First Command and Control Compatibility Board meeting between India & U.S. held in New Delhi

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The first Command and Control Compatibility Board (CCCB) meeting for 2024 between India and the U.S. was held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from 04-07 June 2024.  The meeting had participation of a 29 member United States delegation led by Mr Paul Nicholson,  Executive Director, US INDOPACOM and a 38 member Indian delegation led by Brigadier Rahul Anand of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

The CCCB is the Technical Expert Group formed under Article XI of the Communication Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) between India and USA, and is held twice a year.  After signing of the historic agreement in September 2018, this is the seventh such  meeting between both nations to calibrate, reinforce and achieve steady progress in the bilateral Defence partnership.

During this four day interaction, the Subject Matter Experts from both sides had several rounds of extensive discussions to understand interoperability scenarios and operational communications needs. Focused discussions with the US delegation were helpful in working out mutually agreed solutions for the current communications interoperability needs of the Indian Tri-Services.  The successful outcome of this meeting is a true reflection of the strengthening relationship between the militaries of India and US.

State of the Ocean Report 2024:

The Report aims to support the identification of policy and management priorities and focus areas for research. Its findings should stimulate research and policy actions contributing to the 2030 Agenda, the Climate Change and Biodiversity conventions, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Framed around the seven Outcomes of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), the Report covers physical, chemical and biological parameters describing the state of the ocean, summarizes threats posed to the ocean, illustrates access to observation infrastructure, data and information and provides new insights on ocean literacy, indigenous and traditional knowledge.

Key messages include:

• Global trends are detected but important to consider local changes
• Ocean observation is critical infrastructure to manage risk and meet future demands of sustainable ocean industries.
• Access to knowledge remains unequally distributed.
• Marine protected areas, coastal protection and marine spatial planning are important tools, if applied in the context of sustainability, to address ocean change.
• Collaboration between all types of knowledge holders, governments and private sector is critical to increase ocean knowledge and understanding.

     Biopharmaceutical Alliance

      Aim of the Alliance:

  The alliance aims to coordinate bio policies, regulations, and research and development support measures among participating countries. Inaugural meeting held in San Diego during the Bio International Convention 2024, emphasized the importance of a reliable and sustainable supply chain. The initiative originated from discussions between South Korea and the U.S. and expanded to include Japan, India, and the EU.

Drug supply shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic

1. Vaccines: Shortages of Covid-19 vaccines occurred globally, impacting various countries’ vaccination efforts.
2. Therapeutics: Drugs such as Remdesivir, used for treating severe Covid-19 cases, experienced shortages in many countries.
3. Medical Oxygen: As COVID-19 cases surged, many countries faced shortages of medical oxygen, crucial for treating severe respiratory symptoms.
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Shortages of PPE, including masks, gloves, and gowns, occurred worldwide, posing risks to frontline healthcare workers.

Free equitable and fair drug supply ensures:

1. Access to essential medicines for all populations.
2. Availability of affordable treatments, especially in developing countries.
3. Equitable distribution of medications, reducing disparities in healthcare.
4. Promotion of public health by addressing global health challenges.
5. Supports disease prevention, treatment, and eradication efforts worldwide.

 India as pharmacy of the world:

India has earned the title “Pharmacy of the World” due to its robust generic pharmaceutical industry, supplying affordable and quality medicines globally. This reputation grew during the HIV/AIDS pandemic when Indian companies provided affordable antiretroviral drugs to African countries. India’s generic industry became a major supplier after the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.