Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 14 Jul 2023

Official Mascot of Asian Athletics Championships 2023

The 2023 Asian Athletics Championships which began in Thailand recently have chosen revered Hindu god Hanuman as the official mascot for the 2023 year’s event. The event was held on the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the Asian Athletics Association (established in 1973).

The 25^th Asian Athletics Championships 2023 logo indicates the athletes participating in the games, skills, teamwork of athletes, showcase of athleticism, dedication, and sportsmanship.

A total of nine countries (Japan; Hong Kong; Singapore; China; Indonesia; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; and Philippines) participate in the Asian event including India.

Read More: Winter Olympics

Floating Gold

Recently, a massive chunk of floating gold has been found in the belly of a dead whale beached on the Spanish island of La Palma. The highly valuable substance is called ambergris.

Ambergris (grey amber), is generally referred to as whale vomit. It is a solid waxy substance originating in the intestine of the sperm whale. It is produced only by an estimated 1% of sperm whales. Chemically, ambergris contains alkaloids, acids, and a specific compound called ambrein, which is similar to cholesterol. It floats around the surface of the water body and at times settles on the coast. Because of its high value, it is referred to as floating gold. It is highly used in the perfume market.

The sperm whale, (Physeter macrocephalus), is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. They are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. They are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, mentioned in Appendix I of CITES and included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Read More: Ambergris & Sperm Whale

Railway Financial Code Modified to Prioritize Safety Projects

Following a tragic train accident in Balasore, Odisha, the Railway Board has taken swift action by modifying the Indian Railway Financial Code to prioritize safety-related projects, particularly those pertaining to signalling systems. The Indian Railway Financial Code sets the rules to financially evaluate the viability of projects.

The revised rules now exempt signalling works from the requirement of being financially remunerative, categorizing them under the 'Safety' category instead. This significant change ensures that projects aimed at improving the signalling infrastructure, such as the anti-collision system Kavach and Electronic Interlocking, do not need to pass the financial viability test.

Additionally, projects involving mobile train communications systems, Remote Diagnostic and Predictive Maintenance Systems, technology upgrades, and automatic Train Management Systems will also be exempt from the financial viability norms.

Read more: Kavach, Electronic Interlocking, Derailment

INS Sunayna Participates in Op Southern Readiness 2023

The recent participation of INS Sunayna in Op Southern Readiness 2023, conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Seychelles from 10-12 Jul 23, marked a significant step towards strengthening multilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. It has 38 member nations ( including India).

INS Sunayna, the second of the NOPV (Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel) class of ship designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of Sea Lines of Communications and offshore assets, and escort duties.