NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has recently detected a massive globular cluster that orbits the Milky Way galaxy.
The globular cluster is a huge gravitationally bound collection of stars believed to be 10 billion years old.
They are denser and more spherical than open star clusters and typically contain stars which are thought to have formed at roughly the same time.
Hubble space Telescope is the world's first large, space-based optical telescope, named in honor of astronomer Edwin Hubble.
The Hubble is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Sun is the energy source of this space-based telescope.
Hubble Telescope has tracked the Neptune’s Mysterious Shrinking Storm.
Some of the interesting Hubble Discoveries are
Creating a 3-D map of mysterious dark matter.
Discovering Nix and Hydra, two moons of Pluto.
Helping determine the rate of the universe's expansion.
Discovering that nearly every major galaxy is anchored by a black hole.
Helping refine the age of the universe.
Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES)
It is an intergovernmental institution for the generation and application of early warning information.
It was established in 2009, evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa and Asia, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
It works with a multi-hazard framework for the generation and communication of early warning information and capacity building for preparedness and response to trans-boundary hazards.
It operates from its regional early warning center in Thailand.
The State government of Odisha has recently entered into a collaboration with RIMES.
It is to enhance early warning system for effective management of all kinds of disasters like flood, drought, heat wave, lightning and road accidents.
2021 Census
The Registrar General of India (RGI) recently notified the amended census rules.
The RGI issued the notification as the process for the 2021 Census kicks in.
According to the notification, the data collected during the 2021 Census will be stored electronically.
This is the first time to store date electronically since the decennial exercise was conducted in 1951 in Independent India.
Any tampering with the data will invite punishment under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement
The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) was signed in 1975 as an initiative of UN- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
It is previously named the Bangkok Agreement.
There are 6-member states to APTA – Bangladesh, China, India, South Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka.
Mongolia is soon to become the 7th member of APTA. It has concluded bilateral negotiation on tariff concessions with members of APTA.
It is a preferential trade agreement (PTA), under which the basket of items as well as extent of tariff concessions are enlarged during the trade negotiating rounds.
It is a truly region-wide trade agreement spanning East and South Asia, with potential to expand to other sub-regions, including Central Asia and the Pacific.
APTA is the only operational trade agreement linking China and India.
It is open to all developing member countries.
It is the first plurilateral agreement among the developing countries in the region and has the longest effective implementation period amongst the trade agreements in the entire Asia-Pacific.
Recently, India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to APTA members from July 1.
Golden Globe Race
It is being conducted to commemorate 50 years since the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of UK in 1968.
In this race, all the 18 participants are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop.
It commences from Les Sables d’Olonne harbour in France from June 2018 and expected to complete in April 2019.
The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 is not permitted, hence use of GPS, satellite communication, navigational aids, etc is forbidden.
Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy is the only invitee from Asia to participate in the Golden Globe Race.
He will sail the boat 'Thuriya', an indigenously built sailing vessel.
He has already covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail, including a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 onboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei.
