Today in History (December 14^th, 1900)

On This Day, German physicist Max Planck “gave birth” to quantum theory on this day in 1900. He presented his theoretical explanation of the spectrum of radiation emitted by an object that glows and introduced the notion of light as quantized energy packets to the German Physical Society.

Summary of Today’s News

Golden Triangle Opium Economy Report by UNODC

• Sees Steady Growth in 2023 according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• Golden Triangle comprises illicit opium production region covering Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
• Whereas Golden Crescent comprises illicit opium production areas in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Myanmar is now world’s top opium source after the decline in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (UNODC)

• UN agency established in 1997.
• Addressing issues related to drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption, and terrorism on a global scale.
• Functions: implementation of:
• United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

International Union for Conservation of Nature

• It has released an updated Red list of threatened species
• Created in 1948 (It is not an organ of the United Nations).
• It is an Union with various members comprises government and civil society organizations.
• It provides public, private, and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation.
• About Red list It is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
  • Provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and trade, threats, and conservation actions.
  • Categories according to the Decreasing order of risk: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, and data deficient.

Appointment Of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs)

• CEC and other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 will replace the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
• The Bill deals with the appointment, salary, and removal of the CEC and ECs.

Key Points

• Appointment: CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of
  • Prime Minister,
  • A Union Cabinet Minister
  • Leader of Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.
• Search Committee: Headed by the Law Minister would propose a panel of names to the selection committee.
• Allowance: Allowances and service conditions of the CEC and ECs would be on par with those of Supreme Court judges.
• Removal: CEC removal should follow the process akin to the removal of Supreme Court judges.
• Also, ECs cannot be removed from office without the CEC’s recommendation.
• Protection of CEC and EC: If the CEC and EC give orders during duty, the court cannot take action against them.

Election Commission of India

• It is an autonomous constitutional authority under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution
• It comprises a CEC and two ECs.
• It administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.

Biocomputer

• Some researchers have developed a hybrid biocomputer
• This computer can complete tasks such as voice recognition.
• In “biocomputers” brain cultures grown in the lab are coupled to real-world sensors and input/output devices.
• A new area of research called “organoid intelligence” aims to create “biocomputers”.