Relevance IN - Prelims (about ICON space weather satellite) + Mains (GS III Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
What's the NEWS

• A long-awaited NASA mission designed to probe Earth's upper atmosphere has finally taken off after years of delays.
• The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, which was released in midair from its carrier plane, a Stargazer L-1011.

• ICON will make its way to Earth orbit on a mission to study the planet's ionosphere, a massive layer of our atmosphere that overlaps with the boundary of space.
• The spacecraft's measurements will help scientists better understand the link between space weather and terrestrial weather, and how the two interact in the ionosphere.
• This mission is operated by the University of California. It was originally planned to launch in late 2017 but delayed due to the problems with the Pegasus XL rocket.
• Ionosphere Connection Explorer (ICON) is equipped with 780-watt solar arrays to power the instruments.

• The ionosphere lies between 80 to 400 Km above the mesosphere.
• It contains electrically charged particles, which are called ions and hence it is known as the ionosphere.
• Radio waves sent by Earth return to Earth through its layers. The temperature starts increasin as the height increases right from the Ionosphere.
• The amount of ionization in the ionosphere, the height and thickness of the layers, the number of particles located in and the independent electrons, generally grows and shrinks.

• The Earth's atmosphere has 6 different layers such as Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Exosphere.

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Noble peace prize)
What's the NEWS

• Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has been awarded Nobel Peace prize 2019 for his efforts to resolve 20-year-long border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
• The announcement was made by the Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.
• Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has been recognized with the highest peace honour for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, especially for his active role in resolving Ethiopia's border dispute with neighbour Eritrea.

• The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded in recognition of all those who have contributed towards the peaceful reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the east and north-east African regions.
• The Ethiopian PM, Abiy Ahmed Ali had in close cooperation with the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki secured a peace agreement to end the long-drawn standoff between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
• Abiy Ahmed Ali is the first Nigerian to ever receive a Nobel Prize.
• The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was the 100th Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded.
• The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad to recognize their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Science and Technology
UNICEF Launches Cryptocurrency Fund, Will Accept Donations Through Bitcoin and Ether

Relevance IN - Prelims (about UNICEF cryptocurrency fund) + Mains GS III( Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life, Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
What's the NEWS

• The Children's agency of the United Nations, known as UNICEF, has now become the first UN organization to hold and make transactions in cryptocurrency.
• The UN Children's agency has established UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund, making UNICEF able to receive, hold and disburse donations via cryptocurrencies.

Know! more about it

• UNICEF joins a number of aid agencies that accept donations in cryptocurrencies, including the American Red Cross and the UN World Food Programme.
• UNICEF will now receive and disburse donations in cryptocurrency through the newly launched UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund. UNICEF will be carrying out transactions on Ether and Bitcoin platforms.
• The first donation to the UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund will be received from the Ethereum Foundation.

Social Issues/Justice
International Day of Girl Child 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims (about international day of girl child) + Mains ( GS II Social justice)
What's the NEWS

• Since 2012, October 11 has been marked as International Day of the Girl and aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls' face.

Know! more about it

• It aims at promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
• The observation supports opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide.
• Access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage are a few areas of inequality faced by girls around the world.
• The day also reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research.
• The theme for 2019 International Day of the Girl is Girl Force: Unscripted and Unstoppable.
• In 1995, some 30,000 women and men from nearly 200 countries arrived in Beijing, China for the Fourth World Conference on Women.
• They were determined to recognise the rights of women and girls as human rights. The conference saw the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: the most comprehensive policy agenda for the empowerment of women.
• The years that followed the conference saw women pressing the agenda forward, leading global movement on a variety of issues.
• This year, the theme, "GirlForce: Unscripted and unstoppable", celebrates achievements by, with and for girls since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
  
  

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS