Today's Brief 15/10/2024
- Smriti IASxp
- Oct 15, 2024
- 6 min read
IE Analysis: https://youtu.be/wiKYthHnd-s?si=vLlCWjJ1P_ml5Nm_
JN Analysis: https://youtu.be/fO4D6w7ORi0?si=wBumqJwC6VQlTht_
World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 (GS-3 Sci&Tech): The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) is a key event organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), specifically the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). The WTSA is held every four years and focuses on establishing priorities and work programs related to telecommunication standards for the coming years.
The assembly plays a crucial role in setting global standards that ensure the interoperability of telecommunication networks, services, and equipment across the globe.
WTSA 2024 will be particularly significant due to the rapid advancements in telecommunications technology, including the development of 5G, AI, cybersecurity protocols, and the increasing demand for global digital connectivity. At WTSA 2024, member states, sector members, and various stakeholders from industries, governments, and academia will meet to discuss:
Telecommunication standards: Adopting new recommendations to keep up with technology advancements.
Global coordination: Promoting international cooperation and setting common goals for telecommunication development.
Innovation in telecom: Fostering technological growth, such as AI, IoT, and quantum computing in telecom networks.
Regulatory frameworks: Shaping future regulations and policies for telecommunications to ensure they are inclusive, secure, and sustainable.
Capacity building: Improving skills and technical knowledge in member countries to ensure worldwide adoption of new standards.
SCO (GS-2 ,I&R) : External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will embark on a two-day visit to Islamabad today to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
About:
The aim of the organization is to strengthen good-neighbourly, friendly relations and mutual trust among Member States; to exert common efforts for the protection of regional peace, security and stability; to fight against terrorism, radicalism, separatism, organized crime and illegal migration; to reinforce cooperation in political, economic, scientific, technologic and energy, as well as environmental issues.
The Date of Establishment: 15th July 2001 | The Center: Beijing | Secretary General: Amb. Zhang Ming (PRC- Assumed duties as of 1 January 2022) |
Member States:
People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran*
Observer States:
Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus
Dialogue Partners:
Türkiye, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Saudi Arabia**, Egypt and Qatar
Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 1996 by the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in order to build mutual trust among Member States, to disarm the border regions and to encourage regional cooperation under the name “Shanghai Five”.
In 1996 and 1997, the Heads of States of aforementioned five countries came together and signed, respectively in Shanghai and Moscow, the “Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions” and the “Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions”. In summit meetings between 1998 and 2000 which were held respectively in Almaty, Bishkek and Dushanbe, Member States consulted on ways to increase security in border region, as well as, on political, economic and security issues.
In Heads of State Meeting which was held in Shanghai on 14-15 June 2001, in light of recent developments both in international arena and Member States, it was decided to transform the Shanghai Five into a regional organization in order to carry out a more effective cooperation for combating threats of terrorism, separatism and radicalism.
In this context, a Joint Declaration admitting Uzbekistan as member of the Shanghai Five mechanism was adopted and the Declaration on the Establishment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed by six Member Countries. In addition, “Shanghai Convention on Combatting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism” was signed in the meeting.
In the first Prime Minister’s meeting of SCO which was held in Almaty on 14 September 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding on Creating Better Conditions for Regional Economic Cooperation and Trade, as well as Investments was signed. Moreover, it was declared that the meetings on the level of Prime Ministers of the Member States have become a regular mechanism.
Today, along with other meeting mechanisms, SCO heads of State Summit and SCO Prime Minister’s Council Meetings held once a year constitute the highest level of these mechanisms. Compared with the Heads of State Summit, it is obvious that Prime Minister’s meeting especially addresses development issues and economic cooperation and presents a preparation for the Summit.
With SCO Charter which was signed in St. Petersburg at the SCO Heads of State Summit, on 7 June 2002, its targets, principles, structure, activities, cooperation areas and foreign relations were set.
One of the most important agenda items of the 17th SCO Summit of Heads of State was held on 8-9 June 2017 in Astana, was the enlargement of the Organization. In this framework, the accession of India and Pakistan to the SCO as full members was approved by the Council of Heads of States.
At the Dushanbe Summit of 17 September 2021, Iran has been announced as the nineth member state of the SCO and Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar became Dialogue Partners.
With Dushanbe Summit of 2021, Uzbekistan became the SCO Chair.
3.X-Band Radar (GS-1 Geography , GS-3 Enviornment & Climate C.) : X-band radars operate at the frequency of 8-12 GHz. Due to operating at a smaller wavelength, X-band radars are more sensitive and can detect smaller particles compared to other radar bands. X-band radars are typically used for studies about cloud development and light precipitation due to their abilities to detect tiny water particles and snow.
Doppler radar relies on Rayleigh scattering, when the scatterer is much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation. A radar trying to ‘see’ smaller particles like rain droplets or fog will need to use radiation of lower wavelengths, like in the X-band.
Radar is short for ‘radio detection and ranging’.
The device uses radio waves to determine the distance, velocity, and physical characteristics of objects around the device. A transmitter emits a signal aimed at an object whose characteristics are to be ascertained (in meteorology, this could be a cloud). A part of the emitted signal is echoed by the object back to the device, where a receiver tracks and analyses it.
Weather radar, also known as a Doppler radar, is a common application of this device. The Doppler effect is the change in frequency of sound waves as their source moves towards and away from a listener. In meteorology, Doppler radars can reveal how fast a cloud is moving and in which direction based on how the cloud’s relative motion changes the frequency of the radiation striking it.
4. (GS-3 Sci&Tech)NASA successfully launched a $5.2 billion probe toward Jupiter on Monday using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The mission, starting from the Kennedy Space Center, aims to explore whether Jupiter's moon Europa has a subsurface ocean that could potentially support life. The Europa Clipper spacecraft is set for a five-and-a-half-year journey covering 1.8 billion miles.
If successful, the probe will enter Jupiter's orbit by 2030 and conduct 49 flybys of Europa. These flybys will help scientists investigate if Europa’s ice-covered oceans contain the necessary elements to sustain microbial life.
Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, is a gas giant primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. It has a powerful magnetic field, dozens of moons, and is known for its iconic Great Red Spot, a massive storm that has been raging for centuries. Jupiter's gravitational influence shapes the solar system in significant ways, especially with its many moons.
Among its 95 known moons, the four largest—known as the Galilean moons—are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
These moons were discovered by Galileo in 1610 and are unique in their characteristics:
Io: The most volcanically active body in the solar system, Io is constantly reshaped by its extreme volcanic activity, driven by Jupiter's immense gravitational forces.
Europa: Perhaps the most intriguing, Europa is an ice-covered moon believed to have a global subsurface ocean beneath its frozen crust. Scientists are particularly interested in Europa because its ocean might harbor conditions suitable for life.
Ganymede: The largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede is even bigger than Mercury and has its own magnetic field. Like Europa, it is thought to have a subsurface ocean.
Callisto: Heavily cratered, Callisto is considered the most ancient and undisturbed surface in the solar system. It is also believed to harbor an underground ocean.
Thanks For Visiting!!
Refrence:
Comments