Daily News Descriptions

06 Aug 2024 09:00:40 am

1.Bangladesh

Why in the news?

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for the past 15 years, resigned and fled the country after weeks of deadly unrest in which more than 300 people have been killed.
The country is now set to have an interim government.

About Bangladesh:

It is a country of South Asia.
It is located in the delta of the Padma (Ganga) and Jamuna (Brahmaputra) rivers in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent.
It is a riverine country.
It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and its people are predominantly Muslim.
As the eastern portion of the historical region of Bengal, the area once formed, along with what is now the Indian state of West Bengal, the province of Bengal in British India. With the partition of India in 1947, it became the Pakistani province of East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), one of five provinces of Pakistan, separated from the other four by 1,800 km of Indian territory. In 1971 it became the independent country of Bangladesh, with its capital at Dhaka.
It is bordered by the Indian states of West Bengal to the west and north, Assam to the north, Meghalaya to the north and northeast, and Tripura and Mizoram to the east. To the southeast, it shares a boundary with Myanmar.
Its southern part opens into the Bay of Bengal.
Stretching northward from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh constitutes roughly the eastern two-thirds of the deltaic plain of the Padma and Jamuna rivers.
It is fringed by the Sundarbans, a huge expanse of marshy deltaic forest, in the southern region.

Sundarbans:

It hosts the largest mangrove forests in the world, lying on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
It is the natural abode of many animal groups and many species are known to feed, breed and take shelter in this ecosystem.
It is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the estuarine crocodile, water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin and olive ridley turtle.
40% of Sundarban lies in India and the rest in Bangladesh.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 (India) and 1997 (Bangladesh).
It is also a Biosphere Reserve, within which there are several protected areas, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including:
- Sundarbans National Park (India)
- Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans South Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans Reserve Forest (Bangladesh)
Sundarban Wetland, India was recognised as the ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in January 2019.
Project Tiger is an important step in conserving the Sundarbans unique ecosystem as it protected the entire forest by preserving the Royal Bengal Tiger population.

2.Mount Etna

Why in the news?

Europe's tallest volcano, Mount Etna, erupts over the Mediterranean island of Sicily.
Volcanic activity has intensified in recent weeks, with recurrent activity following a four year pause.
A massive cloud of ash and smoke has restricted arrivals to Catania airport. Several flights have been diverted to airports such as Palermo and Comiso, as pilots struggle with visibility.

About Mount Etna:

It is a stratovolcano.
It is located on the east coast of Sicily, an island in the Mediterranean Sea that belongs to Italy.
It stands about 3,300 m. above sea level and covers an area of about 1,200 sq. km.
It has four summit craters and hundreds of lateral vents that can produce different types of eruptions, such as explosive, effusive, or mixed.
It has been erupting almost continuously since 1500 BC, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Volcanoes:

These are openings or vents where lava, rocks, and steam erupt onto the Earth's surface.
They result from both their own eruptions and the general formation of the planet through the movement and collision of tectonic plates.

Stratovolcanoes:

These are also called composite volcanoes.
These are characterized by conical shapes formed by layers of volcanic material deposited during successive volcanic eruptions.
These volcanoes tend to slope gently at the base but rise quickly near the summit to form tall mountain peaks.
These are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.

3.Bagatas

Why in the news?

Bagata tribal people who worked for Lower Sileru Hydro-Electric Project construction continue to reel under darkness even as they fight on the back foot, for electricity.

About Bagatas:

They cite the historic origin of their community name as the devoted warriors (Bhaktas) of the then rulers.
They are also called Bagatha, Bagat, Bagodi, Bogad or Bhakta.
They live in the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Dhimsa is one of the dances and Bagata tribes of all ages enjoy energetic dancing, and all ages take part. The dances of the Bagata are called Sankidi Kelbar.
Nuclear families are commonly found in their society.
They prefer cross-cousin marriage and consider marriage by negotiation as the ideal type of matrimony.
They speak with one another in a form of the Oriya language. One of their main languages is Telugu. Their local dialect is Adivasi Oriya.
They have undertaken the profession of farming in order to sustain the requirements of their day-to-day living.
They worship Hindu gods and goddesses in addition to their family and tribal gods.

4.Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Why in the news?

Wildlife photographer stumbles upon rare heterochromic leopard in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Heterochromia is a genetic condition where the pigmentation of each eye is different.
Heterochromia is more commonly observed in domestic animals such as cats and dogs, and occasionally in humans. However, the occurrence of this mutation in a wild leopard is almost unheard of, making this discovery all the more significant.

About Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

It is situated in two contiguous districts (Mysore and Chamarajanagar) of Karnataka and located at the tri-junction area of the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
It was once a hunting ground for the rulers of the neighbouring kingdom of Mysore.
It was established in the year 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore.
It was then expanded with the name Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973.
It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is surrounded by:
- Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the north west (Kabini Reservoir separates the two).
- Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the south.
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the south west.
It is surrounded by River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
It has a typical tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Flora:
- It comprises diverse vegetation of dry deciduous to tropical mixed deciduous.
- It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo and giant clumping bamboo etc.
Fauna:
- It is a shelter for the largest population of wild Asian elephants in South Asia.
- It comprises other mammals such as Bengal tiger, gaur, sloth bear, golden jackal, dhole and four-horned antelope etc.

5.Indian siris tree

Why in the news?

A pall of gloom descended on Kumaradevam, on the western bank of Akhanda Godavari in the East Godavari district, after the death of the century-old Indian siris tree.

About Indian siris tree:

Its scientific name is Albizzia Lebbeck.
It is commonly known as the woman's tongue tree.
It is a fast-growing, deciduous tree.
It is widely cultivated for its timber, shade, and ornamental purposes.
Flowering typically occurs during the dry season, from February to April in many regions.
Leaves start to shed during the late winter and early spring months.
It is adaptable and can grow in a wide range of habitats, from arid regions to moist forests.
It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
It has nitrogen-fixing capabilities, which enhance soil fertility.
It provides shade and serves as a host plant for various insect species.
It is native to South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. It has been widely cultivated and naturalized in other parts of the world due to its valuable qualities.
It has been introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East.
Characteristics:
- It is a deciduous tree that can reach a height of up to 30 meters.
- It has a spreading crown with a diameter of about 10-15 meters.
- Its bark is grayish-brown and rough.
- Its leaves are bipinnate, with small leaflets arranged in pairs along the branches.
- Its flowers are yellowish-white and fragrant, arranged in clusters.
- Its fruit is a flat pod that contains several seeds.

Deciduous trees:

These are trees that lose their leaves seasonally.
They are found in temperate and tropical regions all over the world.
They have broad flat leaves that catch a lot of light and require a great amount of water.
India has a rich diversity of deciduous trees, with over 2,000 species found across the country.
These trees play an important role in the Indian ecosystem, providing food and shelter for wildlife, regulating the climate, and helping to clean the air and water.

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