Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 21 October 2024 | Download PDF

• Researchers discovered that marine heat waves (MHWs) occurring deep in the oceans might be “significantly under-reported” and are influenced by ocean currents.

About Marine Heat Wave (MHW):

• MHWs occur when sea surface temperatures rise by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above average for at least five days.
• Impacts of MHWs:
  • Damage to Marine Habitats: Severe impacts on coral reefs and species displacement.
  • Frequency: Increasing occurrences due to global warming, notably off Australia’s East Coast, Tasmania, the northeast Pacific coast, and North Atlantic.
  • Storm Intensification: Higher ocean temperatures associated with MHWs can strengthen storms, including hurricanes and tropical cyclones.
  • Invasive Species: MHWs promote the growth of invasive alien species, disrupting marine food webs.
  • Storm Characteristics: Hot oceans enable storms to gather more water vapor and heat, leading to:
    • More powerful winds
    • Heavier rainfall
    • Increased flooding upon reaching land, resulting in greater devastation for human populations.

• The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Cali, Colombia.

About CBD:

• The CBD is a comprehensive binding international agreement focused on nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• Opened for signing at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
• Objectives:
  • Conservation of biological diversity (genetic, species, and habitat diversity).
  • Sustainable use of biological diversity.
  • Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources.
• Secretariat: Montreal, Canada.
• Supporting Agreements:
  • Cartagena Protocol (adopted in 2000, in force since 2003): Regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
  • Nagoya Protocol (adopted in 2010): Establishes a legally binding framework for access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.

• A Russian envoy in India recently advocated for an alternative to the SWIFT system for global payments, following Russia’s expulsion from SWIFT after the onset of the war in Ukraine.

About SWIFT System:

• Nature: SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative facilitating safe and secure financial transactions for its members.
• Establishment: Founded in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries.
• Function:
  • SWIFT is a network used by banks to communicate securely for transferring funds.
  • It is the largest and most streamlined method for international payments and settlements.
• Standardization:
  • SWIFT standardizes communication protocols, enabling reliable cross-border transactions.
  • It reduces risks and inefficiencies in international banking.
• Headquarters: La Hulpe, Belgium.
• Oversight: Governed by the central banks of the G10 countries, the European Central Bank, and the National Bank of Belgium.

• A recent study has reported a steady increase in the population of the long-billed vulture from 2015 to 2021, highlighting a 74% breeding success rate in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

About Long-billed Vulture: 

• Scientific Classification: Old World vulture native to the Asian region.
• Physical Description:
  • Males are larger than females, with females being comparatively smaller.
  • Known for their longer beaks.
• Habitat:
  • Found in savannas and open habitats.
  • Commonly located around villages, cities, and near cultivated areas.
• Distribution: Native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
• Threats:
  • Significant population decline of 97-99%.
  • Primary threat due to poisoning from the veterinary drug diclofenac, which is toxic to vultures.
  • Diclofenac was administered to working animals to reduce joint pain, inadvertently harming vultures that fed on their carcasses.

• India is on the verge of eliminating Kala-azar as a public health issue, having maintained a case rate of less than one per 10,000 people for two consecutive years, meeting the WHO’s criteria for elimination certification.

About Kala-azar:

• A severe form of leishmaniasis caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani.
• Transmission: Spread through the bite of infected female sandflies, primarily Phlebotomus argentipes in India.
• Associated with:
  • Malnutrition
  • Population displacement
  • Poor housing
  • Weak immune systems (e.g., individuals with HIV)
  • Lack of financial resources

• A cyclonic circulation over the North Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and reach the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24.
• A “Low Pressure Area” over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23.

Note:

• The name “Dana” was chosen for Cyclone Dana in 2023 from the list of names submitted by Pakistan for the North Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones Naming System. 
• It is derived from the Arabic word “dana,” which means “grain” or “corn.” 

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on formation of Cyclones.

• The state of Odisha has announced plans to implement a psychosocial care program in its disaster-prone districts. 
• This initiative aims to provide mental health support to individuals and communities affected by natural calamities such as cyclones, floods, and earthquakes. 
• The program will focus on addressing the psychological impact of disasters, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Key components of the program are expected to include:

• Mental health assessment and screening.
• Counseling and therapy.
• Community-based interventions.
• Training of healthcare professionals.

• The Odisha government is planning to rename its flagship development scheme, “Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha,” to “Bikasit Gaan Bikasit Odisha’.
• This proposed change aims to better reflect the scheme’s focus on state pride and development. 
• The scheme was launched in all 30 districts. 
• It aims to develop villages with various facilities such as internet, sports infrastructure, training hubs for self-help groups (SHGs), banking, and digital connectivity.

About:

• Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha is a government initiative aimed at promoting the development of Odisha. 
• It focuses on various aspects of the state’s growth, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. 
• The initiative aims to create a better future for the people of Odisha by providing them with better opportunities and improving their quality of life.

• Odisha is set to integrate its state-run Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (G-JAY) with the central government’s Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• This move aims to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to a significant portion of the state’s population.   

About:

• It is a flagship scheme of the Government of India under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Key features of Ayushman Bharat include:

• Free healthcare: It provides free healthcare services at empanelled public and private hospitals across the country.
• Comprehensive coverage: The scheme covers a wide range of medical procedures, including hospitalization, surgeries, and diagnostics.
• Cashless treatment: Patients can avail treatment without making any upfront payments.

• • The state government has decided to bring two tigers from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra to supplement the big cat population in Similipal.
• At present, STR has around 27 tigers and 12 cubs.

• To support the translocation and supplementation project, the Forest department has also sent a separate six-member team of frontline staff and officials from Similipal to undergo training at Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Maharashtra.

About:

• TATR is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park, located in Chandrapur district. 
• The reserve features a tropical dry deciduous forest ecosystem, home to various species like sambar, chital, wild pig, and gaur.

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on Similipal Tiger Reserve.

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