UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

Polaris Dawn & Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty Polar Vortex Big boost to Anime & Manga culture and Creator Economy in India The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) launched India's first comprehensive cancer multi-omics data portal From Lunar Exploration to a National Space Station

Polaris Dawn  was a  private crewed spaceflight  operated by  SpaceX  on behalf of  Shift4  CEO  Jared Isaacman , the first of three planned missions in the  Polaris program . Launched 10 September 2024 as the 14th crewed orbital flight of a  Crew Dragon  spacecraft, Isaacman and his crew of three —  Scott Poteet ,  Sarah Gillis  and  Anna Menon  — flew in an  elliptic orbit  that took them 1,400 kilometers (870 mi) away from Earth, the farthest anyone has been since NASA's  Apollo program . They passed through parts of the  Van Allen radiation belt  to study the  health effects of space radiation  and spaceflight on the human body. Later in the mission, the crew performed the first commercial  spacewalk . Outer Space Treaty: The  Outer Space Treaty , formally the  Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Oute...

The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. It ALWAYS exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. The term "vortex" refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. Many times during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream (see graphic above). This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States. The one that occurred January 2014 is similar to many other cold outbreaks that have occurred in the past, including several notable colder outbreaks in 1977, 1982, 1985 and 1989. There are several things the polar vortex is NOT. Polar vortexes are not something new. The term “polar vortex” has only recently been popularized, bringing attention to a weather feature that has always been present. It is also not a feat...

In a landmark initiative to promote anime and manga culture in India, the  Ministry of Information & Broadcasting  in collaboration with the  Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) , has officially launched the  WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) . This innovative contest is part of the “ Create in India Challenge ”, aiming to nurture local talent and tap into the growing interest in Japanese manga and anime among Indian audiences. About WAM! WAM! offers a unique opportunity for Indian creators to produce localized versions of popular Japanese art styles, catering to both domestic and international audiences. By providing substantial marketing support and opportunities for global recognition, the contest aims to establish a strong platform for creative expression in manga and anime. Anime and manga  or  animanga  for short are forms of  mass media  produced by the  content industry  of  Japan . The  ...

This portal provides  open access to clinical data from Indian cancer patients  that includes DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients. Historically, cancer treatments in India have been based on Western data sets. Such a data may not fit perfectly to Indian Scenerio. Molecular profile of  cancer cases in india are very different from that of western nations. This portal was launched to fill this critical gap. This portal allows development of treatment protocols specifically tailored to Indian Cancer Patients.  Businss Standard

India is charting a bold course in space exploration, with an array of visionary missions and projects approved by the Union Cabinet. These initiatives, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), signal the nation's commitment to becoming a leader in space technology and research. From the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission and Venus Orbiter Mission to the ambitious Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) project, the Government of India is significantly expanding its space program during the Amrit Kaal. These projects aim to enhance India's technological capabilities, foster industry collaboration, and strengthen the country's position in global space exploration. Chandrayaan-4 Mission Chandrayaan-4 mission, aims at developing and demonstrating key technologies required for returning to Earth after a successful lunar landing.  This mission will also focus on collecting samples from the Moon and analyzing them on Earth. Chandrayaan-4 is a critical step toward establishing ...

WHO prequalifies the first vaccine against mpox World leaders on Sunday adopted the Pact for the Future & The Global Digital Compact Quad Wilmington Declaration adopted

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware on 21 September 2024, hosted by the President of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Prime Minister of Australia, H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida also participated. Reiterating that the Quad remains to be a "force for global good,” the Leaders made the following announcements to address the development priorities of the Indo-Pacific region and of the global community as a whole: "Quad Cancer Moonshot”, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region by combating cervical cancer. "Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific” (MAITRI) to enable Indo-Pacific partners to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad initiatives. First-ever "Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” in 2025 to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety. "Quad Ports of th...

World leaders on Sunday adopted the Pact for the Future. It is a landmark declaration pledging concrete actions towards a safer, more peaceful, sustainable and inclusive world for tomorrow’s generations. The Pact’s five broad focus areas include:  sustainable development;  international peace and security;  science and technology;  youth and future generations and  transforming global governance. The Global Digital Compact : The Global Digital Compact is part of the  Pact for the Future , which was discussed and adopted at the  UN Summit of the Future  in September 2024. The Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN. UN News

  The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the MVA-BN vaccine as the first vaccine against mpox to be added to its prequalification list. The prequalification approval is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this vital product in communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak. WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and review by the European Medicines Agency, the regulatory agency of record for this vaccine. The MVA-BN vaccine can be administered in people over 18-years of age as a 2-dose injection given 4 weeks apart. After prior cold storage, the vaccine can be kept at 2–8°C for up to 8 weeks. WHO Prequalification (PQ) and Emergency Use Listing (EUL) are mechanisms used to evaluate quality, safety and efficacy of medical products, such as vaccines, diagnostics and medicines (optional: including biotherapeutics), and product suitability for use i...

APEDA signs MoU with LuLu Group International to promote Indian Organic Products globally India Participates in G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Cuiabá, Brazil Inauguration of Centre for Rural Enterprise Acceleration through Technology (CREATE) at Leh SUBMARINE ESCAPE TRAINING FACILITY – VINETRA COMMISSIONED IN VISAKHAPATNAM Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) Portal launched

  The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India,signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LuLu Group International (LLC), a leading retail chain in the Middle East and Asia, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, Ministry of Economy, UAE, in Mumbai on 10th September 2024. As part of the agreement, LuLu Group will showcase a wide range of certified Indian organic products in its stores across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). APEDA will support these efforts by facilitating connections between organic growers in India including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs)  and cooperatives and LuLu Group. This will ensure that Indian organic products reach a wider global audience. The MoU outlines several key initiatives, incl...

The meeting centered around discussions on four key priority areas for global agriculture: First, sustainability of agriculture and food systems in their multiple paths; Second, enhancing international trade's contribution to food security and nutrition; Third, elevating the essential role of family farmers, smallholders, indigenous peoples and local communities in sustainable, resilient and inclusive agriculture and food systems; Fourth, promote the integration of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture into local and global value chains. PIB

Union Minister for MSME, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi  inaugurated the  Centre for Rural Enterprise Acceleration through Technology ( CREATE ) setup at Leh. CREATE will provide a Pashmina Wool Roving Facility, Training for development of production facility for Essential Oil Extraction from Roses and Other Flowers and Training for development of production facility for Bio-processing of available fruits and other raw materials. The machinery required for Pashmina wool roving has been installed, commissioned and is ready for operation. The Centre will enhance local productivity, product quality, economic potential and improve livelihoods for the local communities. PIB

The Kalvari  Submarine   Escape Training Facility ( Vinetra )  was commissioned on  13 Sep 24  by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, at INS Satavahana, Visakhapatnam.  The facility, aims to enhance the escape capabilities of crew from a distressed Kalvari-class submarine , and has been indigenously designed and developed, keeping in line with the   'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'  initiative, highlighting India's focus on self-reliance in defence capabilities. Constructed by  M/s L&T Defence  as a turnkey project, the Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility is equipped with a five-meter escape tower integrated with an adjacent diving basin. This state-of-the-art facility will be utilized for imparting both basic and refresher escape training to the crew of Kalvari-class submarines, ensuring that they are proficient in escape procedures in the event of a submarine distress situation. ...

BHASKAR means ‘Rising Sun’ has been aptly chosen to be the name of the digital platform . Platform will help bring hope, aspirations and success for the entrepreneurs to kickstart ambitious revolutions. BHASKAR is designed to unify and empower India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem by offering a one-stop solution for seamless collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation. Key Value propositions for BHASKAR: Industry Alliances: By bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, industries, technologies, and regions, the platform creates opportunities for cross-collaboration for all Dynamic Networking: Easily connect and collaborate with like-minded people via personalised dashboards and peer-to-peer connect features that ensure you are always just a click away from your next opportunity Enhanced Visibility: Make yourself visible using profile cards to be discovered across the startup ecosystem Personalised Identification Number: Get your BHASKAR ID that is tied to your prof...