Why is it in the News?

India is working with like-minded countries to promote regulated tourism in Antarctica as a steady increase in the number of tourists threatens to harm the fragile ecology in the White Continent.

About the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting:

• The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) is the annual meeting of the Parties to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty.
• The meeting serves as a platform for the exchange of information, discussion of common interests, and promotion of the principles and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty.
• The first ATCM was held in 1961, and initially occurred every other year, though the frequency has since increased.
• During the ATCM, representatives of the member countries address various issues related to Antarctica, such as environmental protection, scientific research, and tourism regulation.
  • Key agenda items include strategic planning for sustainable management of Antarctica and its resources, policy, legal, and institutional operations, and biodiversity prospecting.
• The ATCM is organized by the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, which is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was established in 2004.
  • The Secretariat is responsible for facilitating communication and information exchange among the parties involved in the Antarctic Treaty System.
• In recent years, the ATCM has been hosted by various countries, with India hosting the 46th meeting in 2024.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty will jointly organise the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) from 20 to 30 May 2024 at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre (LBICC) in Kochi, India.

What is the Antarctic Treaty?

• The Antarctic Treaty is an international agreement that aims to preserve and protect the Antarctic continent and its surrounding waters for scientific research and peaceful purposes.
• Signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 countries, the treaty came into effect on June 23, 1961.
• The treaty establishes Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to scientific research, and it designates the area south of 60°S latitude as a region free of military and nuclear activities.

Key aspects of the treaty include:

• • Freedom of scientific research and exploration, with cooperation among signatory nations
  • Exchange of scientific information and personnel between treaty member nations
  • Prohibition of military activities, such as the establishment of military bases or weapons testing
  • Prohibition of nuclear explosions and disposal of radioactive waste
  • Acknowledgement that no new territorial claims can be made on the continent
  • Designation of Antarctica as a "Special Conservation Area" to protect its ecosystems and native species
• Currently, 54 countries have ratified the Antarctic Treaty, and 29 of these countries have Consultative Party status.
  • Consultative Parties have the right to participate in decision-making processes related to the management and governance of the Antarctic region, while Non-Consultative Parties are encouraged to engage in scientific research and exchange information.
• On 12 September 1983, India became the fifteenth Consultative Member of the Antarctic Treaty.
• It participates in the decision-making process along with the other 28 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
• India’s first Antarctic research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983.
• At present, India operates two year-round research stations: Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012).
• The permanent research stations facilitate Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica, which have been ongoing annually since 1981.
• In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty.

Why is it in the News?

In 2023, India overtook Japan to become the world’s third-highest producer of solar power, according to a report by international energy analytics agency Ember recently.

About Global Electricity Review 2024:

• The Global Electricity Review is published by Ember, a leading climate and energy think tank focused on accelerating the global transition to clean energy.
• The Global Electricity Review 2024 offers an in-depth analysis of the global electricity landscape in 2023.
• Drawing from a vast dataset encompassing 80 countries representing 92% of global electricity demand, and historical data from 215 countries, the report provides a robust and comprehensive examination of the current state of the electricity sector.
• The report's objective is to evaluate the progress made in transitioning the world's electricity systems towards cleaner, low-carbon sources, with a focus on limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Key Findings from the Report:

• Record Solar Energy Generation: Solar energy accounted for a record 5.5% of global electricity in 2023, solidifying its position as the fastest-growing electricity source for the nineteenth consecutive year.
• Renewables Surge: Renewable sources accounted for 30% of global electricity, marking a significant increase from 19% in 2000. Solar and wind power drove this expansion, with low-carbon sources contributing to nearly 40% of global electricity generation in 2023.
• Fossil Fuel Decline Forecast: The report predicts a decline in fossil fuel generation in 2024 and beyond, indicating a possible peak in global fossil fuel production in 2023.
• China's Dominance: China emerged as a significant contributor to renewable energy, accounting for 51% of the global solar generation increase and 60% of new global wind generation in 2023.

India-Specific Insights from the Report:

• India's Rise in Solar Generation: In 2023, India surpassed Japan to become the world's third-largest solar power generator, climbing from its ninth position in 2015.
  • While India's installed solar capacity ranks fifth globally, its rapid growth demonstrates significant progress in harnessing solar energy.
• Share of Solar Energy in India's Electricity Mix: India generated 5.8% of its electricity from solar energy in 2023.
  • This substantial contribution highlights the increasing role of solar power in meeting the country's energy demands.
• India's Contribution to Global Solar Growth: India experienced the world's fourth-largest surge in solar generation in 2023, adding 18 TWh to its capacity.
  • Alongside China, the United States, and Brazil, India accounted for 75% of global solar growth in that year.
• Solar Generation Growth Since 2015: Global solar generation in 2023 was six times higher than in 2015, with India witnessing a remarkable seventeen-fold increase.
• India's Renewable Energy Target: India has committed to tripling its renewable capacity by 2030, aiming for 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity.
  • This ambitious target will require a significant acceleration in annual capacity additions.

Why is it in the News?

Google Deepmind has unveiled the third major version of its “AlphaFold” artificial intelligence model, designed to help scientists design drugs and target diseases more effectively.

About AlphaFold 3:

• AlphaFold 3 is a major advancement in artificial intelligence created by Google's DeepMind in collaboration with Isomorphic Labs.
• It's essentially a powerful tool that can predict the structures and interactions of various biological molecules such as:
• Predict structures of biomolecules: Unlike previous versions that focused on proteins, AlphaFold 3 can predict the 3D structure of a wide range of molecules, including DNA, RNA, and even small molecules like drugs (ligands).
  • This is a significant leap in understanding how these molecules function.
• Model molecular interactions: AlphaFold 3 goes beyond just structure prediction.
  • It can also model how these molecules interact with each other, providing valuable insights into cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

The potential applications of AlphaFold 3 are vast. It has the potential to revolutionize fields like:

• Drug discovery: By understanding how drugs interact with their targets, researchers can design more effective medications.
• Genomics research: AlphaFold 3 can help scientists understand the function of genes and how mutations can lead to disease.
• Materials science: By modelling the interactions between molecules, scientists can design new materials with specific properties.
• AlphaFold 3 is a significant breakthrough and is freely available for non-commercial use through AlphaFold Server.
• This makes this powerful tool accessible to researchers around the world,  potentially accelerating scientific advancements.

Why is it in the News?

The Widal test's tendency to produce inaccurate results is clouding the understanding of India's typhoid burden, leading to increased costs, and exacerbating antimicrobial resistance risks.

What is the Widal Blood Test?

• A Widal test is a serological diagnostic test for typhoid fever.
• It helps evaluate the level of antibodies produced by the body in response to the Salmonella bacterial infection that causes typhoid fever in patients.
• Widal blood test is also known as a typhoid blood test report, as it is widely used for diagnosing typhoid fever.
  • The symptoms of typhoid fever may be similar to those of other diseases, which can make the diagnosis of typhoid difficult without proper testing.
• Typhoid fever is a severe illness caused by a bacterium called Salmonella Typhi.
• This bacterium affects the gastrointestinal system and causes a range of symptoms such as high fever, diarrhoea or constipation, headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and red spots.
• The bacteria usually enter the body through contaminated food or water.
  • Typhoid requires prompt treatment to prevent further complications such as severe intestinal perforation or bleeding.
• The Widal blood test is a quick and easy serological test that can help confirm or rule out whether a fever is due to a typhoid infection.
• Typically, typhoid symptoms appear within 6 to 30 days of exposure to the bacterial infection.
• The Widal test is designed to detect antibodies against O (somatic) and H (flagellar) antigens that cause the infection and typhoid fever.
• Infection through these antigens produces specific antibodies in response.
• The Widal blood test analyses the interaction between these two antigens and the antibodies produced in the patient's body through a blood sample.
  • Detecting the presence of these antibodies in the Widal blood test indicates a bacterial infection.
• However, it has several limitations and has been phased out in many countries due to its potential for inaccuracy.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against relying heavily on the Widal Test because various factors can influence its results.
  • For example, a single positive result does not definitively confirm an active typhoid infection and a negative result does not necessarily rule it out.
• Additionally, obtaining an accurate diagnosis requires testing at least two serum samples taken 7-14 days apart, which can be time-consuming and often impractical.
• In areas with a continuous high burden of typhoid, baseline antibody levels may already be elevated, complicating the interpretation of results without knowing the appropriate cut-off values.
  • Furthermore, cross-reactivity with antibodies produced against other infections or vaccinations can lead to false positives.
  • Prior antibiotic therapy can also impact antibody levels, resulting in false negatives.
• Despite its accessibility and historical significance, the Widal Test's limitations emphasize the need for more accurate and reliable diagnostic methods for typhoid fever.

Why is it in the News?

The African Union condemned Wednesday the Israeli military's moves into southern Gaza's Rafah, calling for the international community to stop "this deadly escalation" of the war.

About the African Union (AU):

• The African Union (AU) is a continental organization comprising 55 member states, representing the countries of the African continent.
• Established in 2002, it succeeded the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was founded in 1963.
• The primary objective of the AU is to promote unity, cooperation, and development among African nations while advancing the continent's global interests.
• Guided by a vision of "An Integrated, Prosperous, and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena," the AU plays a critical role in fostering collaboration and progress across the continent.
• To realize its objectives and attain the Pan-African Vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, the AU developed Agenda 2063, a strategic framework for Africa's long-term socio-economic and integrative transformation.
  • This ambitious agenda emphasizes the importance of collaboration and support for African-led initiatives to ensure the aspirations of the African people are achieved.
• The African Union is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where it functions as a central hub for decision-making and policy development.

The African Union (AU) operates through a structured framework aimed at efficient decision-making and implementation. Its key components include:

• Assembly: Comprising the heads of state and government of member countries, the Assembly serves as the highest decision-making body within the AU.
• Executive Council: Comprised of foreign affairs ministers, the Executive Council focuses on policy matters and offers recommendations to the Assembly.
• AU Commission: Headquartered in Addis Ababa, the AU Commission serves as the administrative arm responsible for executing the decisions of both the Assembly and the Executive Council.
• Peace and Security Council: This council is entrusted with the vital task of preserving peace and security across the continent, addressing conflicts and promoting stability.
• Additionally, the AU structure fosters the active involvement of African citizens and civil society through institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament and the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), ensuring broader participation and representation in the union's endeavours.