21-07-21 Daily -Goa- GPSC Current Affairs

Mangrovesare popular as fish nurseries and natures DEFENCE systems. In Goa, they are a perfect setting foruniquecelebrations, crocodile worship and boat festivals even as their potential for honey, vegetables and medicinal benefits need to be explored.

Making a case for comprehensive mapping of MANGROVES and identifying their importance in various aspects with other activists, Fr Bolmax Pereira, a botanist and priest, suggested conservation status for the Kandella candel as a state mangrove species.

The study urged marking of mangrove sites with Avicennia spp, Aegicera and Sonneratia caseolaris species for mangrove honey, areas with Acrostichum aureum species (akur) a vegetable delicacy, and potential mangrove pharmacy sites.

Antibodies against the coronavirus are present in two-thirds of India’s Population. 67.6 percent of adults were seropositive, and more than 62 percent were unvaccinated. Around 400 million of Indias 1.4 billion people do not have antibodies

About the Sero Survey:

In a major push for AatmaNirbhar Bharat and the strengthening of the Indian army, DRDO successfully conducted flight tests on the indigenously developed low-weight, firepower and forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).

The test successfully validated the minimum range.

The maximum range of the missile has already been successfully flight tested.

The missile is equipped with the most advanced miniature infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics.

The test made the development of an indigenous third-generation MPATGM nearly completed.

The DRDO successfully flight-tested a new generation of Akash surface-to-air missiles from an integrated test range off the coast of Odisha, enhancing air DEFENCE capabilities. Compared with the original version, the new variant of Akash-NG has a slightly better range and can strike targets at a distance of about 25 kilometers. During testing, the missile demonstrated the high manoeuvrability required to eliminate rapid and agile aerial threats.

Akash is India’s first indigenously manufactured medium-range Surface-to-Air missile capable of engaging multiple targets from multiple directions.

It is capable of being launched from mobile platforms such as battle tanks or wheeled trucks. It has a kill Probability of nearly 90%.

The missile is aided by an indigenously developed radar known as ‘Rajendra,’ which is capable of handling multiple targets from multiple directions in group or autonomous mode.

The Motto of Olympics was updated to Faster, Higher, Stronger Together from Faster, Higher, Stronger, on 20th July 2021. Motto updation was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the change.

The Olympic motto was Citius, Altius, Fortius (in Latin) or Faster, Higher, Stronger (in English), from 1894, when it was adopted at the suggestion of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter is the Latin version of the new motto.

Ski mountaineering was approved as an extra sport for the Milan-Cortina Winter Games which is to be in 2026. Ski mountaineering sport involves climbing Mountains either by carrying the skies or on them and then descending on skies. Ski mountaineering is a prevalent sport in Italy. Five medal events for this category were planned at the 2026 Games.

China has reported the 1st human infection case with the Monkey B virus (BV). Monkey B virus is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic (endemic) in macaques, and it was initially isolated in 1932.

Highlights:

Alphaherpesviruses are pathogens or neuroinvasive viruses that establish lifelong infections in the peripheral nervous system of humans and many other vertebrates.

B virus is commonly referred to as herpes B, herpes virus simiae, and herpesvirus B.

B virus can survive for hours on surfaces, exceptionally when moist.