Important News: International |
WHO has launched the PRET initiative
Why in news: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the PRET initiative to be better prepared for future outbreaks of a similar scale and devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic.
A.The Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative aims to provide "guidance on an integrated plan to respond to any respiratory pathogen such as influenza or coronavirus.
B.It was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Epidemics held on 24-26 April 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
C.The first module focuses on respiratory pathogens, including influenza, coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial viruses.
It involves a three-dimensional approach that includes: Update preparation plans that confirm priority tasks and that have considered learning from past events. Increase connectivity among stakeholders in pandemic preparedness planning through systematic coordination and collaboration.
D.This includes the creation of equitable systems; Conduct joint exercises; And sharing information on good practices, challenges and opportunities.
E.It was established on April 7, 1948 with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
(SOURCE – LIVEMINT)
Gulf of Oman
Why in news: Iran's navy recently seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker with 24 Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman
A.The Gulf of Oman or the Sea of Oman, also known as the Gulf of Makran or the Makran Sea, forms the sole gateway to the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean.
B.It connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, which later empties into the Persian Gulf. And about a third of the world's oil is exported through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
C.The Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday amid wider tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
D.The Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet identified the vessel as the Advantage Sweet.
(SOURCE – INDIAN EXPRESS)
INS Tarkash
Why in news: It was commissioned into Indian Navy service on 9 November 2012 at Kaliningrad and joined the Western Naval Command on 27 December 2012.
A.INS Tarkash from the Indian Navy recently reached Port Sudan to help in the evacuation of stranded Indians as part of “Operation Kaveri”.
- It is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons.
C.Tarkash belongs to the Talwar class of guided missile frigates. These are modified Krivak III class frigates built by Russia. It was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
- Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), that has reportedly left several hundred’s dead.
- It was triggered by disagreement over an internationally backed plan to form a new civilian government four years after the fall of autocrat Omar al-Bashir and two years after the military coup. Both sides accuse the other of thwarting the transition.
(SOURCE – THE HINDU)
Important News: National |
Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ): SC modifies order on ESZs around national parks, sanctuaries.
Why in news: The Supreme Court modified its 2022 order, which mandated a minimum 1-km eco-sensitive zone around national parks or wildlife sanctuaries.
A.Also known as Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs), these are notified and regulated by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) around protected areas, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.
B.Objective: To create some kind of shock absorber in protected areas by regulating and managing activities around the areas. and act as transition zones from high security areas to low security areas.
C.According to the 2002 Wildlife Conservation Strategy, an ESZ can stretch up to 10 km around a protected area.In addition, sensitive corridors, connectivity and biologically important patches that are critical for landscape linkages should be included in the eco-sensitive zone if their width exceeds 10 km.
D.In June 2022, the Supreme Court directed all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that fall under protected forests to set a minimum distance of one kilometre as ESZs.
E.As per this decision, prohibited activities including mining and setting up of any new permanent structure were not allowed in the area.
F.The purpose of declaring ESZs is not to disrupt the day-to-day activities of the local people or prevent the government from building strategic infrastructure in those areas, the apex court amended its earlier verdict.
G.But, the Supreme Court underlined that no mining will be allowed within national parks and sanctuaries or within a radius of 1 km.
(SOURCE –NEWS ON AIR)
QAUSARS
Why in news: Quasars are formed by the energy emitted by materials swirling around a blackhole right before being sucked into it.
- According to a new study Quasars the brightest and the most powerful objects in the universe - have a violent origin story.
- Semi-stellar radio sources (quasars) were first discovered six decades ago. These are very luminous objects in distant galaxies that emit jets at radio frequencies.
- They are located in supermassive black holes, which sit at the center of galaxies. These are formed from the energy emitted by the materials moving around the black hole just before it is sucked into it.
- Most quasars are larger than our solar system. A quasar is about 1 kg parsec in width. When galaxies collide, it pushes gas from the outer reaches of galaxies to the center.
- As the supermassive black hole falls on the gas, it releases brutal fountains of energy in the form of radiation, causing quasars.
- A black hole is a region with extremely intense gravity in space from which even light cannot escape. The death of a massive star can lead to the formation of a black hole.
(SOURCE – INDIAN EXPRESS
SCO INTER BANK CONSORTIUM
Why in news: Addressing the 19th SCO IBC meeting in South Goa district, Managing Director of the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) said the huge potential for cooperation between the banks of the member countries still remains untapped.
- The main goals of the SCO are
- strengthening mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries;
- promoting effective cooperation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture as well as education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields;
- making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, moving towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order.
- About creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was proclaimed on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
- SCOIBC was established on 26 October 2005 by the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It provides funds and bank services for investment projects sponsored by the governments of SCO member countries.
- The main objective of the consortium is to provide financial services, promote trade and facilitate investment among member states. The SCO IBC Council meets ad-hoc at least once per year on the consensus of all parties. The Council is chaired on a rotational basis.
- The members of the SCO IBC are the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, the State Development Bank of China, the Settlement & Savings Company of the Kyrgyz Republic "RSK Bank", the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs of the Russian Federation "Vnesheconombank", the State Savings Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan "Amonatbonk", and the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
(SOURCE – ECONOMIC TIMES)
Important News: REPORTS |
World Development Report 2023
Why in news: The ‘World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies’ was recently released by the World Bank.
A.It is an annual report published by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) or the World Bank since 1978. It provides an in-depth analysis of a specific aspect of economic development.
B.The share of working-age adults in many (developed) countries will fall sharply over the next few decades. Spain, with a population of 47 million, is projected to shrink by more than a third by 2100, with people over the age of 65 growing from 20 to 39% of the population.
C.Diaspora transfers ideas, knowledge and technology, promotes job creation and modernisation – just as American Silicon Valley immigrants did when they helped nurture India's IT sector.
D.The WB proposed policies to exploit economic opportunities and better migration management in destination, transit and countries of origin (to reduce the risks faced by migrants). For example, countries of origin should make labour migration an explicit part of their development strategy.
E.Destination countries should facilitate their inclusion and address the social impacts that raise concerns among their citizens;
F.Match-Motive Framework: By combining "match" and "motive", the framework identified policy priorities for countries.
G.The report also urged international cooperation and multilateral efforts to strengthen the matching of migrants' skills with the needs of destination societies.
(SOURCE – NEWS ON AIR)
Important News: Days |
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Why in news: April 28th is marked as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work annually to encourage the balance of safe, healthy, and appropriate working environments worldwide.
- the year 2023, the chosen theme for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is "A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work",
B.The aim is to increase consciousness about establishing a positive and healthy work environment and decreasing fatalities and injuries related to work.
C.To enhance awareness and encourage the implementation of secure protocols in the workplace.
D.To emphasize the significance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and its role in the workplace.
E.To advocate for a work environment that prioritizes wellness and promotes a healthy culture. and The primary aim of this event is to explore practical ways in which this fundamental human right can be implemented in workplaces worldwide
(SOURCE – TIMES OF INDIA)
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