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By admin: March 27, 2024

New Isopod Species Discovered in Kollam Named after ISRO

Tags: Science and Technology

Scientists have identified a new species of deep-sea isopod, Brucethoa Isro, in the deep sea off the Kerala coast, which has been named after the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

An Overview of the News

• This small crustacean, belonging to the genus Brucethoa, thrives on eating fish and was specifically located within the gill cavity of the spinyjaw greeneye.

• Notably, it is the second documented species within its genus found in India and has been named Brucethoa Isro to honor ISRO's significant space explorations.

Features of Brucethoa Isro:

• Females of this species are generally larger than males, measuring 19 mm in length and 6 mm in width, about half the size of the males.

About Isopods:

• Isopods make up a fascinating group of invertebrates within the crustacean family, which includes well-known marine creatures like crabs and shrimp.

• They display remarkable adaptability to diverse habitats ranging from arid deserts to deep sea trenches, demonstrating their global distribution and ecological importance.

General characteristics of Isopods:

• Isopods share common traits despite their diverse forms, including two pairs of antennae, compound eyes, and four sets of jaws.

• Their body is divided into seven parts, each with a pair of walking legs, a short abdominal segment consisting of six fused segments called "plions".

Habitat and Behavior of Isopods:

• Many Isopods live in marine environments, others are found in coastal and shelf waters, where they navigate on the sea floor or live among aquatic vegetation.

• While most isopods are free-living, some marine species exhibit parasitic behavior, relying on other animals for sustenance.

About Kollam:

• Located in Kerala, Kollam has the famous Ashtamudi Lake, which offers beautiful boating opportunities for tourists.

• The city's principal waterway, the Kollam Canal, connects it to the country's extensive water transport network, while several islands lie on the picturesque lake.

• Kollam has tranquil beaches and lush forests, making it a hub for eco-tourism projects like Shenduruni, Thenmala, and Palaruvi.

Professor Jayant Murthy honored with Asteroid name

Tags: Science and Technology Person in news

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognized Indian scientist Professor Jayant Murthy by naming an asteroid after him.

An Overview of the News

Asteroid (215884) Jayantamurthy

• Originally known as 2005 EX296, this asteroid orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter every 3.3 years.

• Its new name, (215884) Jayanta Murthy, will always carry forward the rich legacy of the Indian scientist.

Career and Contribution of Jayant Murthy

• Professor Murthy served as the Acting Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and currently holds the rank of Honorary Professor.

• His scholarly achievements in the interstellar medium, ultraviolet astronomy, and space missions have greatly advanced our understanding of the universe.

Participation in NASA's New Horizons Mission

• Professor Murthy played a key role in NASA's New Horizons science team and contributed to the observation of ultraviolet background radiation in the outer reaches of the Solar System.

• The New Horizons mission's historic flyby of Pluto in 2015 provided unprecedented insights into the dwarf planet and its satellites.

Rare Honor and Legacy

• Annapurni Subramaniam, the current director of the IIA, considers the asteroid naming "a very rare honor", linking Professor Murthy with respected predecessors in astronomical research.

• (215884) The naming of Jayanti Murthy symbolizes the outstanding contributions of Professor Murthy and serves as an inspiration for future scientists.

Carlos Sainz wins Australian Grand Prix

Tags: Sports

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz made a remarkable comeback just two weeks after appendicitis surgery to win the Australian Grand Prix.

An Overview of the News

• The race also included the unexpected retirement of Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen, his first comeback in two years.

• Sainz faced off competition from Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc to take victory.

Podium Finisher

• McLaren's Lando Norris finished third, scoring his first podium of the season.

• Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri finished an impressive fourth, while Red Bull's Sergio Pérez finished fifth.

Championship Standings

• Despite his retirement, Max Verstappen remains at the top of the championship standings, four points ahead of Charles Leclerc.

• Leclerc earned an extra point for setting the fastest lap, with Sergio Pérez finishing one point behind him in third.

• Sainz is 11 points behind Verstappen in fourth.

PM Modi Unveils Cutting-edge Medical Center in Thimphu

Tags: International Relations International News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay jointly inaugurated Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital in Bhutan's capital Thimphu.

An Overview of the News

• This hospital is an example of the strong development cooperation between India and Bhutan.

• The hospital has a state-of-the-art 150-bed facility built with Indian assistance.

• Built in two phases, the first phase costing ₹22 crore became operational in 2019, while the second phase, completed recently, was undertaken as part of Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan at a cost of ₹119 crore.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

• Prime Minister Modi’s visit aims to bolster the unique and long-standing friendship between India and Bhutan.

• During his visit, PM Modi met with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and held talks with Prime Minister Tobgay.

Recognition and Support

• The King of Bhutan confers the prestigious ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ on PM Modi, making him the first foreign Head of Government to receive this honor.

• India pledges ₹10,000 crore in support to Bhutan over the next five years, reinforcing the enduring partnership between the two nations.

About Bhutan:

Capital- Thimphu

King - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk

Currencies - Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee

Official language- Dzongkha

LIC Named World's Strongest Insurance Brand

Tags: Economy/Finance

The latest Brand Finance Insurance 100 2024 report positions Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) as the world's most robust insurance brand, emphasizing its global reputation and reliability.

An Overview of the News

• LIC maintains its top spot globally with a consistent brand value of USD 9.8 billion, solidifying its dominance in the insurance industry.

• Cathay Life Insurance follows closely with a 9% increase in brand value to USD 4.9 billion, securing the second position.

• NRMA Insurance ranks third, witnessing an impressive 82% rise in brand value to USD 1.3 billion.

Impressive Premium Collection of LIC

• LIC India achieves a remarkable feat by recording the highest first-year premium collection of Rs 39,090 crore in FY23, showcasing its financial strength.

• SBI Life Insurance and HDFC Life Insurance lead the private sector, with significant premium collections of Rs 15,197 crore and Rs 10,970 crore, respectively.

Market Performance and Share Price of LIC

• LIC's shares reach an all-time high, reinforcing its position as India’s fifth most valuable listed company and highlighting its market dominance.

Global Dominance of Chinese Brands

• Chinese insurance giants such as Ping An, China Life Insurance, and CPIC continue to lead global rankings, with Ping An witnessing a 4% rise in brand value to USD 33.6 billion.

Notable Growth in Brand Values

• NRMA Insurance from Australia experiences a notable 82% increase in brand value to USD 1.3 billion, while Denmark’s Tryg witnesses a 66% rise to USD 1.6 billion, reflecting significant growth in brand value.

Luis Montenegro Appointed as Prime Minister of Portugal

Tags: Person in news International News

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the appointment of Luis Montenegro, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), as the country's new prime minister.

An Overview of the News

• The decision followed political consultations on forming a new government, during which the president consulted with parties and coalitions that secured seats in the March 10 elections for the Assembly of the Republic.

• Montenegro's party, the Democratic Alliance (AD), emerged victorious in terms of seats, leading to his appointment as prime minister.

Election Results and Parliamentary Composition

• Montenegro's AD defeated the incumbent Socialist Party (PS) in the March 10 elections but secured only 80 seats in the 230-seat parliament, falling short of a majority.

• The Socialist Party won 78 seats in the elections.

Commencement of the New Government

• The new government, headed by Luis Montenegro, is scheduled to assume office on April 2.

Montenegro's Political Journey

• Luis Montenegro's political career began in the early 2000s when he joined the PSD.

• He swiftly climbed the party ranks and held various positions within the party over the years.

• In 2011, Montenegro was elected to the Portuguese Parliament as a representative for Aveiro, a city situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast.

Eveready appoints Neeraj Chopra as New Brand Ambassador

Tags: Person in news

Current Olympic gold medalist and globally top-ranked athlete in men's javelin throw Neeraj Chopra was introduced as the new brand ambassador of battery industry giant Eveready Industries India (EIIL).

An Overview of the News

• This collaboration marks the launch of the Ultima Alkaline Battery series, reflecting Eveready's dedication to excellence and innovation.

• The Ultima series targets the Indian youth market, providing durable and cost-effective solutions to high-drain appliances.

Performance and Endurance Incorporation

• Neeraj Chopra's remarkable journey reflects the values of Ultima Alkaline batteries, providing 400% more power for longer-lasting performance.

• Both the Chopra and the Altima epitomize the virtues of performance, power, endurance and reliability.

Innovative Turbolock Technology

• The Ultima Alkaline battery series features Turbolock technology, meeting emerging consumer needs with advanced performance.

• Eveready aims to provide cutting-edge energy solutions in parallel to Chopra's journey of excellence and growth.

Virat Kohli created history by becoming the first Indian to score 12,000 T20 runs

Tags: Sports Person in news

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 12,000 runs in the T20 format.

An Overview of the News

• Kohli achieved the remarkable feat during the opening match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

• Kohli holds many records in the IPL, including the most runs with 7,284 runs in 239 matches and 230 innings.

• His IPL batting average is 37.24, with a strike rate of 130.02.

• Kohli's highest individual score in the IPL is 113, scoring seven centuries and 50 half-centuries in the tournament.

Details of Kohli's T20 runs

• Kohli's 12,000 runs include his scores for RCB in the IPL and the now-defunct Champions League, for Delhi in domestic Twenty-over cricket, and for India in T20 Internationals.

• Rohit Sharma is the second-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket for India with a total of 11,156 runs.

Global T20 Run-Scorer

• The list of highest T20 run scorers is topped by former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and West Indies player Kieron Pollard.

T20I Contribution

• Kohli has scored 4037 runs in T20 Internationals representing India, including one century.

Abel Prize 2024 awarded to Michel Talagrand

Tags: Awards

Michel Talagrand of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France, has been honored with the 2024 Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

An Overview of the News

• Michel Talagrand was recognized for his pioneering work in probability theory and functional analysis.

• His contributions have had significant applications in mathematical physics and statistics.

• Talagrand's achievements were deemed groundbreaking by the Academy, leading to this prestigious award.

• Talagrand's research primarily focuses on the Gaussian distribution, also known as the bell curve, which influences various aspects of life, from birth weights to school test scores and athlete retirement ages.

The Abel Prize recognizes Talagrand's contributions in three key areas:

• Analysis of supremum in stochastic processes, aiding in predicting extreme events like the largest wave hitting a beach.

• Development of quantitative estimates for the concentration of measures, where different sources of randomness can lead to more predictable outcomes.

• Application of statistics and probability theory to understand spin glass matter, contributing to the completion of Giorgio Parisi's Nobel Prize-winning work in 2021.

Indian diplomat Abhay Thakur appointed as the next envoy to Myanmar

Tags: Person in news

Senior Indian diplomat Abhay Thakur has been appointed the next Ambassador to Myanmar and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the appointment on March 26.

An Overview of the News

• Thakur, a 1992-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), is currently serving as an Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of External Affairs.

• He previously held the position of Sous-Sherpa (deputy representative) for the G20 process during India's chairmanship.

• Thakur's appointment underlines India's diplomatic engagement with Myanmar.

Important times for India-Myanmar relations:

• Timing of appointment: Given the current circumstances, Thakur's selection as India's envoy to Myanmar is significant.

• Political unrest: Mass violent protests are taking place in Myanmar following the military coup on February 1, 2021, advocating for the restoration of democracy.

• India's stand: India advocates restoring "inclusive federal democracy" in Myanmar through dialogue and constructive engagement among all stakeholders.

Strategic Neighborhood Bond:

• Geographical proximity: Myanmar shares a 1,640-km-long border with several northeastern Indian states, including Nagaland and Manipur.

• Strategic Importance: Myanmar holds strategic importance as one of the neighboring countries of India.

Engagement in Global Diplomacy:

• Participation: Thakur participated in the G20 Development Working Group meeting in Brasilia as an Officer on Special Duty (G20).