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    Posted 27 Apr 2024

    8 min read

    Avars

    • DNA analysis of ancient graves has revealed insights on the social life of Avars

     

    • About Avars
      • They are nomadic people who survived in eastern central Asia between 6th-9th century.
      • Considered as successors of the Huns by their way of life and warfare.
      • They followed strict  patrilineal descent (father's line)
      • They were hired by the Byzantine Empire to subdue other tribes
      • They avoided inbreeding and practised limited intermarriage with non-Avar neighbours.
      • They are renowned among archaeologists for their distinctive belt garnitures.
    • Tags :
    • Avars
    • Huns

    World Coral Conservatory Project

    • Self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project nested among Europe's largest coral reefs at the Burgers' Zoo in the Netherlands.

     

    • About World Coral Conservatory Project:
      • Launched in Monaco in 2019.
      • Aim: To protect a global collection of the majority of coral species and strains in the form of living colonies through a network of partner public and private aquariums.
      • Under this samples of coral taken from the natural environment will be cultivated and shared with aquariums.
    • Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates called coral.

     

    • Tags :
    • Coral Reef
    • World Coral Conservatory Project

    Authorised Economic Operator

    • The Centre has extended AEO status to the gem and jewellery sector.

     

    • About AEO program
      • It is under the aegis of the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework.
      • Aims to enhance international supply chain security and facilitate movement of legitimate goods.
      • It is in sync with the commitments made under the World Trade Organisation trade facilitation agreement.
      • It enables Indian Customs to enhance and streamline cargo security through close cooperation with the principle stakeholders of the international supply chain.
    • Tags :
    • Authorised Economic Operator
    • World Customs Organization

    Alagar Temple

    • The  procession of the Lord Kallazhagar back from the Vaigai river marked the end of the Chithirai festival 

     

    • About Alagar Temple
      • Located on the foothills of  Alagar hills in Madurai, Tamil nadu 
      • The temple is one of the 108 abodes of Lord Vishnu ,worshipped here in the name of Kallazhagar.
      • It has six corridors surrounded by fort walls.
      • The temple also finds mention in Tamil epic Silappadikaram and in the hymns of the Alvars.
      • The pillars of mandapam are depicted in the Nayaka art style.
    • Tags :
    • Alagar temple
    • Vaishnavism
    • 108 abodes of Vishnu

    Histamine

    • Various researches are being conducted on the H3 and H4 receptors (proteins) of histamine.

     

    • Histamine
      • It is one of the earliest identified mediators of allergy
      • It plays a key role in the inflammatory response of the body and is also responsible for autoimmune conditions, gastric acid secretion, and hematopoiesis
      • They can be released in our body due to different factors, including: 
        • Factors related to the immune system (example contact with allergens, snake venom, etc.), 
        • other factors that are not related to the immune system (example physical injury).
      • Most of the histamine is stored in the secretory granules of mast cells and basophils (types of white blood cells).

     

    • Antihistamines: These are drugs that act to treat histamine-mediated conditions by binding to histamine receptors and blocking the effect of histamines.
    • Tags :
    • Histamine
    • Antihistamine
    • basophils

    Government Securities (G-Sec Bonds)

    • RBI kept the Foreign Portfolio Investment limit in G-sec unchanged at 6% of outstanding stocks of securities for 2024-25. 

     

    • About G-Secs:
      • They are tradable instruments issued by Governments through auctions conducted by RBI.
      • Types:
        • Short-term: Usually called treasury bills, have maturities of less than one year. 
        •  Long term: Usually called Government bonds or dated securities, have maturities of one year or more. 
      • Central Government can issue both (treasury bills and government bonds) while State Governments issue only government bonds (they are called the State Development Loans or SDLs). 
    • Tags :
    • G-Sec
    • Treasury bills
    • Dated securities
    • Government bonds

    World Energy Council

    • The 26th World Energy Congress, co-hosted by the World Energy Council (WEC), concluded in Rotterdam (Netherlands).

     

    • About WEC
      • Genesis: Formed in 1923, the WEC is an UN-accredited not-for-profit global energy body.
      • Mission: Enabling access to clean, affordable and reliable energy for better lives and a healthier planet.
      • Role: Develop practical solutions and convene network of global energy transition leaders and practitioners.
      • Members: More than 3000 member organizations (public, private and academic sectors) located in around 90 countries. 
    • Tags :
    • WEC
    • World energy congress
    • World Energy Council

    Bru community

    • For the first time, Bru voters exercised their franchise in Tripura Lok Sabha election.

     

    • Bru community
      • Also referred to as Reangs, Bru community have historically resided in Mizoram, Tripura, and parts of southern Assam. 
        • Reangs in Tripura are categorised as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
      • They are ethnically distinct from the Mizos of Mizoram.
        • Over 30000 Brus fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with Mizo tribes in 1997 and were forced to live in the refugee camps in Tripura.
        • In 2020, a quadripartite agreement (among Centre, Governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and Bru-Reang representatives) was signed to facilitate permanent settlement of Bru refugees in Tripura. 
    • Tags :
    • Bru community
    • Reangs
    • Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)
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