1.Quasar Discovery

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS 3 – Space

Recent News: Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) have identified the brightest known black hole, a quasar named J0529-4351.
Details:
- Mass: Approximately 17 billion times the mass of the Sun.
- Consumption Rate: Absorbs roughly one Sun’s worth of matter per day.
- Luminosity: Emits over 500 trillion times more light than the Sun, making it the most luminous object ever observed.
- Distance: The light from this quasar took over 12 billion years to reach Earth, indicating its vast distance from us.
About Quasars:
- Category: A type of active galactic nucleus (AGN) known for extreme brightness.
- Characteristics: They are the highly luminous centers of galaxies where gas and dust fall into a supermassive black hole, radiating energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
- Significance: Among the brightest objects in the universe, emitting thousands of times more light than the Milky Way galaxy.
- Observation: Typically observed at great distances, reflecting the state of the universe billions of years ago.
- Notable Discoveries: Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of a quasar 9 billion light-years away in 1996.

2. Northern Bald Ibis

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment

Context: The Northern Bald Ibis, once extinct in the wild by the 17th century, has been successfully revived through breeding and rewilding efforts.
Details:
- Physical Traits: Long, curved beak, black plumage with iridescent green, and a bald red head.
- Historical Range: Previously common across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and much of Europe; extinct in central Europe for over 300 years.
- Hunting Technique: Uses its sense of touch to probe the ground for insect larvae, earthworms, and other invertebrates.
- Conservation Status: Classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN, upgraded from “Critically Endangered.”
- Conservation Efforts: Scientists are reintroducing the species by guiding 36 birds along their ancient migration route from Austria to Spain using ultralight aircraft.

Source The Hindu

Syllabus: GS 2 – Health

Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognized the ongoing Chandipura virus outbreak in India as the most significant in the last 20 years.
About Chandipura Virus:
- Type: RNA virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family, related to the rabies virus.
- First Identification: Discovered in 1965 in Chandipura, Maharashtra.
- Transmission: Spread by the bite of vector-infected sandflies, particularly Phlebotomine sandflies and some mosquito species like Aedes aegypti.
- Symptoms: Affects primarily children aged 9 months to 14 years, with symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. It can progress to encephalitis (brain inflammation).
- Treatment: No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine is currently available for Chandipura virus infection.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS 2 – International Relations

In News: Pakistan has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting scheduled for October 2024 in Islamabad.
Past Engagements:
- India hosted the SCO Summit virtually last year, with participation from Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif via video link.
- In May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa, the first such visit in nearly 12 years.
About SCO:
- Establishment: Formed on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- Founding Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
- Current Member States: Includes the founding members and others.
- Official Languages: Russian and Chinese.
- Decision-Making Bodies:
  - Council of Heads of States (CHS): Meets annually to address major issues.
  - Council of Heads of Government (CHG): Meets annually to discuss multilateral cooperation, economic priorities, and budget approvals.
- Goals: To strengthen mutual trust and good relations among member states, promote cooperation in various sectors, ensure regional peace, security, and stability, and advocate for a fair international political and economic order.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: Tribes in India

Context: A boy from the Bonda tribe in Odisha has become the first from his community to clear the NEET exam and is set to pursue an MBBS program.
About the Bonda Tribe:
- Location: Resides in the remote and isolated Malkangiri district of Odisha, near the Machkund River.
- Cultural Identity: Known as ‘Remo’, a term reflecting their spirit of independence and freedom.
- Distinct Traits: Bonda men are known for their bravery and carry traditional weapons like bows and arrows.
- Language: The Bonda language belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language group.
- Dormitory System: The tribe practices a dormitory system where men and women live in separate communal spaces for socializing, rituals, and discussions.