Also in News

• Ministry of Education (MoE) launched SWAYAM Plus Platform.
• SWAYAM is Massive Open Online Course platform providing educational opportunities for learners.

• About SWAYAM Plus platform 
  • In alignment with National Education Policy 2020, it will now include courses supporting industry needs that enhance learners’ employability in collaboration with industry leaders.
  • It features innovative elements like multilingual content, AI-enabled guidance, credit recognition, and pathways to employment
  • IIT Madras has been appointed as nodal agency for implementing it.
  • Funded by MoE, Department of Higher Education.

• Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of 554 Railway stations under AMBS.

• About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
  • Launched under Ministry of Railways, it aims to enhance and modernize railway stations throughout Indian Railways network. 
  • Stations will have modern passenger amenities like roof plaza, inter modal connectivity, kids play area, kiosks, etc. 
  • Design of station buildings inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
  • It emphasizes integrating stations with surrounding city areas on both sides, providing facilities for individuals with disabilities, implementing eco-friendly solutions etc.

• WTO and International Trade Center (ITC) launched a USD 50 million global fund called WEIDE Fund.

• Objectives of Fund: To assist women-led businesses and entrepreneurs in developing economies and least-developed countries in adopting digital technologies and expanding online presence.
• ITC is the joint agency of UN and WTO, fully dedicated to supporting small businesses of developing countries to trade.
  • Originally created by General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1964.

• African Union established Africa Club [also known as Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI)] at its 37th Summit.

• About Africa Club
  • Coalition of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AMFIs) to address shortcomings in global and continental financial architecture.
  • Seeks to introduce innovative financial instruments and provide a venue for debt management discussions.
  • Core membership: African Export Import Bank, Trade and Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, African Reinsurance Corporation, etc.
  • Membership will be open to all African Multilateral Financial Institutions.

• European Parliament adopted NRL to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea.
• NRL will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives, and enhance food security.
  • It is a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which calls for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems.

• Objective: Enable long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature.

• Implementation: EU countries are expected to submit National Restoration Plans to the Commission within 2 years of the Regulation coming into force.

• At Climate and Clean Air Ministerial 2023, Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launched Clean Air Flagship.

• Clean Air Flagship is aimed to
  • Achieve cleaner air, consistent with improved WHO air quality interim targets; 
  • Reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants simultaneously with other harmful pollutants;
  • Maximize co-benefits by improving agricultural productivity, economic development and overall quality of life.

• RCPs have emerged as one of the latest approach to determine emission scenario.

• About RCPs
  • RCPs describe four different 21^st century pathways of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and atmospheric concentrations, air pollutant emissions, and land use.
  • Developed using Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) as input to a wide range of climate model simulations to project their consequences for climate system.
  • These climate projections, in turn, are used for impacts and adaptation assessment.

• Belgium has become the first country in Europe to recognize ‘ecocide’ as a national as well as an international crime.

• Ecocide: It means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.
  • Term was invented by American Biologist Arthur Galston in 1970.
• India is yet to make it an offense.

Sweden (Capital: Stockholm)

• Sweden is set to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

• Political Boundaries
  • Located on Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe.
  • Land border: Finland and Norway.
  • Maritime borders: Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
  • Bounded by Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, Skagerrak, and Öresund straits.

• Geographical features
  • Highest point: Kebnekaise.
  • Largest lake: Vänern.
  • Major Rivers: Torne, Dalälven, Ume.
  • Natural resources: Iron ore, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver, Tungsten, Uranium, etc.