CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• A recent study highlights an alarming trend of frequent mass wasting events in the Sedongpu Gully on the Tibetan Plateau since 2017, coupled with the region’s rapid warming. This situation could spell trouble for India, particularly its Northeast region.
• Understanding Mass Wasting:
• Mass wasting refers to the downward movement of rock and soil due to gravity.
• Causes: Mass wasting occurs when a slope becomes too steep to stay stable with its current material and conditions. The stability of a slope is influenced by two main factors: the angle of the slope and the shear strength of the accumulated materials.
• Mass wasting can be triggered by factors that alter slope stability and increase steepness, such as sudden snow melt, heavy rainfall, seismic activity, volcanic eruptions, storm surges, river erosion, and human activities. Excessive rainfall is the most frequent trigger.
• Types and Characteristics: Mass-wasting events are classified based on the type of movement and the materials involved, and they often exhibit similar surface features. Common types include rockfalls, slides, flows, and creep.
• Geologically, the term "landslide" broadly describes rapid movement of geologic materials. During mass-wasting events, loose materials and overlying soils typically shift. Moving bedrock blocks are referred to as rock topples, rock slides, or rock falls, depending on their movement pattern. Movements involving primarily liquid materials are known as flows.
• The movement associated with mass wasting can vary from slow to rapid, with rapid movements, such as debris flows, presenting significant hazards.

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• The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mumbai is set to make its inaugural three-day visit to Sri Lanka, docking at the port of Colombo.
• About INS Mumbai:
• INS Mumbai is the third ship in the Delhi-class guided missile destroyer series, built domestically and officially commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 22, 2001. Constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, it has earned accolades including being named the ‘Best Ship’ three times and the ‘Most Spirited Ship’ twice—achievements that are quite rare among warships.
• The vessel has played a significant role in major naval operations, including Operation Parakram (2002), Operation Sukoon (2006, involving the evacuation of Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan nationals from Lebanon), and Operation Rahat (2015, for the evacuation of Indian and foreign citizens from Yemen). After completing a mid-life upgrade, INS Mumbai joined the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on December 8, 2023.
• Features:
• With a displacement of over 6,500 tons, INS Mumbai is crewed by 350 sailors and 40 officers. The ship measures 163 meters in length and 17 meters in beam, and is powered by four gas turbines, allowing it to reach speeds exceeding 32 knots. It boasts an advanced weapons suite that includes surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine rockets, and torpedoes, enabling it to deliver formidable firepower. Additionally, INS Mumbai is equipped to operate various types of helicopters from the naval inventory, enhancing its operational capabilities.

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• The Union Home Minister recently inaugurated the new zonal office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• About the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB):
• The NCB serves as the principal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Established on November 14, 1985, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), it operates with its headquarters in Delhi.
• The NCB is tasked with several critical responsibilities, including:
• Coordinating Actions: It ensures coordinated efforts among various offices, State Governments, and other authorities under the NDPS Act, Customs Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and other relevant laws for effective enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985.
• International Obligations: It manages obligations related to countermeasures against illegal drug trafficking as per various international conventions and protocols that are currently in force or that India may ratify in the future.
• International Assistance: The NCB aids foreign authorities and international organizations in fostering global cooperation to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking.
• Coordination with Other Entities: It coordinates with other ministries, departments, and organizations on issues related to drug abuse.
• The NCB also functions as an enforcement body through its zonal offices. These offices are responsible for collecting and analyzing data on narcotic drug and psychotropic substance seizures, studying trends and methods, gathering and sharing intelligence, and collaborating closely with Customs, State Police, and other law enforcement agencies.

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• A newly identified dinosaur species, Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus, has been discovered in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, dating back approximately 165 million years.
• About Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus:
• Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus is a newly recognized species of large theropod dinosaur found in the Middle Jurassic Balabansai formation in the northern region of the Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan. This dinosaur lived during the Callovian stage of the Jurassic period, roughly between 165 and 161 million years ago.
• The ancient predator measured between 7 and 8 meters in length and featured a distinctive protruding ‘eyebrow’ on the postorbital bone—a skull bone located behind the eye socket—suggesting the presence of a horn in this area.
• It is classified within the Metriacanthosauridae family, which comprises medium-to-large-sized allosauroid theropod dinosaurs. Members of this group are known for their high-arched skulls, elongated neural spines resembling plates, and slender hindlimbs.
• Theropod dinosaurs, a major group within the dinosaur family, include some of the most famous predators like Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus, as well as modern birds. Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus is notably the first large Jurassic predatory dinosaur discovered between Central Europe and East Asia.

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• Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which includes Japanese Encephalitis (JE), refers to a collection of neurologic conditions with similar clinical features caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, spirochetes, and chemicals/toxins.
• The causative agents of AES exhibit both seasonal and geographical variations. Japanese Encephalitis outbreaks typically align with the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons when mosquito populations surge. In contrast, encephalitis caused by other viruses, particularly enteroviruses, can occur year-round as these are waterborne diseases. Additionally, in North America, arboviral encephalitis now includes the recently introduced West Nile Encephalitis (WNE).