Prelims Focus 24th June 2024

Indiconema: A New Freshwater Diatom Genus

In News: Researchers have discovered a new genus, named Indiconema, of the Gomphonemoid Diatom group found in the clean water river of the Eastern and Western Ghats.

• Valve Symmetry: Indiconema differs from other Gomphonemoid diatoms by having a pore discipline at both the top and foot poles, rather than simply on the foot pole.
• Restricted Distribution: The name “Indiconema” reflects its limited distribution inside India.
• Biogeography: One species of Indiconema was discovered in the Eastern Ghats, and another within the Western Ghats.
  • This pattern of sharing endemic factors between  mountain systems is just like what has been discovered for different endemic-rich groups.

67th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

In News: The Global Environment Facility (GEF), in its 67th meeting, approved $736.4 million for nature protection and renewal projects.

• It was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
• Its challenge extends past mere environmental action; it serves as a catalyst for addressing the planet’s most pressing issues.
• Unique Partnership: The GEF collaborates with 18 agencies, consisting of United Nations bodies, multilateral development banks, national comapanies, and global NGOs. Together, they work with 183 nations to address environmental challenges.
• Financial Mechanism: The GEF acts because the financial mechanism for 5 primary global environmental conventions:
  • Minamata Convention on Mercury;
  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);
  • United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD);
  • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD);
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);
• Innovator and Catalyst: The GEF helps multi-stakeholder alliances to Preserve threatened ecosystems on land and in oceans; Build greener towns; Boost food security; Promote clean energy.
• It leverages $5.2 in more financing for each $1 invested.
• GEF Trust Fund: It assists growing countries and economies in transition. It helps them meet the objectives of global environmental conventions and agreements.
• Impressive Impact: Over the past three years, the GEF has furnished more than $22 billion in financing and mobilised another $120 billion for 5,000+ national and regional initiatives.

World Investment Report 2024

In News: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently released the World Investment Report 2024.

• The World Investment Report 2024, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), highlights the continued challenges facing global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. 
• According to the report, global FDI declined by 2% to $1.3 trillion in 2023, as trade and geopolitical tensions weighed on a slowing global economy . 
• However, the report notes that the decline exceeds 10% when excluding large swings in investment flows in a few European conduit economies .
• The report further reveals that FDI flows to developing countries dropped 7% to $867 billion, with declines of 3% in Africa, 8% in developing Asia, and 1% in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
• This downturn in investment was particularly concerning, as new funding for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) sectors declined by over 10%, hampering efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
• The report also highlights a sharp 26% fall in international project finance deals, which are critical for infrastructure investment, affecting the poorest countries the most . However, the report notes that investment facilitation efforts increased, with 86% of measures taken by developing countries being more favourable to investors, in contrast to 57% of less favourable measures in developed countries .

African Trypanosomiasis

In News: As of June 2024, 6 countries have been validated by WHO for eliminating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) as a public health problem: Côte d’Ivoire (2020), Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Uganda (2022) and Ghana (2023).

• African Trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa. 
• It presents in two forms: chronic (T.b. gambiense) in West and Central Africa, and acute (T.b. rhodesiense) in East and Southern Africa. Symptoms start with fever, headaches, and joint pains, progressing to neurological issues like sleep disturbances and confusion. 
• Diagnosis involves microscopic examination and serological tests. Treatment includes Pentamidine, Suramin, Eflornithine, and Melarsoprol. 
• Prevention focuses on reducing tsetse fly contact through protective clothing and vector control. Public health efforts have significantly reduced cases, aiming for eventual eradication.

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