It is the world’s largest bee that was rediscovered in a remote part of Indonesia.
Wallace’s giant bee was discovered in the 19th century by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the bee as “vulnerable”.
It was nicknamed the “flying bulldog as it is nearly four times bigger than the European bee.
It lives in the Indonesian island region of North Moluccas and makes its nest in termite mounds
Gita Govinda
Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata has put on display a handwritten 18th-century copy of Gita Govinda to mark the International Mother Language Day.
It is written in Sanskrit by Jayadeva.
It an important text of the Bhakti Movement and dates back to the 12th century.
It depicts the relationship between Lord Krishna and Radha.
It was also the inspiration for many beautiful miniature paintings of the Rajasthani and Pahari schools in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Civilian deaths in Afghanistan
The report from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that a record number of Afghan civilians were killed last year due to stepped up aerial attacks by U.S-led forces and more suicide bombings.
The conflict in Afghanistan claimed 3,804 civilian lives that included 927 children leading to an 11% spike in civilian deaths versus 2017.
Suicide attacks and aerial operations each caused the most civilian casualties ever recorded by UNAMA.
Ground engagements, mainly between pro-government forces and anti-government groups remained the second leading cause of civilian casualties.
The mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority has been heavily targeted by attacks claimed by the local affiliate of Islamic State.
Hayabusa 2 and Ryugu asteroid
Hayabusa 2 is a Japanese probe sent to collect samples from an asteroid for clues about the origin of life and the solar system.
It fired a bullet into the surface of the Ryugu asteroid.
The Ryugu asteroid is thought to contain relatively large amounts of organic matter and water from some 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born.
It was launched in December 2014 and is scheduled to return to the Earth with its samples in 2020.
The probe will observe the surface of the asteroid with its camera and sensing equipment.
National Action Plan – Viral Hepatitis
It was launched by Union Ministry Health & Family Welfare.
In India, it is estimated that there are 4 crore people suffering from Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore people suffering from Hepatitis C.
It provides a strategic framework, based on which National Viral Hepatitis Control Program was framed and launched under National Health Mission.
The aim of the program is to
combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030
achieve significant reduction in the infected population, morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B, C, A and E.
In India, Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the Universal Immunization Program a decade ago.
Flamingo Count
It is the counting of flamingos that will be taken up across the country for the first time.
It is undertaken by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in collaboration with NGOs and local birdwatchers across the country.
In India there are two species of flamingos — Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus rosues and Lesser Flamingo - Phoeniconaias minor.
The taller of the two species is the greater flamingo.
Lesser flamingos are more pink in colour and their legs are sorter.
Greater flamingos have light pink beaks with a dark tip which are widespread in India
It will migrate to South India during winter and spend their time in large reservoirs and mud flats.
