Daily News Analysis : 25 June 2024

Kozhikode included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

Kozhikode in Kerala has been officially declared as India’s first UNESCO City of literature. The city has been included in the list of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). UCCN was created in 2004 under which UNESCO designates the creative cities in seven fields namely Craft, Folk art, Media arts, Film design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music. The Cities are nominated by the Ministry of Culture.

Key Points:

A) Kozhikode, formerly recognized as the city of Zamorins, played a significant role as the entry point to the coast for numerous foreign visitors, including Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and eventually Europeans, in the bygone eras. Moreover, it was referred to as Calicut during the British colonial period.
B) The state has also announced that June 23 will be celebrated as “City Literature” Day from next year in Kozhikode, which is famous for great writers like SK Pottakkad and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
C) As part of the event, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas unveiled the logo of the ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO.

e-Samridhi portal

The new Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan reiterates state governments to encourage Farmers to register on e-Samridhi portal to avail procurement benefits. The portal was launched by NAFED and NCCF and is committed to procure pulses at MSP for Farmers registered on the portal. NAFED is an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives registered under Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.

Key Points:

A) The portal, launched through NAFED, facilitates registration for farmers to avail MSP benefits.
B) Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, emphasized the government’s commitment to procure major pulses like tur, urad, and masur at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). 
C) State governments to promote farmer registration on the e-Samridhi portal for assured procurement. 

Blue Planet Prize won by IPBES

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) won the prestigious 2024 Blue Planet Prize. The organisation was established to strengthen the science-policy interface for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity.  It was established in 2012 and it is an independent body with a Secretariat located in Bonn, Germany. 

Key Points:

A) The other laureate is Robert Costanza, from the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London, who has been recognised for his foundational contributions to the field of ecological economics.
B) The Blue Planet Award was established by the Asahi Glass Foundation in 1992, the same year as the Earth Summit.

Superhydrophobic catalyst for cheaper Biodiesel production

A research team composed of scientists from Assam, Odisha, China and UK have developed a new catalyst namely “Spherical Superhydrophobic Activated Carbon Catalyst” that can cut the cost of producing Biodiesel. The catalyst has anti- wetting or water-repulsion properties of natural surfaces like Lotus leaves. Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel made out of vegetable oil, Animal fats etc.

Key Points:

A) The catalyst addresses a critical issue in biodiesel production by effectively managing water, a common by-product that can inhibit catalyst activity. 
B) Its superhydrophobic properties ensure durability and reusability, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs.
C) The research team comprises scientists from Assam and Odisha in India, along with counterparts from China and the UK.

Two new Plant species discovered

Indian Researchers have discovered two new plant species namely Dendrophthoe Longensis from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Petrocosmea Arunachalense from Arunachal Pradesh. Both the plant species have been discovered from bio-geographic Hotspots. India has 4 Biodiversity Hotspots namely Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, Western Ghats and Sundaland.

Key Points:

A) While researchers Lal Ji Singh’s team first discovered the sycamore stem parasitic flowering plant Dendrophthoe longensis on Long Island in the central Andaman Islands, researcher Krishna Chowlu’s team presented a new plant species from Arunachal Pradesh.
B) The IUCN has classified the conservation status of the newly discovered species as “Endangered” according to their categories and criteria (IUCN, 2020).
C) Among the nine species of Indian Dendrophthoe, four are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with two of them being endemic to the region.

Joint manufacture of Stryker Armoured ICVs

As part of Defence Industrial Cooperation, India and US advanced talks for joint manufacture of Stryker Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs). The Stryker is a eight wheel drive combat armoured ICV jointly developed by Canada and US. The Stryker was inducted into the US army in the 1980s and can be transported via Chinook Helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

Key Points:

A) India and the US are currently in advanced talks to collaborate in the production of the next-generation Stryker armored infantry combat vehicle (ICV).
B) The ongoing project encompasses three phases, which involve initial procurement, joint manufacturing within India, and joint development of future variants, all in line with India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
C) This partnership, advocated by the United States as a crucial aspect of their strategic defense alliance, seeks to upgrade India’s mechanized infantry by replacing more than 2,000 obsolete BMP-II vehicles.

Successfully landing of Reusable Launch Vehicle PUSHPAK

Third Landing Experiment (LEX) of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) PUSHPAK was successfully conducted by ISRO at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. PUSHPAK was launched from a Chinook Helicopter of the Indian Air Force, 4.5 km from the runway. The mission was accomplished by VSSC along with LPSC and IISU.

Key Points:

A) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the third Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) on June 23 at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
B) This is the third and final test in the series of LEX (03) which was conducted.
C) This mission, the advanced guidance algorithm catering to longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections, which is essential for the future Orbital Re-entry Mission has been validated.

Srinagar recognized as World Craft City

The World Crafts Council designated Srinagar as “World Craft City”. Srinagar is the largest city of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.  The aim of the award is to protect the wide range of crafts unique to Srinagar. World Crafts Council (WCC) is a non profit organisation started by Aileen Osborn Webb in 1964.

Key Points:

A) This prestigious honour underscores the city’s rich heritage and the exceptional skills of its artisans, whose dedication and artistry have earned global acclaim.
B) Being designated as a ‘World Craft City’ will bring about a profound change in the hand loom and handicraft industry, promoting development, durability, and ingenuity.
C) With increased global recognition, Srinagar’s crafts will gain enhanced visibility on the international stage, opening up new markets and opportunities for artisans.

Iberian Lynx upgraded to Vulnerable

The European Cat Iberian Lynx which was on the verge of extinction was recently upgraded to Vulnerable status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species is native to Spain and Portugal and was just left to 62 adult individuals in 2001. 

Key Points:

A) Just over two decades ago, the pointy-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, but the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it’s no longer an endangered species.
B) Successful conservation efforts mean that the animal, native to Spain and Portugal, is now barely a vulnerable species, according to the latest version of the IUCN Red List.

Sinner wins Halle Open

The World Number 1 Jannik Sinner won his maiden title on grass namely Halle Open beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(8), 7-6(2). It was the 14th singles career title of Sinner. It was the first grass court title of the Italian. 

Key Points:

A) By winning his first grass-court title, Sinner became the eighth player in PIF ATP Rankings history (since 1973) to claim a trophy in his first tournament as World No. 1.
B) Sinner became the 17th active male player to win a tour-level title on grass, hard and clay. 
C) He has claimed 12 of his 14 tour-level trophies on hard courts.