WHY IN NEWS?

• India Meteorological Department has informed that, Cyclone Yaas is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, week after cyclone Tauktae had its landfall on the western coast of India. Cyclone Yaas is likely to affect the coastal parts of Odisha and West Bengal.

What are the Favourable Conditions?

• The Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of east-central is experiencing favourable Atmospheric and oceanic conditions such as conducive environment for convection and sea surface temperatures. This is result into persistent cloudiness over these areas. IMD has informed, the surface temperature of Bay of Bengal has increased and it could thus provide favourable weather system to turn the storm into a cyclone. If the cyclone is formed, it will be named as “Yaas”. This name has been given by Oman.

Why Bay of Bengal experience frequent cyclones?

• Bay of Bengal is warmer than the Arabian Sea. This provides sufficient and continuous heat energy which is required to create and sustain a low-pressure system. Higher sea surface temperatures and humidity is directly related with the chances of formation of cyclone. Apart from that, Bay of Bengal receives higher rainfall and experience constant influx of fresh water from Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. As a result, surface water keeps on getting refreshed. Thus, it is almost impossible for warm water to mix with cooler water beneath. It is an ideal situation for the formation of depression.

WHY IN NEWS?

• New Cases of White Fungus from Covid-19 patients have been reported in states such as Bihar and others.

About:

• White Fungus is also known as Candidiasis. It is a type of fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida.
• Candidanormally lives on the skin and inside the body in places such as the mouth, throat, gut without causing any problems.
• However, candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).
• Symptoms: Symptoms of white fungus vary depending on the area affected. Most infections result in minimal complications such as redness, itching, and discomfort. However, complications may be severe or even fatal if left untreated in certain populations.
• Vulnerable Group: People with low immunity, pre-existing medical issues, people with diabetes, and people on or using steroids are at a high risk of contracting the infection.
• COVID-19 patients on oxygen support can inhale these fungal spores if their ventilators and oxygen support equipment is not sanitised properly.
• Risk is also increased by overuse of steroids and usage of tap water in the humidifier of oxygen cylinders.
• Prevention:
  • Patients who are on oxygen or ventilators should be taken care of in terms of hygiene.
  • The tubes and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned. Only sterilized water should be used in oxygen cylinder humidifiers.
• Treatment: It is not life-threatening. The treatment of White Fungus disease is mainly done through antifungal medicines. However, this changes if a person contracts severe disease and lungs are infected.

WHY IN NEWS?

• The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment has virtually launched a 6-month CBID (Community Based Inclusive Development) Program on rehabilitation of Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities).

About:

• Developed by: The programme has been co-designed by the Rehabilitation Council of India and the University of Melbourne.
• Aim: The programme aims to create a pool of Grassroot rehabilitation workers at the community level. These workers will be trained for successfully discharging their duties.
• After training, the workers can then work alongside the ASHA and Anganwadi workers. They can handle cross-disability issues and facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. The workers will be called ‘Divyang Mitra’ i.e. friends of persons with disabilities.

Nodal Body: National Board of Examination in Rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation Council of India will conduct examinations. The board will also award certificates to pass-out candidates

WHY IN NEWS?

• Recently, the government has increased the subsidy to 140% on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in order to retain the selling price for farmers at the current level.
• Recently, the international prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc. used in DAP have gone up by 60% to 70%.

 About:

• DAP is the second most commonly used fertiliser in India after urea.
• Farmers normally apply this fertiliser just before or at the beginning of sowing, as it is high in phosphorus (P) that stimulates root development.
• DAP (46% P, 18% Nitrogen) is the preferred source of Phosphorus for farmers. This is similar to urea, which is their preferred nitrogenous fertiliser containing 46% N.

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, India virtually hosted the 7^th meeting of the BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) under the Science, Technology, and Innovation track of the BRICS 2021.

• The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and Department of Science and Technology (DST) coordinated the meeting.

About:

• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
  • The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers’ in 2006.
  • South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.
• India has assumed the BRICS Presidency from January 2021.

WHY IN NEWS?

• A new point-of-care test has been found to be highly sensitive in the rapid diagnosis of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).
• This disease is also known as monkey fever.

About:

• It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), which primarily affects humans and monkeys.
• It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported.
• Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.

Transmission:

• In nature, the virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera), monkeys, rodents and birds.
• To humans, it may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Symptoms:

• Characterised by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.

Diagnosis:

• Diagnosis can be made in the early stage of illness by molecular detection by PCR or virus isolation from blood.
• Later, serologic testing using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Serologic Assay (ELISA) can be performed.

Treatment and Prevention:

• There is no specific treatment for monkey fever.
• A vaccine (Formalin inactivated KFDV vaccine) does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas of India.
  • However, it is found that vaccines are not effective once the person is infected with fever.

WHY IN NEWS?

• In India, the National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 to commemorate the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.

About:

• The day is also observed to spread the message of peace, harmony, and humankind and to promote unity among the people.
• Rajiv Gandhi was India’s youngest Prime Minister. He was appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of the country and served the nation from 1984 to 1989.
• Mr Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a human bomb. He was killed in Tamil Nadu in a campaign by a terrorist. Then, under the V.P. Singh government, the centre has decided to observe 21st May as Anti-Terrorism Day.

WHY IN NEWS?

• The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, IDAHOTB is observed on May 17 every year. The day is marked to increase awareness about LGBT rights violations. Also, it aims to stimulate interest in LGBT rights work world-wide.

What is Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia?

• Homophobia: It is dislike against gay people
• Transphobia: It is the dislike against the transgender people
• Biphobia: It is the dislike against the bisexual people

IDAHOTB

• It was originally called the International Day against Homophobia.
• It was first observed in 2005.
• Louis-Georges Tin is the founder of International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
• The Declaration of Montreal was adopted in 2006. It demanded the United Nations to recognise IDAHOTB.

Why was May 17 chosen?

It was on May 17, 1990, homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of World Health Organisation. International Classification of Diseases is a classification of health care system. It provides diagnostic codes to classify a disease. This includes symptoms, signs, abnormal findings, external causes.

Goals

The day aims to increase awareness against discrimination, violence and repression of LGBT communities worldwide.

Around the world

• Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legally recognise same-sex marriage.

IDAHOTB has been recognised in very few countries such as Spain, European Union Parliament, Portugal, Belgium, Mexico, UK, Netherlands, Venezuela, Luxembourg, Croatia, Costa Rica

WHY IN NEWS?

• International Tea Day is observed globally on May 21 on the recommendation of India. The purpose of International Tea Day is to try to improve the condition of tea producers and tea workers.

About:

• The United Nations recognised International Tea Day by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)to raise awareness of the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world and promote its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
• The United Nations General Assembly has designated May 21 as International Tea Day based on a proposal moved by India at the FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG)on Tea in October
• Before 2019, December 15 is celebrated as International Tea Day in tea producing nations such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania

WHY IN NEWS?

• The Emmy Award-nominated Indian choreographer Suresh Mukund, has won the 10th Annual ‘World Choreography Award 2020’, (also known as Choreo Awards), becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious honour.

About:

• He won the award in the ‘TV REALITY SHOW/COMPETITION’ category, for his work on the hit American TV reality show ‘World of Dance’.
• Mukund is the director and choreographer of the Indian dance crew ‘The Kings’, which won the 2019 season of World of Dance.
• The World Choreography Awards, famously known as the “Oscars of Dance”, takes place every year, in Los Angeles, to showcase the most innovative and original works by the world’s best choreographers featured in television, film, commercials, digital content, and music videos.