CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• A newly discovered reptile species named Wang’s Garden Lizard has recently been identified in China.
• Here are the key details about Wang’s Garden Lizard:
  • This lizard belongs to the iguana family.
  • Scientific Name: Calotes wangi
  • Distribution: It inhabits subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam. It is commonly found in mountainous areas, hills, forest edges, agricultural land, shrub lands, and urban green belts.
  • The species is currently not considered threatened, although habitat fragmentation is a concern in some regions.
• Features:
  • Wang’s Garden Lizard measures less than 9 cm in length, with one of its distinctive traits being its orange tongue.
  • It is active along forest edges, swiftly retreating into bushes or climbing trees when threatened.
  • At night, it rests close to branches on sloping shrub limbs.
  • Its diet consists of a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods.
  • It is active from April to October annually, with activity periods extending longer in tropical regions.
• Additional Notes:
  • The species is sometimes utilized for medicinal purposes and also consumed as food.
  • What are iguanas?
    • Iguanas are robust lizards predominantly found in tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. They are characterized by their stout build, scaly skin adorned with warts, spines along their backs, and a loose flap of skin under their throats. Common color variations include green, blue, and grey morphs.

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• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently unveiled a draft 'Licensing Framework for Authorised Persons (APs)' under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
• About Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA):
  • FEMA was introduced in 1999, succeeding the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) of 1973, adapting to India's evolving economic landscape post-liberalisation.
  • The primary objective of FEMA is to facilitate external trade and payments, ensuring the orderly development and maintenance of India's foreign exchange market.
  • FEMA encompasses provisions governing procedures, formalities, and transactions related to foreign exchange within India.
  • It regulates various facets of foreign exchange transactions, including acquisition, holding, payment, settlement, export, and import of currency, among others.
  • The RBI is empowered under FEMA to formulate rules and regulations necessary for its enforcement.
  • Non-compliance with FEMA provisions may lead to penalties and fines.
  • The Enforcement Directorate, headquartered in Delhi, oversees FEMA enforcement activities.
• Applicability:
  • FEMA applies across India's entirety and extends to agencies and offices abroad owned or managed by Indian citizens.
  • The act pertains to a wide range of entities and transactions, including foreign exchange, foreign securities, export and import of goods and services, securities under the Public Debt Act 1994, banking, financial, insurance services, and overseas companies majority-owned by NRIs (Non-Resident Indians).
• This draft framework reflects RBI's ongoing efforts to streamline and regulate authorized entities under FEMA, thereby reinforcing India's foreign exchange management framework in alignment with current economic dynamics.

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• Researchers from the University of Szeged in Hungary have made significant strides in their study of fruit flies to gain insights into Huntington’s disease.
• About Huntington’s Disease:
  • Huntington’s disease is a rare genetic condition characterized by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain.
  • It significantly impacts a person’s functional abilities, leading to movement disorders, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms.
  • There are two main types of Huntington’s disease:
  • Adult onset: The most common form where symptoms typically start after the age of 30.
  • Early onset (juvenile Huntington’s disease): Affecting children and teenagers, this form is extremely rare and may progress faster with different symptoms.
• Cause:
  • Huntington’s disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT gene, which encodes a protein called huntingtin crucial for neuron function.
  • The mutation involves an expansion of a DNA segment within the HTT gene, resulting in the production of a huntingtin protein with 35 or more repeats of the amino acid glutamine.
  • More repeats correlate with earlier onset and increased severity of the disease.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of Huntington’s disease encompass a broad range of movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disturbances.
  • Patients may experience mood swings, reasoning difficulties, involuntary movements, and challenges with speech, swallowing, and walking.
• Treatment:
  • While medications can help manage symptoms, there are currently no treatments to halt the progression or prevent the decline associated with Huntington’s disease.
• The University of Szeged’s research using fruit flies as a model underscores ongoing efforts to deepen our understanding of Huntington’s disease, potentially paving the way for future therapeutic advancements in managing this complex neurological disorder.

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• Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft has recently achieved orbit around the moon following a lengthy journey.
• About SLIM:
  • SLIM is a spacecraft developed and launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on September 7, 2023, from the Tanegashima spaceport.
  • It has a compact weight of only 590 kg.
  • Launched alongside the XRISM X-ray space telescope aboard an H-2A rocket.
  • Upon reaching lunar vicinity, SLIM successfully entered an elliptical orbit, with its farthest point (apogee) approximately 4,000 km and closest point (perigee) about 600 km above the lunar surface.
• Mission Objectives on the Moon:
  • Prior to landing, SLIM will deploy two small rovers known as Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV) 1 and 2.
  • Together with LEV-1 and LEV-2, SLIM will conduct comprehensive studies of the lunar surface near its landing site.
  • Objectives include gathering data on temperature, radiation levels, and potentially exploring the moon’s mantle.
  • SLIM’s mission represents a significant step in Japan’s space exploration efforts, aiming to deepen our understanding of the lunar environment through innovative robotic exploration technologies.