Why is it in the News?

A diplomatic row sparked between Greece and the UK recently after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the status of the Parthenon Sculptures housed at the British Museum.

What are the Parthenon Sculptures?

• The Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum are more than 30 ancient stone sculptures from Greece that are more than 2,000 years old.
• Most of them originally adorned the walls and grounds of the Parthenon temple on the rocky Acropolis hill in Athens.
• Completed in 432 BC, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Athena and is seen as the crowning glory of Athens’ Golden Age.
• While one notable sculpture, which is 75 meters long, depicts a procession for the birthday of Athena, others show gods, heroes, or mythical creatures.

How did the sculptures reach Britain?

• They were removed from the Parthenon in the early 19th century by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin and then-British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
• The marbles were taken to Britain and purchased by the British Museum in 1816.

Why is it in the News?

UK public health officials recently said they had confirmed a first human case of a swine flu strain similar to one that has been circulating in pigs.

About Swine Flu:

• Swine flu, scientifically known as H1N1 influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the H1N1 virus that commonly affects pigs.
• However, this virus can also infect humans, leading to a range of symptoms from mild to severe, and in some cases, it can be fatal.
• The virus spreads among humans through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it highly transmissible.
• Swine flu symptoms resemble those of seasonal influenza, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.
• In severe cases, individuals may experience respiratory distress and pneumonia.
• One of the distinctive features of the H1N1 virus is its ability to affect younger age groups more severely compared to typical seasonal flu viruses.
• The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of H1N1 influenza in 2009, emphasizing the need for international cooperation in monitoring and controlling the spread of the virus.
• Oseltamivir is an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B.

Why is it in the News?

Astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have used the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Hanle, Ladakh, to photograph the Comet P12/Pons-Brooks.

About Comet P12/Pons-Brooks:

• Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a Halley-type periodic comet that was first discovered by Jean-Louis Pons on July 12, 1812.
• It is nicknamed the 'Devil Comet' or likened to the 'Millennium Falcon' for its distinctive appearance.
• It has an orbital period of about 71.3 years.
• During its closest approach to the Sun or perihelion, the comet comes within about 0.78 astronomical units (AU) of the Sun, while at its furthest point, or aphelion, it is located at a distance of about 17.2 AU.
• Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is also known for being the probable parent body causing the κ-Draconids meteor shower.
• It will make its return in 2024 and it is expected to reach its maximum brightness (potentially visible to the naked eye) during the month of April.
• With its closest approach occurring just a few days before a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, it presents a unique opportunity for skywatchers to potentially view the comet during the eclipse.
• However, since the comet's brightness can be unpredictable, there is no guarantee it will be visible.
• Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently in the constellation of Lyra Constellation.

Why is it in the News?

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI is organizing the 19th Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics (WPDCS19) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) from 28th November to 2nd December 2023.

About the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission:

• The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean.
• It works to achieve this by promoting cooperation among its Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties in order to ensure the conservation and appropriate utilisation of fish stocks and encouraging the sustainable development of fisheries.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations adopted the Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission during its 105th Session in Rome on 25 November 1993.
• The Indian Ocean holds the position as the second-largest tuna fishery globally, making it a crucial focus for the IOTC.
• Currently, the IOTC boasts 31 contracting parties, including countries and two cooperating non-contracting parties, Liberia and Senegal.
• Membership is open to Indian Ocean coastal countries, countries or regional economic integration organizations that are UN members, countries that are members of UN special organizations, and countries involved in tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean.
• India is an active member of the IOTC, with its headquarters located in Victoria, Seychelles.

Why is it in the News?

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently unveiled the crest of the Indian Navy's stealth-guided missile destroyer Imphal.

About INS Imphal:

• INS Imphal is the third ship in the Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyers.
• INS Imphal is the third of the four Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers.
• It's one of the biggest destroyers made in India, measuring 164 meters long and weighing over 7500 tonnes.
• Powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, the ship is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/hour).
• It's equipped to handle various tasks in maritime warfare.
• The ship boasts a high indigenous content of approximately 75 percent that includes BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and 76mm super rapid gun mount.
• "Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Imphal is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.
• The crest design on the ship represents the Kangla Palace and 'Kangla-Sa.'
• The Kangla Palace is a historical and archaeological site in Manipur, serving as the traditional seat of the past kingdom.
• On the right side of the crest, 'Kangla-Sa' is depicted—a mythical being with a dragon's head and lion's body from Manipur's history, symbolizing the guardian of its people.
• ‘Kangla-Sa' is also the state emblem of Manipur.
• Interestingly, INS Imphal is the first capital warship named after a city in the northeast—Imphal, the capital of Manipur.