Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 29 July 2021

::NATIONAL::

Maharashtra government has proposed biodiversity rich Thane Creek, including the protected area ofThane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary and surrounding eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) tobe included in the Ramsar Site.
Presently, Maharashtra has two Ramsar sites: Nandur Madhmeshwar in Nashik and Lonar crater inBuldhana district.
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance.
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) is an international treaty that provides for global cooperation for the conservation of wetlands.
It was signed in 1971, in Ramsar in Iran.

India plans to explore indigenous deposits of Phosphatic rock and Potash and make it available to indigenous industries to produce DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) and SSP (Single SuperPhosphate), NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) and MOP (Muriate of Potash).
Rock Phosphate is the key raw material for DAP and NPK fertilizers.
Fertiliser mineral resource deposits are available in Rajasthan, central part of peninsular India,Hirapur (Madhya Pradesh), Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh), Mussoorie syncline, Cuddapah basin (AndhraPradesh).

President Joe Biden tells US forces will end their combat mission in Iraq by the end of this year, but will continue to train and advise the Iraqi military.
There are currently 2,500 US troops in Iraq helping local forces counter what remains of theIslamic State group.
US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow President Saddam Hussein and eliminate weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist.
US combat troops eventually withdrew in 2011. However,they returned at the request of the Iraqigovernment three years later, when IS militants overran large parts of the country.

Indian Naval ShipTalwar is participating in the annual maritime exercise conducted along the East Coast of Africa.
12 Eastern African countries, US, UK, India and various international organisations likeInternational Maritime Organisation, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol etc. are participating.
The exercise focuses on East Africa’s coastal regions and is designed to assess and improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security and increase interoperability between the regional navies.

Kandla SEZ (KASEZ) is the First Green SEZ to achieve the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green CitiesPlatinum Rating for Existing Cities.
IGBC, part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CM) was formed in the year 2001.
It aims to enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025.
The recognition is set to pave way for all the other SEZs in the country to emulate the green initiative and efforts of Kandla SEZ.

In a bid to create awareness and kindling interest of students, children and the public in the domain of space and technology, ISRO has come up with the customised-themed merchandise programme in partnership with multiple companies on board.

About:

So far, eight companies have registered with ISRO on a non-exclusive basis with a registration fee regarding customised ISRO-theme-based articles/models and it includes Indic Inspirations (Pune), 1947IND (Bengaluru), and Ankur Hobby Centre (Ahmedabad).
The collection will include authorised products that are connected to ISROs past missions and achievements, work, such as scale models, T-shirts, mugs, space-themed educational games, science toys, and more.
Special attention would be given to 3D models and 2D drawings that are being used to make scaled models, LEGO sets, jigsaw puzzles, etc. to ensure accuracy and ISRO intellect