Current Affairs – 14 May 2024
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlighted that the rhino and the cedar were the most affected by global illegal wildlife trade.
- The World Wildlife Crime Report is an initiative that investigates trends in the illicit trafficking of protected wildlife species.
- It provides systematic analyses of the harms and impacts of wildlife crime, shedding light on the factors driving these trends.
- The report aims to take stock of current knowledge about the effectiveness of various interventions being pursued to address wildlife trafficking.
- It offers insights into the scope and scale of wildlife crime, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to combat it.
- Previous editions were published in 2016 and 2020, with the 2024 edition representing the third installment of this comprehensive report.
Xenotransplantation
Recently, the first recipient of a modified pig kidney transplant passed away around two months after the surgery was carried out.
- Xenotransplantation involves the transplantation, implantation, or infusion of cells, tissues, or organs from nonhuman animal sources into human recipients.
- The first attempts at xenotransplantation involving the heart in humans date back to the 1980s.
- Animal organs selected for xenotransplantation, such as pig organs, undergo genetic modifications to reduce the risk of rejection by the human body.
- Pig hearts have been used for over 50 years in humans, particularly for replacing damaged heart valves.
- Pigs are often chosen for xenotransplantation due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans.
- Pigs are widely bred in farms, making them a cost-effective option for organ harvesting.
- The availability of various pig breeds allows for organ sizes to be matched with the specific needs of human recipients.
- In January 2022, the first xenotransplantation of a genetically-modified pig heart was successfully performed, marking a significant advancement in the field.
GPT-4o
The ChatGPT, OpenAI has brought the capabilities of GPT-4 through its latest model named GPT-4o.
- GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”) provides GPT-4 level intelligence with enhanced capabilities across text, vision, and audio interactions.
- Human-to-machine interaction becomes more natural and effortless with GPT-4o.
- The voice mode of GPT-4o efficiently recognizes the voice of the speaker or multiple speakers, making interactions seamless.
- Unlike previous models, GPT-4o integrates transcription, intelligence, and text-to-speech functionalities natively, reducing latency in voice mode interactions.
- GPT-4o includes a vision feature, allowing users to upload photos and documents to initiate conversations about visual content.
- The Memory feature enables real-time information browsing during conversations, enhancing the user experience.
- OpenAI has enhanced the quality and speed of GPT-4o across 50 different languages.
- GPT-4o can discern and adapt to a user’s emotions, offering various emotive styles of conversation.
- The model is capable of analyzing a user’s facial expressions in real-time, providing insights into their feelings.
Exercise Shakti
The 7th edition of India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya recently.
- Exercise Shakti is a biennial training event conducted alternatively in India and France.
- Its aim is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations in a Sub-Conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.
- The exercise focuses on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
- Objectives include achieving a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for tactical level operations, and sharing best practices.
- The exercise facilitates the sharing of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for conducting joint operations.
- The Indian contingent consists of 90 personnel primarily from the Rajput Regiment, along with personnel from other arms and services.
- Observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force also participate in the 14-day exercise.
- The French contingent comprises 90 personnel mainly from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE).
India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX)
State Bank of India (SBI) recently announced it has become the first trading-cum-clearing member at the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX).
India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX):
- India’s first International Bullion Exchange based at GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tech City) IFSC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- Conceptualized to provide a gateway for importing bullion into India and promoting a world-class bullion exchange ecosystem.
- Aims to facilitate transparent price discovery, responsible sourcing, supply chain integrity, and quality assurance and standardization.
- Regulated by the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA), overseeing the development and regulation of financial products, services, and institutions at IFSCs.
- Offers diversified products and technology at competitive costs compared to Indian and global exchanges like those in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, London, and New York.
Bullion:
- Refers to physical gold and silver of high purity, commonly held in the form of bars, ingots, or coins.
- Sometimes considered legal tender and often held as reserves by central banks or institutional investors.
International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA):
- Statutory authority established under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
- Mandated to develop and regulate financial products, services, and institutions in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs).
- Aims to establish strong global connections, cater to the needs of the Indian economy, and serve as an international financial platform for the region.
- Before IFSCA, domestic financial regulators such as RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI regulated business in IFSCs.
- GIFT-IFSC is India’s inaugural IFSC.
Chabahar Port
India recently signed a 10-year agreement with Iran to develop and manage the Chabahar port, marking a pivotal development in bilateral ties between the two nations.
Why in News:
- A long-term agreement, valid for 10 years and extendable subsequently, has been negotiated by India and Iran over the past three years.
- Differences on a clause related to arbitration had held up the agreement.
- The new agreement replaces an initial pact signed in 2016, which covered India’s operations at the Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar port and was renewed annually.
- India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), a subsidiary of state-run India Global Ports Limited (IGPL), currently operates the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port.
- This marks the first time India will take over the management of an overseas port.
About Chabahar Port:
- Located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, Chabahar is a deep-water port situated on the Gulf of Oman at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.
- It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean, consisting of two separate ports called Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
- Its strategic geographic proximity to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, as well as its significance as a transit center on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), positions it to become a vital commercial hub in the region.
- INSTC is a multi-modal transportation route connecting the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, extending further to northern Europe via Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- Kandla port in Gujarat is approximately 550 Nautical Miles away from Chabahar port, while the distance between Chabahar and Mumbai is about 786 Nautical Miles.
Chabahar Project:
- In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a tripartite agreement to develop the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar.
- It marks India’s first foreign port project and aims to establish an international transport and transit corridor in Chabahar.
- Major highlights of the project include the construction of Chabahar Port and a rail line from Chabahar Port to Zahedan.
- The port is intended to allow India to bypass Pakistan and gain access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
- Additionally, it could serve as a hub for transit trade between India, Iran, and Afghanistan, offering an alternative route to the traditional Silk Road through China.
SAIL-Bhilai to Set Up Chhattisgarh’s First 15-Mw Floating Solar Plant
- Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is set to inaugurate Chhattisgarh’s premier floating solar project.
- The 15 MW capacity floating solar plant will be installed in the Maroda-1 reservoir in Durg district, covering 2.1 square kilometers.
- BSP collaborates with NTPC-SAIL Power Supply Company Limited (NSPCL), a joint venture between NTPC and SAIL, to implement the project.
- NTPC serves as the consultant and facilitated the tender process, which began in January, leading to the upcoming awarding of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contract (EPC).
- The floating solar plant is expected to generate approximately 34.26 million units of green power annually, contributing to BSP’s sustainability goals.
- It is projected to mitigate BSP’s carbon footprint by an estimated 28,330 tonnes annually.
- The project signifies a significant step towards environmental stewardship and sustainable energy practices.
- NSPCL’s inaugural solar project heralds a promising era in green energy initiatives, aiming to augment SAIL’s efforts towards green steel production.
- BSP plans further expansion in its renewable energy portfolio, with preparations underway for an additional 35 MW solar power plant through NSPCL.
- The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is prepared, and the tender process for the additional solar power plant is set to begin soon, demonstrating BSP’s commitment to sustainable development.
NASA Announces Plan To Build First Railway System On Moon
- NASA has unveiled its plan to construct the first lunar railway system called FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track) to revolutionize payload transport on the Moon.
- The FLOAT system utilizes unpowered magnetic robots that levitate over a 3-layer flexible film track consisting of graphite for passive floating, a flex-circuit layer for electromagnetic thrust, and an optional thin-film solar panel layer for power generation.
- Key features of the FLOAT system include magnetic levitation technology, a projected speed of 1.61 kilometers per hour, and the capability to transport up to 100 tons of material daily to and from NASA’s future lunar base.
- FLOAT will primarily serve as transportation for areas where astronauts are active, moving lunar soil and materials across the lunar surface, and facilitating the transportation of larger loads between spacecraft landing sites and base locations.
- Developed by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, FLOAT employs magnetic levitation technology similar to high-speed rail systems, featuring flat magnetic panels or “robots” that levitate above the track without moving parts.
- FLOAT is integrated with NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the moon by September 2026, and will play a crucial role in sustainable lunar exploration and habitation.