UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  India’s  4 th  Biennial Update Report (BUR-4)   to the United Nations  Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was submitted on 30 th  December, 2024. The BUR-4 updates the Third National Communication (TNC) and contains the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for the year 2020.  In 2020, India’s total GHG emissions decreased by 7.93 per cent with respect to 2019. The emissions, excluding Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), were 2,959 million tonnes of CO 2 e and net emissions of 2,437 million tonnes of CO 2 e with the inclusion of LULUCF. The energy sector contributed the most to overall emissions (75.66 percent), followed by the agriculture (13.72 percent), Industrial Processes and Product Use (8.06 percent), and Waste (2.56 percent). In 2020, India's forest and tree cover, along with other land use, sequestered approximately 522 million tonnes of CO 2 , equivalent to reducing 22% of the country's total carbon dioxide emiss...

New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by Blue Origin, named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth.[8] New Glenn is a two-stage rocket with a diameter of 7 m (23 ft). Its first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines that are also designed and manufactured by Blue Origin. It is intended to launch from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 (and eventually Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 9),[9] with the first stage landing on a barge called Landing Platform Vessel 1. The inaugural vehicle was unveiled on the launch pad in February 2024. Development of the New Glenn rocket started before 2013 and was formally announced in 2016. The first launch is expected to take place no earlier than 6 January 2025, carrying a prototype Blue Ring spacecraft. This launch will also serve as a National Security Space Launch demonstration mission. Like the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle used for space tourism activities, the New Glenn's first stage has...

The Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope, or KM3NeT, is a European research infrastructure located at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. It hosts the next-generation neutrino telescope with water Cherenkov detectors. When completed, KM3NeT will have a total instrumented volume of several cubic kilometres distributed over three locations in the Mediterranean: KM3NeT-Fr (offshore Toulon, France), KM3NeT-It (offshore Portopalo di Capo Passero, Sicily, Italy) and KM3NeT-Gr (offshore Pylos, Peloponnese, Greece). The KM3NeT project continues the work done for the neutrino telescope ANTARES operated offshore the coast of France between 2008 and 2022. Using KM3NeT, scientists search for neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources like supernova remnants, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae or colliding stars. The telescope is a powerful tool in the search for dark matter in the universe. Arrays of thousands of optical sensor modules detect the faint Cherenkov light in the deep sea from charged parti...

Taking note of the outcomes of the second High-level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028, held in Dushanbe from 6 to 9 June 2022, which support the initiative of Tajikistan on declaring an international year of glaciers’ preservation in 2025, and noting with appreciation the intention to strengthen an international mechanism to facilitate access to accurate and timely information on the cryosphere, UN Decides to declare 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and to proclaim 21 March of each year the World Day for Glaciers, to be observed starting in 2025; Profile of Glaciers: A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. Typically, glaciers exist and may even form in areas where: mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point ...

The General Assembly on Tuesday adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Treaty  aimed at strengthening international cooperation to combat cybercrime and protecting societies from digital threats. It is a Legally binding treaty. It will enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 40th signatory. Extracts from the treaty text: The purposes of this Convention are to: (a) Promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat cybercrime more efficiently and effectively;  (b) Promote, facilitate and strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime; and  (c) Promote, facilitate and support technical assistance and capacity-building to prevent and combat cybercrime, in particular for the benefit of developing countries. Scope of application: (a) The prevention, investigation and prosecution of the criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention, including the freezing, seizure, confiscation and return of the ...

Relevance:  Frito-Lay today issued a recall of a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips that may contain undeclared milk, after being alerted through a consumer contact. Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product. The product included in this recall was distributed to certain retail stores and e-commerce distributors in Oregon and Washington. Consumers would have been able to purchase these chips as early as November 3, 2024. Reason for Recall: Presence of Potential or Undeclared Allergen namely Milk Unreported Allergens: The consumption of meat and poultry products containing ingredients of public health concern, such as Undeclared Allergens, may result in adverse health outcomes for certain individuals. The most common undeclared allergens -- wheat, shellfish, eggs, fish, peanuts, milk, tree nuts, and soybeans -- account for 90 percent of all food all...

  After five years of relentless effort, the northern giant hornet ( Vespa mandarinia ) has been eradicated from Washington State and the United States. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced this landmark achievement today. The announcement marked a significant victory in the ongoing fight against invasive species.  The northern giant hornet first captured national attention in late 2019 when it was detected near Blaine, Washington. Known for its ability to decimate a honey bee colony within hours, the hornet posed a serious threat to pollinators and all the life they support. However, this invasive predator is no longer a threat thanks to the collaborative efforts of APHIS, WSDA, researchers, and the public.  The northern giant hornet was first detected in North America in British Columbia, Canada in August 2019 and confirmed in Washington state in December 2019.  The Asian giant...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, a landmark international treaty aimed at promoting safety of nuclear installations worldwide. On 17 December 2024, Liberia became the latest Contracting Party to the Convention, bringing the total number to 96.   “The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear safety regime. As more countries are embracing nuclear power, their adherence to the convention and its principles is of paramount importance,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. Adopted in 1994 and in force since 1996, the CNS establishes fundamental safety principles and a peer review mechanism that promote continuous improvement in nuclear safety. The CNS is an ‘incentive’ convention prioritizing consensus and participation. Its main dynamic element, the peer review mechanism, provides a platform for exchange of information and experie...

Minorit ies   Rights Day is observed annually on 1 8 th   December  to commemorate the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities in 1992. It serves as an important occasion to raise awareness about the rights of minorities, acknowledge their contributions to Indian society, and continue working toward their protection and empowerment.This Declaration, though non-binding, plays a vital role in shaping the global discourse on minority rights.The Declaration, which outlines key rights such as the freedom to enjoy culture, practice religion, and speak one’s language, marks a crucial moment in international human rights law. Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens, including minorities, ensuring their protection from discrimination and promoting equal opportunity in all spheres of life. India’s commitment to diversity is exemplified in the vibrant cultures, religio...

  In light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development, the United States is designating four entities for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.    Pakistan’s National Development Complex  – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long range missile program – are being   designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or...

IRIS² at a glance The  IRIS² Satellite Constellation  is the European Union’s third flagship, addressing   long-term challenges of EU’s security, safety and resilience by offering enhanced connectivity services to  governmental users. The new multi-orbital constellation of 290 satellites will combine the benefits offered by Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth (LEO) satellites. It is set to provide secure connectivity services to the EU and its Member States as well as broadband connectivity for governmental authorities, private companies and European citizens, while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones . The system will support a large variety of governmental applications, mainly in the domains of surveillance (e.g. border and maritime surveillance), crisis management (e.g. humanitarian aid), connection and protection of key infrastructures (e.g. secure communications for EU embassies) as well as security and d...

The most studied planetary system, aside from our own solar system, lies about 40 light-years away. We've looked at the seven rocky exoplanets orbiting the TRAPPIST-1 star with ground and space telescopes like Spitzer, Kepler, Hubble, and, now, the James Webb Space Telescope. In March 2023, the first science from the Webb telescope was released. An analysis of TRAPPIST-1b, the innermost planet, revealed its dayside temperature and found little evidence of an atmosphere. In a press release on February 22, 2017, NASA announced the discovery of the most Earth-sized planets found in the habitable zone of a single star, called TRAPPIST-1. This system of seven rocky worlds–all of them with the potential for water on their surface – is an exciting discovery in the search for life on other worlds. There is the possibility that future study of this unique planetary system could reveal conditions suitable for life. In February 2018, closer study of the seven planets suggested that some could...

  A new radar satellite supported by the UK was launched into space from French Guiana at 9:20pm GMT on Thursday 5 December. The Sentinel-1C satellite launched on a VEGA-C rocket and will orbit 700km above the Earth’s surface. Part of Europe’s Copernicus programme, it will use advanced radar technology to provide continuous imaging over land and sea, day and night, and even through cloud cover.  The UK’s Earth Observation industry is integral to the Sentinel 1 satellites, with the support of the UK Space Agency.  Airbus Defence and Space (Portsmouth) developed the electronics subsystem of the key Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument aboard the satellite. Honeywell UK was responsible for the receiver of the Automated Identification System (AIS) payload, which will be key for maritime surveillance capabilities. Additionally, the battery for Sentinel-1C was supplied by Enersys ABSL (Abingdon).  Once it reaches its intended orbit, Sentinel-1C will synchronise with S...

 It was eradiated from  U.S. and Central America in the 1960s and 1980s, respectively. But recently officials reported it resurgence accross North America.  New World screwworm (NWS,  Cochliomyia hominivorax ) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people. NWS is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and countries in South America, with cases spreading north to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and now Mexico. Although USDA eradicated NWS from the United States in 1966 using sterile insect technique, there is a constant risk of re-introduction into the United States. To prevent the northward movement of this pest from South America to NWS-free areas in Central and North America, APHIS collaborates with Panama to maintain a barrier zone in eastern Pa...