TNPSC Current Affairs November 06, 2019

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs Nov 06, 2019 (06/11/2019)

Topic: New Inventions on Science and Health

China proposes to treat Alzheimer’s with new drug

China recently announced that a new drug, meant to potentially treat Alzheimer’s disease, will be available to Chinese patients by the end of this year. Called GV-971 or “Oligomannate”, it is a seaweed-based drug, administered orally.

What is Alzheimer’s?

It is a progressive brain disorder that typically affects people older than 65. When it affects younger individuals, it is considered early onset.

The disease destroys brain cells and nerves, and disrupts the message-carrying neurotransmitters. Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s loses the ability to perform day-to-day activities.

Topic: Records and Events, Latest Diary of Events

Kolkata students create Guinness World Records for largest astrophysics assemble

The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes was successfully achieved by Kolkata students at Science City, Kolkata.

The record was attempted on the first day of 5th India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 in which over 1,598 students participated. The session was dedicated to Meghnad Saha and Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.

Spectroscopes are used by Astronomers to know details such as temperature, chemical composition, etc. of celestial objects hundreds or millions of light years away from Earth.

Moreover, a small personal model of advanced spectroscopes can be easily made by anyone using a box made of cardboard that has a very narrow window used to channel light into spectroscope.

Then a piece of a Compact Disc is used to split the light by a process called diffraction.

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

First BIMSTEC Ports Conclave at Visakhapatnam

Between November 7 and November 8, 2019, the Ministry of shipping is hosting the first ever BIMSTEC Ports’ Conclave. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an international organization that involves South East Asian and South Asian countries.

India’s growing interests in the region makes the conclave crucial and significant. Also, the conclave will be a path way for India’s maritime security measures and its interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Topic: International Diary of Events

US exiting the Paris Agreement

United States initiated the process of leaving the Paris Agreement, notifying the United Nations of its withdrawal from the landmark climate deal. The withdrawal will take effect one year from delivery of the notification.

After it leaves, the US will be the only country left out of the global protocol. Syria and Nicaragua, the last remaining countries who were earlier holding out, also became signatories in 2017.

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement of 2016 is a historic international accord that brings almost 200 countries together in setting a common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions in an effort to fight climate change.

The pact seeks to keep global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, and to try and limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To this end, each country has pledged to implement targeted action plans that will limit their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Agreement asks rich and developed countries to provide financial and technological support to the developing world in its quest to fight and adapt to climate change.

How does a country leave the Agreement?

Article 28 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to leave the Paris Agreement and lays down the process for leaving.

A country can only give a notice for leaving at least three years after the Paris Agreement came into force.

This happened on November 4, 2016. Therefore, the US was eligible to move a notice for leaving on November 4 this year, which it did.

The withdrawal is not immediate, however. It takes effect one year after the submission of the notice. It means the United States will be out of Paris Agreement only on November 4 next year.