DURGA 2 (Directionally Unrestricted Ray Gun Array)
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing DURGA-2 as per reports.
- A directed energy weapon (DEW) that’s to be integrated with land, sea and air-based platforms.
- DEW – Use concentrated electromagnetic energy to combat enemy forces and assets.
- Includes – High energy lasers and other high power electromagnetics such as millimeter wave and high power microwave weapons.
Euvichol -S
World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the Euvichol-S vaccine for Cholera.
- A simplified formulation of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) Euvichol-Plus.
- Significance – Uses fewer ingredients, is cheaper, and can be made more quickly than old version.
- Cholera – An acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
- Transmitted through – Contaminated food or water.
- Highest numbers of cases – Middle East and Africa
- India reported 132 cases in 2023
Dragonfly Mission
NASA has announced that Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s massive moon Titan will be launched in 2028.
- Goal – To investigate Titan’s habitability.
- It will reach Titan in 2034.
- Titan – Only satellite in our solar system known to be blanketed by a dense atmosphere and host liquid seas on its surface
- Significance of mission – 4th mission of NASA’s New Frontiers Program.
- Other 3 are – NewHorizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-Rex (also OSIRIS-APEX).
Vasuki Indicus
Paleontologists have unearthed a giant predator snake in in Kutch named Vasuki indicus.
- Belongs to – Madtsoiidae snake family that went extinct about 12,000 years ago.
- It spread from India through southern Eurasia and into north Africa after the Indian subcontinent collided with Eurasia around 50 million years ago
NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund)
NIIF has invested $200 million in iBUS Network and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.
- A Sovereign-linked Alternative Asset Manager, established by the Government of India (having a share of 49%).
- A collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors.
- Operates in 2 distinct asset classes – Indian Infrastructure and Growth Equity.
- Established as – An Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- Governing council – Headed by Finance Minister.
- Key Funds under NIIF – Master Fund, Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF) etc.