{"id":126290,"date":"2024-08-14T20:09:18","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T14:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=126290"},"modified":"2024-08-16T14:23:56","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T08:53:56","slug":"news-in-short-14-august-2024","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/news-in-short-14-august-2024","title":{"rendered":"News in Short: 14 August 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Neelakurinji\"<\/td>\n

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), <\/span>a flowering shrub<\/b> that blooms once every 12 years, is now classified as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) on the<\/span> IUCN Red List.<\/b><\/p>\n

About Neelakurinji Flower:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Kurinji or Neelakurinji\u00a0 is a shrub that grows in the<\/span> shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India. <\/b>They are<\/span> semelparous<\/b> in nature<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Named After:<\/b> The plant is named after the<\/span> famous Kunthi River<\/b> which flows through <\/span>Kerala\u2019s Silent Valley National Park.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • IUCN Status:<\/b> Vulnerable\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Genus:<\/b> The Kurinji plant belongs to the genus <\/span>Strobilanthus<\/b>, family <\/span>Acanthaceae<\/b> and was identified in the 1<\/span>9th century.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Other Species:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\n
      \n
    • Strobilanthes Anamallaica<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Strobilanthes Heyneanus<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Strobilanthes Pulnyensis<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Strobilanthes Neoasper<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Characteristics: Kurinji<\/b> grows to a<\/span> height of 30 to 60 cm <\/b>and is found at an <\/span>altitude of 1,300-2,400 metres<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Pollinator:<\/b> Honey bees act as pollinators of Neelakurinji.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Nilgiri Mountains: <\/b>Kurinji used to once grow abundantly in the Nilgiri Hills (part of the Western Ghats) in Tamil Nadu.\u00a0<\/span>\n
        \n
      • The blue color of Kurinji has given the hills the name \u201cNilgiri\u201d, literally meaning \u201cBlue Mountains\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Found In: <\/b>\u00a0In Kerala, the <\/span>Anamalai Hills of Idukki district<\/b>, the <\/span>Agali Hills of Palakkad distric<\/b>t and the E<\/span>ravikulam National Park of Munnar <\/b>(all in the Western Ghats)<\/span>\n
          \n
        • In addition to the Western Ghats, <\/span>Kurinji<\/b> is also found in the <\/span>Shevaroy Hills of the Eastern Ghats <\/b>in <\/span>Tamil Nadu<\/b> as well as the <\/span>Bellary district of Karnataka.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Last Bloomed In :<\/b> The year<\/span> 2006 <\/b>was when the Neelakurinji last bloomed in<\/span> Kerala and Tamil Nadu<\/b>, after a span of 1<\/span>2 years.\u00a0<\/b>\n
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          • The year was declared as the <\/span>\u201cYear of Kurinji\u201d <\/b>and a commemorative stamp was released<\/span> in Kerala.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Cultural & Historical Significance: <\/b>In the ancient<\/span> Sangam literature of Tamilakam or Tamil Country, <\/b>land was classified into<\/span> five types<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\n
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            • They are <\/span>Kurinji (mountainous)<\/b>, <\/span>Mullai<\/b> (forested), <\/span>Marutham<\/b> (agricultural), <\/span>Neithal<\/b> (coastal) and <\/span>Paalai<\/b> (desert).<\/span><\/li>\n
            • The mountainous landscape, referred to as Kurinji, abounded with Kurinji flowers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            • The <\/span>Paliyar tribal community<\/b> that lives in the montane rain forests of the <\/span>South Western Ghats uses the flowering periodicity <\/b>of this plant to <\/span>calculate their age<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Main Threats: <\/b>Major threats include habitat loss from <\/span>tea and softwood plantations, urbanisation, invasive species, and climate change.\u00a0<\/b>\n
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              • Approximately 40% of its habitat has been lost.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Gurmar<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Gurmar\"<\/td>\n

Researchers have discovered <\/span>anti-diabetic medicinal herb <\/b>Gurmar on Gaya\u2019s Brahmayoni Hill.<\/span><\/p>\n

About Gurmar:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Scientific Name: <\/b>Gymnema sylvestre<\/span><\/li>\n
  • It\u00a0 is a<\/span> tropical plant<\/b> that is <\/span>indigenous to India<\/b> and grows in the tropical areas of <\/span>Africa, Australia, and China.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Properties:<\/b><\/li>\n
  • \n
      \n
    • Gymnema sylvestre is a <\/span>medicinal plant. <\/b>It is a <\/span>slow-growing, perennial, woody climber.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
    • In the Ayurvedic system, it is referred to as \u201c<\/span>Meshasringa\u201d or \u201cGurmar\u201d <\/b>and has indications for use in glucose balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Gymnemic acid<\/b>\u2014an active component isolated from leaves of G. sylvestre\u2014has antiobesity and antidiabetic properties; it causes decrease in body weight and inhibits glucose absorption\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Gymnema <\/span>contains substances that decrease the absorption of sugar <\/b>from the intestine. Gymnema may also increase the amount of insulin in the body and increase the growth of cells in the pancreas, which is the place in the body where insulin is made.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Monitor Lizard<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Monitor<\/td>\n

World Lizard Day is celebrated <\/span>on August 14 <\/b>every year<\/span><\/p>\n

About Monitor lizards:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Lizards: <\/b>Lizards are reptiles characterised by <\/span>scaly skin, long bodies, four legs, and movable eyelids<\/b>. Most lizards <\/span>lay eggs<\/b>, but some give <\/span>birth to live young.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Monitor lizards:\u00a0 <\/b>It can be found in<\/span> forests, mangrove swamps, and even man-made canals<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Characteristics:\u00a0<\/b>\n
      \n
    • They <\/b>are <\/span>mostly carnivorous; <\/b>some also s<\/span>cavenge on carrion.<\/b><\/li>\n
    • They can <\/span>stand<\/b> on<\/span> their hind legs to scan their surroundings<\/b>, sometimes taking thi<\/span>s stance when faced with competitio<\/b>n from another <\/span>monitor for food or mate<\/b><\/li>\n
    • They are also agile climbers, as their<\/span> claws provide a secure grip.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Distribution: <\/b>India is home to<\/span> four Monitor lizards\u00a0<\/b>\n
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      • Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Asian Water monitor (Varanus salvator)<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens)\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Desert monitor (Varanus griseus)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Important Ecological Roles:<\/b>\n
          \n
        • Control of prey population: <\/b>Monitor lizards feed on a h<\/span>uge variety of food types <\/b>(eg. insects, crabs, snakes, fish, etc); they<\/span> control the population<\/b> of their <\/span>prey<\/b>, and in turn are a source of food to larger predators (eg. crocodiles).<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Keep habitat clean:<\/b> They also play an important role as <\/span>scavengers in biomass <\/b>decomposition and recycling.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • About Bengal Monitor:<\/b><\/li>\n
        • \n
            \n
          • The scientific name of Bengal Monitor or <\/span>Common Indian Monitor is Varanus bengalensis.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
          • The Bengal Monitor Lizard is a part of<\/span> CITES Appendix I and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
          • IUCN red list status:<\/b> Near Threatened (NT).<\/span><\/li>\n
          • The species is hunted for <\/span>medicinal purposes and also for consumptio<\/b>n.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Distribution: <\/b>\u00a0Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DRDO carries out Flight test of long-range glide bomb \u201cGaurav\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DRDO\"<\/td>\n

India has carried out a <\/span>“successful” maiden flight test of long-range glide bomb (LRGB<\/b>) <\/span>Gaurav<\/b> from a<\/span> Su-30 MK-I fighter jet <\/b>of the Indian Air Force.<\/span><\/p>\n

About Long-range glide bomb (LRGB) – Gaurav:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Gaurav’ is an air launched<\/span> 1,000 kg class glide bomb c<\/b>apable of<\/span> hitting targets at long distance<\/b><\/li>\n
  • GAURAV has been designed and developed indigenously by the <\/span>Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • It is air-launched from a<\/span> Su-30 MK-I fighter <\/b>jet of the<\/span> Indian Air Force.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Location: Off the coast of Odisha.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Participants:<\/b> It was Monitored by<\/span> DRDO scientists; Adani Defence and Bharat Forge <\/b>also<\/span> participated.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Significance: I<\/b>t is a<\/span> major milestone i<\/b>n the country\u2019s effort in developin<\/span>g indigenous defence<\/b> technologies for further strengthening the <\/span>capability of the Armed Forces.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Features: <\/b>After being launched, the glide bomb steer towards the target using a highly accurate <\/span>hybrid navigation scheme\u00a0 <\/b>that combines<\/span> Inertial Navigation System (INS) <\/b>with<\/span> Global Positioning System (GPS)<\/b> data for highly accurate targeting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Lunisolar Calendar<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Lunisolar<\/td>\n

A researcher at the University of Edinburgh has discovered what he believes to be the <\/span>earliest lunisolar calendar <\/b>at <\/span>G\u00f6bekli Tepe, an ancient site in southern Turkey<\/b> that was once a complex of<\/span> temple-like enclosures<\/b><\/p>\n

Key Findings:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • G\u00f6bekli Tepe:<\/b> often referred to as the <\/span>world\u2019s first temple<\/b>, features a series of large stone pillars adorned with ornate carvings.\u00a0<\/span>\n
      \n
    • These carvings have <\/span>long puzzled researchers<\/b>, but recent studies suggest they represent an <\/span>ancient timekeeping system<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Counting of Days: <\/b>The carvings on the pillars include a series of<\/span> V-shaped symbols, <\/b>each representing a<\/span> single day.\u00a0<\/b>\n
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      • By<\/span> counting <\/b>these<\/span> symbols, <\/b>researchers identified a calendar of<\/span> 365 days, <\/b>divided into<\/span> 12 lunar months with an additional 11 days.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
      • This system aligns closely with the<\/span> modern solar calendar, <\/b>indicating a <\/span>sophisticated understanding of astronomy<\/b> by the ancient people who created it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Depiction of the summer solstice<\/b>: A V-shaped symbol worn around the neck of a <\/span>bird-like figure<\/b> is believed to represent this <\/span>significant astronomical event<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\n
          \n
        • This suggests that the ancient inhabitants of G\u00f6bekli Tepe were<\/span> keen observers of the sky<\/b>, using their<\/span> calendar to track the changing seasons<\/b> and<\/span> celestial events<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
        • The carvings also include <\/span>representations of both the sun<\/b> and the <\/span>moon<\/b>, indicating a <\/span>combined solar and lunar calendar.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Historical Significance: <\/b>G\u00f6bekli Tepe’s calendar is not only remarkable for it<\/span>s age but a<\/b>lso for its<\/span> potential historical significance.\u00a0<\/b>\n
            \n
          • Researchers believe that the calendar may have been created to<\/span> commemorate a catastrophic comet strike that occurred around 10,850<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • About G\u00f6bekli Tepe:<\/b> It is a marvel of <\/span>ancient engineering and artistry.<\/b><\/li>\n
          • \n
              \n
            • Built by <\/span>hunter-gatherers between 9,600 and 8,200 BCE<\/b>, it predates <\/span>Stonehenge by more than 6,000 year<\/b>s.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            • The large stone pillars, some of which weigh up to <\/span>20 ton<\/b>s, are arranged in c<\/span>ircular enclosures and decorated with carvings of animals and abstract symbol<\/b>s.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            • The exact purpose of G\u00f6bekli Tepe has long been debated, but many believe it <\/span>was used for ritualistic or ceremonial<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Kerala\u2019s Jewish Communities<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

Recently, Queenie Hallegua, 89, died . She was the<\/span> last woman of Kerala\u2019s once-vibrant<\/b> Paradesi Jewish community.<\/b><\/p>\n

About Malabar Jews:<\/b><\/p>\n