2022 UN Ocean Conference

• The overall theme of the Conference was: “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions.”
• The UN Ocean Conference concluded, with governments and heads of state agreeing on a new political declaration to Save Our Ocean.
• Recognizing a “collective failure to achieve Ocean related targets” so far, leaders renewed their commitment to take urgent action and to cooperate at all levels, to fully achieve targets.
• The signatories emphasized the particular importance of implementing the Paris Agreement of 2015, and last November’s Glasgow Climate Pact to help ensure the health, productivity, sustainable use, and resilience of the ocean.
• India committed to a Coastal Clean Seas Campaign and will work toward a ban on single use plastics.
• The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) aims to achieve the science we need, for the ocean we want.

Iran applies to join BRICS group of emerging countries

• Iran, which holds the world’s second-largest gas reserves, wants to join the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• The term BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the startling rise of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The BRIC powers had their first summit in 2009 in Russia. South Africa joined in 2010.
• Argentina had also applied to join. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, currently in Europe, has in recent days reiterated his desire for Argentina to join BRICS.
• China has by far the largest economy in the BRICS grouping, accounting for more than 70 of the group’s collective 27.5 trillion US dollars in economic might. India accounts for about 13 per cent, with Russia and Brazil each accounting for about seven per cent, according to IMF data.
• BRICS account for more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and about 26 per cent of the global economy.

NASA successfully launches a rocket from Australia’s remote Northern Territory

• According to Equatorial Launch Australia, the rocket blasted off from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Dhupuma Plateau, near the township of Nhulunbuy.
• The rocket is expected to travel more than 300 kilometres into space on its mission to observe the Alpha Centauri ''A'' and ''B'' constellations, the nearest star systems to the Earth.
• Australia has a unique connection to Alpha Centauri. The Alpha Centauri can only be seen from the Southern Hemisphere and is one of the “pointers” to the Southern Cross constellation depicted on the nation’s national flag.
• This Launch also made history for Australia as the first commercial space launch in the country. According to NASA, it was the first of three launches, with a further two planned for 4th and 12th of July.

Centre amends Foreign Contribution Regulation Act allowing relatives to freely send Rs ten lakh to India

• The amended rule now allows relatives to send 10 lakh rupees without informing the government. If the amount exceeds, the individuals will now have three months to inform the government against 30-days earlier.
• The amended rule also gives more time to the organisations to inform the government about opening of bank accounts for utilization of funds received under ‘registration’ or ‘prior permission’ category.
• A provision where an organisation/individual receiving foreign funds had to declare such contributions every quarter on its official website has also been done away with.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing.

• The summit was held in virtual format under the theme of ''Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development''.
• China is the chair of the 14th BRICS Summit happening this year which assumes importance as this was the first BRICS Summit after Russia-Ukraine war began and Russia is currently under severe economic sanction by the west led by the US.
• President Xi Jinping also hosted the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in Beijing. The Dialogue was held in virtual format under the theme of ''Foster a Global Development Partnership for the New Era to Jointly Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development''.

Beijing Declaration

• The two day summit concluded with the Beijing Declaration.
• The declaration says that the BRICS countries support talks between Russia and Ukraine. They discussed concerns over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed support for United Nations, UN agencies and Red Cross to provide humanitarian assistance.
• The BRICS declaration also stated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. The summit called for finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework.

International Day of the Seafarer 2021

• It is celebrated on the 25 of June each year to pay respect to Seafarers and sailors who help the entire world function by conducting sea transport.
• The day was proposed by International Maritime Organization in 2010 to celebrate the contribution of the seafarer to the world economy and civil society.
• Almost 90 per cent of the world’s goods trade are transported by ships and behind these ships are the seafarers who work relentlessly to ensure the smooth flow of trade via water.
• The theme of this year is ''Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future. The theme seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.