Why in news?

• The US Navy has created a new task force with allied countries to patrol the Red Sea amid the Yemen War.
• Red Sea is the world’s northernmost tropical sea between Asia and Africa- connecting the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba in the North with the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb in South.
• Part of the Great Rift Valley, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti lies on its Western Shore, and Yemen and Saudi Arabia lies on the Eastern Shore.
• Due to high heat and lack of precipitation, it has high salinity.
• It is part of Global 200 ecoregions from World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Why in news?

• Constituted as a statutory body under the Rubber Act of 1947, the Rubber Board completed 75 years.
• Rubber Board [HQ: Kottayam (Kerala)] functions under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Functions: Development of Rubber Industry; Conduct of Scientific, technological and economic research, Welfare of labour employed in plantations; Render advice to government on all matters related to rubber etc.
• Rubber production is dominated by Kerala, followed by Tripura.

Why in news?

• The Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik revealed the logo of 15^th edition of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Senior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 at Kalinga Stadium.
• Odisha will organise the tournament both in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. The CM has unveiled the logo of the world cup for the second consecutive time.
• Odisha becomes the first State to host back-to-back hockey men’s world cups. The tournament is scheduled from 13 January 2023 to 29 January 2023.
• The cup will be unveiled in India’s biggest hockey arena, the New Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, in Rourkela, Odisha.

Why in news?

• Israel has successfully test fired a first of its kind laser missile defence system called as “Iron Beam”, the world’s first energy-based weapons system.
• The Iron Beam is developed by the Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. It uses a directed-energy weapon system and can travel a long way to provide aerial defence. The tests took place in the Negev Desert, Israel.

About Iron Beam 

• Iron Beam works on a fibre laser system to destroy any airborne object. It ranges up to 7 km, which is often considered too close for the Iron Dome system to intercept projectiles effectively.
• The Iron Beam is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that uses a laser to shoot down incoming aerial objects such as missiles, rockets, mortars, anti-tank missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and drones.
• It cost around 3.50 United States Dollar (USD) or Rs.250 per laser shot.
• The Israel forces have planned to deploy Iron Beam on land, in the air and at sea.
• Iron Beam is executed in the defence of Israel as it is cost effective when compared to Iron Dome defence system. But still the Iron Dome defence system has the interception of 90% against incoming rocket fire.
• The Iron Beam is Israel’s fifth element of the integrated air defence system, consisting of Arrow 2, Arrow 3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome.

Why in news?

• Twitter has decided to adopt “poison pill strategy” after Tesla Chief Executive Officer offered to buy the social media platform.

About poison pill strategy:

• Officially known as the shareholder rights plan, it allows existing shareholders to purchase additional shares in a company at a discount.

Why in news?

• It is a web portal from the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in consultation with insurance companies for integrated data and instant information on road accidents.
• The portal will bring relief to victims’ families; check fake claims etc. through Digitalised Detailed Accident Reports (DAR).
• It will be linked with Vahaan and the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD)- to act as an e-version of IRAD.
• Also, it will alert PWD/Local Body to examine and record details, helping in identifying the accident hotspots for necessary solutions to avoid future accidents.

Why in news?

• Ministry of Commerce has relaxed various procedures under EPCG scheme to reduce compliance requirements and facilitate ease of doing business.
• EPCG, zero duty scheme, enables import of capital goods that are used in pre-production, production, and post-production without payment of customs duty.
• Exporter has to export finished goods worth six times of actual duty saved in value terms in six years.
• EPCG authorization holder can export either directly or through third party.

Why in news?

• Global population of Vaquita porpoise (porpoise family) declined by 98% in 2 decades.
• World’s smallest cetacean and most endangered marine mammal.
  • > Known as “panda of the sea” for the distinctive black circles around its eyes.
• Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus
• Habitat: Found in Gulf of California in Mexico.
• IUCN status: Critically endangered.
• Threat: Gillnet fishing for totoaba, endangered fish threatened by illegal fishing for international markets.

Why in news?

• Bihar sends fresh proposal seeking UNESCO’s heritage tag for 2,500-yr-old ‘Cyclopean war.
• It is 40 km long wall of stone which encircled the ancient city of Rajgir to protect it from external enemies and invaders, built before 3rd century BC.
• The ancient city of Rajgir was the capital city of King Bimbisara and his son Ajatshatru who were contemporaries of the Buddha.
• It is called as the Cyclopean wall for its similarities with ancient Greek walls.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bihar- Nalanda University and Mahabodhi temple of Bodhygaya.

Why in news?

• The rathotsava at the 900-year-old Chennakeshava temple of Belur in Karnataka began with the syncretic tradition after the moulvi recited the Koran. The origin of this tradition is not known.
• The temple was built in the early 12th century by the Hoysala ruler, Vishnuvardhana.
• Built with soapstone, the temple features a very detailed finish.
• Enclosed by a Prakara with a Gopura built in the Vijayanagar style, the temple stands on a platform or Jagati and looks like a huge casket.