NATIONAL:
1. Cyclone Biparjoy
Why in news - Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Key Points –
• The cyclone crossed Saurashtra & Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan).
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified Biparjoy as a “very severe cyclonic storm”.
About Landfall –
• It is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water.
• A tropical cyclone is said to have made a landfall when the center of the storm – or its eye – moves over the coast.
• Cyclones lose their intensity once they move over land because of sharp reduction of moisture supply and increase in surface friction.
• Landfalls mark the beginning of its end.
2. New Chikungunya Vaccine
Why in news - Phase III chikungunya vaccine trial tested for the first time in humans shown promising results.
Key Points –
• VLA1553 - A live-attenuated vaccine candidate for active immunization and prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus.
• Other types of vaccines –
(a) inactivated viruses vaccines (flu or rabies vaccines)
(b) messenger RNA (mRNA) (COVID-19 vaccines).
(c) toxoid vaccines (diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.)
Value Addition –
• The viral disease was first discovered in Tanzania in the 1950s.
• Transmitted by - Asian tiger mosquito (native to southern Europe).
• Spread - Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America.
• Most affected - Tropical region south of the equator (Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Thailand).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Migrant Boat Capsized
Why in news - Greece boat disaster left at least 78 dead and hundreds missing.
Key Points –
• The ship sank some 75 km southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula.
• World’s deadliest migratory route (as per International Organization of Migration) - trip from Libya or Tunisia through the Central Mediterranean and north to Europe.
Value Addition –
• Alarm Phone – A network of activists who run a hotline for migrant boats in distress.
• Most migrants to Greece cross from Turkey crossing the Evros river.
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees - Filippo Grandi.
ECONOMY:
1. Hawkish Pause
Why in news - The Federal Reserve of the United States decided to pause raising interest rates.
Key Points –
• Many commentators called it “hawkish pause”
• Hawkish pause –
(a) Central bank has decided to pause raising interest rates ending a streak of repeated interest rate hikes.
(b) But no one should mistake this for them taking their eye off the target (of bringing inflation to its target level.
Value Addition -
• Hawks –
(a) Central banks have a very low threshold for tolerating variation from the targeted inflation level (or a range).
(b) Keep their eyes peeled for such divergence and immediately swoop in to raise interest rates.
• Doves - Favour boosting growth (keep interest rates low) and are far more willing to risk having higher inflation.
• India’s Inflation Target –
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. IIAS Annual Conference 2025
Why in news - India to host the 2025 IIAS (International Institute of Administrative Sciences) annual conference in February, 2025.
Key Points –
• Theme - Next Generation Administrative Reforms - Empowering the Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile.
• Venue - Kochi, Kerala.
About IIAS (1930) –
• Headquarters - Brussels, Belgium.
• A federation of member States and academic research centers jointly elaborating public administration solutions to the policy challenges of the day.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2023
Why in news - According to its latest edition, India is expected to witness a net outflow of 6,500 High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs).
Key Points –
• High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) – People having an investable wealth of US $1 million (Rs 8.2 crore) or more.
• Investable wealth - Individual’s net investable assets e.g., property, cash and equities minus any liabilities.
• India is the second worst performer in losing HNWIs after China in 2023.
• Largest net outflows of HNWIs - China, India, the UK, Russia, and Brazil.
• Top 5 destinations for net inflows of HNWIs - Australia, the UAE, Singapore, the USA, and Switzerland.
• At the end of 2022, by HNWI population, India ranked 10th in the W10 grouping i.e., India was among the 10 richest countries in the world.
SCIENCE-TECH:
1. Dimethyl Ether Fuelled Tractor
Why in news - IIT Kanpur have developed India’s first 100% Dimethyl Ether (DME)-fuelled tractor/vehicle.
Key Points –
• Developed by - Dr. Avinash Kumar Agarwal and Prof Tarun Gupta of IIT-Kanpur.
• Under - Department of Science and Technology’s Imprint-2 initiative.
• Industrial partner - Tafe Motors & Tractors Ltd, Alwar.
About Dimethyl Ether (DME) –
• A renewable and clean-burning alternative fuel.
• Colourless gas in normal atmospheric conditions.
• Produced from - Natural gas, coal, biomass, or renewable sources through a synthesis process.
• Properties similar to LPG and can be easily stored and transported.
• Uses - As a solvent, fuel, and refrigerant (ozone-friendly aerosol propellant to replace CFCs).
SECURITY:
1. 4th Komodo Naval Exercise
Why in news - Indonesia launched a multilateral naval exercise in its waters.
Key Points –
• Aim - to "strengthen relationships between the navies" of 36 countries.
• From India, INS Satpura participated.
• Related places - Sulawesi island, Mentawai Islands, Makassar coast.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. International Green Apple Awards for Beautiful Buildings
Why in news - Five of the landmark building structures in Telangana have been adjudged winners of the award.
Key Points –
• Award given by - The Green Organisation.
• Reason - for promoting ‘best environmental practices’.
• This is the first time any structures from India were honored with this award.
• Telangana got the honor of receiving all five awards.
BIHAR:
1. National Transit Pass System (NTPS)
Why in news - Bihar became the 5th state to implement national transit pass system.
Key Points –
• NTPS is a digital platform monitoring and keeping records of transit permit for interstate and intrastate transportation of forest products from private and public lands.
• The NTPS was launched by state environment, forest and climate change minister Tej Pratap Yadav on June 15, 2023.
• Other 4 states - Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir.
POINTERS:
• Which team won the FIFA U-20 World Cup title – Uruguay.
• What is the name of the fourth Survey Vessel large warship of the Indian Navy which has been launched recently – Sanshodhak.
• Scientists have discovered a new species of flying geckos in which state – Mizoram.
• In which state an app named 'ArunPol App' has been launched by the police - Arunachal Pradesh.
• Where was the 8th meeting of the Standing Committee of ISA held recently - New Delhi.
• Which country has recently become the second largest producer of crude steel – India.
• Which country has the highest prevalence of slavery as per Global Slavery Index 2023 - North Korea (104.6).
• Recently, the country's first CNG-powered toy train has been launched in which state – Rajasthan.
• Recently 'Squash World Cup' has been inaugurated in which city - Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• According to the recent Greenpeace India report 'Spare the Air', India's most polluted city is – Bengaluru.