DAILY GK 10-11 DEC 2024

 DAILY GK 10-11 DEC 2024

1.       COP29 CONDUCTED AT BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN

·         The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29) took place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11th to 22nd November 2024.

·         UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell inaugurated COP29.

·         The event also included the 19th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19), and the 6th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6)

·         The 61st sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 61) will also be conducted alongside the event.

·         The COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan announced that the Baku Finance Goal (BFG) to send USD 1.3 trillion in climate finance every year to developing countries, much higher than the previous USD 100 billion goal.

·         This will help boost global investment.

·         India focused on accountability, green credit, fair financing, and achievable climate goals for its developing economy at CoP29.

·         COP29 adopts new operational standards for global carbon market under Paris Agreement Article 6 to enhance international collaboration for reducing carbon emissions.

·         The world’s largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) announced an ambitious new climate finance goal at COP29, pledging to increase funding for low- and middle-income countries to USD 120 billion annually by 2030.

·         Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh delivers India’s National Statement at the High-level Segment of the CoP29.

·         India’s renewable energy capacity has almost tripled since 2014 and is set to achieve the 500 gigawatts target by 2030.

·         A delegation from Afghanistan has been invited to the COP29 for the first time since the Taliban takeover in 2021.

·         Afghanistan is ranked as the country sixth most vulnerable to climate change

·         Saudi Arabia, has launched its first carbon credit exchange at the COP 29

·         It is managed by the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC), the platform which is designed to strengthen the voluntary carbon market as the country aims for economic diversification under its Vision 2030 plan.

·         The world’s largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) announced an ambitious new climate finance goal at COP29, pledging to increase funding for low- and middle-income countries to USD 120 billion annually by 2030.

·         The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of the Climate 2024 Update highlighted that 2015-2024 period will be the warmest ten years on record.

·         2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record, potentially the first year to surpass the 1.5°C temperature increase over the preindustrial average.

·         The COP29 Presidency launched the Baku Call on Climate Action for Peace, Relief, and Recovery (BCCAP), a aimed at addressing the urgent need of climate change, conflict, and humanitarian needs.

·         The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the “Global Energy Efficiency Alliance” during COP29 with an aim to double global energy efficiency rates by 2030

·         UAE announces world’s first ChatGPT tool for agricultural community

·         2025 UNFCCC COP 30 will be held in Belém, Brazil

·         United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Headquarters – Bonn Germany

 

2.       WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL SOUNDSCAPE

·         Finland launched its first ever national soundscape titled ‘Aania’ on the occasion of the country’s 107th Independence Day.

·         As the first country in the world to introduce a national soundscape

·         The title Ääniä, meaning “sounds” or “voices” in Finnish, offers a musical journey through the nation’s landscapes, seasons, and way of life.

·         According to the 2024 World Happiness Report (WHR), Finland is the happiest country in the world for the 7th year in a row.

 

3.       INDIA ASSUMES 1ST TIME CHAIRMANSHIP OF 68TH UN CND

·         India assumed the Chairmanship for the first time of 68th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). 

·         Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna( Austria) assumed the Chairmanship of the CND.

·         The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and serves as the Governing Body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) headquartered in Vienna.

·         It is composed of 53 Member States elected by ECOSOC for a period of four years.

 

4.       MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE 109TH SESSION 

·         The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) conducted its 109th session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, United Kingdom (UK).

·         The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Mayte Medina of the United States, supported by Vice-Chair, Capt. Theofilos Mozas of Greece.

·         The session approved interim guidelines on the safety of ammonia-fueled ships which will lead to wider adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel.

 

5.       “POLARIZATION” NAMED MERRIAM-WEBSTER’S 2024 WORD OF THE YEAR

·         The word “polarization” was announced as Merriam-Webster Word of the Year 2024.

·         This term gained attraction in 2024, especially during the United States of America(USA) presidential election, which underscored the growing divide in political opinions and beliefs.

·         Polarization, defined as “division into two sharply distinct opposites,” often describes the extreme political, cultural and ideological divides in the USA and globally.

 

6.       INDIA AND NICARAGUA SIGN MOU FOR QIPS

·         The Government of India (GoI) and the Government of Nicaragua (GoN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) aimed at enhancing the socio-economic infrastructure of Nicaragua.

·         Through this initiative, India is actively contributing to global development by prioritizing impactful, time-sensitive projects that address the local needs of Nicaragua.

·         Nicaragua Capital- Managua

 

7.       ICRA ESG RATINGS REPORT 

·         According to the report on ‘SBTi commitments by Indian companies’ released by the ICRA ESG Ratings Limited (formerly known as Pragati Development Consulting Services Limited), India has secured the 6th spot globally in corporate climate action with 127 companies committed to net-zero targets under the  Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi).

·         The United Kingdom (UK) topped the list with 702 companies committed to SBTi targets, while China, the largest global emitter, has less corporate adoption despite contributing 27% of global emissions.

·         Europe leads with 2,998 firms, followed by Asia at 1,846.

·         The report shows that though India is contributing approximately 7% of global emissions, its corporate commitments reflect a growing awareness, though high-emission sectors like power, energy, and cement are still behind in adopting such goals.

 

8.       SIPRI: INDIAN ARMS MAKERS REPORT

·         According to the data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) , combined revenues from sales of arms and military services of the three Indian companies that are placed among the world’s 100 largest arms producers has increased to USD 6.74 billion in 2023, growing 5.8% compared to USD 6.37 billion in 2022.

·         The three companies are – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)(43rd), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) (67th), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) (94th) and are all defense public sector undertakings (DPSUs).

·         The top 5 companies in the list belong to United States of America (USA) namely Lockheed Martin (USD 60.81 billion) on the top followed by Raytheon Technologies Corporation (RTX) (USD 40.66 billion) on 2nd spot, Northrop Grumman (USD 35.57 billion) on 3rd, Boeing (USD 31.1 billion) on 4th and General Dynamics (USD 30.2 billion) on 5th spot respectively.

 

9.       FORBES INDIA’S “SELECT 200 COMPANIES

·         Mumbai based Octanom Tech Private Limited, a leader in financial technology innovation, has been named to Forbes India’s “Select 200 Companies with Large Global Business Potential” at the D Globalist Entrepreneur Mobility Summit (DGEMS) 2024 in New Delhi

·         Octanom Tech’s flagship platform, Hedged.in, is India’s first “Hedged Style” trading solution, empowering traders with low-risk, structured products designed to safeguard against market downturns and volatility.

 

10.    BBC’S 100 MOST INSPIRING WOMEN LIST 2024

·         London (the United Kingdom (UK))-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) released the 12th edition of BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women List 2024.

·         This latest edition of the list has featured 3 Indian women: former civil servant and renowned social activist Aruna Roy;  three-time Olympian-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat, and performer of funerary rites, Pooja Sharma, for their exceptional contributions to social activism, sports and breaking societal barriers.

·         Apart from them, the list has included two Indian-origin women: Sunita Williams, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Astronaut and Sneha Revanur, 20-year old Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert.

·         The theme of the 2024 list is “Resilience”.

 

11.    QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS SUSTAINABILITY 2025

·         According to the 3rd edition of the “QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025” released by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), global higher education experts on December 10 2024, the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) has topped among all Indian universities

·         IIT Delhi secured 171st  position globally with overall score of 80.6. 

·         It has improved its ranking by 255 places compared to 426th spot in last year.

·         It is followed by IIT Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) in Kharagpur, West Bengal (WB) and IIT Bombay (IIT-B) in Mumbai, Maharashtra ranked at 202nd and 234th position, respectively.

·         The University of Toronto, Canada has topped the list as the world’s most sustainable university, followed by the ETH Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland ranked at 2nd position.

·         While, Lund University in Sweden and University of California, Berkeley (UCB), the United States of America (USA), jointly ranked at 3rd spot on the list.

 

12.    KARMAVEER CHAKRA AWARDS FOR 2024-25

·         Rumana Sinha Sehgal, a mentor at Hyderabad (Telangana)-based T-Hub, Akshay Deshpande, the associated startup founders of Switcheko and Abhishek Agarwal, the founder of Goodeebag, have been honoured with the Karmaveer Chakra Awards for 2024-25.

·         These awards were given during the 13th edition of REX ConcLIVE which held in Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

·         Karmaveer Chakra awards were instituted by the Indian Confederation of NGOs (iCongo) in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) in 2008-09.

·         The award is a tribute to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India.

·         These awards recognise those individuals who have brought positive societal change through their work and innovative solutions.

·         Dr. V.V. Majula Kumari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Varanaa’s Healthcare has been honoured with REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship and the Karmaveer Chakra Gold Medal Award for 2024-25. 

·         Eminent entrepreneur, author and philanthropist, Indrani Mukerjee, has been conferred with the prestigious REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship and Karmaveer Chakra Award for 2024-25.

·         Prachi Kaushik, founder and director of VYOMINI Social Enterprise, has been bestowed with REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship and Karmaveer Chakra Award for her work in promoting sustainable sanitation and hygiene practices.

 

13.    TURNER PRIZE 2024

·         Indian-origin Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur has been awarded the prestigious Turner Prize 2024 for her thought-provoking exhibition, Alter Altar.

·         Actor James Norton presented the award along with a prize of Great Britain Pound(GBP) 25,000 (approximately Rs 26.84 lakh) to Jasleen Kaur at the ceremony took place at Tate Britain in London, United Kingdom (UK).

·         The other artists who were shortlisted alongside Jasleen Kaur includes Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, and Delaine Le Bas.

·         Jasleen Kaur’s ‘Alter Altar Exhibition’ reflects themes of identity, migration, and cultural inheritance, drawing inspiration from her family’s journey as migrants to Scotland.

 

14.    2024 OPCW-THE HAGUE AWARD

·         The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was honoured with the “2024 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)- The Hague Award” for its contribution to Chemical Disarmament during the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) held in The Hague, the Netherlands.

·         The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which came into force in 1997, is an international treaty with 193 States Parties, aiming for the total elimination of chemical weapons.

·         The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts in chemical disarmament.

 

15.    ROCHDALE PIONEERS AWARD 2024

·         Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), was honored with the ‘Rochdale Pioneers Award 2024’ by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing the cooperative sector in India.

·         Ariel Guarco, ICA president presented the award to Awasthi during the ICA Global Conference 2024 in New Delhi

·         Awasthi is the 2nd Indian to receive the award after Verghese Kurien, the Father of the white revolution honored in 2001.

·         In December 2024, Dr US Awasthi was also honoured with ‘Fertilizer Man of India’ during the 8th National Convention of Sahakar Bharati at Amritsar, Punjab.

·         According to the World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) Report 2023, IFFCO ranked first among the top 300 cooperatives in the world.

 

16.    INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AWARD

·         Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands, was awarded with the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2023 at the annual IMO Awards Ceremony, held in London

·         The IMO awarded the 2024 Exceptional Bravery at Sea Award to the Captain and crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda and the Captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya.

·         Captain Avhilash Rawat and the crew of the Marlin Luanda were recognised for their exceptional courage and leadership when an uncrewed aerial device struck the tanker on 26th January, 2024.

·         Captain Jorge Fernando Galaviz Fuentes and the crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya were recognized for their heroic efforts during Hurricane Otis, a category five storm that hit Mexico’s Pacific coast on 25th October, 2023.

 

17.    ISSA GOOD PRACTICE AWARD FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC

·         India was honored with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Asia and Pacific 2024.

·         The award was presented by Dr. Mohammed Azman, President of ISSA during the Regional Social Security Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

·         The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) has received 5 Certificates of Merit (CoM) for its innovative and inclusive social security initiatives

·         International Social Security Association (ISSA) Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland

·         Founded – 1927

 

18.    INDIRA GANDHI PEACE PRIZE 2024

·         The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced that Former President of Chile, Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria will be conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2024 in recognition of her exemplary contributions to human rights, peace, and equality.

·         Michelle Bachelet was selected by the International Jury of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, chaired by Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor (NSA).

·         The recipient of the award receives a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.

·         The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to Argentine-Israeli classical pianist Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian peace activist Ali Abu Awwad.

 

19.    GLOBAL NURSING AWARD 2024

·         Nurse Maria Victoria Juan has been honoured with the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024, a prestigious recognition that celebrates exceptional contributions to the nursing profession worldwide

·         Maria is a Consultant at Philippine Army Health Services and a Colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

 

20.    USA APPROVES SALE OF HELICOPTERS TO INDIA NAVY

·         The United States of America (USA) approved a USD 1.17 billion deal under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme to supply advanced communication systems, sensors, and logistical support to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy’s (IN) Sikorsky MH-60R multi-role helicopters.

·         These USA made helicopters are replacing the ageing fleet of Sea King choppers, which served the IN for over 3 decades.

·         The MH-60R is a 4th generation helicopter designed for anti-submarine and surface combat missions, featuring Mk 54 torpedoes for targeting hidden submarines, and Hellfire missiles for air-to-surface strikes.