Carnation Revolution

The April 25, 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of The Carnation Revolution in Portuguese history.

• Antonio Oliveira Salazar ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968 as a fascist dictator, establishing the "New State" corporatist regime.
• His successor Marcelo Caetano continued the dictatorship until 1974.
• On April 25, 1974, a bloodless military coup known as the Carnation Revolution toppled the dictatorship and ushered in democracy in Portugal.
• It was led by junior army officers opposed to Portugal's colonial wars in Africa.
• The revolution led to rapid decolonization, ending over 500 years of the Portuguese empire in Africa as its colonies like Angola and Mozambique gained independence.
• While most Portuguese celebrate the 1974 revolution, there is concern over the rise of the far-right Chega party.
• The Chega party has attracted support by glorifying Salazar's dictatorship and Portugal's imperial past.
• A recent study found 23% felt Portugal could "regain greatness" by following Salazar's ideals, while Chega uses his motto of "God, patriotism and family" along with "work."
• Chega became the third largest party in parliament in the March 2023 elections, capitalizing on issues like the housing crisis and allegations of corruption against mainstream parties.
• About Portugal
• Capital – Lisbon
• EU Member State – Since 1 January 1986.
• Currency – Euro (€) Euro area member since?1 January 1999.
• Schengen – Member since 26 March 1995.
• Political system – Is a semi-presidential republic. The prime minister is the head of government.
• The president who is the head of state has power to appoint the prime minister and other government members.
• Geographic location – Along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula in south-western Europe.
• Spain is the only bordering country of it.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of the body's soft tissues.
• It is widely used to diagnose and monitor conditions like cancers, neurological disorders, cardiovascular issues, musculoskeletal problems and so on.
• Working mechanism – The main superconducting magnet creates a powerful, constant magnetic field around the patient.
• This causes the hydrogen protons (nuclei) in the body to align with the direction of the magnetic field.
• Radio frequency pulses are applied, causing some atoms to get excited and emit signals when relaxing.
• Detectors pick up these signals, which are processed by a computer to generate 2D or 3D images.
• Advantages of MRI – Provides high-resolution images of soft tissues without using ionizing radiation.
• Can image the body from multiple angles and focus on specific regions using gradient magnets.
• Different tissues show up in different shades based on their properties like relaxation times.
• Considered very safe with no long-term effects on the body.
• Limitations of MRI – It is very expensive and the burden is shifted to patients costing them around 10,000 per scan in India. 
• Requires the patient to remain completely still for extended periods in a confined space.
• Noisy operation due to switching of strong magnetic fields.
• Cannot be used for patients with metallic implants or embedded objects.

Dakhma

The usage of Dakhma has been declining among the Parsi community in recent times.

• The Dakhma or ‘Towers of Silence’ is a unique and environmentally conscientious method of laying the dead to rest being traditionally practised by the Parsi community.
• They were designed to avoid contaminating the sacred elements of earth, fire and water.
• The dead were placed atop these circular raised structures, allowing the bodies to decompose naturally.
• The vultures performs the pivotal role of stripping away the flesh from the bones through their scavenging process.
• The purpose behind the Parsi burial customs was to “take less and give more” to the world.
• This practice also held deep spiritual significance for Parsis, with the vulture's role seen as an act of cosmic charity aiding the soul's transition.
• The Dakhma are usually built on top of hills in locations distant from urban areas.
• This tradition is dying in a time of increasing environmental change.
• Alternative method – The Parsi community in India is exploring captive vulture breeding and the use of “solar concentrators" to expedite the decomposition of bodies.
• As the solar concentrators only work in clear weather, some have been forced to opt for burial instead.
• Decreasing vulture population – Across the Indian subcontinent, vulture populations have plunged by a staggering 97% over recent decades due to widespread diclofenac poisoning.
• This anti-inflammatory drug, extensively administered to cattle, proves fatally toxic when ingested by the obligate scavenger vultures feeding on the cattle carcasses.
• Prevention – To prevent the extinction of vulture species, scientists have recommended banning the use of diclofenac in livestock, a move so far taken by India, Pakistan and Nepal.
• Captive-bred vultures have also been released into the wild in India in a bid to boost the threatened populations.

Blood Minerals

The Apple Company was recently alleged for of using ‘blood minerals’ from war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Congo government.

• Blood minerals refer to certain minerals like tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold that are mined in conflict zones and whose sale is used to finance armed groups, militias and human rights abuses.
• The eastern regions of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are extremely rich in minerals like tantalum, tin, tungsten (collectively known as the 3Ts) and gold.
• However, this mineral wealth has fuelled decades of violent conflict, as various rebel groups and militias fight to control and exploit the mines and mineral trade routes.
• These armed groups use the profits from the illegal mining and smuggling of the 3T minerals and gold to fund their operations and purchase weapons.
• Blood Minerals is also called as "conflict minerals" because their extraction and sale directly enables armed conflict, human rights atrocities and exploitation of local populations.
• Companies that use these minerals in their products, often unwittingly through long and opaque supply chains, are accused of indirectly financing and perpetuating the cycle of violence in the region.

Isfahan, Kiru Hydro Electric Project & Solai/ Nakuru Dam

• Isfahan – A central city in Iran.
• Recently Iran’s air defences have brought down three small drones over the central city of Isfahan.
• Kiru Hydro Electric Project – Located in Kishtwar, J&K of India.
• Recently REC Limited has extended the term loan for this project.
• REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise and leading NBFC under the Ministry of Power.
• Solai/ Nakuru Dam – It is located in Nakuru County of Kenya.
• A blockage in an underpass or tunnel that channels water to the Tongi River led to the bursting of a dam.