Where is Nechiphu tunnel in India? Why is it important? Subject : Geography Section: Places in news Context: A newly-built 500-metre tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh will provide all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang region along the Line of Actual Control. Defense Projects: The tunnel is one of the 90 projects taken up by […]
Libya floods: Entire neighborhoods dragged into the sea Subject: Geography In the news: A devastating flood in eastern Libya has killed at least 5,000 people in the aftermath of storm Daniel. Details: Affected areas: Derna (most affected), eastern city of Benghazi, cities of Soussa, Al-Marj and Misrata. Probable cause of the flood: Heavy […]
Is the genetically modified, nutrient-rich Golden Rice as safe as promised? Subject :Geography Section: Physical geography Context: In April, the Philippines’ Supreme Court heeded farmers’ and activists’ calls to look into the safety promise of Golden Rice, a genetically modified grain created to tackle the vitamin A deficiency that impacts millions, over concerns […]
UN report outlines how developing, developed countries can reduce emissions from constructions Subject :Geography Section: Physical geography Context: Developing countries should switch from unsustainable building practices to using alternative low-carbon building materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a new UN report highlighted. About the report: Report title: Building Materials and The Climate: Constructing […]
Floodplain loss: Basins of Irrawaddy, Tapi, Indus, Cauvery rivers flowing through India altered most due to human activities Subject :Geography Section: Physical geography Context: A group of researchers, for the first time, has “developed the first publicly available global dataset that quantifies human alterations in 15 million square kilometers of floodplains along 520 […]
Kulasekarapattinam nervous about ISRO’s rocket launch station project Subject: Geography Section: Economic geography Context: The Indian space agency, ISRO, is all set to begin work on building the ₹950-crore greenfield rocket launch facility near the township of Kulasekarapattinam, 50 km south of Tuticorin, with the land acquisition process being almost complete. Kulasekarapattinam (Thoothukudi): […]
India and Saudi Arabia to expedite $50-billion west coast refinery project Subject: Geography Section: Economic geography Context: India and Saudi Arabia will set up a joint task force to explore early implementation of the west coast refinery project for which the Arabian nation will invest $50 billion. A monitoring committee will also be […]
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY Subject: Geography Section: Physical geography Context: The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed eruptive activity in Kīlauea summit. Details: An eruption has commenced within Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the down dropped block to the east in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea: Location: Island of Hawaii (Southern part of the island) […]
Crown shyness: let our realms stay apart Subject : Geography Section: Physical geography What is crown shyness? Crown shyness or canopy disengagement, or inter-crown spacing is a feature observed in some tree species, in which the crowns of fully stocked trees do not touch each other, instead forming a canopy with channel-like gaps. […]
Apple country Himachal Pradesh gets ground ready for cannabis cultivation Subject: Geography Section: Economic geography Context: Himachal Pradesh government inching closer to legalize cannabis (hemp) cultivation in the State. Details: A five member committee recommended cultivation of ‘non-narcotic use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and scientific use’. A study suggests that approximately 95% […]