Current Affairs – 10 May 2024
United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund
Recently, India contributed $5,00,000 to UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund, reaffirming unwavering commitment to global fight against terrorism.
About United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund:
- It was established in 2009 and transferred to UN Office of Counter- Terrorism (UNOCT) in 2017.
- Who can contribute? The Fund accepts contributions from Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, private institutions and individuals.
- Contributions may be unearmarked or earmarked for one of UNOCT’s global programmes or specific initiatives.
- India’s contribution would support UNOCT’s global programmes — mainly Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (CTTP).
- They are aimed at building capacities of the member states of eastern and southern Africa to combat the critical issues of financing of terrorism and prevent the movement and travel of terrorists.
Key facts about UN Office of Counter- Terrorism:
- It was established on 15 June 2017 through the adoption of UN General Assembly
- Functions
- Provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system.
- Enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
- Strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States.
- Improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts.
- Ensure that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.
Batagay Crater
According to a new study a huge crater in Siberia’s permafrost, is growing by 35 million cubic feet every year as the frozen ground melts.
- Batagay Crater, also known as the “gateway to the underworld,” is located in Russia’s Sakha Republic in the Far East.
- It is the world’s largest permafrost crater, resembling a megaslump with a rounded cliff face.
- The crater was first observed on satellite images in 1991 after a section of hillside collapsed in the Yana Uplands of northern Yakutia, Russia.
- Scientists attribute the formation of the crater to melting permafrost, which had been frozen since the Quaternary Ice Age around 2.58 million years ago.
- Permafrost is defined as any ground that remains completely frozen at 32°F (0°C) or colder for at least two consecutive years.
- Permafrost is most commonly found in regions with high mountains and at Earth’s higher latitudes, near the North and South Poles.
- It covers extensive areas of the Earth, with almost a quarter of the land area in the Northern Hemisphere having permafrost underneath
Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)
The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) has adopted a work plan focused on assessing country landscapes, drafting policy frameworks, and conducting biofuel workshops.
- The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) is a multi-stakeholder alliance comprising Governments, International Organizations, and Industries.
- Launched during the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, it is an initiative led by India aimed at uniting the largest consumers and producers of biofuels to advance their development and deployment.
- The alliance seeks to position biofuels as a crucial element in the energy transition while fostering job creation and economic growth.
- Significance lies in strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuels trade, sharing policy lessons, and providing technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide.
- GBA intends to accelerate global biofuel uptake by promoting capacity-building, technological advancements, and sustainable utilization across the value chain.
- It aims to develop, adopt, and implement internationally recognized standards, sustainability principles, and regulations to incentivize biofuel adoption and trade, serving as a repository of knowledge and an expert hub.
- Currently, 24 countries and 12 international organizations have committed to joining the alliance.
What is Biofuel?
- Biofuel is a fuel produced from biomass within a short time frame, contrasting with the slow natural processes involved in fossil fuel formation.
- Different generations of biofuels exist:
- First generation: Derived from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Examples include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, and Biogas.
- Second generation: Produced from non-food crops and waste biomass, such as cellulosic biofuels. Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen and biomethanol.
- Third generation: Produced from micro-organisms like algae.
- Fourth generation: Aims not only to generate sustainable energy but also to capture and store CO2.