1) Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0): Prime Minister with his Sweden counterpart co-launched the Phase-II of the LeadIT
- LeadIT was launched by India and Sweden at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019.
- It brings together countries, companies and industry experts to achieve net-zero emissions from heavy industries by 2050.
- LeadIT 2.0 will focus on
- Inclusive and Just Industry Transition
- Low Carbon Technology Development and Transfer
- Emerging Economy Technology Transfer
- India and Sweden also launched the Industry Transition Platform.
- It will connect governments, industries, technology providers, researchers and think tanks of the two countries
2) Anthrobots: Scientists have developed anthrobots.
- These are tiny robots made of human cells that are able to repair damaged neural tissue.
- They can be created from adult human cells without genetic modifications.
- They can be fused together to form a superbot.
- This development represents a significant advancement in regenerative medicine.
- Regenerative medicine is the process of replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function.
- Anthrobots are different from xenobots, which are derived from embryonic stem cells of frog
3) Kaziranga National Park (KNP): Recently, one-horned rhinoceros was killed in KNP of Assam.
- It is part of Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots.
- It lies between Brahmaputra River (North) and the Karbi Anglong hills (South).
- In 1985, declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- Inhabited by world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.
- Vegetation: It ranges from alluvial inundated grasslands to tropical semi-evergreen forests.
- Fauna: Hoolock Gibbon, Tiger, Leopard, Indian Elephant, Sloth Bear, etc
4) Hydrogen for Heritage scheme: India proposed to invite global firms to manufacture Hydrogen trains for implementing the Hydrogen for heritage scheme.
- It was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
- Under it, Indian Railways (IR) has envisaged to run 35 Hydrogen trains. Also, IR will undertake retro fitment of Hydrogen Fuel cell on existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU).
- Hydrogen fuel cells use the chemical energy of hydrogen to produce electricity.
- Benefits: It will promote green transportation technology that will support zero carbon emission goals.
Places in News:
1) Venezuela (Capital: Caracas):
- India set to resume import of oil from Venezuela after 3 years as US sanctions on Caracas ease.
- Political features
- Location: Located at the northern end of South America.
- Not a landlocked country and opens into Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.
- Political boundaries: Bounded by Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia.
- Geographical features:
- Major Mountain: Andes Mountains
- Rivers: Rio Negro, Orinoco River
- Major lake: Lake Maracaibo (largest lake in South America)
- Highest Point: BolÃvar Peak
