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2021-06-11 11:32:35 Recently, China hosted a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

The meeting marks the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue.

With this meeting China looks to deepen its economic ties with the region as well as push back the renewed effort at regional engagement from the US, as well as from the QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework) grouping.

◦ QUAD earlier this year came out with a regional vaccine initiative.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations
About:
◦ It is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation.

◦ It was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

◦ Its chairmanship rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.

members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam..

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2021-06-11 11:28:18 Addu Atoll:

Located in Maldives.
Apart from its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, Addu is the second largest city in the archipelago, home to over 30,000 people.

Why in News?

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the Maldives has made no decision on opening an Indian consulate in its southern Addu Atoll.

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2021-06-09 11:59:29 CSE Interview schedule UPSC Open / Comment

2021-06-05 11:55:39 The last US probe to visit the planet was the Magellan orbiter in 1990.

Now, NASA has announced two new missions to Venus. These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world, capable of melting lead at the surface.

Davinci+:
The Davinci+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) mission

Veritas (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy):
This mission will map the planet’s surface to understand its geological history and investigate how it developed so differently than Earth.

Historic missions to Venus:
1 Magellan – a Nasa mission that ended in 1994.
2 Venus Express– A European mission- focused on atmospheric science.
3 Akatsuki– Japanese spacecraft- focused on atmospheric science.

Future missions:
The European Space Agency (Esa) is evaluating a Venus mission, called EnVision, alongside two astronomy proposals – Theseus and Spica. Other concepts are also being proposed to Nasa.

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2021-06-05 11:49:17 Indemnity from liability:

Amid an acute vaccine crisis in the country, India is expected to grant indemnity to foreign vaccine makers including Pfizer and Moderna which would make it easier for their Covid vaccines to come to India.

•Serum Institute has become the latest pharma company to ask for indemnity from liability, stating that all vaccine manufacturers, whether Indian or foreign, should be protected against legal suits for any severe side effects.

What is indemnity clause?
indemnity means security against a loss or other financial stress.
• In legal terms, it means a contractual obligation of one party to compensate another party due to the acts of the former.

• The clause is commonly used in insurance contracts.

the case of India, if the government gives an indemnity to foreign vaccine makers to roll out their vaccine in the country, the government, and not the vaccine maker, would be liable to compensate any citizen who claims to have side effects after taking the vaccine jab.

What are ‘Bridging trials’?
‘Bridging trials’ are localised clinical trials which generate data related to the impact of foreign medicines/vaccines on the indigenous population before they are rolled out for the public. These trials are important in ascertaining the efficacy and potential side-effects related to the medicine/vaccine.

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2021-06-04 06:30:06 #feedback for virtual library and reading sessions!

Join virtual library everyday from 9am to 9pm,..link will be given everyday in both of our channels

see pinned message for rules of library

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2021-06-02 11:29:03 Recently, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab has developed a first-of-its-kind IoT (Internet of Things) device – AmbiTag that records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines and even body organs and blood.

The device has been developed under Technology Innovation Hub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) and it's Startup ScratchNest.

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2021-06-02 11:17:17 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):

Context:
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is attempting to mediate to solve the crisis in Mali.

What’s happening in Mali?
Since 1960, when Mali gained independence from France, there have been five coups — and only one peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to another.

Recent coup: Nine months ago, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown in the wake of mass anti-government protests. Last week, the announcement of a new cabinet was made that excluded two key military leaders. Following this, the army has detained the President and the Prime Minister.

About ECOWAS:

• It is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa.
• Established in 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos.

• The goal of ECOWAS is to achieve “collective self-sufficiency” for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union.

• It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region.

• Considered one of the pillar regional blocs of the continent-wide African Economic Community (AEC).

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2021-06-02 11:15:00 YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) Scheme:

Ministry Of Education has launched YUVA To Mentor Young Authors.

• The scheme seeks to mentor authors under the age of 30 and train them to promote reading, writing and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally.

• A consolidated scholarship of Rs50,000 per month for a period of six months per author will be paid under the YUVA Scheme.

• YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav).

• The National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education is the Implementing Agency.

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2021-06-02 11:13:26 Places in News- Cali:

Cali is the second-largest city in Colombia by area and the third most populous.

It is the only major Colombian city with access to the Pacific Coast.

Cali is located in the Cauca Valley to the west of the Cauca River.

Why in the News?

The Colombian Army has tightened its control over Cali following the latest anti-government protests.

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