Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 30 May 2024 | Download PDF

National and International News

• Scientists’ new study reveals volcanic activity on Venus.
• The activity occurred from 1990 to 1992.
• Venus exhibited signs of volcanism during the early ’90s.

About Magellan Mission:

• Launch Date and Mission:
  • NASA’s deep space mission launched on May 4, 1989, to explore Venus.
  • First interplanetary mission launched from the Space Shuttle.
• Naming: Named after Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who first circumnavigated the Earth.
• Primary Goal: To map the surface of Venus using radar imaging due to the planet’s thick atmosphere obstructing visual observation.

• The RBI Governor recently unveiled three major initiatives of the Reserve Bank:
  • Pravaah Portal
  • Retail Direct Mobile App
  • FinTech Repository

About RBI’s 3 new initiatives:

• Pravaah Portal:
  • Purpose: A secure, centralized web-based platform for individuals or entities to seek authorizations, licenses, or regulatory approvals from the RBI.
• Retail Direct Mobile App:
  • Purpose: Facilitate retail investors to open Retail Direct Gilt accounts with the RBI
  • Features:
    • Allows retail investors to buy Government Securities (G-Secs) in primary auctions.
• FinTech:
  • Objective:
    • Capture essential information about FinTech entities, their activities, and technology uses.
    • Provide a comprehensive understanding of the Indian FinTech sector for policymakers and industry participants.
  • Coverage: Includes both regulated and unregulated FinTech entities.
  • Management: Managed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI.

• A Himalayan serow was recently spotted in the central part of Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve.

About Himalayan serow:

• Appearance: Resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
• Types: Several species of serows exist, all found in Asia. The Himalayan serow is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
• Diet: Herbivorous.
• Distribution:
• Regions: Found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas; not in the Trans Himalayan region.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

• The spread of the mosquito species Anopheles stephensi across Africa exacerbates the continent’s malaria burden, where 90% of the world’s malaria deaths occur.

About Anopheles stephensi:

• Native Region: South Asia.
• Disease Transmission: Transmits both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.
• Comparison with African Vectors: Unlike African malaria vectors, which are typically found in rural areas, An. stephensi thrives in urban environments.
• Public Health Concerns:
  • Poses a significant threat in urban areas.
  • The invasion of An. stephensi into Africa threatens malaria elimination efforts, especially with 42.5% of Africa’s population living in urban areas.

• A portion of the Virupaksha temple in Karnataka collapsed following torrential rains.

About Virupaksha temple:

• Location: Hampi, Karnataka.
• Historical Significance:
  • Part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Built during the Vijayanagara Empire in the 7th century.
• Deity: Dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva.
• Architecture:
  • Dravidian style.
  • Notable features include a towering gopuram (entrance tower) approximately 50 meters high.
  • Intricately carved pillars and ornate ceilings.

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