1. International Tiger Day: 29 July.
International Tiger Day is being celebrated today. Global Tiger Day is celebrated every year on 29 July to raise awareness about tiger conservation. In Madhya Pradesh, State Tiger Foundation Society of Forest Department is organizing wall painting competition in 6 cities to raise awareness and support for tiger conservation. AIR correspondent reports that students and general public will take part in the contest to be held in Raisen, Sehore, Betul, Chhindwada, Panna and Satna towns.
"Madhya Pradesh had 257 big cats in 2010. The number went up to 308 in the last tiger count in the country held in 2014. India’s track record with tiger populations has been encouraging. India is home to 70 percent of tigers in the world.
In 2006, there were 1 thousand 4 hundred 11 tigers which increased to 1 thousand 7 hundred 6 in 2010 and 2 thousand2 hundred 26 in 2014. The total number of wild tigers has risen to 3 thousand 8 hundred 90 in 2016 according to World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum. The number is expected to increase in the new tiger counting, which started in January 2018.
2. World Day Against Trafficking In Persons: 30 July.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, observed on 30 July:
Trafficking in persons is a vile crime that feeds on inequalities, instability and conflict. Human traffickers profit from peoples’ hopes and despair. They prey on the vulnerable and rob them of their fundamental rights.
Children and young people, migrants and refugees are especially susceptible. Women and girls are targeted again and again. We see brutal sexual exploitation, including involuntary prostitution, forced marriage and sexual slavery. We see the appalling trade in human organs.
Human trafficking takes many forms and knows no borders. Human traffickers too often operate with impunity, with their crimes receiving not nearly enough attention. This must change.
The United Nations is committed to advancing action to bring traffickers to justice while protecting and supporting their victims. The rights of victims must come first — be they the victims of traffickers, smugglers or of modern forms of slavery or exploitation.
In their proposed Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to be adopted in December, Member States have also demonstrated resolve to prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration.
On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us come together around the key issues of prevention, protection and prosecution to build a future where this crime cannot exist.
3. US Elevated India’s Status To STA-1 To Ease Export Controls For High-Tech Product Sales.
India today welcomed the US` decision to ease export controls for high technology product sales to it, saying the move will further boost collaboration between the two countries in defence and certain other areas.
The Trump administration announced yesterday granting India the status of Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country, the only South Asian nation to be given the designation along with the US` NATO allies like South Korea, Australia and Japan.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar called Washington`s decision a logical culmination to India`s designation as a major defence partner of the US and a "reaffirmation" of its "impeccable record" as a responsible member of the concerned multilateral export control regimes.
The STA-1 status will help India getting critical technology from the US in the defence and certain other key areas.