Champions of the Earth

Recently Madhav Gadgil is conferred with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s ‘Champions of the Earth’ for the year 2024.

• Gadgil honoured in ‘Lifetime Achievement’ category for protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement.
• Champions of the Earth’ is the UN's highest environmental honor, to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors and from civil society.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation

Recently DGCA issues show-cause notice to Akasa Air over plane maintenance lapses.

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
• The headquarters are located in New Delhi with regional offices in the various parts of India.
• It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.
• It also co-ordinates all regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain

Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain died as a result of complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Ustad Zakir Hussain, a tabla maestro, has received four Grammy Awards throughout his career.
• He also received the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards.
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung condition with unknown cause in which the lungs' air sacs become scarred and fibrous.
• This causes symptoms such as increased breathlessness, a persistent cough, weight loss, and other complications.
• IPF is more prevalent in men and current or former smokers.
• It is a very serious condition, with many patients dying within three to five years of being diagnosed.

Cyclone Chido

• It is a Category 4 cyclone.
• It wreaked havoc in Mayotte, a small French Indian Ocean territory.
• It made landfall near Pemba, in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Recently, WTTC said that the Indian tourism sector is expected to double in size to USD 523 billion in the next 10 years.

• WTTC is the only global body representing the Travel & Tourism private sector and its numerous industries.
• It is a non-profit membership-based organization.
• It promotes sustainable growth for the Travel & Tourism sector, working with governments and international institutions to create jobs, drive exports and generate prosperity.
• According to WTTC the tourism sector in India provides employment to 45.39 million people or 9.2% of the Indian workforce.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Recently, Britain joined the CPTPP as a member country.

• CPTPP evolved from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the US withdrew, with the remaining countries adopting this agreement.
• It is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 12 member countries.
• 11 Members – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
• All 11 countries are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
• Recently joined by – Britain.