Lecanorchis taiwaniana, is one of the smallest orchid in terms of size and duration of bloom to be recorded botanicallyin India.
It was recently discovered in the state of Assam.
It is a mycoheterotroph, one of two types of parasitic plants that have abandoned photosynthesis.
Northeast India has rich orchid wealth in the country, having 800 of some 1,300 species.
About 300 species are found in the Western Ghats and 200 in the north-western Himalayas.
World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated in May month each year to highlight the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
This year highlighted the impact of plastic pollution on the migratory birds health which affects wide range of species – Whales, turtles, Fish and birds.
It is organised by 3 environmental organisations,
The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
The African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
Environment for the Americas (EFTA).
CMS and AEWA are intergovernmental wildlife treaties administered by UN Environment.
CMS a.k.a Bonn Convention, aims to conserve terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range.
It was entered into force in 1979 and currently it has 127 parties.
AEWA is dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds that migrate along the African-Eurasian Flyway.
It covers 255 species of bird ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle.
Currently, 78 countries and EU are part of this agreement.
Monkeypox Virus
Singapore has recently reported its first case of the rare monkeypox virus.
Monkeypox, a virus like the human smallpox which was eradicated in 1980.
It does not spread easily from person to person but can in rare cases be fatal.
Transmission is usually via close contact with infected animals such as rodents and monkeys and is limited between people.
This viral infection has only been documented outside of Africa in 3 countries – US, UK and Israel.
It typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks, starting as a fever and headache and progressing through to small bumps called pustules that spread over the body.
WTO
It operates a global system of trade rules, acts as a forum for negotiating trade agreements, it settles trade disputes between its member countries and it supports the needs of developing countries.
WTO officially commenced under the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
It is created by Uruguay round of negotiations and established in 1995. HQ - Geneva.
The trade agreements are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their parliaments.
It has 164 members and 22 observer governments, with Afghanistan and Liberia being the latest to join.
The members need not have to be fully independent states.
Even customs territory with full autonomy in the conduct of their external commercial relations can join with the consent of other members. eg: Hong Kong.
Recent developments - India has recently hosted Mini-Ministerial meeting of World Trade Organisation in New Delhi.
It is an informal meeting of 50 WTO members to deliberate upon ways to create a positive atmosphere for carrying forward the mandate of WTO.
It focused on the deadlock in WTO’s dispute settlement body and attempts by richer nations to deny developing countries access to certain trade benefits.
US has consistently blocked the appointment of judges in dispute settlement body.
The lack of judges on the 7-member body has become a serious concern since it is the principal body tasked with arbitration between nations on trade disputes.
Dispute Settlement Body in WTO
Dispute Settlement Body establishes “panels” of experts to consider a case.
It accepts or rejects the panels’ findings.
The panel’s report can only be rejected by consensus in DSB, hence its conclusions are difficult to overturn.
It monitors the implementation of the rulings and recommendations, and has the power to authorize retaliation when a country does not comply with a ruling.
Appeals to the panel ruling are dealt by the permanent 7 member Appellate Body broadly representing the members.
DSB has to accept or reject the appeals and again the rejection is only possible by consensus.
