News in Shorts: 02 September 2024

ASI Copying Old Stone Inscriptions

ASI Copies Old Stone Inscriptions:

• Inscription: An inscription is writing carved into something made of stone or metal, for example a gravestone or medal.
• Temples Identified: Mattrurai Varadeswarar Temple and Agneeswarar temple.
• Method of Copying Inscriptions: Estampage is the method being used by the archaeologists to copy the characters and symbols from inscriptions. 
  • In this technique, an exact imitation of an inscription is obtained in an inked paper and then used for further analysis.
• Key Findings: 
  • Inscriptions at Thiruvasi temple revealed that it belonged to Kulothunga Chola period. 
  • Inscriptions at Periya Karuppur date back to the Vijayanagara Kingdom of the 14th Century, and had references about donations made to temples.
  • Inscriptions date back to the 12th Century, and had references to Pandya king Sundarapandiyan.

Sudan Crisis

About Sudan Crisis:

• Conflict Eruption: The power struggle between the SAF and the RSF escalated into a large-scale conflict in April 2023.
• Displacement Crisis: The conflict has displaced over 12 million Sudanese, with more than 10 million still within the country, making it the largest displacement crisis globally.
• Humanitarian Impact: Mass displacement and killings have severely restricted humanitarian access, making it difficult for aid to reach vulnerable communities.

Overview of Indian Stakes:

• Evacuation of Indians: India evacuated its nationals from Sudan early in the conflict.
• Hinders Bilateral Trade: In 2022-23, India’s direct trade with Sudan reached a record figure of $2,034 million, 9:1 in India’s favour.
• Concerns Related to Indian Investments:  In 2003, India made  nearly $2.3 billion investment in Sudan. 
  • India has also cumulatively committed nearly $700 million in lines of credit to Sudan.
• May Weaken Soft Power: Due to Students and medical tourists from Sudan, people-to-people ties have remained strong. This may weaken in protracted conflict. 

Namibia Drought

Drought in Namibia:

• Drought-Prone: Namibia is located in drought-prone southern Africa. 
  • It had declared national emergencies because of extreme droughts in 2013, 2016 and 2019. 
• Spread of Drought: The drought began in Botswana in October 2023, spread and intensified across Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia
• Major Reason for Worst Drought: The situation is so bad mainly because of El Niño, a weather pattern associated with extreme heat and dry spells in many parts of the world and the ocean. 
• Impacts of Drought:
  • Food availability has been made worse by the drought.
  • Severe acute malnutrition among children under five has increased.
  • Deaths have been reported in some areas.
  • Women and girls are required to walk longer distances to collect food and water, their risk of being subjected to gender-based violence also increases.
• Major Reasons for Culling of Wild Animals:
• • To provide meat for the benefit of Namibian citizens.
  • Drought will force the animals to migrate, and culling could reduce chances of bringing them into conflict with human populations. 
  • Reduce the effect of the drought on wildlife. 

Global Fintech Fest 2024

• Theme: ‘Blueprint for the next decade of finance: Responsible AI| Inclusive| Resilient.’

About Global Fintech Fest:

• Organized: The GFF is one of the largest fintech conferences, organized annually by the  Payments Council of India (PCI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC). 
• Objective: Catalyst for change in the fintech. ecosystem.
• Significance: GFF fosters collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. 
• Recognition: Central to the ethos of GFF is the Global Fintech Awards (GFA), an esteemed recognition in the fintech domain by individuals and enterprises from across the globe. 

Japan’s Heat-Resistant Rice 

Emihokoro Rice:

• Emihokoro: A newly developed heat-resistant plant variety.
• Cultivation: Involves cultivating and cross-pollinating seeds to develop more resilient strains.
• Cross-Pollination Process: Occurs when pollen from the anther of one plant is transferred to the stigma of another plant of the same species.
• Outbreeding Benefits: Produces seeds that combine features from both parent plants, leading to greater diversity in the progeny.
• Advantages of Cross-Pollination: Results in offspring with enhanced vigour, better disease resistance, and other beneficial traits.