Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 20 May 2024 | Download PDF

• An Indian delegation recently visited the UAE to hold discussions with key entities regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

About IMEEC:

• Objective:
  • Enhance connectivity and economic integration between India, the Middle East, and Europe.
• Key Components:
  • Railways
  • Highways
  • Maritime routes
  • Energy infrastructure
  • Digital connectivity
• Participating Regions:
  • South Asia (India)
  • Middle East
  • Europe
• Strategic Importance:
  • Facilitates trade and investment flows.
  • Reduces transit times and costs for goods and services.
  • Promotes economic cooperation and development.

• India is “seriously considering” starting talks for a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

About EAEU:

• Formation: Established on January 1, 2015.
• Members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
• Objective: To create a single market for goods, services, capital, and labor.
• Headquarters: Located in Moscow, Russia.
• Languages: Russian is the official working language.
• Customs Union: EAEU operates as a customs union, eliminating customs duties and controls at internal borders.
• Single Market: Aims to allow free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor among member states.

• National Endangered Species Day celebrated on May 17.

About National Endangered Species Day:

• Purpose: To create awareness about the consequences of human activities and actions to save endangered species.
• Date: Observed annually on the third Friday of May.
• History:
  • Established in 2006 by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition.
  • Aim: To urge people to contribute to the safety and protection of endangered species.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 40% of animals, insects, and plants are at risk of extinction.
• Theme for 2024: “Celebrate Saving Species”

• Endangered Iberian lynx population doubles in 3 years.

About Iberian lynx:

• Endemic Carnivore Species:
  • One of two carnivore species endemic to Europe (the other being European mink, Mustela lutreola).
  • The world’s most endangered carnivore.
• Sexually dimorphic: males are heavier and longer than females.
• Behavior:
  • Generally nocturnal.
  • Activity patterns closely synchronized with those of their major prey, the rabbit.
• Distribution:
  • Once distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
  • Now sparsely distributed in Spain and Portugal.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered.
  • CITES: Appendix II.

• The government has recently released a circular about a sophisticated cybercrime.
• The specific cybercrime mentioned is vishing.

About Vishing:

• Vishing, or “voice phishing,” is a type of scam where attackers use phone calls to trick individuals into providing personal, financial, or confidential information.
• Techniques Used:
  • Caller ID Spoofing: Attackers disguise their phone number to appear as if they are calling from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency.
  • Pretexting: Scammers create a plausible scenario to convince the victim to share sensitive information.
  • Urgency and Fear Tactics: Vishing calls often involve a sense of urgency, such as threats of legal action or account suspension, to pressure victims into compliance.

• IIT Bhubaneswar will establish a centre for coastal and river bank erosion, primarily focusing on research related to the morphological aspects of coastal landforms, river bank stability, and scour and deposition issues related to various offshore structures.

About:

• • The center will focus on coastal and river bank erosion research.
• Established by the School of Infrastructure under the ‘Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST)’ scheme of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• An MoU signed with NeXHS Renewables Private Limited for partial funding of necessary equipment.
• Aims to accelerate development and deployment of scalable renewable energy solutions.

• • An Eddy covariance flux tower is installed in Similipal Biosphere Reserve for studying forest carbon sequestration.
• Aim: Understand climate change impact on forest carbon dynamics.

Key points:

• • Tower placed at Pithabata south range by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow.
• Measures CO2, H2O, and energy exchange between vegetation surface and atmosphere.

Study Significance:

• First-of-its-kind in Similipal to measure forest carbon sequestration.
• CSIR’s initial forest carbon flux measurement in Indian semi-evergreen forest.

Projected Outcomes:

• Develop a model predicting climate change impact on Indian forest carbon dynamics.
• Long-term data to formulate effective forest management strategies.

Carbon Sequestration:

• Forest carbon sequestration is a process of increasing carbon content of forest through processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Forest carbon is stored within the forest ecosystem in five pools such as above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, deadwood, litter and soil organic matter. 
• As per the India State of Forest (ISF) report 2019, Odisha has around 6 per cent of India’s total forest carbon stock.

• PACS in Odisha will soon offer core banking services including NEFT, RTGS, and micro ATM provisions.

Key points:

• NEFT/RTGS services will enable electronic fund transfers for PACS.
• PACS in Odisha are part of the 65,000 agricultural cooperative societies in India set to be integrated online by August, expanding their services.
• All computerized PACS in Odisha are linked to their respective district cooperative bank’s core banking system.

• The Kalinga Nagar Industries Association (KNIA) has requested the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to increase chrome ore production.
• This request is aimed at addressing the demand and supply gap in the market.
• KNIA wants OMC to offer the required quantity in the national e-auction for long term linkage (LTL) buyers.
• The goal is to protect the interests of industries in the state.

Issues Faced by Ferrochrome Industries:

• Ferrochrome industries in Odisha are struggling due to a shortage of chrome ore.
• The shortage is mainly caused by reduced production from Tata Steel Sukinda Mines and lower production from OMC.
• This has led to a drop in chrome ore availability in the open commercial market.

• Retinoblastoma is a fast growing eye cancer affecting babies and young children. 
• Early detection and treatment are crucial for better outcomes.
• LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) emphasizes awareness through events like Whitathon walk.
• A white glow in a child’s eye, seen in flash photos or dim light, is the most common early sign of this cancer. 

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week:

• The World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week 2024 was celebrated from May 12 to 18.
• This year’s awareness week highlighted the critical importance of recognising early signs and ensuring prompt referral to ophthalmologists, which can save both the child’s life and vision.

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