GS PAPER II NEWS
Barbados became a republic country
Why in News
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- The Caribbean island of Barbados has now become a republic country. Barbados was declared a republic at midnight on 29 November 2021.
Key point
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- With this the reign of Queen Elizabeth-II ended here. A special ceremony was held on this occasion in which many leaders including Prince Charles of Britain attended.
- Governor General Sandra Mason has been made the President of the country. She has been appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.
- Mason sworn in as the first President of Barbados Mason has also been an attorney and judge. He has also served as ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Brazil.
55th republic country
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- In this way, Barbados has become the 55th republic country after separating from Britain. The Royal Standard flag representing the Queen was lowered during a ceremony.
- Prince Charles was also present in this ceremony. With this, Barbados ended its nearly 400-year-old colonial relationship and was administered the oath of office for the first time in the country.
- The first English ship reached this Caribbean island 400 years ago. Barbados has abdicated Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, but she is still the queen of 15 other countries. These include countries like Britain, Australia, Canada and Jamaica.
- Barbados, however, will remain in the Commonwealth as a republic. The Commonwealth is an organization of 54 countries that were once colonies of Britain.
- For the last time in 1992, Mauritius abdicated Queen Elizabeth as head of state and declared it a republic.
About Barbados
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- Barbados has a population of over three million and is considered the richest country in the Caribbean.
- The economy here mostly depends on tourism. After hundreds of years of independence, Barbados became independent in 1966 but was ruled by Queen Elizabeth.
- This has been seen in any Caribbean country after 1970.
- Earlier Guyana, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobaga became republic countries.
- Barbados appealed to the Caribbean Court of Justice in Trinidad in 2005 and removed the London-based Privy Council.
- Barbados then proposed to make itself a republic country in the year 2008, but it was postponed indefinitely. Now Barbados has become a republic country. Now it will have its own national flag and national anthem.
GS PAPER II
World AIDS Day
Why in News
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- World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on 01 December all over the world.
Key point
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- Its main objective is to raise public awareness about AIDS. The reason for celebrating World AIDS Day was to make people aware of HIV or AIDS and to help people living with it.
- The purpose of celebrating World AIDS Day is to raise awareness among people of all ages about AIDS, a pandemic caused by HIV infection. AIDS is one of the biggest health problems of modern times.
- This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “End Inequalities, End AIDS”.
- WHO says this year’s main agenda is to highlight growing inequalities in access to essential HIV services around the world.
Importance
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- The day reminds people and governments that the HIV virus is very prevalent.
- There is a need to be vigilant against this. World AIDS Day has told people that there is a need to raise awareness, educate the public and fight together against AIDS.
- About HIV AIDS
- HIV is a serious disease caused by a type of life-threatening infection. It is medically known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- It is known colloquially as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
- In this life-threatening infection attacks the immune system of the person’s body, due to which the body is not able to fight against common diseases.
Background
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- First World AIDS Day was celebrated in the year 1988. Initially, this day was associated only with children and youth, but later it was found that AIV infection can happen to any person of any age.
- Work on communication, prevention and awareness started in 1997 under the World AIDS Campaign.
- According to WHO, in 2020, 377 million people were suffering from this disease all over the world.
GS PAPER II
Effectiveness of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD) vaccine
Why in News
- A multi-institutional team of Indian researchers led by Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) evaluated the real-world vaccine effectiveness of Covishield during the SARS-CoV-2 infection surge between April and May, 2021, in India. They also assessed neutralising activity and cellular immune responses against the Variants in healthy vaccinated persons to understand the mechanisms of protection.
Key point
- In the study published in journal “The Lancet Infectious Diseases” which included comparison between 2379 cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 1981 controls, the vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals was found to be 63%.
- The vaccine effectiveness of complete vaccination against moderate-to-severe disease was much higher at 81%. More importantly, the scientists also observed that the Spike-specific T-cell responses were conserved against both the delta variant and wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Such cellular immune protection might compensate for waning humeral immunity against the virus variants and prevent moderate-to-severe disease and need for hospitalization.
- This study provides the comprehensive data on the real-world vaccine effectiveness and immunological response to vaccination which should help guide policy.
- SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 200 million people causing more than 5 million deaths worldwide as per the WHO statistics.
Importance
- SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 200 million people causing more than 5 million deaths worldwide as per the WHO statistics.
- The rise in mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to concerns regarding vaccine effectiveness. Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is the predominant strain in India.
- The vaccination programme in India is driven largely by the Covishield vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19).
GS PAPER III
Heron Mark-2
Why in News
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- Recently the Indian Army has got new Israeli ‘Heron’ drones. The Indian Army will now use them to control the antics of China in Ladakh.
Key point
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- The arrival of drones has been delayed by a few months due to the Corona transition situation, but now with this, the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Army have received a big boost.
- After a delay of a few months due to the Corona epidemic, now once again the effort has started to give a big boost to the Indian defense sector.
- These drones have been brought using the emergency financial powers given to the defense forces by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this, he can buy equipment and systems worth up to Rs 500 crore to upgrade his combat capabilities amid the ongoing border conflict with China.
Heron Mark-2
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- According to the Israeli media, the Heron Mark-2 drone is equipped with the world’s most advanced technology. These aircraft are capable of carrying a variety of payloads with them.
- This drone aircraft is fitted with powerful Rotex 915 IS engines which help it to fly up to an altitude of 10 thousand meters.
- The Heron Mark-2 aircraft is an improved model of the previously built Heron UAV. Its maximum speed is 140 knots per hour.
- Now it’s sensor has been enlarged and improved, making it extremely dangerous. The Indian Army will find out the positions of its enemy by sitting in its camp.
- The most important thing is that these drones cannot be jammed in any way. That is, they have anti-jamming technology. Which is more powerful than the earlier drones?
- The Heron drone, once raised in the air, is capable of flying for 52 hours. It keeps flying very calmly at an altitude of 35 thousand feet i.e. ten and a half kilometers from the ground.
- In the year 2019 also, these drones were made available to the Indian Army immediately after the Balakot air strike. However, getting drones has been delayed by a few months due to the Corona transition situation, but now with this, the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Army have got a big boost.
GS PAPER III
India’s first certified organic fruit Kiwi launched
Why in News
- This November 28, 2021, India’s only certified organic Kiwi from Zero Valley Farm in Arunachal Pradesh has been launched in a mega National Tribal Festival named Aadi Mahotsav.
- The festival is being held at Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi.
Key points
- The launch ceremony was organized in association with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED).
- This initiative was launched as a part of “Atmanirbhar Abhiyan” with the objective of transforming India into a self-reliant nation.
- Arunachal Pradesh is the first Indian state which has received “Organic Certification of Kiwifruit” under “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER)”. This scheme is a central government scheme launched for the north-eastern states.
Aadi Mahotsav
- Aadi Mahotsav is an annual tribal festival organized by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED).
- It is an annual tribal festival, which exposes tribes and their unique stories to the world including India.
- This year, around 200 stalls were set up from across India and around 1000 artisans and artists participated in the festival.
Objective
- Aadi Mahotsav was started with the aim of empowering tribal businesses in India and showcasing their products in the country and abroad.
Zero valleys
- Zero Valleys is a town and district headquarters of Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The city has been included in the potential list of UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique cultural landscape.