Ten relevant news updates from across the world, useful for examinations
SHARE:
Headlines - 25 - 06 - 2021
- Social Issues - Preventing obesity - NITI Aayog convened a National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity. NITI Aayog described obesity as a “silent epidemic”. Officers from UNICEF spoke of evidence on the increasing burden of over-nutrition in India. Officers from the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasized on the need to diversify food-based social safety nets to prevent obesity. It was discussed how obese population is an unhealthy population and the cost of treating obesity, is the cost of junk food marketing. All expressed the unanimous need to address this issue on a priority basis, with a resounding emphasis on better mass communication around encouraging physical activity, healthy eating and lifestyle. A need for a "whole of government" and a "whole of society approach" was emphasised in tackling the twin challenge of obesity and under. An urgent need for adopting strategies related to fiscal measures, regulating front-of-package labelling, promoting healthy diet, physical activity and lifestyle options emerged as key themes for future deliberations and actions. Dr. V.K Paul, Member (Health and Nutrition), NITI Aayog called for a multi-sectoral approach targeting the adolescents to promote activity and healthy lifestyle.
- Entertainment Games and Sports - India's Olympic song launched - The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched the official theme song of the Indian Olympic Team of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, on the occasion of Olympic Day in New Delhi. The song has been composed and sung by popular playback singer Mohit Chauhan and lyrics penned by his wife Prathna Gahilote. Rijiju said, “It is the vision of the PM that the nation must come together to support and motivate Indian athletes going to Tokyo Olympics. The launch of the official Theme Song today is a step in that direction." The Sports Ministry has launched a nation-wide #Cheer4India campaign through various activities like quizzes, selfie points, debates and discussions on Olympics. Also announced was IOA’s partnership with former Indian Badminton player and Chief National coach of the Indian Badminton team, Pullela Gopichand and ‘Dhyana’ Sports to provide a wearable meditation devices for all the athletes and every member of the Indian contingent to Tokyo, to help the athletes keep their minds fit and happy while they are in isolation at the Olympic Village in Tokyo.
- Environment Ecology and Climate Change - River runoff, glacier melt and seasonality of flow to rise - A research by Dr Mohd. Farooq Azam (IIT Indore) gathered results from more than 250 scholarly research papers to arrive at a more accurate understanding of the links between climatic warming, precipitation change and glacier shrinkage. The study shows that glacier and snow melt are important components of HK rivers with greater hydrological importance for the Indus than Ganga and Brahmaputra basins. Snow and glaciers are melting rapidly in the Himalayan range due to climate change, altering water supplies in the rivers like Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra in the Himalaya-Karakoram (HK) ranges. The HK region in South Asia, often called the water tower of Asia or the Third Pole is one of the most heavily glacierized mountain regions on Earth. Understanding the response of HK rivers to climate change is crucial for almost 1 billion people who partly depend on these water resources. The HK region in South Asia, often called the water tower of Asia or the Third Pole is one of the most heavily glacierized mountain regions on Earth. Understanding the response of HK rivers to climate change is crucial for almost 1 billion people who partly depend on these water resources.
- World Politics - Delta variant everywhere - (a) Indonesia recorded its highest number of daily cases—over 14,500—as infections surged following a religious holiday and the spread of the Delta variant. Hospital beds in Jakarta are 80% full. Nationally, less than 10% of people over the age of 12 have received a single vaccine dose. (b) Japan said it would limit the number of spectators at Olympic events to 10,000, but insisted the games would start on July 23rd. (c) A court in Brussels chastised AstraZeneca for breaching its contract with the eu on vaccines, but did not support the eu’s demand that the drug company deliver 120m doses by the end of June. (d) Calls were made for the British government to publish its risk assessment of the recent G7 summit it hosted in Cornwall, after a surge of infections were recorded around the area where the events were held.
- Constitution and Law - Government pushing the Indian Port Bill 2021 - In FY 2020, the traffic handled at Indian ports was about 1.2 billion MT, which is expected to increase to 2.5 billion MT by 2030. Only a few ports in India have deeper draft which can handle capsize vessels. There are around 100 non-functional ports distributed across the coast of India. The ever-increasing size of ships mandates to have deeper draft ports and indeed mega ports need to be developed. Similarly, the non-functional ports also need to be prioritized and developed. A national-level integrated approach is required to augment the existing ports or to develop new ports in an efficient and sustainable manner which in turn will reduce the freight costs to a greater extent and improve the trade growth. The national-level integrated port planning is also highlighted in various report including 'The World Bank's Port Reform book, UNCTAD's ‘Handbook for Planners in Developing Countries’ etc. The Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) will advise on the planning of all ports including Major Ports. Several conventions pertaining to safety, security and prevention of pollution are incorporated in IP Bill 2021 for implementation of requirements stipulated in such conventions by all ports.
- World Economy - China versus Bitcoin - China’s central bank stepped up its clampdown on bitcoin and other digital currencies, hauling in officials from the country’s biggest banks to discuss the problem of “cryptocurrency speculation”. China eventually wants its citizens to use a government-backed cryptocurrency that is being tested in pilot projects. The price of bitcoin, meanwhile, recovered somewhat after falling below $30,000 for the first time since January, before starting to recover.
- Social Issues - Indian tribal products in New York - As a part of the International Day of Yoga, the Consulate General of India in New York organized a day-long event to showcase Yoga, holistic health, Ayurveda and wellness at New York’s Times Square. A particular attraction were the stalls on display which showcased unique natural tribal products including immunity boosters, and Ayurvedic products. The stall put up by Tribes India garnered a lot of attention. It included a range of tribal products, comprising both organic, essential natural immunity-boosting productssuch as millets, rice, spices, honey, chyawanprash, amla, ashwagandha powders, herbal teas and coffee and accessories such as yoga mats, wind flutes, herbal soaps, bamboo aromatic candles etc.The stalls also saw a largefootfall and a lot of interest was expressed in knowing about the uniqueness of Indian tribes and tribal products. As a part of its mission to promote tribal products and connect tribal entrepreneurs access to larger national and international markets, TRIFED collaborated with the Consulate General Of India in New York to explore this channel for popularizing ethnic products in the United States of America.
- World Economy - Biden massive infra push - President Joe Biden struck a deal on an infrastructure bill worth around $1.2trn, roughly half in new spending, with a group of senators from both parties. It falls far short of Mr Biden’s original proposal, but such is compromise. As soon as the deal was announced, he insisted that an equally large expenditure on “human infrastructure”, including child care, education and clean energy, could be tacked on later, via reconciliation in the Senate. Republicans cried foul!
- Governance and Institutions - The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the "Employment Outlook of the country" covering the period September, 2017 to April, 2021 based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies. Since April, 2018 the Ministry has published employment statistics in the formal sector covering the period September 2017 onwards, using information on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major schemes, namely the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and the National Pension Scheme (NPS). Data are - (a) EPF - During September, 2017 – April, 2021; 4,26,80,737 new subscribers joined the EPF scheme. EPF is applicable to establishments having more than 20 workers. (b) ESI - During September, 2017 – April, 2021; 5,09,93,551 new subscribers joined the ESI scheme. ESI is applicable to establishments having more than 10 workers. (c) NPS - 26,45,681 new subscribers joined and contributed in the NPS Central Government, State Governments and Corporate schemes during September 2017 to April 2021. NPS is applicable to any citizen of India, whether resident or non-resident, individuals who are aged between 18 – 60 years as on the date of submission of his/her application. The above NPS data is exclusive of All Citizen Sector, NPS Lite schemes and Atal Pension Yojana.
- Energy - Renewable power sops - Ministry of Power issued order for extension of the waiver of Inter-State Transmission system (ISTS) charges on transmission of electricity generated from solar and wind sources for projects to be commissioned up to 30th June 2025. The order promotes the development of solar, wind, Hydro Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), trading of RE in the power exchanges and seamless transmission of RE power across the states. This will encourage the RE trade in the Power Exchanges, and volume of renewable energy trade will increase. An opportunity to minimise the curtailment of RE as the RE developers will also have the option to sell power in the power exchanges and get instantly paid on the day of delivery of power itself. The buyers of Renewable energy will also have an opportunity to sell their surplus power in the power exchanges or allow in advance the sellers to sell in the power exchange. Thus, India will pave the way for energy transition from Fossil fuel to Non-fossil fuel by giving incentive for power trade from Renewable, Hydro PSP and Energy
COMMENTS