BF.7 New Covid Variant of Omicron driving surge in China, 4 Cases found in India

Why In News

New Covid Variant, BF.7, sub-variant of Omicron that is prevalent in China is thought to be the cause of the present spike in BF.7 Covid-19 infections there.

Key Points

BF.7 New Covid Variant of Omicron driving surge in China, 4 Cases found in India

BF.7 New Covid Variant driving surge in China

BF.7, New Covid Variant : The BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron that is prevalent in China is thought to be the cause of the present spike in Covid-19 infections there. This isn’t the first time BF.7 has been in the spotlight; back in October, it began to displace the main variations in the US and several other European nations. The massive Covid rise in China is being caused by the BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron, which has been found in four cases in India. In Gujarat and Odisha, the instances of BF.7 Covid Variant first came to light. Currently, the Covid protocol is not required in the nation.

As the main stem of the SARS-CoV-2 tree sprouts branches and sub-branches, so do viruses when they change, creating lineages and sub-lineages.

The Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 and the BF.7 are identical. The latter is also known as BA.5.2.1.7.

The BF.7 sub-variant has a 4.4-fold higher neutralization resistance than the original D614G variant, according to a study published in the journal “Cell Host and Microbe” earlier this month.

This means that in a lab setting, antibodies from a vaccinated or infected individual were less likely to destroy BF.7 than the original Wuhan virus that spread throughout the world in 2020.

However, the study found that another Omicron sub-variant named BQ.1 had a more than 10-fold higher neutralization resistance than BF.7, which is not the most resilient sub-variant.

BF.7 New Covid Variant driving surge in China

After eliminating mandated safety measures like lockout and mass testing as part of its zero-Covid policy, China has been battling to control an out-of-control Covid surge with the BF.7 Covid variant. According to reports, pharmacies are running out of medication while hospitals are desperately attempting to handle the increased patient load because of the New Covid Variant BF.7.

Tuesday saw an increase from Monday’s two Covid-related deaths to five, according to local officials in Beijing. Only those who passed away from respiratory failure brought on by the infection will be included in the Covid mortality numbers, according to health experts.

Sri Lanka and Russia in talks to use the rupee in foreign trade

BF.7 New Covid Variant 4 cases found in India

The patients infected with the BF.7 and BF.12 forms of Omicron were reported in October-November, according to the Gujarat Health Department, where two cases were reported. They received treatment in home isolation and are now completely well. Sources claimed that the first case had come to light in July.

The Center has requested that all Covid-positive cases’ samples be sent to INSACOG genome sequencing facilities. The Health Ministry’s INSACOG forum tracks and studies different Covid strains throughout India, which includes all of the country’s states and Union Territories on a map.

Indian Navy Launches INS Arnala: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

Why In News

The Indian Navy launched ‘Arnala’, the first of the eight indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), at the shipbuilding facility of L&T in Chennai’s Kattupall.

Key Points

The Indian Navy launched ‘Arnala’, the first of the eight indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), at the shipbuilding facility of L&T in Chennai’s Kattupall. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), ‘Arnala’ made its first contact with the water of the Bay of Bengal.

The ship has been named ‘Arnala’ to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Arnala, located about 13 kilometres north of Vasai, Maharashtra, by Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The ‘Arnala’ class of ships will replace the ‘Abhay’ class ASW ships of the Indian Navy. These are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters. The 77.6-metre-long ASW-SWC ships have a displacement of 900 tonnes with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1800 nautical miles (NM).

About Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC):

It is anti-submarine warfare vessel in 700 ton displacement range and will replace Abhay-class corvette (a corvette is a small warship) currently serving in Indian Navy.

It is designed for deep750 tons displacement, 25 knots speed and 57 complement and capable of full-scale sub surface surveillance of coastal waters, Search Attack Unit (SAU) and Coordinated ASW (Anti-submarine warfare) operations with Aircraft.

It can also be deployed for Search and Rescue operations by day and night in coastal areas.

Apart from having capability to interdict/ destroy sub surface targets in coastal waters, their secondary role would be of being capable of prosecuting intruding aircraft, and lay mines in sea bed.

The vessels are equipped with advanced state-of-the-art integrated platform management systems (IPMS) including Propulsion Machinery (machineries that provides the power to drive the propeller of the ship), Auxiliary Machinery, Power Generation (includes pumps, compressors, and blowers for circulating fuel and fresh water) and Distribution Machinery and Damage Control Machinery, etc.

The Last Show And RRR’s Naatu Naatu Make It To Shortlist: Oscars 2023

Why In News

The Gujarati-language Chhello Show (The Last Show), which is India's official entry for the 2023 Academy Awards in the International Feature film category.

Key Points

The Gujarati-language Chhello Show (The Last Show), which is India’s official entry for the 2023 Academy Awards or Oscars awards in the International Feature film category, has been shortlisted for next year’s Academy Awards. Meanwhile, the track Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli’s RRR has been shortlisted in the Best Original Song Category. The Academy announced the list of shortlisted entries in 10 categories. The nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on January 24.

India’s history with the Oscar entries for the last few years were – Koozhangal, Jallikattu, Gully Boy, Village Rockstars, Newton, Visaranani, all of which have failed to make the Oscar shortlist. The only Indian films to have been nominated for an Oscar so far have been Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan.

Important points:

As far as RRR’s best song category is concerned, 15 songs have been shortlisted from among 81 tunes. Other songs include ‘Nothing Is Lost’ from ‘Avatar: The way Of Water’, ‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Blank Panther: Wakanda Forever’, ‘Hold My Hand’ from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ among others.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its shortlists for the 2023 Oscars in 10 categories, including documentary and international features as well as a documentary short subject, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song, animated short, live-action short, sound and visual effects.

15 international feature films advanced out of the films from 92 countries and regions that were eligible. The list includes Close (Belgium), Decision to Leave (South Korea), All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany), Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Bardo (Mexico) and Joyland, which gives Pakistan its first shortlisted film in the category.

National Mathematics Day 2022 celebrates on 22 December

Why In News

Mathematics Day is marked to recognise and celebrate the works of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Key Points

National Mathematics Day is celebrated on December 22 across the nation every year. The National Mathematics Day is marked to recognise and celebrate the works of Srinivasa Ramanujan. Srinivasa Ramanujan, the Indian mathematical genius, was born on this day in 1887. This year nation celebrates his 135th birth anniversary of Ramanujan. The main objective behind the celebration of National Mathematics Day is to make people aware of the development of mathematics and its importance in the growth of humanity.

History

The day was announced on 26 February 2012 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan (22 Dec 1887- 26 Apr 1920). 2012 was also observed as National Mathematics Year. Ramanujan had a wealth of ideas that have transformed and reshaped 20th-century mathematics. These ideas continue to shape the mathematics of the 21st century.

Important points on life and work of the Srinivasa Ramanujan:

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in Tamil Nadu’s Erode to a Brahmin Iyengar family. He had developed a liking for mathematics at a very young age, mastering trigonometry at 12 and was eligible for a scholarship at the Government Arts College in Kumbakonam.

He studied at the Government College in Kumbakonam in 1903. Due to his dislike for non-mathematical subjects, he failed exams there. He had enrolled in Madras’ Pachaiyappa College at the age of 14.

In 1912, Ramanujan started working as a clerk in the Madras Port Trust. There, his mathematical genius was recognised by some of his colleagues and one of them referred him to Professor GH Hardy of Trinity College, Cambridge University. He met Hardy in 1913, after which he went to Trinity College.

In 1916, Ramanujan received his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. He went on to publish several papers on his subject with Hardy’s help. The two even collaborated on several joint projects.

Ramanujan was elected to the London Mathematical Society in 1917. Next year, he was elected to the prestigious Royal Society for his research on Elliptic Functions and theory of numbers. He was also the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of the Trinity College.

Despite not receiving any formal training in pure maths, Ramanujan made impactful contribution to the discipline in his short life. His areas of work include infinite series, continued fractions, number theory and mathematical analysis.

He also made notable contributions like the hypergeometric series, the Riemann series, the elliptic integrals, the theory of divergent series, and the functional equations of the zeta function. He is said to have discovered his own theorems and independently compiled 3,900 results.

In 1919, Ramanujan returned to India. A year later, on April 26, he breathed his last owing to deteriorating health. He was just 32 years old. His biography ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ by Robert Kanigel depicts his life and journey to fame.

A film of the same name was released in 2015 in which British-Indian actor Dev Patel played Ramanujan. The 2015 movie ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity” was released based on Srinivasa Ramanujan’s biography. The film shed light on Ramanujan’s childhood in India, his time in Britain, and his journey to becoming the great mathematician.

Blind T20 World Cup 2022: India Beat Bangladesh by 120 runs

Why In News

Blind T20 World Cup 2022: The Indian national blind cricket team won the T20 World Cup for the Blind for the third time in a row.

Key Points

The Indian national blind cricket team won the T20 World Cup for the Blind for the third time in a row. They defeated Bangladesh at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium by a commanding score of 120 runs. The Indian captain, Ajay Kumar Reddy elected to bat after winning the toss, and his side eventually set a challenging total of 277 runs for Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi team could only muster 157 runs for three in return.

Prize Money And Awards Winners List

Sunil Ramesh won Man of the Match award in the championship. He was also given the B3 category’s Man of the Series award. India, the tournament’s victors and unbeaten team, won Rs. 3 lakh as prize money, while Bangladesh took second place and received Rs. 1.5 lakh. Ajay won the title of Man of the Series in the B2 division. Mohammed Mahmud Rashid of Bangladesh won the title of Man of the Series in the B1 division.

Man of the Match in Final: Sunil Ramesh (IND)

Man of the Tournament in B3 category: Sunil Ramesh (IND)

Man of the Tournament in B2 Category: Ajay Kumar Reddy (IND)

Man of the Tournament in B1 Category: Mohammed Mahmud Rashid (BAN)