News in Shorts: 16 September 2024

Operation Sadbhav

About Operation ’Sadbhav’:

• Objective:  To send urgent relief materials to Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam in assisting them in dealing with the impact of a major typhoon Yagi.

Nipah Virus

About Nipah virus:

• First outbreaks of the Nipah virus among humans was reported in Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999)
• It is a single-stranded, enclosed, negative-sense RNAvirus.
• It belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.
• Spread: 
• • It is a zoonotic virus,  transmitted from animals to humans.
  • Reservoir: The fruit bat, also known as the flying fox, serves as the animal host reservoir for the virus.
  • Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) is generally considered a vermin as they raid orchards. 
  • Fruit bats transmit the virus to other animals such as pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep.
  • Humans can get infected through direct contact with these infected animals or by consuming food contaminated with their saliva or urine.
• Fatality Rate: WHO estimates that between 40% and 75% of cases can result in death.
• Prevention: Currently, there are no vaccines for both humans and animals. 

Dabba Calling      

About Dabba Calling:

Dabba Calling is a method of making extortion calls that involves using two phones to circumvent detection and tracking by authorities. 

How Dabba Calling Works ?

• Initial Call: The henchman makes an extortion call to the intended victim using one phone. This call is made over the Internet, often using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services.
• Simultaneous Call: Using a second phone, the henchman makes another call to his boss, who is typically located in a different country. The two phones are kept side-by-side, and their speakers are turned on.
• Dual Communication: This method allows the boss to issue threats or demands without directly interacting with the victim’s phone.

NAVIKA SAGAR PARIKRAMA II

About Navika sagar Parikram

• It is an initiative by the Indian navy to circumnavigate the globe on an all women crewed sailboat. 
  • A significant step in India’s maritime progress, highlighting the nation’s growing role in global maritime activities and promoting gender equality on the high seas.
• Navika Sagar Parikrama I – 2017 and completed 2018
  • Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini is the sailboat of the Indian navy.  
• Navika Sagar Parikrama II – This initiative is similar to Navika Sagar Parikrama I. 
• Logo Significance: The octagonal Navy emblem, sun, compass, and sailboat symbolize Indian Navy’s maritime spirit.

INDUS-X Summit 

The third edition of the INDUS-X Summit between India and the United States has concluded recently in California.

• The event was co-organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Stanford University. 

Key Outcomes of the Summit: 

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) under the US Department of Defense was signed.
• The INDUS-X Impact Report was released and a new official webpage was launched to foster further engagement.
• Aim: To boost cooperation in defence innovation, opening new avenues for joint research, industry partnerships, and investments between the two nations.

About INDUS-X Summit:

• Origin: The Summit had its inception in June 2023, during the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to the US and is a cornerstone of the US-India defence partnership.
• Aim and Objective: The summit is a platform to showcase  next-generation technologies developed by startups and MSMEs and advancement of defence technology through innovation and collaboration

BRICS Literature Forum 2024

BRICS Literature Forum (confluence of writers, poets, philosophers, artists, scholars from the BRICS countries)  2024 commenced in Kazan, Russia on 11 September 2024.

• Theme: “World literature in the new reality. Dialogue of traditions, national values and cultures.”
• Indian Representation: India is represented by Sri Madhav Kaushik, President of Sahitya Akademi and Dr K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary of Sahitya Akademi.
• Session Topic: India participated in the session”Meet the Authors from India,” centered on the theme “Volga to Ganga: Celebration of Tradition and Multiculturalism,”
  • It explored how river-based cultures have contributed to multiculturalism and social progress worldwide.

Rangeen Machhli App

The Rangeen Machhli mobile app was launched by the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar. 

About the App:

• It was Developed by ICAR-CIFA with support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Aims: To boost the ornamental fisheries sector, providing crucial knowledge resources for hobbyists, aquarium shop owners, and fish farmers.
• Features: 
  • Language: The App provides multilingual information on popular ornamental fish species in eight Indian languages
  • The app offers comprehensive details on care, breeding, and maintenance practices. 
  • Find Aquarium Shops: This tool allows users to locate nearby aquarium shops through a dynamic directory updated by shop owners connecting users with reliable sources for ornamental fish and aquarium-related products.
  • Educational Modules: The app includes educational modules for both newcomers and professionals in the ornamental fish industry.