Why in news?

• The N. General Assembly approved a resolution to proclaim March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia every year, starting from 2022.
• The resolution, adopted by the 193-member UN General Assembly, was introduced by Pakistan’s ambassador Munir Akram on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),on March 15, 2022.
• It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 worshippers and wounding 40 others in the terror attack.
• The resolution, introduced by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was co-sponsored by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
• The objective of the day: The main objective of International Day to Combat Islamophobia will be curtailing systematic hate speech and discrimination against Muslims; respect for religious symbols and practices; along with the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.

Why in news?

• India is set to host the 44^th World Chess Olympiad(44th Chess Olympiad) 2022 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The event will be organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE -Federation Intemationale des Echecs) at the convention centre at the Four Points by Sheraton, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• FIDE has approved the bid to host the 44th Chess Olympiad and FIDE Congress 2022 in India.
• The 44th World Chess Olympiad 2022 which was previously scheduled to be held in Moscow, Russia from July 26 to August 8, 2022.
• The FIDE’s Chess Olympiad is a biennial team event, in which teams from around 190 countries compete. The 43rd edition was held in 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.
• 45^th Chess Olympiad is set to be held in Budapest, Hungary in 2024.
• This is the 2nd major global Chess event to be held in India after the World Championship match in 2013.

Why in news?

• The Hungarian Parliament has elected the ruling Fidesz Party lawmaker, Katelin Novak, as Republic of Hungary’s first-ever female President.
• By winning the election, she has become Hungary’s youngest ever head of state, at the age of 44.
• She received 137 votes (a 2/3rd majority) against her opposition rival, Peter Rona, an economist, who received 52 votes.
• She will replace her predecessor, Janos Ader, who has been holding the presidency since 2012 and was also a co-founder of the Fidesz Party.
• Novak will hold the Presidency for a tenure of five years, during which she has the power to temporarily block laws and call referendums.
• Earlier, she served as the Vice President of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party and also as a Minister for Family Affairs.

Why in news?

• Western countries are sending MANPADS to Ukraine for assistance in war.

About MANPADS

• Short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters.
• Can be shoulder-fired, launched from atop a ground-vehicle, fired from a tripod or stand, and from a helicopter or boat.
• Have ‘fire and forget’ guidance systems.

Why in news?

• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is focusing on progressive growth of the seaweed sector.
• Sea-weed culture is also being promoted under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for empowerment of fishermen.
• Seaweed is different from seagrass, as seaweed is a non-vascular, plant-like macroalga which lacks true stem, roots and leaves.
• Seaweeds are considered as superfoods because of their high concentration of vitamins and minerals.
• Seagrass is a vascular plant which has true stem, roots and leaves.

Why in news?

• Ruling has come in the backdrop of petition seeking the right to wear hijabs or head scarves along with uniforms inside classrooms.
• According to the Court, wearing of hijab (head scarf) by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practices in Islamic faith and is not protected under right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of Constitution.
• Also, prescription of school uniform does not violate either right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1) (a) or right to privacy under Article 21.
• Further, restriction against wearing of hijab in educational institutions is only a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible.
• What is the essential religious practice test?
• It was evolved by Supreme Court (SC) in ‘Shirur Mutt’ case (1954) to protect only such religious practices which were essential and integral to the religion.
• Court held that term “religion” will cover all rituals and practices integral” to a religion, and took upon itself the responsibility of determining essential and non-essential practices of a religion.
• This attempt to differentiate essential and non-essential practices was taken up in various judgments.

Why in news?

• Recently, Ukrainian police have accused Russian forces of launching phosphorous bomb attacks in the eastern regions of Lugansk & and Donetsk, collectively called the Donbas.
• International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus shells in heavily populated civilian areas but allows them in open spaces to be used as cover for troops.

About White Phosphorus Bombs

• White Phosphorus:
• It is a colourless, white or yellow, waxy solid. It does not occur naturally. It is manufactured using phosphate rocks.
• It is a highly combustible substance that reacts with oxygen in the air. It can catch fire at temperatures as low as 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature.
• Applications:
• Their primary aim is to create thick smoke that can hide military forces or mark targets.
• Other applications may include as a component in fertilisers, food additives and cleaning compounds. Initially, it was also used in pesticides and fireworks, but many countries have banned its use in several sectors.
• White phosphorus munitions can cause injuries in two main ways: burn injuries and vapour inhalation.
• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, has not listed White Phosphorous in any of the three Schedules of Chemical Weapons.

About Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• It is an international organization established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1997 to implement and enforce the terms of the non-proliferation treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling or transfer of chemical weapons by signatory states.
• By the 2001 Relationship Agreement between the OPCW and the United Nations, the OPCW reports on its inspections and other activities to the UN through the office of the Secretary-General.
• The organisation was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.
• Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits:
• Developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining chemical weapons.
• The direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons.
• Chemical weapons use or military preparation for use.
• Assisting, encouraging, or inducing other states to engage in CWC-prohibited activity.
• The use of riot control agents “as a method of warfare.”

Why in news?

• The country’s first Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK)was launched in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• It is promoted by a not-for-profit foundation set up by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, with a seed capital of  230 crore from the State and Central governments.
• ARTPARK (AI and Robotics Technology Park) along with AI Foundry is going to launch a $100 million venture fund to support AI and robotics innovations in India. The fund will be backed by the government, private companies, and VCs.
• The lab has technical teams working in collaboration with multiple labs at IISc. It will also work with other technical institutes and bodies, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, IIT Jodhpur, the University of Aalto in Finland, Indian Council of Medical Research and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

About the ARTPARK:

• ARTPARK intends to use futuristic technologies to connect the unconnected will work with a focus on creating a globally leading AritificiaI Intelligence and Robotics Innovation ecosystem in India.
• The ARTPARK has the objective of channelizing innovations to create a societal impact by executing ambitious mission-mode R&D projects in healthcare, education, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, retail, and cyber-security aiming to solve problems unique to India.

Why in news?

• The Information Technology (IT) Minister of Karnataka, launched India’s first ever digital water databank ‘AQVERIUM’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• AQVERIUM is an initiative of the Bengaluru-headquartered Digital Startup – AquaKraft Digital Ventures Pvt Ltd, a newly formed subsidiary of AquaKraft Projects Private Limited , the flagship company of AquaKraft Group Ventures.
• The Digital water data bank contains a list of water data from all institutions and sources, which will help in the effective management of water & will help to tackle some common development challenges.
• The bank also provides insights and evidence from research and reliable information for tackling water pollution.
• AquaKraft Group Ventures is offering a unique social franchising model to create ‘water entrepreneurs’ with an objective to make India ‘Water Positive’ by 2030.
• It has been predicted that 60% of districts in India are likely to reach the critical level of groundwater depletion over the next 20 years.
• Availability of water per person has fallen from 4,000 cubic meters in 1950 to around 1,000 cubic meters in 2019.

Why in news?

• Mouling National Park is located in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, in Adi hills of the eastern Himalayas adjoining Siang River valley.
• It forms the eastern part of the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve.
• It was created in 1986.
• The name ‘Mouling’ has been derived from peak Mouling.
• Vegetation: Tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, tending towards wet sub-tropical broad-leaved and temperate forest at the upper reaches.
• Fauna: Red Pandas, Deers, Hoolock Gibbons, Tigers, wild buffalo, panther, elephant, hog dear, barking deer, chestnut-breasted Hill Partridge, Greater spotted Eagle.
• Climate: Extremely humid, with high rainfall and no well-defined dry season.