Targeting UPSC CSE

 The WHO established its emergency use listing ( EUL) process to help poorer countries without their own regulatory resources, quickly approve medicines  of new diseases like Covid19,which otherwise could lead to delays. The UN health agency, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure and distribute vaccines to poorer countries , to ensure shots don't go only to wealthy nations. COVAX alliance has agreements for nearly 2 billion doses, with first deliveries due in early 2021.

 Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum for cooperation and development aspect of Arctic. It consist of 8 Arctic States, 6 Permanent Participants ( representing indigenous groups), working groups and Observer States. Source About Arctic Home to 40 different indigenous groups , whose economic, cultural and way of life is in danger of being swept away. Increasing Human encroachment will also upset the region. Large parts of it are under the sovereignty of the 5 Littoral states — Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark (Greenland) and the US Issues Navigation conditions are dangerous and restricted to the summer. Lack of deep-water ports, a need for ice-breakers, shortage of workers trained for polar conditions, and high insurance costs add to the difficulties. Mining and deep-sea drilling carry massive costs and environmental risks. Unlike Antarctica, Arctic isn't a global common and there is no overarching treaty that governs it, only the UN Convention of Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).  C...

 The requests came during the exchange of the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen by both countries on the first day of every calendar year as part of a practice under the framework of a 2008 agreement.

 GAVI is a   public - private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries GAVI has Observer Status at World Health Assembly. He will represent South East Area Regional Office (SEARO) / Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency representing India from 1-Jan-2021 until 31-Dec-2023.

  The IOSCO works closely with the G20 nations and the Financial Stability Board (FSB), in setting up the standards for strengthening the securities markets as Global Standard setter for Securities sector IOSCO is the international organisation bringing togeher World's Securities Regulators, covering more than 95% of worlds's securities markets. SEBI  is a  member  of the  IOSCO  Board, the governing and standard-setting body of the  IOSCO , which is comprised of 34 securities regulators.

Fighting erupted in 2011 after brutal repression of government protests. Deadliest year was 2014, more than 76K people died. Syria is a unitary republic. Bashar al-Assad - Syrian President.

 renewed push to take forward military modernisation plans amid a number of territorial and maritime disputes. its second aircraft carrier, the Shandong , which was the first indigenous aircraft carrier. It is already been deployed in the Taiwan Straits and in the South China Sea, where tensions with the U.S. have flared and is likely to be combat ready next year. Shandong joined  Liaoning, a  retrofitted soviet era cruiser and commissioned in 2012. Two larger aircraft carriers are being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard near Shanghai, likely to be launched in 2021.

 The opening of the missions will help expand India’s diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations, enable growth of bilateral trade, investment and economic engagements, facilitate stronger people to people contacts, bolster political outreach in multilateral fora and help garner support for the foreign  policy objectives.

 Eleven Opposition parties, including Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PMLN), have formed a grand alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM ), which has been staging protests for months against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government (his party, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf).  At Larkana, the PPP’s Bilawal BhuttoZardari and the PMLN’s Maryam Nawaz Sharif gave Mr. Khan a January 31 ultimatum to quit and call fresh elections. If he does not do so, they have threatened to launch a “long march to Islamabad”, which could shut down the capital city and worsen the crisis.

  “Transport  Bubbles ” or “ Air Travel  Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international  flights  are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. source: Transport bubbles