense. However, it amends only the interpretation of the article but not the original text.
• The other creates a new permanent law that allows Japan to deploy the SDF overseas to provide logistic support for United Nations-authorized military operations involving a foreign or multinational force.
• However, the deployment of forces is subject to three conditions,namely
Japan or close ally is attacked/Japan’s survival is threatened
There are no other appropriate means to repel the attack
The use of force is restricted to the minimum required
Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution
Renunciation of War: Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
Comment
The change in the stance of Japan should be seen in the light of China’s increasing military strength and assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under the current interpretation of Japan’s pacifist constitution, Japan’s armed forces are not permitted to fight on behalf of friends or allies unless the Japanese themselves come under direct attack. Thus it created constraints on Japan from involving in collective self-defence.
Japan at present has only Self Defense Forces (SDF) that is akin to paramilitary forces in India and they can be deployed overseas but only for humanitarian purposes.
The remilitarization bills give sufficient ammunintion to the Shinzo Abe government to form collective self-defence alliances with South Korea and the USA against North Korea and China.
In the two decades through last year, Japan remained the ninth-biggest military spender, just behind Britain, with outlays rising 13 percent in constant 2011 dollar terms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
By contrast, China's defence spending exploded more than five-fold, vaulting the country to second place from seventh.
PM Narendra Modi formally launched Integrated Power Development Scheme from Varanasi
PM Narendra Modi on 18 September 2015 formally launched the nationwide Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister.
The purpose of the scheme is to strengthening power transmission and distribution network in urban areas.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the scheme on 20 November 2014 and the infrastructure developmental projects under it were already sanctioned.
Features of Integrated Power Development Scheme
Objectives
• Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas;
• Metering of distribution transformers /feeders / consumers in the urban areas.
• IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network.
Importance: It will help in reduction in AT&C losses, establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency.
Expenditure: 32612 crore rupees will be spent on components related to sub-transmission and distribution networks and metering of consumers. It includes the requirement of budgetary support from the Union Government of 25354 crore rupees over the entire implementation period.
The components of IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network will cost 44011 crore rupees. 22727 crore rupees meant for the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP) for 12th and 13th Plans will be transferred to the scheme.
Renowned Marathi cricket commentator and writer Bal Pandit died
Renowned Marathi cricket commentator and writer Bal Pandit died on 17 September 2015 in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 89.
He played a contributing role in popularizing cricket among masses through his vernacular Marathi commentary in radio, articles in news papers and magazines and books.
Contributions of Bal Pandit
• He worked as a Marathi commentator for both domestic and international matches on All India Radio (AIR) for over4 decades, before the advent of satellite television channels.
• He popularized cricket by using Marathi equivalent words for original cricketing parlance in English and lucid language.
• He wrote 30 books on various aspects of cricket.
• His columns and articles on cricket appeared regularly in newspapers and magazines that enriched readers’ knowledge of the game.
• He translated Sunil Gavaskar’s autobiography Sunny Days into Marathi.
• He was bestowed with Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award in 1978 by the Maharashtra Government in recognition of his contribution to the game of cricket.