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- Scientists have identified the enzyme BbLDH as a key factor for the survival and infectivity of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
- About Lyme Disease:
- Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The infection can result in complications affecting the skin, heart, brain, and joints. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick.
- Transmission:
- Not every tick bite leads to Lyme disease. Only deer ticks (also known as black-legged ticks) carry and spread the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. It is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person, from pets to humans, or through air, food, water, lice, mosquitoes, fleas, or flies. Lyme disease is commonly found in wooded and grassy regions, particularly in warmer months. It is most frequently reported in North America, Europe, and certain parts of Asia.
- Symptoms:
- Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive skin rash known as erythema migrans. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.
- Treatment:
- Antibiotic treatment is typically effective in curing Lyme disease, particularly when started early in the infection.
- A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 recently struck off the coast of New Zealand's South Island.
- About South Island:
- South Island is the larger and southernmost of New Zealand's two main islands, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
- It is separated from the North Island by the Cook Strait to the north, and from Stewart Island by the Foveaux Strait to the south.
- The island is predominantly mountainous, with around three-quarters of its area covered by rugged terrain. The central mountain range, known as the Southern Alps, stretches from southwest to northeast and reaches its highest point at Mount Cook (3,754 meters).
- The Southern Alps divide the island’s western region, the narrow Westland Plain, from the broader Canterbury Plains to the east.
- Fiordland National Park, situated in the southwest, is renowned for its dramatic fjords (coastal inlets) and high-altitude lakes. The park is part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage area, designated by UNESCO in 1990 for its exceptional natural beauty.
- The island is home to several stunning lakes, including Lake Tekapo, Lake Wakatipu, and Lake Pukaki.
- Major urban centers on South Island include Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.
- The Government of India has decided to discontinue the Medium-Term and Long-Term Government Deposits (MLTGD) under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) effective from March 26, 2025.
- What is the Gold Monetisation Scheme?
- Launched: November 2015, as an upgraded version of the existing Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and Gold Metal Loan (GML) Scheme.
- The scheme allows individuals, institutions, and even government bodies to deposit their idle gold in banks and earn interest, rather than storing it in lockers.
- Depositors can redeem their gold deposits upon maturity in cash, gold bars, or coins, but not in the same form in which it was deposited (e.g., not jewellery, bars, or coins).
- Objective:
- To mobilize idle gold held by households and institutions.
- To bring gold into the formal economy and reduce the country's dependence on gold imports, thus helping to curb the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
- Other Gold-Related Schemes:
- Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme: Recently discontinued along with medium- and long-term GMS deposits. The bonds were issued in denominations of 5g, 10g, 50g, and 100g, aiming to reduce demand for physical gold.
- Indian Gold Coin Initiative: Launched in 2015 along with GMS and SGB, featuring India’s first-ever national gold coin bearing the Ashoka Chakra emblem.