CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• A coordinated assault by an Al Qaeda affiliate in the capital city of Mali recently resulted in the deaths of approximately 70 individuals.
• About Mali:
  • Mali is a landlocked nation in West Africa, covering an area of 1,240,192 square kilometers. Its capital is Bamako. The country shares borders with seven others: Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, and Mauritania.
• Geography:
  • About 65% of Mali is either desert or semi-desert, with the Sahara Desert encompassing a significant part of its territory. The nation features a largely uniform landscape, characterized by plains and plateaus. This geography transitions from the northern Sahara to the Sahel and finally to the Sudanian savanna in the south. Mali is among the hottest countries globally, with summer temperatures averaging 114.8 °F (46 °C). The Niger River flows through the heart of the country, serving as its primary water source. Despite being one of Africa's largest countries, Mali has a relatively small population concentrated mainly along the Niger River.
  • Mali is home to a variety of ethnic groups, with the Bambara being the largest, comprising 36.5% of the population. The country gained independence from France in 1960.
• Languages:
  • The most widely spoken language is Bambara, alongside others such as Dogon, Fulfulde, Manding, Arabic, Tuareg, and French.
• Economy:
  • Agriculture is the cornerstone of Mali's economy, with cotton being the largest crop export. Additionally, Mali ranks as the third-largest gold exporter in Africa.

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• The Union Home and Cooperation Minister has recently unveiled the standard operating procedure for ‘White Revolution 2.0’, emphasizing that milk dairies will play a crucial role in empowering women and combating malnutrition.
• About White Revolution 2.0:
  • This initiative is a comprehensive effort designed to empower women farmers while creating new job opportunities. The program concentrates on four primary objectives:
    • Empowering women farmers
    • Increasing local milk production
    • Strengthening dairy infrastructure
    • Expanding dairy exports
  • The government aims to boost milk procurement by dairy cooperative societies by 50% over the next five years. This will be achieved by providing market access to dairy farmers in underrepresented villages and enhancing the organized sector’s share in milk procurement.
  • The plan includes the establishment and fortification of 100,000 new and existing district cooperative societies, multi-purpose district cooperative societies, and multi-purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS). These will be integrated into milk routes with the necessary infrastructure.
  • Key components of the initiative will involve providing essential infrastructure, such as Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU), Data Processing Milk Collection Units (DPMCU), testing equipment, and Bulk Milk Coolers, to facilitate dairy operations.
  • Initially, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will support the initiative from its own resources, allocating Rs 40,000 per M-PACS to 1,000 M-PACS. Future funding is anticipated through the proposed National Programme for Dairy Development 2.0 from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).

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• Researchers have proposed that kleptoparasitism, or food theft, among seabirds may serve as a transmission pathway for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, potentially shedding light on its swift global spread.
• About Kleptoparasitism:
  • Kleptoparasitism refers to the act of stealing food that has already been collected or processed by another individual. This behavior involves one animal taking prey from another that has caught, killed, or prepared it, as well as pilfering stored food—an example being cuckoo bees, which lay their eggs on pollen collected by other bees.
  • This phenomenon also includes the theft of nest materials or other objects from one animal by another. Kleptoparasitism is observed in various animal groups, including birds, insects, and mammals, and is categorized as a form of social parasitism.
  • Kleptoparasites gain from the efforts of other animals in obtaining food while conserving their own energy, as they do not need to search for or capture these resources themselves.
  • Kleptoparasitism can occur in two forms: intraspecific, where the thief belongs to the same species as the victim, and interspecific, where the thief is from a different species. In the latter case, it is often noted that the kleptoparasites are closely related to their hosts, a concept referred to as "Emery's Rule."

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• The Finance Ministry has announced that the second edition of the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas scheme 2024 (VSV 2.0) will soon be implemented.
• About Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme 2024 (VSV 2.0):
• This scheme is designed to minimize ongoing litigation related to income tax. VSV 2.0 will facilitate a streamlined process for taxpayers and the Income Tax Department to resolve disputes.
• It establishes a framework for filing appeals across various forums, including the Joint Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), and higher courts. The scheme encompasses appeals, writ petitions, and special leave petitions that are pending as of July 22, 2024. It will waive penalties and interest for settlements, ensuring that no prosecution is initiated for cases resolved under the scheme.
• Additionally, VSV 2.0 includes cases with objections raised before the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) where no final assessment order has been issued, as well as pending revision applications before the Commissioner.
• However, certain cases are excluded from eligibility, such as those involving searches, prosecutions, and undisclosed foreign income. Taxpayers facing specific legal restrictions or serious offenses will also be ineligible.
• The primary aim of VSV 2.0 is to provide a cost-effective mechanism for resolving disputed issues, thereby reducing the litigation burden on both taxpayers and the judicial system.

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• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for terror financing, has recognized that India has achieved a high level of technical compliance with its recommendations and has taken substantial measures to combat illicit finance.
• About the Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
  • The FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets policies and standards aimed at fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.
  • Objective: The organization seeks to establish international standards and develop policies at both national and international levels to address these issues.
  • Origin: Founded in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris, its initial focus was on creating policies against money laundering. In 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to include the financing of terrorism.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • Members: To join, a country must be deemed strategically significant—considering factors like population size, GDP, and a developed banking and insurance sector—and must adhere to globally recognized financial standards. The FATF comprises 39 member countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Germany, France, and the EU. India joined the FATF in 2010.
  • The FATF conducts research on methods of money laundering and terrorist funding, promotes global standards to mitigate risks, and evaluates member countries' effectiveness in addressing these challenges. Once a member, a country or organization must support the latest FATF recommendations and commit to mutual evaluations.
  • The FATF holds countries accountable for non-compliance with its standards. Countries that consistently fail to meet these standards may be designated as Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring or High-Risk Jurisdictions, often referred to as “grey” or “black” lists.”
• FATF 'Grey List' and 'Blacklist':
  • Blacklist: Countries labeled as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are placed on this list for supporting terror financing and money laundering. The FATF regularly updates this list, adding or removing countries as necessary.
  • Grey List: Countries considered to be safe havens for terror financing and money laundering are included on the grey list as a warning that they could be moved to the blacklist.
  • Currently, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are on the FATF blacklist.
• Consequences of Blacklisting:
  • Countries on the blacklist receive no financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), or the European Union (EU). They also face numerous international economic and financial sanctions.
  • The FATF regularly publishes reports to raise awareness of the latest techniques in money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, enabling countries and the private sector to take necessary measures to mitigate these risks.

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• A recent study indicates that the Earth’s gravitational field will temporarily capture a small asteroid known as 2024 PT5, which will act as a 'mini moon' during its orbit.
• About Mini Moons:
  • Mini moons are asteroids that become trapped by Earth’s gravity, orbiting the planet for a limited period. Typically very small and difficult to detect, only four mini moons have been identified so far, and none remain in orbit today. These captures occur relatively frequently, with similar events happening every few decades.
• How Does Earth Capture Mini Moons?
  • Mini moons are drawn from the Near-Earth Object (NEO) population, which includes asteroids and other celestial bodies that come close to Earth. NASA defines a near-Earth object as any space object that approaches within 120 million miles (190 million kilometers) of our planet, while objects within 4.7 million miles (7.5 million kilometers) are considered potentially hazardous.
• Key Facts About 2024 PT5:
  • Classification: 2024 PT5 is categorized as an Apollo-class NEO, following an orbit similar to previous mini moons like 2022 NX1.
  • Discovery: It was discovered using the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).
  • Size: The asteroid measures approximately 33 feet long, making it too small to be seen with the naked eye or typical amateur telescopes, though it is within the visibility range of professional astronomers' equipment.
• Significance:
  • Observing 2024 PT5 will enhance scientists' understanding of asteroids that pass close to Earth and those that may potentially collide with our planet.

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• Recently, the President of the French Space Agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), addressed a range of topics at an event, celebrating 60 years of French-India space cooperation and discussing the Gaganyaan and TRISHNA missions.
• About the TRISHNA Mission:
  • The Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment (TRISHNA) is a collaborative project between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CNES.
• Objectives:
  • TRISHNA is designed to provide high spatial and temporal resolution observations of Earth's surface temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle dynamics. It will enable comprehensive assessments of urban heat islands, detect thermal anomalies related to volcanic activity and geothermal resources, and monitor snow-melt runoff and glacier dynamics accurately. Additionally, it will supply valuable data on aerosol optical depth, atmospheric water vapor, and cloud cover.
• Payloads:
  • The TRISHNA satellite is equipped with two main payloads:
  • Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) Payload: Provided by CNES, this payload features a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor capable of high-resolution mapping of surface temperature and emissivity.
  • Visible-Near Infra-Red-Short Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) Payload: Developed by ISRO, this payload consists of seven spectral bands intended for detailed mapping of surface reflectance in the VSWIR spectrum, which helps generate crucial biophysical and radiation budget variables.
  • The combination of data from these payloads will aid in solving surface energy balance to estimate surface heat fluxes.
• Mission Details:
  • The satellite will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 761 km, maintaining a local time of 12:30 PM at the equator. This orbit will yield a spatial resolution of 57 meters for land and coastal regions and 1 km for oceanic and polar areas. The mission is planned to have a five-year operational life.

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• The Amazon River basin is currently facing an unprecedented drought, with water levels reaching historic lows throughout the region.
• About the Amazon River:
  • The Amazon is the world’s largest river by water volume and width, and it ranks as the second-longest river globally, following the Nile.
  • Course: The river originates in the Andes Mountains and flows into the Atlantic Ocean along Brazil’s northeastern coast.
• River Basin:
  • The Amazon River has the largest drainage area of any river system in the world. Its watershed encompasses Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia, with about two-thirds of the Amazon’s main stem and the majority of its basin located within Brazil.
  • The river's width varies seasonally; during the dry season, it measures between 4 to 5 kilometers wide, while in the wet season, it can expand to up to 50 kilometers.
• Tributaries:
  • Key tributaries of the Amazon include the Rio Negro, the Madeira River, and the Xingu River, among many others.
• The Amazon Rainforest:
  • The Amazon Rainforest, which accounts for roughly half of the Earth’s remaining rainforests, also serves as the largest single reserve of biological resources. Often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," it plays a vital role in regulating the planet’s oxygen and carbon cycles.

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• Recently, Indian scientists have developed a sustainable pheromone dispenser with a controlled release rate, potentially reducing the costs associated with pest control and management.
• About Pheromones:
  • Pheromones are chemical substances secreted externally by an individual and detected by another individual of the same species. These compounds can be found in all bodily secretions, particularly in axillary sweat, and are identified by the olfactory system.
  • Pheromones are classified as ecto-hormones since they are released outside the body.
• Types of Pheromones:
  • Releaser Pheromones: These trigger an immediate response in the receiving individual.
  • Signaler Pheromones: These convey information about the individual that emits them, such as helping a mother recognize her own baby among others.
  • Modulator Pheromones: These influence mood and emotional states.
  • Primer Pheromones: These can affect hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy or menstrual cycles.
• Animals, with their enhanced sensory perception and vomeronasal organs, utilize pheromones to initiate various behaviors, including alerting others to danger, signaling food sources, warning competitors, and fostering bonding with offspring.
• Additionally, some fungi, slime molds, and algae produce pheromones as attractants during reproduction, prompting organisms with compatible reproductive cell types to grow or move toward each other.