1. Over 190 nations adopt landmark biodiversity pact to restore natural ecosystems
Tags: Environment International News
Chaired by China and hosted by Canada, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (GBF), which sets four goals and 23 targets for 2030.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (GBF)
Over 190 nations of the world on 19 December agreed on a historic package of measures deemed critical to addressing the dangerous loss of biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provides a global roadmap for the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems for the next decade.
The objective of the Framework is to catalyze, enable and inspire urgent and transformative action by governments and local governments, with civil society participation, to prevent biodiversity loss.
In this, four goals and 23 targets have been set which are to be achieved by 2030.
Four global goals
Goal 1
Maintain, enhance or restore the integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems, while significantly increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050.
Stop human-induced extinction of known threatened species and reduce the extinction rate and risk of all species tenfold by 2050.
Goal 2
By 2050, the sustainable use and management of biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations and the valuing and promotion of nature's contribution to people, including ecosystem functions and services.
Goal 3
Monetary and non-monetary benefits from the use of genetic resources, and digital sequence information on genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, to be shared fairly and equitably with indigenous peoples and local communities.
Goal 4
Adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, and access and transfer of technology to fully implement the Kunmin-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in a safe and secure way for all parties, especially developing countries be equally accessible.
Global targets
Effective conservation and management of at least 30 per cent of the world's lands, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans, with emphasis on areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services. At present, only about 17% of land and 7% of oceans are protected.
2. Latvia host Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit at Riga
Tags: place in news Summits International News
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Latvia hosted the 3rd summit meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on 19 December 2022 in Riga. The summit meeting has been convened on the Initiative of the Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš, with the support of the United Kingdom.
The JEF was founded in 2015 after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit meeting in Wales in 2014. It comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The JEF has been set up to prepare a high readiness force which can respond to crises in the High North and Northern Europe (caused by Russian aggression).
The summit meeting of the JFF was held virtually on 25 February 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The second Summit was hosted by the United Kingdom in London on 15 March 2022.
The third summit was dominated by the aggressive war of Russia in Ukraine and consequent changes in the security climate in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea and the High North regions. They agreed to provide further assistance to Ukraine in its fight with the Russians.
Latvia
Latvia lies in North Eastern Europe and is one of the three Baltic countries. The other Baltic countries are Lithuania and Estonia.
It is called Baltic country as it lies along the Baltic Sea.
Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union and it became Independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Capital: Riga
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Krisjanis Kariņs
3. Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated 'Prashasan Gaon ki Ore' campaign under Good Governance Week 2022
Tags: Important Days National News
Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 'Prashasan Gaon ki Ore', a nationwide campaign under the Good Governance Week 2022 in New Delhi on 19th December. He also launched the Good Governance Week portal.
Important facts
In the 5 days campaign, over 300 New Services identified by District Collectors across the country will be added for Online Service Delivery.
The nationwide campaign for redressal of public grievances and improvement in service delivery will be organised in all districts, states and union territories of the country.
More than 700 district collectors will participate in the campaign and officers will visit tehsil and panchayat samiti headquarters.
During the initial phase of Good Governance Week 2022, organised from 10th to 18th of this month, District Collectors have identified more than 81 lakh applications for service delivery.
Along with this, more than 19 lakh public grievances are to be redressed through the State Portal.
373 best governance practices were identified for discussion in district level workshops. The workshop will be organised on the 23rd of this month.
During the 'Good Governance Week' of Good Governance Week-2022 from December 19 to December 25, 43 success stories in public grievances will also be shared.
What is Good Governance?
Good governance refers to processes and institutions that produce outcomes that make the best use of resources while meeting the needs of society.
The constitution is based on the principles of a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic committed to democracy, the rule of law and the welfare of its citizens.
Every citizen of the nation is primarily concerned with the efficient functioning of the government.
Principles of Good Governance
Participation
Rule of law
Transparency
Responsiveness
Consensus orientation
Equity
Effectiveness and efficiency
Accountability
4. CSIR’s "One Week, One Lab" countrywide campaign from 6th January, 2023
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, who is also the vice president of CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), on 17 December announced the launching of "One Week, One Lab" countrywide campaign from January 6, 2023.
Important facts
Dr Jitendra Singh announced this while addressing the 200th Governing Body Meeting of CSIR at the Science Centre in New Delhi.
He announces Special Call for Research Grant Proposals for Women Scientists.
He launched the new tagline of the organisation, “CSIR-The Innovation Engine of India”.
In this campaign, 37 premier laboratories/institutes of CSIR spread across the country will showcase their unique innovations and technological breakthroughs to the people of India.
"One Week One Lab" theme-based campaign is expected to ignite the minds of young innovators, students, academia, and industry to look for opportunities through deep tech Start-ups ventures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is President of CSIR, had chaired the meeting of CSIR Society on 15th October, 2022 and appreciated the efforts of CSIR in the past 80 years.
The Prime Minister had urged CSIR in the Society meeting to develop a vision for 2042 when CSIR turns 100 years old.
About CSIR
CSIR was established on 26 September 1942 and was registered as the CSIR Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
The first meeting of the Governing Body was held on 09 March 1942 in which the bye-laws for the Council were framed.
5. Stealth guided missile destroyer Mormugao commissioned into Indian Navy
Tags: Defence National News
India commissioned its latest stealth guided missile destroyer, Mormugao, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on December 18.
Important facts
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
Against the backdrop of concerns over China's growing efforts, India is focusing on enhancing its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean.
With a focus on indigenization and self-reliance, 42 of the 44 ships and submarines under construction are being built at Indian shipyards.
About INS Mormugao
It is the second warship under the navy’s Project-15B under which two more warships will be delivered by 2025.
The first P-15B warship, Visakhapatnam, was commissioned in Mumbai in November last year.
It is indigenously designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
The ship measuring 163 metres in length and 17 metres in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes can be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.
70% of the components used in the construction of INS Mormugao are indigenous.
The ship is propelled by four powerful gas turbines and it is capable of achieving speeds over 30 knots.
The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions and equipped with a modern surveillance radar.
What is Project 15B?
The contract for the four ships of Project 15B, known as the Visakhapatnam class ships, was signed on 28 January 2011.
The project is a follow-on to the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the previous decade.
Four Ships are to be developed under Project 15B -
Visakhapatnam
Mormugao
Imphal
Surat
These four ships have been named after major cities from the four corners of the country. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
These are designed by Directorate of Naval Design, Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai.
6. Leo Varadkar re-elected as the Prime Minister of Ireland
Tags: Person in news International News
Indian origin Leo Varadkar was elected as the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland for the second time on 17 December 2022. He took over from Michael Martin under an arrangement struck between their two parties under a 2020 coalition pact. Michael Martin has become the deputy Prime minister and Foreign minister.
Earlier in a special session in the lower house of the Irish parliament, Dail voted to approve Leo Varadkar’s nomination as the prime minister. It was later also confirmed by the Irish President Michael D. Higgins.
After the 2020 general election Martin’s Fianna Fail party and Varadkar's Fine Gael party entered into a coalition deal under which powers were to be shared between the two parties.
Leo Varadkar was earlier Prime Minister of Ireland from 2017 to 2020.
Republic Of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is a western European country which shares a boundary with Great Britain.
The Parliament of Ireland is called the Oireachtas. The lower house of the parliament is called Dail and the upper house is called Seanad Éireann (Senate).
The term of Dail is five years.
President of Ireland: Michael D. Higgins
Currency: Euro
Capital: Dublin
7. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar host a millet based lunch in New York for Top UN diplomats
Tags: place in news Person in news International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted a millets based lunch in New York on 15 December 2022 for the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other top diplomats of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states to commemorate the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYM 2023).
The External Affairs minister was in New York to chair two key UNSC debates being held under the Presidency of India. India is the President of the UNSC for the month of December 2022. India’s 2 year term as the non -permanent member of the UNSC ends on 31 December 2022.
The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021, had adopted an Indian sponsored resolution to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
In his message at the opening ceremony of the International Year of Millets at Rome, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that “India will steer the IYM 2023 celebrations worldwide and organise campaigns to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets,"
Millet is one of the oldest known foods to humans .They are called a superfood as they are rich in nutrients such as copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. They are low on glycaemic index.
8. Opening Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 held in Rome, Italy
Tags: place in news International News
The United Nations agency Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted an opening ceremony of the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in Rome, Italy on 6 December 2022 in a hybrid mode.
An Indian delegation led by Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare along with other senior officials were present at the opening ceremony.
Shobha Karandlaje conveyed PM Modi’s compliments to the United Nations for declaring the Year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. PM, through his message, thanked the global community for supporting India’s proposal to mark the International Year of Millets (IYM).
PM Modi said that “India will steer the IYM2023 celebrations worldwide and organise campaigns to promote the cultivation and consumption of Millets, both in India and abroad during the next year.”
Speaking on the occasion, Director General, FAO Mr. QU Dongyu said the IYM2023 will provide us with a unique opportunity to give visibility to crops that have great potential to strengthen global nutrition, food security.
Millets and India
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India is the largest producer of millet in the world.
- The total production of millets in India in 2020-21 was 17.96 million tonnes which was nearly 41% of the world production.
- Rajasthan was the largest millet producing state in India.
- Millets are grown in about 21 states in the country including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.
- India was the 5th largest exporter of millet in the world in 2020 .
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation)
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
- It was founded in 1945.
- Its headquarters is in Rome (Italy).
- It was conferred with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020
Director General: QU Dongyu
9. Mandaviya inaugurates National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research at Genome Valley, Hyderabad
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 17th December inaugurated ICMR’s National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (NARFBR) at Genome Valley in Hyderabad to address zoonotic threats.
About ICMR’s NARFBR
It is a top-notch facility that will provide the ethical care and use and welfare of laboratory animals used during research.
It will not only serve as a state-of-the-art facility for ethical animal studies but also apply to basic regulatory animal research.
It will help in capacity building of new researchers and quality assurance checks as well as create procedures for new drugs, vaccines and pre-clinical testing within the country.
It would be an asset for the country to deal with zoonotic diseases.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world for the coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
Its headquarter is in New Delhi.
It works under the Department of Health Services (DHS) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It was established in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA).
Later in 1949 it was renamed as ICMR.
10. NASA launches international mission ‘SWOT’ to survey Earth’s water
Tags: Science and Technology International News
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the French space agency Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) have jointly launched the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to track nearly all the water on Earth’s surface.
The SWOT mission was launched through a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Launch Complex at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States of America on 16 December 2022. The mission has a lifespan of three years.
Feature of the Mission
- According to NASA SWOT will cover the entire Earth’s surface between 78 degrees south and 78 degrees north latitude at least once every 21 days.
- It will provide data on more than 95 per cent of the world’s lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters) and rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters) across.
- Currently, freshwater researchers have reliable measurements for only a few thousand lakes around the world.
- The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90 per cent of Earth’s surface.
- This information will provide insights into how the ocean influences climate change; how a warming world affects lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; and how communities can better prepare for disasters, such as floods.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
It is an American government’s premier space agency which was set up in 1958 to promote research and development in the exploration of outer space and Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA mainly launches its rockets from its two primary spaceports. One is John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island in Florida, United States and from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States of America.
Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C
Administrator of NASA: Bill Nelson
