1. UN inks first ‘High Seas Treaty’ in a bid to protect ocean bodies of the world
Tags: Environment International News
For the first time in history, the United Nations signed the 'High Seas Treaty' to protect the world's oceans located outside national boundaries.
An overview of the news
The treaty is the result of nearly a decade of negotiations on environmental concerns.
The treaty was agreed upon on 4 March after 38 hours of negotiations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The last international agreement on ocean conservation was signed 40 years ago in 1982.
What is the UN High Seas Treaty?
The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of marine life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas.
The treaty brings 30 percent of the world's oceans into a protected area, spends more on marine conservation, and sets new rules for ocean mining.
The treaty aims to protect against potential impacts such as deep-sea mining.
The treaty would put restrictions on how much fish could be caught in the high seas.
What are High Seas?
International water bodies that cross the boundaries of nations are considered high seas.
They cover about two-thirds of the world's oceans.
These are water bodies where all countries have the right to fish, sail and conduct research.
But so far only about 1% of this water – known as the high seas – has been protected.
These are also important areas for exploration of valuable minerals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas reserves.
Vulnerable marine species
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about 10% of marine species are at risk of extinction.
In addition, 41% of threatened species are affected by climate change.
Shellfish, sharks and whales are under particular pressure due to their use as seafood and medicines.
2. Government approves nano liquid DAP fertilizer for benefits of farmers
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 5 March said the government has approved the launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer for the benefits of farmers and making the country self-reliant.
An overview of the news
Fertilizer cooperative IFFCO, which is set to launch Nano Liquid Urea in 2021, also announced that the government has approved the launch of its Nano DAP fertilizer.
One bottle will be equivalent to one bag of DAP, which costs Rs 1,350.
IFFCO is also planning to launch Nano-Potash, Nano-Zinc and Nano-Copper fertilizers.
In June 2021, IFFCO launched Nano Urea in liquid form as an alternative to conventional urea.
It has set up several manufacturing plants in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh to produce Nano Urea.
There is no government subsidy on Nano Urea and it is being sold at Rs 240 per bottle.
What is Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)?
Nano urea is a liquid form of nitrogen providing plant nutrient as a conventional alternative to urea.
It has been developed in place of conventional urea and has the potential to reduce the requirement of conventional urea by at least 50 percent.
One 500 ml bottle contains 40,000 mg/l nitrogen, which can provide nitrogen nutrients equivalent to one bag/sack of normal urea.
The effectiveness of Nano Urea Liquid is more than 80%.
Its use has been found to increase the yield by about 8%.
Its aim is to reduce farmers’ dependence on packaged urea.
3. Belarus court jails Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski for 10 years
Tags: Person in news International News
A court in Belarus on March 3 sentenced 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison for financing protests and other crimes.
An overview of the news
He has been given this sentence in the case of activities disturbing public order, financing and smuggling.
A fine of 65 thousand US dollars has also been imposed on 60-year-old Bialiatsky.
He is co-founder of the Viasna human rights group.
In October 2022, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and democracy.
Along with Bialyatsky, representatives of the Vesna Human Rights Center, Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich, were also sentenced to 9 years and 7 years, respectively.
Investigation revealed that Ales Bialiatsky and other members received funds from various organizations in Lithuania during April 2016 to July 2021.
After this these funds were sent outside the Eurasian Economic Union with the help of many people.
According to the law of Belarus, this is a crime and the maximum punishment for this crime is 12 years.
Baliatsky, a Belarusian litterateur, school teacher and museum director, has been involved in pro-democracy protests since the 1980s.
He was an avid supporter of Belarus' independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, organizing anti-Soviet protests across the country.
4. NADA and NCERT tie up to strengthen value based sports education
Tags: Sports Sports News National News
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) signed an MoU on 3 March 2023 to strengthen value-based sports education among school children and teachers.
News Overview
The MoU will help in developing an accessible format on sports values and ethics in e-content.
The MoU will also help in creating awareness at the grass root level.
About NADA
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was established on 24 November 2005 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 with a mandate for dope free sports in India.
Its objectives are to promote education and research, enforce anti-doping rules, regulate dope control programs, promote education and research, and create public awareness about doping and its ill-effects.
Headquarters -New Delhi
Director General - Ritu San
About NCERT
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established by the Government of India for the purpose of advising the Central Government and the Provincial Governments on matters related to school education.
Objective - To bring quality in education
Headquarters - New Delhi
Director - Hrishikesh Senapati
5. Jan Aushadhi Train flagged off by Mansukh Mandaviya and Ashwini Vaishnaw
Tags: National International News
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav flagged off the Jan Aushadhi train (Chhattisgarh Sampark Kranti Express) in New Delhi on 3 March.
An overview of the news
The train is dedicated to the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
The train has been wrapped with branding of Jan Aushadhi scheme to spread the awareness among public about generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi centers.
Medicines are available at affordable prices in more than nine thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras in India.
This train will travel through 184 stations covering more than four states in two months.
Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide quality and affordable medicines.
Indian Railways is also running a special campaign for promotion of affordable generic medicines to create awareness among the public.
The Ministry of Railways has decided to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras at some major railway stations which will prove beneficial for the passengers.
This train will travel to more than 4 states in 2 months.
About Jan Aushadhi Scheme
The Jan aushadhi scheme was launched in 2008 by the UPA government.
This scheme was relaunched in the year 2015, by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
This campaign was started across the country by selling generic medicines through “Jan Aushadhi Medical Stores”.
In 2015, the name of 'Jan Aushadhi Yojana' was changed to 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana' (PMJAY), but it was changed to "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Yojana" in November 2016.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India with the objective of providing quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.
6. RBI imposes Rs 3.06 Crore penalty on Amazon Pay (India)
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
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Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.06 crore on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited for non-compliance of certain directions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments and Know Your Customer.
An overview of the news
The penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
It was found that Amazon Pay (India) was not complying with the directions issued by RBI on KYC requirements.
Accordingly, notice was issued to the unit advising it to show cause why penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance of the directions.
Amazon Pay (India) Pvt Ltd is the online payments service owned by US-based Amazon.
7. Supreme Court sets up expert panel to probe Adani issue
Tags: committee National National News
The Supreme Court on March 2 constituted an expert panel to probe the regulatory failure on the Adani issue.
An overview of the news
The expert committee’s members are - former SBI chairman O P Bhatt, Justice J P Devadhar (retired), veteran banker K.V. Kamath, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and advocate Somasekhar Sundaresan.
The committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge A M Sapre.
The Supreme Court has asked the committee to submit its report to the court in a sealed cover within two months.
Panel will investigate any regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged breaking of rules by the Adani Group of companies.
The mandate of the committee will be to suggest measures to strengthen the framework, investigate the Adani dispute and suggest measures to strengthen the legal framework.
The Supreme Court also directed SEBI to ensure that all information is made available to the committee.
Adani-Hindenburg issue
In late January, Hindenburg published a report critical of the finances of the Adani group.
It said the major listed companies of the group had "substantial debt" which has put the entire group in a "precarious financial position".
Hindenburg accused the Adani-led group of "stock manipulation and accounting fraud over the course of decades".
Seven listed firms of the Adani group lost nearly half their market value (over USD 100 billion) following the report.
The combined market value of the listed Adani firms is now at US$108 billion, up from US$218 billion before the Hindenburg report.
8. Anurag Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar in Punjab
Tags: Festivals National News
Youth Affairs, Sports and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the Youth Festival - India @ 2047 from Ropar in Punjab on 4th March.
An overview of the news
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through its flagship youth organization Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) is organizing the “Yuva Utsav-India @2047” program in all districts across the country.
He also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsav during the event.
Yuva Utsava will be simultaneously hosted at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Haridwar in Uttrakhand, Dhar and Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh, Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, Saraikela in Jharkhand, Kapurthala in Punjab, Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Karimnagar in Telangana, Palakkad in Kerala and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.
In the first phase, to celebrate youth power, youth festivals will be organized in 150 districts across the country till 31st of this month.
The district level winners will participate in the state level youth festival which is a two day event to be held in the state capitals during August to September 2023.
The winners of all the state level events will participate in the national level youth festival to be held in 3rd/4th week of October, 2023 at Delhi.
9. Vo Van Thuong elected as new President of Vietnam
Tags: Person in news International News
Vo Van Thuong, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), was elected as the country's new President by the National Assembly of Vietnam.
Overview of the news
Thuong's election came after the sudden resignation of the previous president, Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body.
About Vo Van Thuong
Thuong began his political career in 1993.
In 2003, Thuong became secretary of the Communist Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City.
Thuong was elected as a member of the SPV Central Committee for the third time in 2021 and became a member of the Politburo for the second time.
About Vietnam
It lies in South East Asia and it is a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Dong
President: Vo Van Thuong
10. India and Australia sign a framework mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications
Tags: International News
India and Australia on March 2 signed a framework mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications that will help ease the movement of students and professionals between the two countries.
An overview of the news
The agreement was signed after a bilateral meeting between India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Australian Education Minister Jason Clare in New Delhi.
The agreement is part of the commitment shown by the Prime Ministers of both the countries at the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit to be held on 21 March 2022.
Under this, the two leaders agreed to set up a joint task force for mutual recognition of qualifications.
Accordingly, a task force was constituted consisting of senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Skills and regulatory bodies from both sides.
About Australia
Head of State: British Monarch, King Charles III
Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
Currency: Australian Dollar
Capital: Canberra
