17 December 2024: Daily Current Affairs Updates

Golan Heights; GS-1 (Geography—Places in the News) ▪️ Why in the News: Turkey has denounced Israel's plan to double the population

living in the occupied Golan Heights at the south-western edge of Syria as an attempt to "expand its borders."

‣ About:

• The Golan Heights is a hilly region that overlooks the upper Jordan River valley to the west.

• It is a Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. The region derives its name from the biblical city of refuge, Golan in Bashan.

. The Golan Heights is bordered by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee to the west, Mount Hermon to the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqgad River to the east, and the Yarmük River to the south.

・ Strategic importance:

‣ The Syrian capital, Damascus, is visible from the elevated Golan Hills.

•. The region overlooks northern Israel's Galilee and the Sea of Galilee while controlling key routes leading to Damascus from the Syrian side.

• The Golan Heights shares borders with Jordan and Lebanon, adding to its geopolitical significance.

• The area is a vital water source for the arid surroundings, as rainwater from the Golan Heights feeds into the Jordan River, a critical resource for the region.

Santa Ana Winds; GS-1 (Geography) ▪️Why in the news:

Santa Ana-driven wildfires are a natural part of California's landscape.

However, experts say the wildfire season in California has lengthened in recent years.

‣ Santa Ana winds are dry, warm, and powerful winds commonly experienced in Southern California. These winds are named after Santa Ana Canyon, located in the region.

⌲ Characteristics of Santa Ana Winds:

• Nature: The winds are dry and warm (sometimes hot) as they blow through the Southern California area.

• Direction: They flow inwards from the desert regions, including the Great Basin of the western United States.

・ Humidity: The winds have extremely. low humidity, often dropping below 20% or even 10%, which dries out vegetation and makes it prone to burning.

Impact on Wildfires:

o. The dry, warm nature of Santa Ana winds combined with extremely low humidity turns vegetation into flammable fuel.

o. These conditions significantly increase the risk of wildfires in areas like Malibu, California.

National Energy Conservation Awards; GS-2 (Governance) ▪️Why in the news: On the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day 2024, the Vice President of India gave away the National Energy Conservation Awards 2024.

• About:

• The National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) is an initiative of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)under the Ministry of Power.

• It was instituted in 1991 to promote energy conservation and efficiency alongside the declaration of National Energy Conservation Day, celebrated annually on December 14.

・Objective: The awards recognize and honour industrial units, institutions, and establishments that have achieved significant reductions in energy consumption while maintaining or improving operational efficiency.

Selection Procedure:

• Award Committee: The committee is chaired by the Secretary (Power) and is responsible for reviewing and approving the sectors eligible for the awards.

Humpback Whale; GS-3 (Environment and Ecology—Species in the News) ▪️Why in the news: A male humpback whale swam 13,046 km from South America to Africa, setting a record for the longest migration and crossing two breeding populations.

> About: The humpback whale derives its name from the distinct hump-shaped appearance on its back. Its long pectoral fins are the inspiration for its scientific name, Megaptera, which translates to "big-winged"

Appearance:

• Female humpback whales are larger than males.

• Their body is predominantly black or grey with white undersides on the flukes, flippers, and belly.

• Humpbacks feature large knobs on their head, jaws, and body, with each knob associated with one or two hairs:

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

• CITES Listing: Appendix I.

Download it's PDF from here: https://t.me/proxygyan/1774