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September 28, 2023

Conocarpus Trees	The Gujarat government has banned the plantation of Conocarpus trees in forest or non-forest areas, underlining its adverse impacts. Conocarpus trees: It is an exotic mangrove species which has been planted by the local administration in Gujarat. It is an evergreen, fast-growing species with dark-green shiny leaves. Uses: It is widely used in public spaces for its ornamental looks. Concerns Associated with Conocarpus trees: Health: Trees of this species flower in winter and spread pollen in nearby areas which causes diseases like cold, cough, asthma, allergy etc. Infrastructure: Roots of this species go deep inside the soil and develop extensively, damaging telecommunication lines, drainage lines and freshwater systems.
Indian Universities in Times World Ranking	Indian universities made significant gains in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) World University Rankings 2024 making India the fourth best represented nation in the rankings. The Rankings: Global Top 3: University of Oxford Stanford University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 201-250 Band: The most prominent Indian university in these rankings is the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, which has secured the top spot for the first time since 2017. 501-600 Band: The second highest ranked universities in India are Anna University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma Gandhi University, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences. Asian Scenario: 33 Asian universities are in the top 200, up from 28 last year. The biggest drivers for this jump are China (from 11 to 13) and Japan (from 2 to 5). About The Ranking: This year 1,904 universities (up from 1,799 last year) from 108 countries and regions are ranked. THE Rankings 2024 are the most comprehensive, rigorous and balanced global ranking assessing research-intensive universities across 18 performance indicators covering their core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and internationalization.
FAO: Livestock Methane Emissions	To tackle methane emissions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations suggested four strategies for better management of livestock. Four broad strategies in mitigating methane emissions: Animal breeding and management, Feed management, diet formulation and precision feeding, Forages, Rumen manipulation. About Methane: Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas. It is also a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic and natural sources. Anthropogenic Sources: Landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes. Natural Sources: Wetlands, gas hydrates, termites, oceans Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
GST Regime For Digital Foreign Firms	The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notified the GST exemptions will no longer be applicable to Online Information and Database and Retrieval Services. More on News: The Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime is going to be stiffer for digital foreign firms from 1st October 2023. Service Providers: Foreign companies such as Netflix, Spotify, and Hotstar, providing a wide range of digital services to users in India, will face stricter compliance norms. Tax Rate: They will have to pay 18 per cent GST regardless of the purpose. Former Practice: Until now, foreign firms providing service to non-GST registered recipients such as the central and state governments and individuals for any purpose other than business were exempt from the tax.