Santorini Island Latest News

Thousands of residents have fled the island of Santorini after a swarm of earthquakes shook the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea on Tuesday morning.

About Santorini Island

• Santorini, or Thera, as it is also known, is a volcanic crater island that is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea in southeastern Greece. 
• It is the southernmost island in the Cyclades island group.
• It is located approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of the Greek mainland and about 63 nautical miles north of Crete, the largest Greek island.
• Santorini is the remaining portion of an exploded volcano and forms the most active volcanic center of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc.
• Santorini’s volcano is one of the few active volcanoes on Greek and European land.
• It is well known for its sea-filled volcanic caldera that is surrounded by high colorful cliffs on its three sides.
• It is also known for its pristine whitewashed houses spread across jagged cliffs, astonishing blue waters, dramatic views, fabulous sunsets, and the ancient settlement of Thira.

Santorini Island FAQs

Q1. What is a volcanic crater island?

Ans. A volcanic crater island is an island that has formed due to volcanic activity, typically from a volcanic crater or caldera that has either erupted and then filled with water or remained elevated above sea level.

Q2. What is a caldera?

Ans. A caldera is a large, bowl-shaped depression that forms when a volcano collapses after a major eruption.

Q3. Which countries border the Aegean Sea?

Ans. The Aegean Sea is bordered by Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east.

Source: NDTV

Exercise Ekuverin Latest News

Recently, the 13th edition of joint military exercise 'Ekuverin' between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced.

About Exercise Ekuverin

• Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends' in Dhivehi language started in the year 2009.
• It is a bilateral military annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives.
• Aim of Exercise Ekuverin: It is aimed at enhancing interoperability in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations, and carry out joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
• It is being conducted in Maldives this year. In 2023, it was conducted at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand.
• Both nations have very close and friendly relations in economic, cultural and military cooperation. 
• ‘Ex Ekuverin’ will assist in further bolstering these ties between the two nations.

Other Exercise betweenIndia and Maldives

• Exercise Ekatha: It is an annual exercise conducted between the navies of India and Maldives.

Exercise Ekuverin FAQs

Q1: What is the Ekuverin exercise?

Ans: Ekuverin meaning 'Friends' in Dhivehi language is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives. 

Q2: What is humanitarian and disaster relief?

Ans: Humanitarian relief aid can include food, water, medical supplies, tents, and other things required by those affected by everything from typhoons to civil wars. 

Source: ET

Brucellosis Disease Latest News

Recently, an eight-year-old girl from Kottakkal in Malappuram district of Kerala died after undergoing around two months of treatment for brucellosis.

About Brucellosis Disease

• It is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
• Humans acquire it through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.
• Most cases are caused by ingesting unpasteurised milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.
• Human-to-human transmission is very rare, says the WHO.
• Symptoms of Brucellosis Disease
  • Fever, weakness, weight loss, and general a feeling of discomfort are some of the common symptoms.
  • In many patients, they can be mild and may not get diagnosed at all. The incubation period can vary from one week to two months, but it usually lasts between two and four weeks.
• Who is at risk?
  • It affects people of all ages.
  • The WHO says that people who work with animals and are in contact with their blood, placenta, foetuses and uterine secretions have an increased risk of contracting the disease.
  • This method of transmission primarily affects farmers, butchers, hunters, veterinarians and laboratory personnel.
• Treatment for Brucellosis Disease: It is usually treated with antibiotics.
• Prevention of Brucellosis Disease: Vaccination of cattle, goats and sheep is among the prevention options. Pasteurisation of milk for direct consumption and for creating derivatives such as cheese is an important step to prevent its transmission from animals to humans.

Brucellosis Disease FAQs

Q1: What is the cause of the disease brucellosis?

Ans: Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species

Q2: How to diagnose Brucella?

Ans: Doctors usually confirm a diagnosis of brucellosis by testing blood or bone marrow for the brucella bacteria or by testing blood for antibodies to the bacteria.

Q3: What is the Rose Bengal test?

Ans: The Rose Bengal is a slide agglutination test for the qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of antibodies anti-Brucella in human and animal serum.

Source: TH

About Iskander-M

• The Iskander (Western reporting name: SS-26 Stone) is a road-mobile short-range ballistic missile system developed by Russia.
• It entered Russian service in 2006. It was first used by the Russians in 2008 against Georgia.
• It is designed for tactical strikes on small, high-value land targets. 
• This system can use different types of missiles.

Iskander-M Features

• It is 7.3 meters long, 0.92 meters in diameter, and has a launch weight of 3,750 kilograms.
• The missiles possess a maximum range of 500 km and carry payloads between 480 and 700 kg.
• It can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.
• Its missiles can travel at up to seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7) and can reach an altitude of more than 30 miles.
• It employs a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) and decoys to defeat theater missile defense systems.
• It is also equipped with various systems for in-flight correction and self-targeting, allowing the missile to overcome missile defense systems.

Iskander-M Variants

• Iskander-E: Export version, range: 280 km.
• Iskander-K: New version, unveiled in 2007, with a new cruise missile R-500, range: 280 km max.

Iskander-M FAQs

Q1. What is the range of the Iskander M missile?

Ans. The Iskander M missile has a range of 500 km.

Q2. What is a ballistic missile?

Ans. A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled weapon that follows a high-arching, free-fall trajectory after launch, typically used to deliver warheads over long distances.

Q3. What is a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV)?

Ans. A MaRV is a type of warhead designed to change its flight path during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, allowing it to evade missile defense systems.

Source: IND

Mount Taranaki Latest News

Mount Taranaki, now known by its Maori name Taranaki Maunga, in New Zealand has achieved a human status. 

About Mount Taranaki

• It has two official names Mount Egmont or Mount Taranaki.
• It is located in Egmont National Park.
• Features of Mount Taranaki
  • It is a stratovolcano (also called a composite cone) - and is made up of alternating layers of ash and lava flow.
  • It is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world.
  • There is a circular ring plain of volcanic material formed from lahars and landslides.
  • It was created by subduction of the Pacific Plate below the Australian Plate. The magma is probably coming from deeper than the Taupo Volcanic Zone volcanoes as the subducting slab is deeper.
  • It is a snow-capped dormant volcano and the second highest mountain (8,261 feet) located in North Island of New Zealand.
• Mount Taranaki has become the third natural feature in New Zealand to be bestowed with an individual status, after Te Urewera National Park and Whanganui River.
• The Indigenous Maori people of New Zealand respect the snow-covered Taranaki Maunga as a sacred ancestor.

Mount Taranaki FAQs

Q1: What is the real name of Mount Taranaki?

Ans: Taranaki Maunga

Q2: What type of volcano is Taranaki?

Ans: Mount Taranaki is a composite cone or strato-volcano,

Q3: What is the Taranaki fault?

Ans: The Taranaki Fault is a crustal-scale thrust fault, antithetic to the Hikurangi margin subduction thrust, and one of the largest known contractional structures in New Zealand.

Source: NBCN

Fort William Latest News

Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg recently.

About Fort William

• Fort William was built by the British in 1773 and was named after King William III of England.
• It is located on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army. It also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. 

Fort William History

• The original fort was built by the English East India Company in 1696.
• Initially,it comprised wings and an inner bastion where prisoners were hauled, which is why it was known as 'theblack hole of Calcutta'. 
• In 1756, Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, attacked the fort and captured Calcutta. 
• After the fall of Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey, the fort was demolished, after which, Robert Clive began constructing a new fort.
• The fort was completed in 1773 and stands as present-day Fort William.

Fort William Architecture

• The fort is octagonal in shape and has an imposing structure made out of brick and mortar. 
• It is spread over 70.9 acres and is embellished with hundreds of arched windows that overlook lush green gardens. 
• Meticulous stonework adorns the surface of the building.

Fort William FAQs

Q1. What is Fort William known as?

Ans. Fort William is also known as the Fort William Military Complex and is often referred to as "The Citadel of Calcutta".

Q2. What is the importance of Fort William?

Ans. Fort William was an important historical landmark in the Kolkata district of West Bengal named after King William III, situated on the banks of the river Hooghly.

Q3. Who established Fort William in India?

Ans. The original structure of Fort William was built in 1696 CE by the British East India Company on the banks of the river Hoogly.

Source: TH

Bryospilus Bharaticus Latest News

Recently, a new species of water flea was discovered from moss growth found on walls of Korigad Fort near Pune and named it as Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) bharaticus n. sp.

About Bryospilus Bharaticus

• It is a species of water flea belonging to the Bryospilus genus.
• This recent discovery from western India is the first for the whole of Tropical Asia.
• Features of Bryospilus bharaticus
  • It uses antennae as ‘supports’ to crawl through thick, debris-filled water films on moss.
  • The antennae have big spines that assist sideways and forward movement.
  • The fleas’ main eye is absent because they live in reduced light and don’t require colour distinction for foraging.
• Distribution of Bryospilus bharaticus: It has been found in semi-terrestrial habitats in rainforests of West Africa, South and Central America, and New Zealand.
• Habitat of Bryospilus bharaticus: The distant relatives of this species are found in open waters, while many are found in littoral (vegetated) regions of different water bodies.
• The genus Bryospilus is a unique animal with characteristic adaptations suited for living in "semi-terrestrial" environments, such as water film found on mosses.
• Ancestors of this species were potentially present on the Indian subcontinent before the breakup of Gondwanaland started approximately 200 million years ago.

What are Water Fleas?

• These are small aquatic animals belonging to crustacea group that feed on small algae by filtering them from water. 
• Habitat: These are usually found in rivers, ponds, and pools.

Bryospilus Bharaticus FAQs

Q1: What defines Crustacea?

Ans: It is any of various widespread arthropods of the class Crustacea that live mostly in water and have a hard shell, a segmented body, and jointed appendages.

Q2: What is the difference between molluscs and crustaceans?

Ans: Crustaceans are aquatic animals that have jointed legs, a hard shell and no backbone, such as crab, crayfish, lobster, prawns and shrimp. Most molluscs have a hinged two-part shell and include clams.

Source: TOI

Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles Latest News

Amid the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister to Washington DC, several defence deals in the pipeline are in focus, among them the deal for co-production of Stryker infantry combat vehicles. 

About Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles

• Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles  built for the US Army.
• It was jointly developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Canada and the General Dynamics Land Systems Division in the United States.
• It was the first new military vehicle inducted into US Army service since the Abrams tank in the 1980s.
• The Stryker family includes various configurations such as Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), Mobile Gun System (MGS), medical evacuation vehicle, fire support vehicle, anti-tank guided missile carrier, and reconnaissance vehicle, among others. 
• These vehicles are valued for their speed and flexibility, particularly in urban warfare and quick response scenarios.
• Stryker can be transported on the ground using trucks or by air on C-17 and C-130 aircraft already in the Indian Air Force fleet.

Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles Features

• Armament: Equipped with a 30 mm cannon and a 105 mm mobile gun.
• Hull Construction: V-hull made of high-hardness steel with an additional layer of ceramic tile armor for enhanced protection.
• Crew and Capacity: Operated by a two-person crew and can carry a nine-man infantry squad.
• Range: 483 kilometers
• Top Speed: Approximately 100 km/h.

Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles FAQs

Q1. Can a Stryker destroy a tank?

Ans. Stryker is lightly armored and does not have a mounted gun capable of destroying tanks.

Q2. What is a C-130 aircraft?

Ans. The C-130 Hercules is a versatile, four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed by Lockheed Martin for cargo, troop transport, medical evacuation, and tactical missions.

Q3. What is an Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV)?

Ans. An Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an armored transport vehicle designed to safely move infantry troops into combat zones while providing protection and mobility.

Source: TH

PRASHAD Scheme Latest News

Recently, a Parliamentary committee has asked the government to develop a “clear-cut Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)” and obtain prior clearances and approvals from relevant authorities for timely completion of projects in the Spiritual Tourism Circuits under the PRASHAD scheme.

About PRASHAD Scheme

• Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014.
• It is an initiative that aimed at transforming the cultural preservation and spiritual travelling across identified pilgrimage destinations.
• Objectives of PRASHAD Scheme
  • Upgrading and maintaining the strength of the infrastructure of pilgrimage destinations that includes the roads, water supply, sanitation and waste management system. 
  • Improving the travel conditions for the travellers by improving the connectivity through road, rail and airways. 
  • Starting conservation projects that help in preserving and conserving the pilgrimage sites of cultural and spiritual significance. 
  • It advocates the cultural, religious and spiritual significance of pilgrimage sites attracting domestic and international tourists.
  • Creating opportunities for the local communities through skill development and livelihood generation programmes that relate with pilgrimage tourism. 
  • Adopting sustainable development practices that promote eco-friendly tourism. 
• Key Components of PRASHAD Scheme
  • Infrastructure Development
  • Upgrading roads
  • Connectivity Enhancement:
  • Pilgrim Experience Augmentation
• Funding for PRASHAD Scheme: It is funded on a 100% public funding model for eligible project components. Additionally, the scheme incorporates voluntary contributions through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

PRASHAD Scheme FAQs

Q1: Which ministry is responsible for the Prashad scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Tourism

Q2: When was the PRASAD scheme launched?

Ans: 13 June 2014

Q3: How many cities are under the PRASAD Scheme?

Ans: 41 cities in 25 states have been identified under the scheme.

Source: TH

Ranikhet Disease Latest News

Suspected highly virulent Ranikhet disease is said to have caused the death of nearly 1.5 lakh chickens in Eluru, Guntur, Prakasam, and the twin Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh recently.

About Ranikhet Disease

• It is a highly contagious viral disease that affects birds, particularly poultry such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks.
• It is caused by infections with virulent avian avulavirus 1, commonly known as Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and designated as avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1).
• It attacks the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems of birds.
• It causes production drops/fertility problems.
• Morbidity is usually high, and mortality varies from 50 to 100 percent.
• It is a minor zoonosis (disease of animals that can also infect humans) and can cause conjunctivitis in humans, but the condition is generally very mild and self-limiting.

Ranikhet Disease Transmission

• Direct contact with secretions, especially faeces, from infected birds
• Contaminated feed, water, implements, premises, human clothing, etc.
• ND viruses can survive for several weeks in the environment, especially in cool weather.

Ranikhet Disease Symptoms

• The symptoms vary according to the age of the affected birds. 
• The first symptoms usually observed in young birds are sneezing, gasping, and often droopiness. It is in this stage of the disease that the manifestations rather closely resemble those of infections bronchitis. 
• Within a short time after the appearance of respiratory symptoms, deaths occur in a flock in quick succession and in increasing numbers from day to day.

Ranikhet Disease Treatment

• At present there is no effective treatment of any value. 
• Proper housing and general good care are indicated in an effort to shorten the duration and severity of the infection.

Ranikhet Disease FAQs

Q1. Which animal is affected by Ranikhet?

Ans. Ranikhet disease primarily affects poultry, especially chickens, causing respiratory, digestive, and nervous system issues.

Q2. What causes Ranikhet disease?

Ans. It is caused by infections with virulent avian avulavirus 1, commonly known as Newcastle disease virus (NDV).

Q3. Is Ranikhet disease curable?

Ans. Ranikhet disease is not curable once an animal is infected. 

Source: TOI