Short News

• African Union suspends Niger over Coup.
• African Union (AU):
  • AU is a continental body which consisted of the 55 member states (including Niger) that make up the countries of the African Continent.
  • Launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity.
  • It aims to promote unity, cooperation and development among African nations.
• African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) 
  • It is AU permanent decision-making body for conflict prevention, management, and resolution. 
  • It is a collective security and early warning system designed to help African countries respond quickly and effectively to conflict and disaster circumstances. 

• Japan has decided to dispose of treated radioactively contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Reasons: 

• More than 1.3 million tonnes of radionuclide-contaminated water have been stored on-site for the past 12 years in tanks, but space was running out.
• Nuclear Disaster: A massive earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi plant’s cooling systems, causing three of its reactors to melt and contaminating their cooling water.
• International Atomic Energy Agency in July concluded that the release, if conducted as designed, will cause negligible impact on the environment and human health.
• Opposition: The move has been opposed by the country’s neighbours along with major concerns by the fishing industry over potential effects on marine life.

• Indian Coast Guard and Philippines Coast Guard signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhanced maritime cooperation.
• Aim: It aims to enhance the professional linkage between the two coast guards in maritime law enforcement, maritime search & rescue, and marine pollution response.
• Significance: Enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation to ensure safe, secure and clean seas.

• Recently, the Navies of India, Japan, Australia and USA conducted the 27th edition of Malabar Exercise on the East Coast of Australia.
• Malabar Exercise:
  • It began in 1992 between India and United States.
  • The exercise has evolved in scope and partnerships and now includes Japan and Australia.

• Recently, India clarified that no restrictions on non-basmati parboiled rice exports will be introduced.
• Parboiled rice (Converted Rice): 
  • It is rice that has been partially boiled in the husk.
  • Parboiling rice makes it easier to remove the husk of the rice before eating it.
  • Compared to white rice, parboiled rice has fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates, more fiber, and more protein. 

• The government is working on the “Heal by India” initiative to train and deploy nurses and healthcare professionals worldwide.
• Aim: Create a pool of skilled workers and make India the Care Capital of the world.
• Ministry Of Skills Development: It will provide training and other requirements for the movement of Indian healthcare workers abroad.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) will provide technical support for the scheme.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’s (ABDM) registry will provide data on healthcare personnel.
• Verified healthcare professionals to Include: Doctors, nurses, dentists, AYUSH professionals, allied health professionals, pharmacists, etc
• India has been ranked 10th in the Medical Tourism Index for 2020-2021 out of 46 destinations by the Medical Tourism Association.