CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• China's inventory of DF-26 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) has seen significant expansion, as recent satellite images reveal nearly 60 additional launchers at a key production facility in Beijing.
• Overview of the DF-26 Missile:
  • The DF-26 (Dong Feng-26) is a Chinese Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) capable of targeting both land and maritime assets.
• Key Features:
  • Dimensions: 14 meters in length, 1.4 meters in diameter, and weighing 20,000 kg at launch.
  • Propulsion: Utilizes a two-stage solid propellant system.
  • Range: Effective against targets at distances of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers (1,860 to 2,485 miles).
  • Design: Its modular configuration allows the launch vehicle to carry two types of nuclear warheads as well as various conventional warheads.
  • Guidance: Equipped with advanced guidance systems, enabling trajectory adjustments during flight for enhanced maneuverability.
  • Anti-Ship Variant: The DF-26B variant is specifically designed for naval engagements, capable of targeting vessels like aircraft carriers.

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• A Ugandan court has sentenced Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison following a landmark war crimes trial regarding his involvement in the group's two-decade campaign of violence.
• Overview of the Lord’s Resistance Army:
  • The LRA is a Ugandan rebel group that operates primarily in the border regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), and South Sudan.
  • Formation: Founded by Joseph Kony in 1988, the LRA claims to seek to restore the dignity of the Acholi people and establish a government based on Kony’s interpretation of the Ten Commandments.
  • Reputation: Over the past 30 years, it has become one of Central Africa’s most brutal and persistent armed factions.
  • Abductions: The LRA has abducted more than 67,000 individuals, including approximately 30,000 children, who have been forced into roles as child soldiers, sex slaves, and laborers, inflicting severe suffering on communities since its inception in 1987.
  • International Designation: The group has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, leading to the first-ever arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Kony and other high-ranking commanders.
  • Funding: The LRA generates income through the trafficking of elephant ivory, gold, and diamonds, and has received backing from the Government of Sudan since 1994.

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• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying recently convened a meeting to explore the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Fisheries Extension Network's role in enhancing technology transfer within the fisheries sector.
• Overview of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
  • ICAR is an autonomous organization operating under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of the Government of India.
  • History: Originally known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on July 16, 1929, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, following recommendations from the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
  • Mandate: The Council serves as the primary authority for coordinating, guiding, and overseeing research and education in agriculture across the nation, encompassing areas such as horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences.
  • Location: ICAR's headquarters are situated in New Delhi.
  • Structure: With 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities located throughout India, it is one of the largest national agricultural systems globally.
  • Leadership: The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as the President of ICAR, while the Director-General, who is also the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, acts as the Principal Executive Officer.

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• Recently, over 40 migratory birds from two to three different species have been discovered dead around Sambhar Lake in the Jaipur district, raising concerns among local officials.
• Overview of Sambhar Lake:
  • Sambhar Lake is the largest saltwater lake in India, situated in the Nagaur and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
  • Geography: This saline wetland has an elliptical shape, stretching 35.5 km in length and varying between 3 km and 11 km in width.
  • Size: It spans over 200 square kilometers, encircled by the Aravalli hills.
  • Hydrology: The lake is nourished by two main ephemeral streams, Mendha and Runpangarh, along with various rivulets and surface runoff.
  • Conservation Status: It was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990, recognizing its ecological significance.
  • Biodiversity: Each winter, numerous migratory birds flock to this waterbody, making it one of the key wintering sites for flamingoes (both Phoenicopterus minor and Phoenicopterus roseus) in India, alongside Phulera and Deedwana.
  • Other Avian Species: The lake also attracts a variety of other birds, including pelicans, common shelduck, redshank, common sandpiper, black-winged stilt, Kentish plover, ringed plover, ruff, and sociable lapwing.
  • Economic Importance: Sambhar Lake produces approximately 210,000 tonnes of salt annually, contributing to Rajasthan's status as one of the top three salt-producing states in India.

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• A team of researchers has uncovered the genetic mechanisms that enable a newly identified species of tardigrades, Hypsibius henanensis, to endure high levels of radiation.
• Known colloquially as water bears or moss piglets, tardigrades have intrigued scientists for their remarkable resilience to extreme environments. These tiny, free-living invertebrates belong to the phylum Tardigrada, with approximately 1,300 species recognized globally.
• Habitat:
  • While they are primarily aquatic, requiring a thin layer of water to avoid dehydration, tardigrades can thrive in a wide range of environments, from the deep sea to arid sand dunes. Their preferred habitats include freshwater mosses and lichens, which is why they are often referred to as moss piglets.
• Key Findings:
  • Researchers identified three critical factors that contribute to the radiation resistance of this species:
  • DNA Repair: The species can rapidly repair double-strand breaks in DNA caused by radiation, utilizing a protein known as TRID1.
  • Gene Activation: During radiation exposure, a specific gene is activated, leading to the production of two proteins crucial for mitochondrial ATP synthesis. In tardigrades, these proteins also appear to aid in DNA repair.
  • Antioxidant Production: The tardigrades can produce a significant number of proteins that function as effective antioxidants, helping to eliminate free radicals before they can inflict cellular damage.
• Significance:
  • These findings hold potential applications in protecting astronauts from radiation during space missions, managing nuclear pollution, and enhancing cancer treatment strategies, as reported in Nature.

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• A report unveiled at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) raised serious concerns regarding oil and gas operations in the Coral Triangle.
• Overview of the Coral Triangle:
  • The Coral Triangle, often dubbed the “Amazon of the seas,” encompasses a vast marine area of over 10 million square kilometers. It includes several countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands.
• Significance:
  • This vital region is home to 76 percent of the world's coral species and sustains more than 120 million people who depend on its resources for their livelihoods.
• Threats:
  • The health and resilience of these ecosystems are under threat from unsustainable fishing practices, pollution resulting from coastal development, and climate change, which leads to coral bleaching.
• What are Corals?
  • Corals are marine animals that are sessile, meaning they attach permanently to the ocean floor. They engage in a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae known as zooxanthellae.
  • The algae provide essential nutrients to the corals through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight. Corals also use their tiny, tentacle-like structures to capture food from the water and bring it to their mouths. Each coral animal is called a polyp, and they live in large groups of hundreds to thousands of genetically identical polyps, forming what is known as a “colony.”