PLACES IN NEWS - 26 October 2024

Israel-Iran Conflict: October 26, 2024

1. On 25th October, Israel conducted military strikes against Iranian military targets in response to Iranian attacks.
2. Background: This follows a ballistic-missile barrage by Iran on October 1, where around 200 missiles were launched at Israel—marking Iran's second direct attack on Israel in six months.

Key Points

1. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Statement: The IDF announced that it is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran due to ongoing attacks from the Iranian regime.
2. Rationale: Israel asserts its right to defend itself against continuous attacks from Iran and its proxies, including missile strikes from Iranian territory.

Accession Day 2024: Jammu and Kashmir

1. Date of Significance: October 26, 1947
2. Event: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, formalizing Jammu and Kashmir's merger with India.
3. Public Holiday: Since 2020, Accession Day is an official public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir.

Historical Context

1. Political Turmoil: The accession occurred amid the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
2. Initial Neutrality: Maharaja attempted to keep J&K independent but sought India's help due to invasions from Pathan tribesmen.
3. Formal Acceptance: Lord Mountbatten accepted the accession terms on October 27, 1947.

SIMBEX 2024: Visakhapatnam

1. Event Location: Visakhapatnam, India
2. Dates: 23 to 29 October 2024
3. Participating Vessel: Republic of Singapore Navy Ship RSS Tenacious arrived on 23 October.

History of SIMBEX

1. Inception: Started in 1994 as 'Exercise Lion King.'
2. Evolution: Developed into a key maritime collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), growing in scope and complexity over the years.

Objectives of SIMBEX 2024

1. Strengthening Strategic Partnership: Focused on enhancing cooperation between India and Singapore.
2. Key Goals:
   1. Enhance interoperability between naval forces.
   2. Improve maritime domain awareness.
   3. Tackle shared maritime challenges collaboratively.

Rare Indian Skimmers Spotted at Lower Manair Dam

1. Location: Lower Manair Dam (LMD), Telangana
2. Date of Sighting: October 26, 2024
3. Bird Count: Approximately 150 to 200 rare Indian Skimmer birds spotted, marking the first recorded sighting in Telangana.

Background on Indian Skimmers

1. Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis
2. Description: Notable for their long, slender bodies and distinctive bills adapted for skimming water surfaces to catch fish.
3. Conservation Status: Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and environmental pressures.

Migration Patterns

• Traditional Route: Typically migrate from the Chambal and Mahanadi rivers to Kakinada port, Andhra Pradesh, during winter.
• Notable Shift: Recent behavior indicates some skimmers are migrating to LMD instead, suggesting changes in habitat preferences.

Biodiversity at Lower Manair Dam

• Ecological Importance: LMD is emerging as a site of rich biodiversity, housing various species, including Indian Skimmers.
• Winter Population: During winter, it is common to see 300 to 400 Indian Skimmers in the nearby Bobbarlanka area.

Rediscovery of Giant Salmon Carp in Mekong River

1. Location: Mekong River
2. Date of Rediscovery: October 25, 2024
3. Recent Sightings: Giant salmon carp, once thought to be extinct, spotted three times since 2020. Last confirmed sighting prior to this was in 2005.

About Mekong River Overview

1. Location: Southeast Asia
2. Significance: Longest river in Southeast Asia, 7th longest in Asia, and 12th longest in the world.
3. Length: Approximately 2,700 miles (4,350 km).

Source and Course

1. Origin: Rises in southeastern Qinghai province, China.
2. Path:
   1. Flows through the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province.
   2. Forms part of the international border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as between Laos and Thailand.
   3. Continues through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Terminus

1. Mouth: Drains into the South China Sea south of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Major Cities on Its Banks

1. Vientiane: Capital of Laos.
2. Phnom Penh: Capital of Cambodia.

Drainage Area

1. Geographical Coverage: About three-fourths of the Mekong's drainage area lies within Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, particularly in its lower course.

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