Read Current Affairs
- The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report warns that transnational organized cybercrime groups in East and Southeast Asia are expanding their operations globally due to increased regional crackdowns.
- The report outlines a shift in criminal trends, including a transition to synthetic drug production in Myanmar and the rise of illicit online markets like Huione Guarantee, a Telegram-based platform now among the world’s largest for illegal trade.
- These groups are extending their reach to Africa, South Asia (including India), the Middle East, Pacific Islands, and even Europe and the Americas.
- Cybercriminals are increasingly organized and technologically advanced, employing malware, deepfakes, and AI tools.
- A growing connection between cyber fraud and organized crime highlights the use of digital platforms for scams such as fake gambling and financial fraud.
- UNODC recommends stronger political will, legal frameworks, and regional cooperation. Meanwhile, India’s NITI Aayog flagged rising cyber scams like "digital arrest," where scammers impersonate officials to extort money.
- Scientists have confirmed that the fourth global coral bleaching event, ongoing since early 2023, is the most severe and widespread in history, continuing through March 2025.
- This event has affected around 84% of the world’s coral reefs—far surpassing the impacts of previous bleaching events in 1998 (21%), 2010 (37%), and 2014–2017 (68%). Coral bleaching occurs when environmental stress—primarily rising ocean temperatures—causes corals to expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) they depend on for nutrients and color, leaving them white and vulnerable.
- Prolonged bleaching can lead to mass coral death. Corals, which are colonial invertebrates, are classified into hard (reef-building) and soft corals.
- Hard corals create reefs through calcium carbonate secretion. Coral reefs are vital as biodiversity hotspots, home to 25% of marine life, and provide coastal protection and global economic value of about $10 trillion.
- Conservation technologies like Biorock, 3D-printed reefs, and coral cryopreservation offer hope for reef restoration and preservation.
- Launched on April 24, 2020, by the Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day, the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme aims to revolutionize rural land governance in India.
- A Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, its core objective is to provide rural property owners in abadi (inhabited) areas with legal ownership records, known as Property Cards.
- This enables villagers to use their land as a financial asset, supporting access to loans and other financial services. SVAMITVA also helps reduce land disputes through precise mapping and promotes digital, transparent governance.
- It supports better village planning using GIS-based data for Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
- So far, drone surveys have covered over 3.20 lakh villages across 68,122 sq km, and more than 2.42 crore property cards have been issued in 1.61 lakh villages.
- Full implementation has been achieved in states like UP, MP, AP, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep.
- Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, have developed a novel optical sensing platform capable of detecting cholesterol at trace levels. This innovative tool can identify cholesterol concentrations even below the recommended range, making it highly effective for regular health monitoring and early disease risk assessment.
- About Cholesterol:
- Cholesterol is a vital lipid synthesized by the liver, essential for the proper functioning of animal tissues, blood, and nerve cells. In the human body, cholesterol is transported through the bloodstream and exists mainly in two forms:
- LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): Commonly called "bad" cholesterol, it can build up in artery walls, leading to health complications such as heart disease.
- HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): Known as "good" cholesterol, it aids in removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, helping to protect against cardiovascular issues.