Daily News Analysis : 6 July 2024

Typhoon Missile System to be withdrawn from Philippines

The Philippines Army recently confirmed that the deadly Typhoon Weapons System of the US will soon be withdrawn from the country. It is also known as the Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System and is an integrated Weapons system capable of firing Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). The system can also fire Tomahawk land Attack Missile which is a manoeuvrable cruise Missile.

Key Points:

A) The US Mid-Range Capability missile system, deployed in the northern Philippines earlier this year, will be shipped out by September, possibly even earlier.
B) The system is capable of firing Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk land attack missiles and is used in the annual games.
C) The US Army is currently in the process of shipping out their equipment used during the Balikatan and Salaknib exercises.
 

Odisha resorts to plant Palm trees to combat lightening

The Odisha Government has restricted the cutting of existing palm trees and plant 1.9 million such trees to combat lightning which is one of the major reasons for casualties in the state. Palm trees are members of the Arecaceae or Palmae family and can grow in the form of shrubs, trees, woody vines and lianas. The Palm trees are distributed across America and Asia. 

Key Points:

A) Palm trees act as natural conductors during lightning strikes and prevent loss of lives.
B) The government of the eastern state decided in September 2023 to undertake extensive plantation of palm trees and protect existing ones.
C) Four palm trees will be planted near the border of each forest block.

LiFi Technology

Under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, Telecom startup Velmenni has received a grant from the Ministry of Defence for its innovative Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) technology. The Initiative focuses on the Indian Navy and will establish high speed connections for the Forces. It will strengthen wireless communication for the defence sector. 

Key Points:

A) Li-Fi uses special LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs as routers and works on optical wireless communications (OWC) technology.
B) Li-Fi devices transmit data via visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.
C) Li-Fi also has transfer speeds of up to 224 GB per second.
 

Large Scale migration of Common Grass Yellow

A large-scale migration of Common Grass Yellow butterfly was observed for the first time at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. The migration took place during a 3 day Butterfly survey conducted by forest department staff, naturalists and butterfly enthusiasts. The IUCN status of Common Grass Yellow butterfly is Least Concern and it is not legally protected in India.

Key Points:

A) A total of 185 species have been identified by them during the survey which commenced on June 28 in MTR which is spread over 688.50 square kilometers.
B) The species were from six butterfly families: Swallowtails (16), Whites and Yellows (24), Brush-footed Butterflies (52), Blues (59), Metalmarks (1) and Skippers (33).
C) A total of 16 teams comprising 49 naturalists and butterfly enthusiasts along with more than 100 MTR field officials participated in this exercise.
 

9 member committee to investigate contamination of Kaveri river

The State Government of Karnataka has formed a 9 membered committee to investigate the contamination of the Kaveri River. The committee will look into the release of Sewage, solid waste, and industrial pollutants into the river, negatively hampering marine life and public health. The river rises in BrahmaGiri Hill of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and it consists of Krishna Raja sagar dam and Mettur Dam built over it.

Key Points:

A) The committee will examine and submit a report within 10 days to determine whether Cauvery water is contaminated due to sewage, sewage, industrial waste and other pollution.
B) The committee was formed after MLC Dinesh Gooli Gowda wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre about the possible addition of pollutants into the river.
C) The MLC stated that the quality of Cauvery water has been compromised by pollutants, leading to negative impacts on the health of both citizens and aquatic animals.

EAM Jaishankar attends Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO)

The Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. SCO is a permanent intergovernmental organisation created in 2001 and headquartered at Beijing, China. It consists of 10 member states with approximately 42% of World’s population, 22% of land area and 20% of its GDP. 

Key Points:

A) On July 4, the final day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
B) With Russia and China as members, SCO has been projected as an alternative to Western-led organisations in international affairs.

15th round of Australia-India Strategic Research Fund

The results of the 15th round of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) was recently announced by the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. It is a bilateral program aimed to support research projects between Australia and India to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. 

Key Points:

A) The fund, a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation between India and Australia, supports joint research initiatives aimed at addressing critical challenges and advancing scientific knowledge.
B) The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is a bilateral program dedicated to fostering collaborative research projects between Australia and India.
C) These projects were chosen through a meticulous evaluation process to ensure they uphold the highest standards of scientific excellence and possess the potential for significant impact.
 

51,200 years old painting discovered in Leang Karampuang Cave

Archaeologists have discovered the world’s oldest cave painting dated to be 51,200 years old in the limestone cave of Leang Karampuang in Maros-Pangkep region of Indonesian Island. The limestone cave is located on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi. The Painting is dominated by representation of a pig standing upright with three smaller human-like figures. 

Key Points:

A) The painting tells a complex story.
B) It shows that humans at the time had the capacity to think in abstract terms.
C) The painting shows a pig standing still with its mouth partly open and at least three human-like figures.
 

Ahom “Moidam” recommended for UNESCO World Heritage List

The International advisory body ICOMOS of UNESCO has recommended the Ahom era “Moidams” for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located in Assam’s Charaideo district and it is the resting place of royal families during the Ahom era. 

Key Points:

A) If Assam’s Moidams’ are included in the World Heritage list, they will have access to better funding for the upkeep and promotion of the state’s culture and heritage, government and international support, and technical cooperation for the preservation and protection of the sites.
B) Moidams are burial mounds of the erstwhile Ahom kings, queens, and nobles, dating back to the Tai-Ahom dynasty.

Argentina beats Ecuador to reach Copa America semifinals

In a dramatic knockout match in Copa America, Argentina beats Ecuador to reach the semifinals of the tournament. The match went on to a penalty knockout due to 1-1 draw at full time. Argentina beat 4-2 in penalties to move into the semifinals. The tournament is hosted amongst the teams of South America. 

Key Points:

A) Argentina will now wait for the winner of the Canada vs Venezuela match for the semi-final clash on July 9.
B) In these last four editions, the side ended as runners up in 2015 and 2016, finished in third place in 2019, and won the title in 2021.
C) This is Argentina’s fifth successive semifinal appearance in the Copa America.