Heatwaves
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued Heatwave alert
- Heatwave – Condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to the human body when exposed.
- Favourable conditions –
- Prevalence of hot dry air over a region.
- Absence of moisture in the upper atmosphere.
- Cloudless sky (allows maximum insulation over the region).
- Large amplitude anti-cyclonic flow over the area.
- Classification –
- Heat Wave – When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45°C.
- Severe Heat Wave – When actual maximum temperature ≥47°C
Phanigiri
Department of Archaeology and Museums have unearthed a coin hoard at Phanigiri site belonging to Ikshvaku period.
- Phanigiri – It is a Buddhist site located in Telangana.
- Highlights of recent excavations –
- Discovered Mahastupa, Chaitya Grihas, Viharas, and life-size Stucco of Bodhisattva
- Brahmi label inscriptions of Satavahana and Ikshvaku times
- Thorana’s panel shows that both Mahayana and Hinayana sects co-existed here.
Project Akashteer
Indian Army has started the induction of ‘Project Akashteer’
- Project Akashteer – It is indigenously developed Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System
- Developed by – Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Significance –
- It will enable monitoring of low level airspace over the battle areas of Indian Army
- Control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
UNESCAP
“Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2024” was released by UNESCAP. The Survey, published annually since 1947, is flagship publication of UNESCAP.
- Headquarters – Bangkok, Thailand.
- Established in – 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and Far East (ECAFE)
- Function – It provides a forum for all governments of region to review and discuss economic and social issues and to strengthen regional cooperation.
- Members – 53 members and 9 associate members
- India is a member
Arrokoth
Recently, scientists proposed a model to explain Arrokoth’s ice core.
- Arrokoth – One of thousands of ‘icy worlds’ in the Kuiper Belt, or the outer zone of the solar system that lies beyond Neptune.
- Discovered in – 2014 using the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Important Features –
- It is the farthest object in space that has been explored by a human space-craft.
- It is a double-lobed object and resembles a snowman.
- It is believed it may have ancient ‘gaseous ice’ stored deep within it from when the object first formed billions of years ago.