BIHAR

Three prominent Bihar cities, including capital Patna, have featured in the bottom 10 cities of India in the Ease of Living Index released by the ministry of housing and urban affairs.

Incidentally, all the four Bihar cities figure in the smart city project of the country.

Patna, the state capital is ranked 109th among the 111 cities, whereas Bhagalpur and Biharsharif are ranked 107th and 106th respectively.

In comparison, Jharkhand capital Ranchi is ranked 68th while coal capital Dhanbad is placed at 94th.

The Ease of Living Index was formulated with the ultimate goal of being able to rank the cities on the quality of lives led by their citizens.

It’s an initiative of the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MOHUA) to help cities assess their liveability vis-à-vis global and national benchmarks and encourage cities to move towards ‘outcome-based’ cities on the liveability parameters. The implementation of the assessment commenced formally in January 2018 covering 111 cities.

Patna is, however, ranked 106th in institutional sub-index, which shows a city’s responsive governments and innovative governance models, including digital governance, high tax collection efficiency and opportunities for participatory growth.

Patna is ranked 108th in terms of economic sub-index, which include consumer markets, human capital and resources, and real estate activities. A city’s development is also influenced in a large measure by its informal economy.

Patna, incidentally was ranked 262nd in a survey commissioned by the Union ministry of urban development in smart city tag. As per the data featured in the ‘Swachh Survekshan 2017’ report, Patna, with 880 points out of 2,000, is way behind the 146th ranked Biharsharif (1117 points) in Nalanda.

INTERNATIONAL

· World Bank to issue world’s first blockchain bond

The World Bank has mandated the Commonwealth Bank of Australia(CBA) to issue the world’s first blockchain-based bond.
The Kangaroo bond, referring to foreign bonds issued in Australia in the local currency, has been named bond-i, an acronym standing for Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument. (It’s also a reference to Bondi Beach, an iconic spot in Sydney.

BBC History Magazine conducted a poll of 100 women who changed the world. Marie Curie voted the woman who made the most significant impact on world history.
Women from several fields in areas like politics, science, sports, technology, and literature were shortlisted.
Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel prize in physics, a first female professor at the University of Paris and also the first person to win a second Nobel prize.

NATIONAL

Bengaluru does not figure even in the top 25 Indian cities in the Ease of Living Index, which rates Pune as the best city to live in.

Bengaluru was rated 58th among major cities surveyed to assess living conditions of urban areas in the country.

Navi Mumbai bagged the second place followed by Greater Mumbai. Temple town Tirupati was ranked fourth in the country.

The survey was commissioned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 111 major cities.

· WSO alleged against the fencing that poses threat to wildlife

Forest departmenthas installed barbed wire fencing for its plantation projects causing a threat to movement of wildlife, especially elephants. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), an environmental pressure group, has expressed its concern by suggesting the Forest department to use green fences comprising bamboo and Amari (Ipomoea Carnea) instead of the artificial barricades like barbed wire fence or stone rubble walls.
The barbed wire fence remains a threat to wild animals as there is a high chance of the animals to get stuck or seriously injured if they run into them while being chased by predators or hunters.
WSO activists protested against the proposed rubble wall of over several kilometres for around 100 hectares of plantation project site near Pangatira village, Mahabirod range, Dhenkanal as this area is an ideal elephant habitat. This long and high stone wall shall block elephant movement lead to increase conflict between man and elephant.

The MoU signed by Exim Bank Managing Director David Rasquinha.
The main objective is to strengthen the cooperation under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation
The signatories agreed to constitute a joint research working group which will formulate the research agenda and targeted outcome.

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is planning to introduce monetary incentives for child care institutions if they promote adoption of children under their care.

Child care institutions are currently getting Rs 2,000 per child per month for their maintenance which makes them reluctant to give the child up for adoption as their income would reduce.

Rafael Nadal defeated Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas.
He clinched his fourth Canadian Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Earlier, Romania’s Simona Halep beat American Sloane Stephens in three sets to win the women’s event in Montreal.