PRELIMS
US Designates TRF as Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO)
Why in News: The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been officially designated by the US State Department as: Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)
Triggering Incident:
- TRF claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack (22 April 2025) in Jammu & Kashmir.
What is FTO?
- FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization): A designation by the US Secretary of State under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Implies freezing assets, visa bans, legal consequences for support.
What is SDGT?
Specially Designated Global Terrorist (under Executive Order 13224):
- Freezes US-based assets.
- Prohibits transactions with US persons.
- Aimed at blocking financial support to global terrorism.
Global Wetland Outlook 2025
Why in News: Global Wetland Outlook 2025 released by Ramsar Convention Secretariat highlights global wetland loss and aligns with Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework.
- Released by: Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention
- Coverage: Wetlands span 1,800 million hectares globally (inland freshwater, coastal, and marine).
- Degradation: 22% of world’s wetlands lost since 1970.
- Condition: LICs & LMICs report more wetlands in poor condition; Africa’s wetlands among most degraded.
- Threats: Unplanned urbanisation, rapid industrial & infrastructure development.
- Strategic Alignment: Ramsar goals aligned with Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
Best Practice Case Studies:
- Regional Flyway Initiative (Asia): $3 billion, restoring 140+ wetlands.
- Seychelles: Issued world’s first sovereign “Blue Bond”.
Ramsar Convention, 1971:
- An intergovernmental treaty for wetland conservation.
- India is a signatory since 1982.
Akash Prime Missile
Why in News: India successfully destroyed two aerial high-speed unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh using Akash Prime.
- Type: Medium-range, surface-to-air missile (SAM).
- Upgraded for: High-altitude performance above 4,500 metres.
- Range: ~25–30 km.
- Key Feature: Indigenous Radio Frequency seeker for precision targeting in final flight phase.
- Role: Protects mobile/semi-mobile/static military installations from aerial threats.
- Enhancements: Improved low-temperature performance; upgrades based on user feedback from Indian Armed Forces.
2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Site Discovered in Haryana
Why in News: IIT Kanpur researchers, with the Haryana archaeology department, discovered remains of ancient Buddhist structures using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Yamunanagar district.
Location: Topra Kalan and nearby villages, Haryana.
Findings:
- Subsurface circular and semi-circular structures, chamber-like rooms, and old brick patterns.
- Likely remains of a 2,000-year-old Buddhist stupa.
Technology Used: GPR helped detect features 6–7 feet below ground.
Significance:
- May belong to the Buddhist period; possibly even the Mahabharata era, as per local traditions.
- Offers insight into ancient trade, religious networks, and cultural exchanges.
Other Major Buddhist Sites in India (for comparison):
- Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Vaishali (Bihar)
- Sarnath, Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)
- Ajanta & Ellora Caves (Maharashtra)
- Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh – Tibetan Buddhism center)
Urban Wind Stilling Effect
Why in News: A study found that 43% of cities in North India have lower aerosol levels than rural areas due to the Urban Wind Stilling Effect.
Urban Wind Stilling Effect: Caused by urban structures weakening surface wind speeds.
Effect: Creates invisible barriers that reduce inflow of dust and pollutants from distant sources.
Result: Formation of Urban Aerosol Clean Islands (UACIs) — cities with lower aerosol levels than surrounding rural areas.
Study Findings:
- Found in 43% of cities in northwest and northern Indo-Gangetic Plain.
- Highlights an urban–rural aerosol inversion in these regions.
Aerosols:
- Colloidal particles where solid or liquid matter is dispersed in gas.
- Examples: Fog, Cloud, Smoke.
Significance: Challenges traditional belief that cities always have higher pollution levels than rural areas.
