CURRENT TOPICS in HIGHLIGHTS 1 TO 10 JANUARY 2025
CURRENT TOPICS in HIGHLIGHTS 1 TO 10 JANUARY 2025
- Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant
Rooppur: Bangladesh's First Nuclear Power Plant Facilitated by Russia
❖ It is a nuclear power plant under construction in Iswardi, Pabna District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh.
❖ It will be Bangladesh's first source of nuclear power.
❖ Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is the owner of the Rooppur nuclear plant.
It features two VVER-1200 reactors, created by Russian company Rosatom.
Construction of both water-cooled reactors began in November 2017.
2. The Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently said cargo-handling capacity at Indian ports increased by 87 percent in the last nine years, with Tamil Nadu's Kamarajar Port registering a whopping swell of 154 percent.
Kamarajar Port:
Formerly known as Ennore Port, is located approximately 24 km north of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.
It is the 12th major port of India and the first port in India which is a public company.
❖ It was declared as a major port under the Indian Ports Act, 1908, in March 1999.
3. Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, and 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the northern Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet.
Capital: Havana
Currency: Cuban Peso
Official languages: Spanish
President: Miguel Díaz-Canel
4 Egypt completed a trial run of new Suez Canal channel extension.
Opening Date: Construction began in 1859, completed in 1869
Location: Man-made waterway in Egypt, crossing the Isthmus of Suez
Connects: Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea.
Significance: Handles about 12% of global trade and is accessed by vessels travelling from Asia via the 30km wide Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
5. World Braille Day
Observed on: 04 January 2025
• Aim: to raise awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and visually impaired people.
Birthday of Braille inventor, Louis Braille.
6. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Announces National Sports Awards 2024
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7. Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Outbreak in China:
Why in News: China is witnessing a surge in HMPV cases, particularly among children under 14, in its northern provinces.
Symptoms: Cough, fever, shortness of breath, and potential complications like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Current Context: Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns are rising over another respiratory illness outbreak.
Current Status in India:
No reported cases of HMPV so far.
. About Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV):
Discovery: First identified in 2001, belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, along with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Affected Groups:
Common in young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Global Prevalence: Reported earlier in the U.S., Canada, and Europe (2011-12).
Diagnosis: Molecular diagnostic testing has improved awareness of HMPV as a cause of respiratory infections.
Objectives:
❖ Digitalise the agricultural extension system to improve efficiency and outreach.
❖ Provide farmers access to start-up-driven innovations and technologies in agriculture and allied sectors.
Enhance adoption of sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices.
Key Features:
❖ Integration of data on over 12,000 Agri-startups through IIT Madras' startup information platform and it incubate, YNOS Venture Engine.
❖ Advisory services covering crop production, marketing, value addition, and supply chain management.
Easy access to government schemes related to agriculture and rural development.
❖ Delivery of accurate, timely, and contextual information to farmers to improve decision-making.
9. Blue Baby Syndrome
Also known as infant methemoglobinemia.
It is a condition where a baby's skin turns blue.
This occurs due to a decreased amount of hemoglobin in the baby's blood.
The most common cause of blue baby syndrome is water contaminated with nitrates.
10.Banihal Bypass
is a four-lane, 2.35 km bypass to Banihal town in Jammu & Kashmir, a section that was riddled with chronic traffic snarl-ups.
Strategically located on the Ramban- Banihal section of NH-44, the bypass features 4 viaducts spanning 1,513 meters and 3 culverts, effectively addressing the persistent bottleneck caused by roadside markets and shops.
This critical infrastructure ensures unhindered traffic flow, significantly reducing travel time and congestion for both tourists and defense vehicles.
11. Abdali Missile
ENVISION PAKISTAN
Abdali (Hatf 2) is a short-range, road-mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile.
❖ Developed by Pakistan's Space Research Commission (SUPARCO).
Bangladesh Reportedly Plans to Buy Abdali Missiles from Pakistan
❖The Abdali missile system is designed for quick-reaction battlefield scenarios.
12. ISRO achieved a milestone as cowpea seeds aboard PSLV-C60's CROPS experiment sprouted leaves in space within four days.
CROPS Experiment:
It is an automated platform designed to cultivate and sustain plant life in microgravity environment of space.
❖ Developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
Current accomplishment not only demonstrates ISRO's capability to grow plants in space but also provides valuable insights for future long-duration missions.
13. Ken and Betwa Rivers
1. Origins:
Both rivers originate in Madhya Pradesh and are tributaries of the Yamuna River.
2. Confluence:
Ken meets Yamuna in Banda district (UP).
Betwa joins Yamuna in Hamirpur district (UP).
3. Key Dams:
Betwa River: Rajghat, Paricha, Matatila dams.
Ken River: Passes through the Panna Tiger Reserve.
14. BHARATPOL Portal
This portal has been developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
❖ Ministry Involved: Ministry of Home
Affairs, in collaboration with the CBI as the National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL in India.
Aim: To enable real-time information sharing and streamline international police assistance through INTERPOL, addressing challenges posed by transnational crimes.
15. The Indian Railways has unveiled a monumental engineering achievement with the completion of the Anji Khad Bridge, India's first cable-stayed rail bridge.
Anji Khad Bridge:
Location: Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, part of the Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project.
Dimensions:
Length: 725.5 meters
Height: 331 meters above the Anji River (a tributary of the Chenab).
16. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)
18 PBD CONVENTION 202
8th TO 10th JANUARY BHUBANESWAR
Observed on: 09 January 2025
• Aim: to honor the overseas Indian community's contributions to India's development. The day also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915.
8th TO 10th JANUARY BHUBANESWAR
• Venue: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
17.World Hindi Day
• Observed on: 10 January 2024
• Aim: marking the anniversary of first
World Hindi Conference which was held
in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi.
➢ World Hindi Day was first observed on
January 10, 2006. Since then, it is
celebrated on January 10 every year.
➢ National Hindi Diwas is celebrated every
year on September 14.
➢ On that day in 1949, the constituent
assembly adopted Hindi, written in
Devanagari script, as the official language of
the Union.
18. Karnataka launched the ‘Garudakshi’ online FIR system to curb wildlife crimes.
Garudakshi:
❖It is software to enable an online FIR system similar to that of the Police
Department.
❖It will allow the public to register complaints on forest offences using mobile phones
or email addresses.
❖Developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India.
19. Raising Day of Army Air Defense
Observed on: 10 January 2025
• Aim: Corps of Army Air Defence: One
of the active corps of Indian army
tasked with protection of Indian air
spaces from enemy aircrafts and
missiles, specially below 5000 feet.
➢ The Corps of Army Air Defence was first
raised during British era in 1939 and it
took active participation in the Second
World War.
➢ However, since January 10, 1994, it is
exercising autonomous status.
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