Short News
Short News
U.S. Sanctions International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Context (TH): Washington penalized ICC President Tomoko Akane and prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye over investigations involving non-member state officials.
- Sanction Framework: Executive Order 14203 uses IEEPA authority to freeze assets, restrict visas, and block global financial access.
- Established by Rome Statute (1998), Hague-based tribunal operates on Principle of Complementarity as last-resort court.
- Lacks retroactive jurisdiction (post-July 2002); UN Security Council can refer or defer cases under Article 13(b).
#RACEIAS #LucknowIAS #KanpurIAS #KapoorthalaLucknow #IndiraNagarLucknow
Banni Grassland
- Context (TH): Gujarat introduced 20 blackbucks into Kutch's Banni Grassland to restore indigenous herbivore populations and boost ecosystem health.
- Asia's vast natural ecosystem hosts Maldhari pastoralists rearing Banni buffaloes, Kharai camels, and Kankrej cattle amid Prosopis juliflora threats.
- Formed via Indus River sediment deposits, this Protected Forest (1955) features unexplained Chir Batti (ghost lights) optical phenomena at night.
- Selected by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for cheetah reintroduction; features Chhachh and Dhand seasonal desert wetlands.
#RACEIAS #AlambaghLucknow #IASCoachingKanpur #UPSCCoachingKanpur #BestIASInstitute
Reusable Rockets
- Context (ET): China successfully completed its first land recovery of an orbital booster, recapturing the Zhuque-3 first stage using landing legs.
- LandSpace-developed Zhuque-3 utilizes methane-liquid oxygen fuel and grid fins for atmospheric control, drastically cutting launch costs and space debris.
- SpaceX Falcon 9 achieved the first commercial orbital-class vertical landing (2015) using Vertical Take-off, Vertical Landing (VTVL) technology.
- ISRO advances indigenous reusability via RLV-TD winged vehicle and ADMIRE testbed for future Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV).
#RACEIAS #BestUPSCCoaching #RACEIASLucknow #RACEIASKanpur #CivilServicesExam
UN Medal to Indian Peacekeepers
- Context (AIR): UNMISS awarded the UN Medal to 210 Indian peacekeepers in Juba for distinguished international service.
- India serves as UNMISS’s largest troop contributor, deploying 1,775 personnel for peace operations and crisis response.
- Historical contribution began in 1950 during the Korean War; India deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit (2007) to Liberia.
- Operations fall under UN Charter Chapter VI (peaceful settlement) and Chapter VII (enforcement action) guided by the Department of Peace Operations.
#RACEIAS #UPSC #CivilServices #IASPreparation #UPSCPreparation #GovernmentJobs #UPSCAspirants
National Sports Awards 2025
- Context (PIB): The Youth Affairs Ministry announced 17 Arjuna Awards, 5 Dronacharya Awards, and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar to Army Paralympic Node.
- Notably, no athlete received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India's peak athletic honor, marking only its third omission since 1991.
- Instituted in 1961, Arjuna Award evaluates 4-year consistent performance; Dronacharya Award (1985) honors elite coaches for international success.
- Conferred annually by the President of India on August 29 (National Sports Day), celebrating hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand's birthday.