1 2023 edition of ‘Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue’ (IPRD-2023)
The Indian Navy ‘s three-day annual top-level regional strategic dialogue ” Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023 ” (IPRD-2023) commenced in New Delhi on 15 November 2023 . On this occasion, Hon’ble Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was the Chief Guest of the ‘Memorial Session’ and Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt . Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her special address. Two professional sessions focused on “ Nodes of Maritime Connectivity ” and “ Maritime Connectivity Initiatives in the Indo-Pacific ” were organized throughout the day to mark the occasion . The day long activities concluded with two MoUs of cooperation. These MoUs were signed between the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Nepal and NMF and the Global Center for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS), Kenya. IPRD-2023 is being organized by the Indian Navy in collaboration with National Maritime Foundation as its enlightened partner. Established in 2005, NMF is one of India’s leading maritime think-tanks and focuses its research on issues related to India’s maritime interests.
2 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Indonesia
Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh participated in the 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta, Indonesia on November 16, 2023 . In his address, he acknowledged the important position of ASEAN and appreciated its role in promoting dialogue and consensus in the region. They reiterated India’s commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful trade in international waters in accordance with international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. They also appreciated the active participation of ASEAN Member States in the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise held in May this year as well as in the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations , including in the current 2020-2023 cycle. India and Indonesia are co-chairs. Recognizing that terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, including in the ASEAN region, India proposed to co-chair the EWG on Counter-Terrorism. This proposal was supported by ADMM-Plus as terrorism remains a serious concern for countries in the region.
3 Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 to be held in Ahmedabad on 21 and 22 November, 2023
To celebrate the contributions and achievements of fishermen and fish farmers and other stakeholders and to strengthen the commitment towards sustainable and equitable development of the fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India is organizing the Global Fisheries Summit India 2023 on the occasion of World Fisheries Day. doing. This two-day conference will be organized on 21 and 22 November 2023 at Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad . The theme of the conference will be ‘ Celebrate Fisheries and Aquaculture Wealth ‘.
4 Launching of 4th ship ‘Amini’ of ASW SWC (GRSE) Project at M/s L&T, Kattupalli on 16 Nov 23
‘ Amini ‘ , the fourth ship in the 08 x ASW Shallow Water Craft (SWC) project being built by M/s GRSE for the Indian Navy, was launched at M/s L&T, Kattupalli on 16 Nov 23 . The ceremony was presided over by Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani. In keeping with maritime tradition, Smt. Manju Naithani launched the ship with an invocation from the Atharva Veda. The ship has been named Amini to reflect the strategic maritime importance given to Amini Island in Lakshadweep, located about 400 km west of Kochi . The contract for construction of eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defense and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on April 29, 2019. The Arnala class ships will replace the Abhay class ASW corvettes serving the Indian Navy and are designed to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as low intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and mine laying operations.
5 India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’-2023 begins
The ninth edition of India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise ” Mitra Shakti-2023 ” began in Aundh (Pune) . This military exercise is being conducted from 16 to 29 November 2023 . The Indian contingent is being represented primarily by 120 soldiers of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment . The Sri Lankan side is being represented by soldiers of 53 Infantry Division . 15 soldiers of the Indian Air Force and five soldiers of the Sri Lankan Air Force are also participating in the exercise.
6 Thirty Indian companies participating in Water, Energy, Technology and Environment – Vetex and Solar Exhibition in Dubai
Thirty Indian companies are participating in the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment – Vetex and Solar Exhibition in Dubai . These companies are associated with the Confederation of Indian Industry . The Indian Pavilion was inaugurated by Sunil Kumar, Diplomat at the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Bilateral trade opportunities with the UAE are being explored through this exhibition . This exhibition is held every year in Dubai. It provides a platform to showcase innovative efforts in sustainable technology and bring together industry leaders, policy makers and experts from across the globe.
7 Ben Gurion Canal Project
Recently there has been renewed interest in the Ben Gurion Canal Project, a proposed sea -level canal 160 miles long that would connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba, bypassing the Suez Canal . The Ben Gurion Canal Project was conceived as a transformative infrastructure initiative in the 1960s . It was named after Israel ‘s founder David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) , which reflects its historical significance. It aims to create an alternative sea route connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, bypassing the Suez Canal . Under this , it is envisioned to reshape global maritime mobility by challenging Egypt’s monopoly on the shortest Europe-Asia route.
8 WHO’s 2023 roadmap to end maternal tuberculosis
In its revised 2023 roadmap to combat tuberculosis (TB) in children and adolescents , the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of periodic assessments to estimate the burden of maternal TB and develop targeted interventions. WHO highlights that data on pregnant and postpartum women affected by TB are not collected and reported by national TB programs as part of routine surveillance. As a result, the burden and characteristics of TB in this vulnerable population and their infants are largely unknown. WHO emphasizes the need to include maternal, pregnancy, birth and infant outcomes in dedicated safety studies for all new TB drugs and vaccines. At the second UN high-level meeting on the fight against TB in September 2023, commitments were redefined with a deadline of 2027. The main goals include diagnosing and treating 90% of people with TB, providing preventive treatment to those at high risk, and treating children and adolescents with TB. The 2023 Roadmap is an update of the goals outlined in 2013 and 2018. The previous target of providing treatment to 3.5 million children and young adolescents was not achieved, with only 71% of the target met.
9 Association between soy production and childhood cancer deaths in Brazil
A recent study has identified a link between a significant increase in soy/soybean production in the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil over the past two decades and increased childhood cancer- related deaths. With the expansion of soya cultivation in these areas , the use of pesticides has also increased significantly. The study found a statistically significant association between increased soy production and deaths from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children from 2008 to 2019 . According to the study, water supply entry was likely the route through which exposure to pesticides occurred. By comparison, a 10% increase in the amount of municipal land used for soy cultivation increases the probability of death of children under five from ALL by 1.3% and the probability of death of children under ten from ALL by 1.3%. increased by 1.6%.
10 INSPIRE Faculty Fellows discover the molecular mechanisms behind an intriguing green alga that survives in extreme conditions like salt-alkaline water lakes
Recent research has revealed the secrets of Picocystis salinarum , a tiny green alga that survives in harsh saline-alkaline conditions . Research studying the molecular mechanisms of the organism revealed its unique adaptation to hyperosmotic conditions , unlike most photosynthetic life forms, promoting photosynthesis and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) synthesis. Hyperosmotic conditions refer to a condition where the concentration of solutes in the surrounding environment is higher than in the internal environment of a cell or organism. In addition to its flexibility, this microalga exhibits the potential for carbon capture and biomass production, paving the way for sustainable biotechnological progress.
11 Dominica creates world’s first marine protected area for sperm whales
The small Caribbean island of Dominica is making history by establishing the world’s first marine protected area dedicated to protecting endangered sperm whales . This unprecedented initiative aims to protect these magnificent creatures while also contributing to the fight against climate change. The government of Dominica recently announced its plan to designate approximately 300 square miles (800 square kilometers) of area on the western side of the island as a marine reserve. These waters will serve as important nursing and feeding grounds for the sperm whales, and the reserve will play a vital role in ensuring their protection.
12 New gecko species discovered in Mizoram
Researchers have recently identified a new species of lizard in India, specifically in Vairangte town of Mizoram . Named ‘ Cyrtodactylus varengtensis ‘ after the place of its discovery , this lizard species has distinctive features, particularly the number of femoral pores, which distinguish it from other members of the Cyrtodactylus family . The proposed common name for this new species is ‘ Vairengte bent-toed gecko ‘.
13 Researchers discover two new species of seer fish in Indian waters
Researchers at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have made an important discovery by identifying two new species of seer fish . Leading scientist E.M. Under Abdussamad ‘s leadership, the team of taxonomists unveiled the Arabian sparrow seer fish ( Scomberomorus avirostrus ), a previously unknown species, and revived the Russel’s spotted seer fish ( Scomberomorus leopardus ). These findings increase the number of top-demanded sighter fish species in Indian waters from four to six , enhancing our understanding of marine biodiversity. The discovery was the result of an extensive taxonomic study focused on spotted fish species found along the Indian coast . This revealed that the spotted seer fish ( Scomberomorus guttatus ), once thought to be a single species, is actually a group of three separate species.
14 Virat Kohli created history by scoring 50th ODI century
Virat Kohli created history by scoring his 50th ODI century in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium . He scored his 50th century, leaving behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries . Virat has become the batsman who has scored the most runs in a single World Cup . During this period, he broke the 20-year-old world record of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Virat Kohli scored his 50th ODI century in 106 balls. Virat Kohli made a world record when he completed 674 runs in the World Cup 2023.
15 National Press Day
National Press Day is celebrated every year on 16 November to commemorate the free and responsible press . On 16 November 1966, the Press Council of India took over the work of monitoring the standards of journalism. Since 1997, the Council celebrates National Press Day through various seminars. The theme of National Press Day 2023 is Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence .
16 International Day of Tolerance: 16 November
International Day for Tolerance is celebrated every year on 16 November . This day was declared by the United Nations with the aim of creating public awareness on the dangers of intolerance. The year 1995 was declared the International Year of Tolerance by the United National General Assembly on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi . This year “UNESCO Madanjit Singh Prize” was also established to promote and spread awareness of non-violence and tolerance in the world. After this, in the year 1996, the United National General Assembly announced to celebrate 16 November as International Tolerance Day.
