Doha amendment to Kyoto protocol:
- The Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997, is an international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized nations agreed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels.
- It is operational since 2005.
- A group of rich and industrialized countries were assigned emission reduction targets with the first commitment period of 2005-2012.
- The Doha amendment was made to Kyoto protocol in 2012 to extend the obligations of the developed countries for the second commitment period of 2012-2020.
- It requires ratification from a total of 144 of the 192 parties of the Kyoto Protocol to become operational.
- As only 75 countries have so far ratified the Doha amendments it could not be enforced.
- China, Poland, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia are some of the countries that ratified Doha amendments.
- India is expected to ratify it this month.
- US have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and Canada withdrew from Kyoto protocol in 2012.
ATM machine on Warship:
- INS Vikramaditya is the largest warship and latest aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.
- INS Vikramaditya has a new ATM machine with other transaction facilities like deposit and transfer, installed onboard by SBI.
- This is to enable 1500 personnel of the ship to manage their domestic financial requirements and money transactions at their own convenience
New Programme under National Health Mission:
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is launching population based prevention, screening and control programme for five common non-communicable diseases i.e Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cancers of oral cavity, breast and cervix.
- There are many prevention strategies.
- Population based prevention strategies target the whole population e.g a mass-media anti-smoking campaign.
- These interventions are a one size fits all type, with no allowance for targeting specific populations.
- While these programs are usually expensive, they are quite economic when calculated on a cost-per-person basis.
- Population-based prevention strategies include:
- legislation
- media-based strategies (including mass media campaigns and reduction in the advertising and promotion of alcohol and tobacco)
- drug education (including school drug education)
