The Value of Biodiversity
While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the international legal instrument for "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources" that has been ratified by 196 nations.

Given the importance of public education and awareness for the implementation of the Convention, the General Assembly proclaimed 22 May, the date of the adoption of its text, as the International Day for Biological Diversity by its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000.

Theme 2018: Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity
2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Since entering into force, the Convention has been implemented through the vision and leadership displayed by countries, non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, the scientific community and individuals alike.

Lionel Messi picked up a record fifth European Golden Shoe after finishing the domestic league campaign with 34 goals.

The Barcelona forward was trailing Mohamed Salah in April, but eight goals in the Argentine's last six La Liga games - including hat-tricks against Leganes and Deportivo - saw Messi finish two clear of the Liverpool winger.

It is the fifth time Messi has claimed the award (2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2016-17), moving the 30-year-old one clear of Cristiano Ronaldo.

CARACAS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Critics at home and abroad on Monday denounced the re-election of Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro as a farce cementing autocracy, while the U.S. government imposed new sanctions on the crisis-stricken oil-producing country.

Maduro, the 55-year-old successor to late leftist leader Hugo Chavez, hailed his win in Sunday’s election as a victory against “imperialism.” But his main challengers alleged irregularities and refused to recognize the result.

In response to the vote, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order restricting Venezuela’s ability to liquidate state assets and debt in the United States, the latest in a series of sanctions that seeks to choke off financing for the already cash-strapped government.

• At least nine people have reportedly died and 25 more have been infected in an outbreak of the Nipah virus in India. 

• Nipah is a deadly virus that can be transmitted between people. It has killed between 40% and 75% of infected people in past outbreaks.

• Fruit bats are the natural host of the disease, and there is no cure or vaccine.

NEW DELHI: Rajinder Singh was on Saturday named president of Hockey India (HI), following Mariamma Koshy's resignation from the post.

Singh, who is the Senior Vice President of HI will take charge as President from today, according to media release.

He was earlier the Treasurer of HI and currently serves as the Treasurer of Hockey Jammu & Kashmir.

New Delhi: Anil Kumar Jha has been appointed as the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of Coal India Limited, the Personnel Ministry said on Friday.

Jha, at present the CMD of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, has been appointed to the post till his superannuation i.e. 31 January 2020, it said in an order.

CIL is a state-owned coal mining company headquartered in Kolkata.

India is the sixth wealthiest country in the world with a total wealth of $8,230 billion, while the US is the richest nation globally, says a report.

According to the AfrAsia Bank Global Wealth Migration Review, the US is the wealthiest country in the world with a total wealth of $62,584 billion, followed by China ($24,803 billion) at the second place and Japan ($19,522 billion) at the third place.

Built in Saint Petersburg, the Akademik Lomonosov is currently moored in Murmansk where it is being loaded with nuclear fuel before heading to eastern Siberia.

On Saturday, head of state nuclear power firm Rosatom unveiled the brown-and-mustard-painted facility in the city’s estuary as an orchestra played the national anthem.

Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev hailed the new power station as “a new world first,” which he said “underlines the undoubted leading role of Rosatom and the Russian nuclear energy sector on the global agenda.”

“I hope today will be a symbolic day for the Arctic,” Likhachev said, adding that Rosatom “is setting a trend, a demand for medium-capacity nuclear facilities, mobile facilities, for many decades ahead.”

The US Senate has approved the CIA's first female director, despite her role in the spy agency's post-9/11 interrogation programme.

Gina Haspel's confirmation in a 54-45 vote follows a partisan fight among senators about the CIA's Bush-era use of techniques such as waterboarding.

Ms Haspel, a CIA veteran, once oversaw a so-called black site in Thailand after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology has decided to adopt the word ‘AYUSH’ in Hindi and English languages for scientific and technical purposes. The “AYUSH” became popular as the acronym for five traditional and complementary systems of medicine, namely Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy and successfully adopted and used in all Government communications. The decision follows a proposal from the Ministry of AYUSH in this regards.

Hailing this decision, Shri Shripad Naik, the Union AYUSH Minister said that it would underline the essential unity of all holistic systems of healing.  He also said that this decision would add strength to the efforts of the Ministry of AYUSH to develop integrated solutions to manage the public health challenges of the Country.

As approved by the Commission, the word ‘ayush’ will have the meaning “Traditional and Non-Conventional Systems of Health Care and Healing which include Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Homoeopathy etc. Following the Commission’s recognition, the word is expected to gain currency in popular usage in a short span of time.