CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has recently introduced its latest air-to-surface missile, named “Wind Demon.”
• About Wind Demon:
  • The Wind Demon is a state-of-the-art air-to-surface cruise missile engineered for precision, long-range strikes at a cost-effective price point. Developed by IAI, this missile can be launched from either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft, and it is adept at targeting both moving and stationary objects based on pre-set parameters without requiring continuous operator oversight.
• Features:
  • Range and Weight: With an impressive range exceeding 200 kilometers and a weight of 140 kg, the Wind Demon is noted for its exceptional precision, boasting a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of just 1 meter.
  • Low-Altitude Flight: Its capability to fly at extremely low altitudes minimizes the risk of detection, interference, and interception, thus improving its operational success.
  • Speed Profiles: The missile offers versatile speed options—fast/slow/fast—enabling it to be tailored for various tactical scenarios.
  • Day and Night Operation: Equipped with a sophisticated electro-optical seeker that includes thermal imaging, the Wind Demon performs effectively in all lighting conditions.
  • Laser Spot Tracking: It features advanced laser spot tracking and carries a warhead weighing over 20 kilograms.
  • Human Oversight: The missile incorporates a Man-in-the-Loop control system, allowing for human intervention during critical stages of the mission.

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• Scientists have recently identified a curious phenomenon in the deep sea, referred to as “dark oxygen.”
• About Dark Oxygen:
  • Dark oxygen refers to oxygen being generated in the complete absence of light, thousands of feet below the ocean's surface.
• Why is this discovery significant?
  • Previously, it was believed that oxygen was produced exclusively through photosynthesis, a process that requires sunlight. Typically, oceanic plankton, algae, and certain bacteria, all of which perform photosynthesis, were recognized as the primary sources of oxygen in the ocean.
  • The idea of oxygen production at such extreme depths seemed implausible because there is insufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur.

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• Recent reports indicate that tablets designed to release ketamine gradually may enhance depression symptoms with fewer side effects.
• About Ketamine:
  • Ketamine, also known by its brand name Ketalar, is a medication commonly used by doctors to induce pain relief during surgical procedures. Often referred to as a “party drug,” ketamine blocks the NMDA receptor for glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for neuron activation and communication.
  • Derived from the hallucinogenic drug Phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine functions by obstructing the NMDA receptor in the brain and spinal cord, which increases the levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This action disrupts pain transmission in the spinal cord while stimulating the brain's reward pathways.
  • Ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties and is administered under strict medical supervision for anesthesia and to treat severe depression that has not responded to other treatments.
• Uses:
  • Ketamine therapy is employed for various conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, and substance abuse issues.
• Potential Side Effects:
  • Possible side effects include agitation, depression, cognitive difficulties, loss of consciousness, and memory impairment.
• Regulation in India:
  • In India, ketamine is classified as a Schedule X drug, indicating it is subject to stringent controls and is monitored on a case-by-case basis by the prescribing physician.

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• Recently, Bolivia has joined MERCOSUR as a full member to boost trade with other member countries.
• About MERCOSUR:
  • MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur, or Southern Common Market) is a Latin American economic and political bloc.
  • Members: Initially, MERCOSUR included Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Bolivia and Venezuela later joined the group, though Venezuela has been suspended since December 1, 2016.
  • Creation and Objectives: Established in 1991 through the Treaty of Asunción, MERCOSUR aims to facilitate the "free movement of goods, services, and factors of production among its member countries." The bloc's goal is to enhance economic integration, promote free trade, and ease the movement of goods, services, and people within the region.
  • Governance: The Common Market Council serves as the highest decision-making authority within MERCOSUR, providing a platform for coordinating foreign and economic policies. The official languages of the bloc are Spanish and Portuguese.
  • International Relations: In 2004, MERCOSUR and India signed the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which strengthened economic relations between India and one of the world's largest trading blocs.
  • Headquarters: The headquarters of MERCOSUR is located in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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• Recent weeks have seen two separate outbreaks of listeria, a bacteria capable of contaminating food, reported in the United States and Canada.
• About Listeria:
  • Listeria, scientifically known as Listeria monocytogenes, is a type of bacteria found in various environments including soil, vegetation, water, sewage, and the feces of animals and humans. Food contaminated with listeria can cause an infection known as listeriosis.
• Foods Prone to Contamination:
  • Certain foods are more susceptible to listeria contamination, including milk, raw sprouts, deli meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses, and smoked seafood.
• Symptoms:
  • Most individuals who consume food contaminated with listeria do not exhibit symptoms. The bacteria can persist in the body for up to two months before symptoms appear, which can complicate the identification of the source of the infection. Symptoms of listeriosis include vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, severe headache, constipation, and fever.
• Who is at Risk?
  • Individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, their unborn children, and those aged 65 and older are at increased risk. The median age for cases in the recent U.S. outbreak is 75. For the immunocompromised and elderly, listeriosis can lead to hospitalization and even death. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, being ten times more likely to contract listeria, which can lead to pregnancy loss, premature birth, or severe infections in the newborn.
• Treatment:
  • Treatment for listeriosis varies based on the severity of the infection but generally involves antibiotics, similar to treatments for other bacterial infections of the stomach.

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• In Japan, researchers are experimenting with feeding vegetables to sea urchins— a popular sushi ingredient—in an effort to prevent them from depleting the ocean’s seaweed stocks.
• About Sea Urchins:
  • Sea urchins are marine invertebrates belonging to the group called echinoderms, which means “spiny-skinned animals.” This group also includes familiar marine species such as starfish and sea cucumbers.
• Habitat:
  • Sea urchins inhabit a range of marine environments, including rocky shores, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy seabeds. They are commonly found on the ocean floor, typically on hard surfaces, and use their tube feet or spines to navigate their surroundings.
• Appearance:
  • Sea urchins have spherical to somewhat flattened bodies covered with spines. The largest recorded specimen is the Sperostoma giganteum, found in deep waters off Japan.
• Features:
  • Sea urchins possess a globular body with a radial arrangement of internal organs, indicated by five bands of pores extending from the mouth to the anus on their internal skeleton, or test. These pores house tube feet, which are slender, extendable, and often equipped with suction tips. Their hard exoskeleton, or test, is composed of interlocking plates or ossicles and is typically covered with movable spines. Additionally, they have long, movable spines and pedicellariae (pincer-like organs) that may contain poison glands.
• Food Habit:
  • Sea urchins are herbivorous and mainly feed on algae and plant material. They use specialized mouthparts known as Aristotle's lantern to scrape algae and other food sources from rocks or the seafloor.

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• Recently, experts have criticized the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, highlighting its lack of substantial financial commitment to achieve conservation goals.
• About the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund:
  • The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has been established to boost investments in nature restoration and renewal efforts. Its primary aim is to mobilize and accelerate financial support for the conservation and sustainability of wildlife and ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by wildfires, flooding, extreme weather, and human activities such as urban expansion.
• Origins and Purpose:
  • The fund was launched during the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held in Vancouver, Canada. It is intended to assist countries in meeting the 23 targets outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December.