Table of Contents
Historic handshake
Trump and Kim have traversed a remarkable distance; they must build on it.
There must be an inquiry into how allocations for organ transplants are made in Tamil Nadu
In 2017, foreigners got about 25% of all heart transplants in the State and 33% of lung
transplants- People with kidney, liver, heart and lung failure to extend their lives.
Continue
Heart and lung transplants are expensive and less widely available, compared with
kidney and liver procedures.
State governments, which have responsibility for health care provision, are expected
to ensure that the organs that are altruistically donated by families of brain-dead
people are given to recipients ethically, and as mandated by law.
The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu has served as a model for other States
Organs go to the most suitable recipients on the rule based parameters
Tamil Nadu offers a subsidy for poor patients for a liver transplant.
Any inquiry into the allocation- Nothing should be done to erode the confidence
of the kin of brain-dead people who donate organs with no expectation of gain.
Russian games in Syria
When President Vladimir Putin decided to send Russian troops to Syria in September 2015,
the regime there of President Bashar al-Assad was on the brink of collapse.
The Islamic State (IS) had already declared Raqqah in eastern Syria as its de facto capital.
Rebels and jihadists had captured eastern Aleppo, Damascus suburbs, Eastern Ghouta
Three years later, Mr. Assad is safe, while his regime has recaptured most of the
territories it lost in the early days of the war.
A successful partnership- Both Russia and Iran have played a crucial role in this turnaround.
Though Russian air power was the most critical factor
Iran-trained militias, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, fought alongside the Syrian army
on the ground against the rebels and jihadists.
Continue
Russians and Iranians had different goals in Syria- For Mr. Putin, the Syrian intervention
was a big gamble- bolster Russia’s position in West Asia (Syria hosts a Russian naval base
at Tartus) and send a message to his rivals in the West.
Mr. Putin has achieved his immediate goal- But in the long run, he doesn’t want Russia
to get stuck in Syria, like the Soviet Union or the U.S. later got caught up in Afghanistan
Iran does not want to lose its only ally in the region and a vital link with the Hezbollah.
But in the long run, Iran wants to build permanent bases in Syria, stretching its military
influence from Tehran.
Iran’s plan was to apply strategic pressure on Israel by building more military infrastructure
and deploying Shia militias closer towards the Israeli-occupied territories of Syria
When the war was on in full swing, these apparent differences were played down.
Continue
Some cracks- With the war winding down
Crisis escalated despite Mr. Putin’s stance when Israel started directly attacking Iranian
positions within Syria.
Interestingly, when the attack was under way, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
was in Moscow.
He watched Russia’s Victory Day parade in Red Square
In May, immediately after Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the multilateral Iran
nuclear deal, Israel launched another major attack against Iranian target.
Mr. Putin hasn’t done anything to defend his allies-The increasing crack May Mr. Putin called
for all foreign troops(Include Iran’s) to leave Syria once the war is over.
Iran Said- it would remain in Syria “as long as the Syrian government wants Iran to help it”.
Continue
Mr. Putin may be balancing his relations with several players for now to avoid a conflagration
Tehran is Moscow’s ally and partner, but Russia either doesn’t want to or is not in a
position to defend Iran’s interests in Syria.
This is the dilemma that confronts Mr. Putin: how he can restore Russia’s lost glory in the new
Cold War if he cannot even defend the interests of his partners in a country (Syria) where
he appears to be in control.
A plastic charter
Mandatory segregation and recycling of plastic waste must be implemented
Toothbrush your Great grandfather used- is damaging the earth
It’s lying somewhere in the earth,
Floating in the ocean, or
Been broken down into microparticles and in the food chain
The best way to reduce plastic pollution is to reduce and phase out its consumption
India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules (published in March 2016) called for a ban
on plastic bags below 50 micron thickness and a phasing out, within two years, of
the manufacture and sale.
More than 20 Indian States have announced a ban on plastic bags.
Cities such as Bengaluru announced a complete ban.
Continue
The exceptions are plastic for export, packaging material for use in forestry, milk packets and
hospitals.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report has said that this ban is barely effective
Citizens need to be aware of these rules, governments need to work with citizens
Companies need to be held accountable in terms of their environmental and social responsibilities- We also need strategies to deal with the plastic
India generates an estimated 16 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually.
If sold at the global average rate of 50 cents a kg- Generate a revenue of ₹5•600 crore a year.
Why then is most of this waste around us? In order to realise the potential for recycling,
waste must first be segregated at source.
This segregated waste should be then transported and treated separately.
Continue
Waste collection systems based on extended producer responsibility (EPR) either through
their own distribution channels or with the local body concerned
Instead, these companies can collectively implement EPR by geographically dividing a
region into zones and handle the waste generated in their designated zones.
This strategy was used in Switzerland
Canadian company monetises plastic waste in novel ways.
It has one of the largest chains of waste plastic collection centres, where waste can be
exchanged for anything (from cash to medical insurance to cooking fuel).
It is time we rethink, reduce, segregate and recycle every time we encounter a piece
of plastic so that it stops damaging our environment and our lives.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1-Trump-Kim meet ends with promise
North pledges to move towards denuclearisation; U.S. assures its old foe of security
guarantees.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
India set to miss key target for Japan-backed bullet train project
India is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion
bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government
officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most
ambitious projects.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
RBI blames PNB board for fraud
Low recoveries of NPAs: RBI data
Non-bailable warrants against Nirav, kin
ISRO offers battery technology to firms
Transfer of lithium ion know-how to help electric vehicle start-ups
After Nipah, dengue scare in Kerala
As many as 180 suspected and 14 confirmed cases have been reported since June 1.
Map Practice
Last Day- Q’s- Answers…
Not-proliferation Treaty signed in 1968.
And total member are 190
India, Pakistan, North Korea, South Sudan, Israel) are not members of NPT.
There are 4 grand slams
1)- Australian open-playing at hard court – on mid January.
2)- French open – playing at clay Court – on may or June.
3)- Wimbledon open – playing at grass Court on June.
4)- US open – playing at hard court on August or September.
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