International Seminar on Indian Space Programme
Context
- The International Seminar on Indian Space Programme: ‘Trends and Opportunities for Industry’ was inaugurated
- The seminar is being organised by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Antrix Corporation Limited (the commercial arm of ISRO), in coordination with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Objective
- The objective of conference is to deliberate on the best practices, pursue the ongoing discussion process to support further work of India’s Space Sector and facilitate arriving at coherent framework, where in India’s Space Sector can start expanding the domestic and global opportunities through enhanced partnerships and collaborations.
International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM)
Context
- The 42nd World Congress of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) organised by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) began.
- The five-day event is being organized for the first time in India, and is the largest medical conference ever organised by the AFMS.
- The theme of this 42nd World Congress is “Military Medicine in Transition: Looking Ahead.”
- The World Congress is going to provide an excellent opportunity for all participating nations to exchange ideas and experiences, thereby enhancing the collective intellectual assets of Military medicine, which would ultimately facilitate the Member States to face the challenges of a rapidly changing global security environment.
What is ICMM?
- ICMM is an international and intergovernmental organization consisting of more than one hundred states.
- The ICMM was established in 1921, after World War I had revealed the lack of care provided to victims and the need to strengthen cooperation between the health services of the armed forces worldwide.
- Its secretariat is at Brussels in Belgium and currently has 112 nations as members
Objective
- The main objective of the ICMM is to ensure that medical services personnel have the means to work together, using similar practices, in operations involving international cooperation.
Moscow declaration
- Health ministers, NGOs, and private sector representatives from 120 countries adopted the Moscow Declaration, committing themselves to eliminating additional deaths from HIV co-infection by 2020 and achieving synergy in coordinated action against TB and non-communicable diseases.
- A co-infection is when a person suffers from two infections at the same time.
- India is among the signatories to the declaration
What is it?
- The Moscow declaration emphasised the need for fixing multisectoral responsibility towards ending TB by 2035, the global target.
- A national inter-ministerial commission will be set up by 2018 to achieve “fast-tracking universal access to health care through all state and non-state care providers by adopting WHO-recommended TB diagnostics, drugs, technologies and standards of care, and ensuring attention to high-risk groups and vulnerable populations such as migrants, refugees and prisoners.”
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- NOAA is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources and conducts research to provide understanding and improve stewardship of the environment.
- NASA has successfully launched for the NOAA the first in a series of four highly advanced polar-orbiting satellites, equipped with next-generation technology
- The Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) lifted off on a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket California
Significance
- JPSS-1 data will also improve recognition of climate patterns that influence the weather, such as El Nino and La Nina
- JPSS-1 is a state-of-the-art satellite that will provide NOAA with the capability to not only observe the current weather but also be able to create superior weather and climate models, including those for hurricanes and other severe weather.
- This could allow NOAA to be able to predict the development and path of these destructive and deadly storms from five to seven days in advance which could prevent countless injuries and fatalities due to them.
Gleadovia konyakianorum
- Scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic flowering plant that has no chlorophyll, and survives by feeding on another species of plant that does
- The species, named Gleadovia konyakianorum , in honour of the Konyak tribe of Nagas
Details
- It is a holoparasite [complete parasite] that derives its entire nutritional requirement from the host plant, which is a Strobilanthes species.
- The plant was found in the semi-evergreen forest at an altitude of 1,500-1,600 metres,
- Though it has no chlorophyll, the plant has a vascular system and extracts its nutrition from the host plant with the help of a haustorium. A haustorium is a specialised structure with which plant parasites attach themselves to the host plants and derive nutrition.
- Gleadovia konyakianorum is a root parasite that grows up to 10 cm in height, and bears white, tubular flowers. Interestingly, this is only the fourth species from the genus Gleadovia to be found in the world. The other three are Gleadovia banerjiana (discovered in Manipur), Gleadovia mupinense (found in China) and Gleadovia ruborum (discovered in Uttarakhand and also reported from China).
- IUCN: ‘data deficient’ since the species hasn’t been reported elsewhere
What are Parasitic Plants?
- “Parasitic plants are often referred to as curious plants, as they steal their nutritional needs from the host.
- Plant parasites can be stem or root parasites. Common stem parasites in India are Loranthus sp, on Mango trees, and Cuscuta reflexa , a climber.
- Among root parasites are Sapria himalayana , found in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
Titbit
- On 21st November 1997, the working fishermen and women representing World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers from 18 countries met at New Delhi and established the World Fisheries Forum (WFF) advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies. To commemorate this occasion, every year 21st November is celebrated all over the world as World Fisheries Day.
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