Daily Prelims 4th February 2024

1) Mekong River: Town of Luang Prabang in Laos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is facing the threat of losing its UNESCO status due to a dam project on Mekong river.  

• Town reflects the fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture with that of the colonial era.  
• Mekong river:  
• Trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia originating in Glaciers of Tibet and drains in South China Sea.  
• River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

2) Types of US Visas: US has announced a steep increase in fees for various categories of nonimmigrant visas like the H-1B, L-1 and EB-5, the most popular among Indians.  

• H-1B visa allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.  
• L-1 visa is a visa category in the US that is designed for intracompany transferees.  
• It allows multinational companies to transfer certain employees from their foreign offices to work in the US temporarily.  
• EB-5, or US golden visa, provides a special road for overseas investors and their families to seek permanent residency and Green Cards in the United States 

3) World Wetland Day 2024 (WWD): WWD 2024 was celebrated at Sirpur Lake Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP) with theme- ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’  

• WWD is observed on 2nd February every year worldwide to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971.  
• India has been a party to the Convention since 1982.  
• About Sirpur Lake  
• It is a human-made wetland.  
• Located in the city of Indore, MP.  
• Lake is shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich and prone to floods. 

4) GHAR PORTAL: GHAR (GO Home and Re-Unite) Portal was launched earlier by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).  

• The portal digitally monitor and track restoration and repatriation of children as per the protocols under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.  
• About NCPCR  
• Apex body for safeguarding children’s rights.  
• Constituted under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.  
• Consists of 1 chairperson and 6 members.  
• Present reports to central government annually.  
• NCPCR has responsibilities under POCSO Act (2012), RTE Act(2009) as well. 

Places in News: 

1) Catalonia (Capital: Barcelona): 

• Catalonia has declared a state of emergency as it faces its worst drought on record.  
• Political Features  
• An autonomous region of Spain.  
• Located in north east of Iberian Peninsula.  
• Shares boundary with France and Andorra (North) and Mediterranean Sea (East).  
• Geographical Features  
• The Pyrenees mountain range separates Catalonia from France.  
• It falls under Mediterranean climate.  
• In this type of climate, summers are hot and dry whereas winters are rainy.  
• Major River: Ebro River