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- Twenty-two members of the Hakkipikki tribal community, hailing from Channagiri taluk in Davangere, Karnataka, have been fined and ordered to leave Gabon due to recent policy shifts enacted by the government of the African country.
- About the Hakki Pikki Tribe:
- The Hakki Pikki people (where 'Hakki' in Kannada means 'bird' and 'Pikki' means 'catchers') are a semi-nomadic community traditionally involved in bird catching and hunting. The Hakki Pikkis are among the significant tribal groups in Karnataka. Apart from Karnataka, they are also found in the western and southern states of India, primarily near forested regions. According to the 2011 census, there are 11,892 Hakki Pikkis in Karnataka, with large populations residing in districts such as Davangere, Mysuru, Kolar, Hassan, and Shivmogga. They are officially recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India.
- Language:
- The tribe's native tongue, referred to as 'Vaagri' by researchers, is listed as an endangered language by UNESCO.
- Many members of the tribe are also fluent in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.
- Occupation:
- With the tightening of wildlife protection laws, the Hakki Pikkis transitioned from hunting to selling spices, flowers, Ayurvedic products, and herbal oils.
- In addition to these endeavors, they often take on various odd jobs, including fieldwork and sharpening tools such as knives and sickles while traveling through towns.
- The community is well-regarded for its traditional knowledge of indigenous medicine, developed over many years living in dense forests.
- They now travel internationally, particularly to Africa, where they sell these natural products as more affordable alternatives to Western medicine.
- Rituals and Customs:
- The Hakki Pikkis adhere to Hindu traditions and celebrate various Hindu festivals.
- Their social structure is clan-based, and they practice endogamy within their clans, preferring cross-cousin marriages.
- The society follows a matriarchal system, where the groom gives dowry to the bride’s family.
- A unique custom among them is that the eldest son in a family refrains from cutting his hair so he can be easily recognized within the tribe.
- India will host the 2025 Financial Action Task Force Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai, focusing on global issues such as payment transparency, financial inclusion, and the transformation of digital financial systems.
- About the Financial Action Task Force:
- The Financial Action Task Force is an intergovernmental body responsible for setting policies and standards aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Objective:
- The Financial Action Task Force works to establish international standards and develop policies at both the national and global levels to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. It promotes and develops these policies across different countries and jurisdictions.
- Origin:
- Founded in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris, the Financial Action Task Force was created in response to growing concerns about money laundering.
- In 2001, its mandate expanded to include the fight against terrorism financing.
- Headquarters: Paris, France.
- Members:
- To become a member of the Financial Action Task Force, a country must be strategically important (such as having a large population, a significant GDP, and a well-developed banking and insurance sector), adhere to globally recognized financial standards, and be part of other key international organizations.
- Financial Action Task Force has 39 members, including major countries such as the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the European Union.
- Additionally, over 180 countries are affiliated with the Financial Action Task Force through FATF-style regional bodies.
- India joined the FATF in 2010 and is also a member of two Financial Action Task Force -style regional bodies: the Asia Pacific Group (APG) and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG).
- The Financial Action Task Force conducts research on methods of money laundering and terrorism financing, advocates for global standards to mitigate these risks, and evaluates whether countries are taking effective action to address these threats.
- Financial Action Task Force regularly publishes reports to raise awareness about emerging techniques in money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, guiding countries and the private sector to take necessary steps to combat these activities.
- Financial Action Task Force Recommendations:
- The Financial Action Task Force 's Recommendations are recognized worldwide as the standard for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT).
- Once a country joins, it is expected to adhere to and support the latest Financial Action Task Force recommendations and commit to both evaluating and being evaluated by other members.
- FATF ensures that non-compliant countries face accountability for failing to meet Financial Action Task Force Standards. Countries that persistently fail to meet the standards may be placed under increased monitoring or categorized as high-risk jurisdictions. These are often referred to as the "grey" or "black" lists.
- What are Financial Action Task Force’s 'Grey List' and 'Blacklist'?
- Blacklist: Countries on the blacklist are deemed non-cooperative in combating terrorism financing and money laundering. These nations face severe financial restrictions and sanctions.
- Grey List: Countries on the grey list are considered at risk of supporting terrorism financing or money laundering. Being on the grey list serves as a warning that a country may be moved to the blacklist.
- As of now, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are on FATF's blacklist.
- Consequences of Being on the Financial Action Task Force Blacklist:
- Countries on the blacklist are denied financial aid from international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the European Union (EU).
- They also face numerous international economic and financial sanctions and restrictions.
- A recent study reveals that permafrost covers 64.8% of the total land area in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- About Permafrost:
- Permafrost refers to any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for a minimum of two consecutive years.
- Where is it found?
- Permafrost is typically found in regions with high mountain ranges or in Earth’s higher latitudes, such as the areas near the North and South Poles.
- It can exist both on land and beneath the ocean floor.
- The frozen ground can extend deep into the Earth’s surface, from just a few feet to over a mile, covering vast areas like the Arctic tundra or isolated spots like mountaintops where alpine permafrost is present.
- Nearly a quarter of the land area in the Northern Hemisphere is underlaid by permafrost.
- What is Permafrost Made Of?
- Permafrost consists of a mixture of soil, rocks, and sand that are bound together by ice.
- The soil and ice within permafrost remain frozen year-round.
- Even though the ground is frozen, permafrost areas are not always snow-covered.
- At the surface, permafrost contains large amounts of organic carbon—material left over from dead plants that could not decompose due to the cold temperatures.
- Deeper layers of permafrost primarily consist of mineral-rich soils.
- The top layer of soil above permafrost, known as the active layer, thaws during warmer months and refreezes as temperatures drop in the fall.
- In colder regions, the active layer thaws very little, if at all, and is only 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) thick. In warmer permafrost regions, the active layer can be several meters thick.