🔆South Africa's New law on Climate change
✅South Africa has introduced a new legislation mandating emission curbs on fossil-fuel-heavy industries and climate-adaptation plans for towns and villages to meet its Paris Agreement commitments.
✅It is significant as South Africa is a major coal user and one of the top 15 greenhouse gas emitters globally.
✅The South African energy sector accounts for 80% of emissions, with energy industries and transport being major contributors.
✅The country has set Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aiming for a 31% reduction in emissions and specific targets for 2025 and 2030.
✅South Africa’s 'just transition' plan focuses on moving to sustainable jobs in various sectors and requires $8 billion annually by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
✅India lacks comprehensive climate change legislation but integrates climate issues in various acts like the Environmental Protection Act and Energy Conservation Act.
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✅South Africa has introduced a new legislation mandating emission curbs on fossil-fuel-heavy industries and climate-adaptation plans for towns and villages to meet its Paris Agreement commitments.
✅It is significant as South Africa is a major coal user and one of the top 15 greenhouse gas emitters globally.
✅The South African energy sector accounts for 80% of emissions, with energy industries and transport being major contributors.
✅The country has set Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aiming for a 31% reduction in emissions and specific targets for 2025 and 2030.
✅South Africa’s 'just transition' plan focuses on moving to sustainable jobs in various sectors and requires $8 billion annually by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
✅India lacks comprehensive climate change legislation but integrates climate issues in various acts like the Environmental Protection Act and Energy Conservation Act.
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🔆What is the International Science, Technology, and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC), under UNESCO?
✅The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC) which is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre.
✅The Malaysian Government has hosted this since 2008.
✅The Centre acts as an international platform offering sustainable programmes and services and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation.
✅The Centre’s hosting is based on a six-year Agreement between the Malaysian Government represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and UNESCO.
✅Its current Agreement is from February 2022 until January 2028.
✅The Mission of the organization is to be “A leading international platform offering sustainable programmes and services in producing holistic talents towards institutional excellence and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation.
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✅The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC) which is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre.
✅The Malaysian Government has hosted this since 2008.
✅The Centre acts as an international platform offering sustainable programmes and services and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation.
✅The Centre’s hosting is based on a six-year Agreement between the Malaysian Government represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and UNESCO.
✅Its current Agreement is from February 2022 until January 2028.
✅The Mission of the organization is to be “A leading international platform offering sustainable programmes and services in producing holistic talents towards institutional excellence and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation.
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🔆Delhi joins Quad on Ukraine war
📍Why in news?
✅Quad Ministerial Meeting was held recently in Tokyo. After the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa released a joint statement.
✅They expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming Quad summit in India, highlighting the importance of the summit in strengthening their collaborative efforts. The ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of their partnership in addressing regional and global challenges.
✅The joint statement underscored the shared values and strategic interests of the Quad nations.
📍Key highlights of the Quad Ministerial Meeting
✅India to host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024
Ministers reaffirmed that India will host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024 and USA will host the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.
📍On Ukraine War
✅The participating leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine, and flagged respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
✅This was a clear reference to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Significantly, this formulation of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is not used by India in its national statements on the Russia-Ukraine war.
✅The negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries, was also highlighted.
📍Free and open Indo-Pacific
✅The Quad leaders reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
✅They vowed to work towards a region where no country dominates others and each state is free from coercion in all its forms.
✅This was a veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the region.
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📍Why in news?
✅Quad Ministerial Meeting was held recently in Tokyo. After the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa released a joint statement.
✅They expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming Quad summit in India, highlighting the importance of the summit in strengthening their collaborative efforts. The ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of their partnership in addressing regional and global challenges.
✅The joint statement underscored the shared values and strategic interests of the Quad nations.
📍Key highlights of the Quad Ministerial Meeting
✅India to host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024
Ministers reaffirmed that India will host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024 and USA will host the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.
📍On Ukraine War
✅The participating leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine, and flagged respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
✅This was a clear reference to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Significantly, this formulation of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is not used by India in its national statements on the Russia-Ukraine war.
✅The negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries, was also highlighted.
📍Free and open Indo-Pacific
✅The Quad leaders reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
✅They vowed to work towards a region where no country dominates others and each state is free from coercion in all its forms.
✅This was a veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the region.
#gs2
#ir
#prelims
@upsc_4_ir
🔆On election of the Union commission president
✅On July 18, the newly constituted European Commission (EC) elected Ursula von der Leyen, the EC’s first female President, for a second term with a majority of 40 votes.
✅The selection of the EC President involves a two-stage process: election by the European Council and a secret ballot in parliament.
✅The decision regarding Ms. von der Leyen’s candidature was not unanimous, with Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orban disapproving the decision.
✅Ms. von der Leyen secured 401 votes in parliament, surpassing the halfway mark in the 720-strong house, with critical support from the Green party.
✅Challenges ahead for Ms. von der Leyen include formulating the bloc’s seven-year budget and tying national disbursements from the EU budget to the observance of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
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✅On July 18, the newly constituted European Commission (EC) elected Ursula von der Leyen, the EC’s first female President, for a second term with a majority of 40 votes.
✅The selection of the EC President involves a two-stage process: election by the European Council and a secret ballot in parliament.
✅The decision regarding Ms. von der Leyen’s candidature was not unanimous, with Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orban disapproving the decision.
✅Ms. von der Leyen secured 401 votes in parliament, surpassing the halfway mark in the 720-strong house, with critical support from the Green party.
✅Challenges ahead for Ms. von der Leyen include formulating the bloc’s seven-year budget and tying national disbursements from the EU budget to the observance of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
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🔆Axiom-4 mission
✅Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair from the Indian Air Force have been selected to train in the U.S. for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.
✅The mission is part of a joint effort between ISRO and NASA, furthering human space flight cooperation between India and the U.S. Highlighting this collaboration strengthens technological and scientific ties
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✅Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair from the Indian Air Force have been selected to train in the U.S. for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.
✅The mission is part of a joint effort between ISRO and NASA, furthering human space flight cooperation between India and the U.S. Highlighting this collaboration strengthens technological and scientific ties
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🔆China India relations
The Chinese Ambassador to India emphasizes the importance of China-India relations, highlighting the "Five Mutuals"—mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual accommodation, and mutual accomplishment—as guiding principles for bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador calls for mutual respect between the two nations.
Mutual understanding the ambassador highlights the shared history of India and China in their struggles for national independence and the importance of strategic autonomy.
On mutual trust, the ambassador emphasizes viewing each other as partners and development opportunities, rather than rivals or threats.
Both nations are at a critical stage of national development, with broad common interests and cooperation spaces, reflected in India's vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and China's comprehensive modernization.
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@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
The Chinese Ambassador to India emphasizes the importance of China-India relations, highlighting the "Five Mutuals"—mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual accommodation, and mutual accomplishment—as guiding principles for bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador calls for mutual respect between the two nations.
Mutual understanding the ambassador highlights the shared history of India and China in their struggles for national independence and the importance of strategic autonomy.
On mutual trust, the ambassador emphasizes viewing each other as partners and development opportunities, rather than rivals or threats.
Both nations are at a critical stage of national development, with broad common interests and cooperation spaces, reflected in India's vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and China's comprehensive modernization.
#gs2
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
The Israeli Health Ministry found poliovirus particles in Gaza's sewage, prompting a vaccination campaign for Israeli soldiers.
Gaza's Health Ministry has declared a polio 'epidemic' in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has severely impacted Gaza's healthcare system, with only a third of hospitals functioning by May 2024.
Israel's blockade and destruction of infrastructure have worsened health and living conditions in Gaza, contributing to the polio threat.
Public health experts and the WHO have called for a ceasefire to prevent a polio epidemic, but Israel continues its military operations.
Climate change and the conflict's chemically toxic outcomes exacerbate conditions that facilitate the spread of disease-causing microbes.
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Gaza's Health Ministry has declared a polio 'epidemic' in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has severely impacted Gaza's healthcare system, with only a third of hospitals functioning by May 2024.
Israel's blockade and destruction of infrastructure have worsened health and living conditions in Gaza, contributing to the polio threat.
Public health experts and the WHO have called for a ceasefire to prevent a polio epidemic, but Israel continues its military operations.
Climate change and the conflict's chemically toxic outcomes exacerbate conditions that facilitate the spread of disease-causing microbes.
#gs3
#prelims
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
🔆India-U.S. relations
✅External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that the India-U.S. relationship has been consistently strong, notwithstanding public debates and occasional divergences.
✅The relationship between India and the U.S. serves as a testament to the changing global dynamics, with both nations surpassing market expectations for over 25 years.
✅Jaishankar traced the historical trajectory of the relationship, emphasizing opportunities post-1962 war with China and changes under Prime Ministers Narasimha Rao and Rajiv Gandhi.
✅He noted that American interests, global competition, and India's value in the world have evolved, necessitating continuous strategic updates to maintain relevant policies.
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✅External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that the India-U.S. relationship has been consistently strong, notwithstanding public debates and occasional divergences.
✅The relationship between India and the U.S. serves as a testament to the changing global dynamics, with both nations surpassing market expectations for over 25 years.
✅Jaishankar traced the historical trajectory of the relationship, emphasizing opportunities post-1962 war with China and changes under Prime Ministers Narasimha Rao and Rajiv Gandhi.
✅He noted that American interests, global competition, and India's value in the world have evolved, necessitating continuous strategic updates to maintain relevant policies.
#gs2
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@upsc_4_ir
🔆South Korea Offers Aid to Flood-Stricken North Korea
✅If accepted, the help could lead to the first official dialogue in years between the two Koreas, which have recently been sending each other trash balloons and propaganda.
✅In recent days, North Korea has reported severe floods near the estuary where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea after flowing along the North Korea-China border
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✅If accepted, the help could lead to the first official dialogue in years between the two Koreas, which have recently been sending each other trash balloons and propaganda.
✅In recent days, North Korea has reported severe floods near the estuary where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea after flowing along the North Korea-China border
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@upsc_4_ir
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🔆UK – India relations
✅The recent elections in India and the United Kingdom mark a new chapter in the U.K.-India partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term and Sir Keir Starmer’s landslide victory for the Labour Party present an opportunity to enhance bilateral relations.
✅This new phase aims to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, security, technology, climate change, and education
✅Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The Labour Party’s pledge to pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India includes a swift conclusion of the U.K.-India FTA.
✅2030 Roadmap: The existing roadmap has led to significant investments and employment, with bilateral trade reaching £39 billion in 2023.
✅Call for a New Roadmap: Both governments are urged to agree on a new Roadmap to 2047 to unlock the full benefits of this partnership.
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✅The recent elections in India and the United Kingdom mark a new chapter in the U.K.-India partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term and Sir Keir Starmer’s landslide victory for the Labour Party present an opportunity to enhance bilateral relations.
✅This new phase aims to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, security, technology, climate change, and education
✅Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The Labour Party’s pledge to pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India includes a swift conclusion of the U.K.-India FTA.
✅2030 Roadmap: The existing roadmap has led to significant investments and employment, with bilateral trade reaching £39 billion in 2023.
✅Call for a New Roadmap: Both governments are urged to agree on a new Roadmap to 2047 to unlock the full benefits of this partnership.
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#prelims
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
🔆Targeting of imane khelif, Lin Yu-ting in Olympic 2024 shows sports is still a long way from equality, on field and off it
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🔆The political crisis in Bangladesh focuses on the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and its implications on India.
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India’s trade with BIMSTEC
✅India’s total trade with BIMSTEC countries amounted to $44.32 billion in 2023-24.
✅Thailand was India’s largest trading partner within the bloc, with exports worth $5.04 billion and imports at $9.91 billion, resulting in a trade gap of $4.87 billion.
✅Bangladesh followed, with exports of $11.06 billion and imports of $1.84 billion, creating a trade balance of $9.22 billion in India’s favor.
✅India’s total trade with BIMSTEC countries amounted to $44.32 billion in 2023-24.
✅Thailand was India’s largest trading partner within the bloc, with exports worth $5.04 billion and imports at $9.91 billion, resulting in a trade gap of $4.87 billion.
✅Bangladesh followed, with exports of $11.06 billion and imports of $1.84 billion, creating a trade balance of $9.22 billion in India’s favor.