< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

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Mozambique (Capital: Maputo)

GS- II >> International Relations>> Africa

Context: INS Sumedha arrived at Maputo, Mozambique as a part of the ongoing Extended Operational Deployment to Africa.

About Mozambique:

• Historical aspect: Mozambique was governed from Portuguese India (Goa) until 1752.
• Political features: Southeast African nation bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east.
• Bordering nations: Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe to the west, South Africa and Swaziland to the south.

Geographical features:

• The Tropic of Capricorn passes through it.
• Major rivers: Zambezi, Ruvuma, Maputo etc.
• Highest point: Mount Binga
• Minerals: Gold, copper, iron ore, natural gas etc.

Source: pib.gov.in

Essequibo Region

GS- II >> International Relations >> South America

Context: US Defence officials to visit Guyana amid Venezuela row

About Essequibo Region:

• Essequibo, Guyana, sometimes also called Esequibo west of the Essequibo River that has been administered and controlled by Guyana since 1899 boundary settlement, but claimed by Venezuela.
• Currently, Venezuela claims all of the land west of the Essequibo River, which it refers to as Zona en Reclamación or Zone in Reclamation.
• Historically, this did not include the tributaries of the Amazon River and the Pirara area which were only ceded to British Guiana in 1904 during arbitration with Brazil.
• The Northwestern border of Guayana Esequiba follows the 1905 border as established by the British Venezuelan Mixed Boundary Commission, in accordance with the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899.
• Venezuela currently seeks to abrogate the legal borders and currently agrees only to the Essequibo River boundary.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Digital Twins

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Emerging Technology

Context: In a first, Survey of India joins hands with private mapping firm for ‘Digital Twins’.

About Digital Twins:

• A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical object, system, or process. It’s a digital representation of a physical entity that looks and behaves exactly like its real-world counterpart.
• Digital twins can be used for:
• Simulation, Integration, Testing, Monitoring, Maintenance, predicting performance outcomes, identifying inefficiencies, Designing solutions.
• Digital twins can be generated from 3D data or real-time data collected from sensors or other sources.
• They can include information such as:
• Production information, Equipment, Materials, Parts, Methods, Quality control, Real-time feedback, Historical analysis, Maintenance records.
• Digital twins can help organizations make better decisions by simulating real-world situations and outcomes.
• For example, digital twin technology can help reduce maintenance issues and ensure optimal production output.
• They can also be used to improve the design of large physical structures, such as buildings or off shore drilling platforms.

Source: www.thehindu.com

Noa-Dihing Music Frog

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context:  Biologists from Wildlife Institute of India have discovered the new species of music frog in the Namdapha Kamlang landscape of Arunachal Pradesh.

About Noa-Dihing Music Frog:

• The species is named after the Noa-Dihing River.
• Noa-Dihing River it is a tributary of Brahmaputra River.
• Key features of frog:
• Genus: Nidirana (first time frog of this species are found in India).
• Characterised by a pale cream-coloured line on the mid body with ‘rounded’ snouts and bony protrusions on their backs.
• They are referred as Music frogs because of their unique call pattern.

Source: indianexpress.com

Ghol Fish

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context: Gujarat declared Ghol species as the state fish at the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023.

About Ghol Fish:

• Ghol fish is widely distributed in Indo-Pacific from Persian Gulf to Pacific Ocean.
• Its swim bladders are highly priced because of their medicinal and commercial values.
• It is exported to countries of south-east Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia).

Usage:

• To prepare is in glass (a form of collagen used mainly for the clarification of wine and beer).
• Traditional medicine (believed to prevent bleeding in patients with urinary problems).

Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com