Mosquirix
- Mosquirix is the world’s first vaccine against a parasitic disease, Malaria.
- Malaria is caused by the infectious Plasmodium female Anopheles mosquitoes deposit parasite sporozoites into the skin of a human host.
- Each year there are 430,000 malaria-related deaths worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Mosquirix vaccine has been recommended by WHO for pilot introduction in selected areas of 3 African countries- Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
- African Nation, Malawi will be undertaking large scale pilot tests for this world’s most advanced experimental malaria vaccine in a bid to prevent the disease.
AJIT
- Indian Institute of Technology at Bombay has indigenously-produced microprocessor named AJIT, which will cost around 100 Indian Rupees.
- AJIT is aimed at larger systems like robots, automation systems, appliances, and in the future perhaps even servers and workstations.
- AJIT will be used in India's satellites like NAVIC or IRNNS (The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System).
- SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research), an independent lab under MeitY is also planning to use AJIT in various satellite receivers.
Bronze-Cuckoo
- Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo is a native of Australia and New Guinea.
- It is distinguished by the green and brown plumage on its back and known for it's repeated, loud and piercing whistle.
- Recently the bird has been sighted for the first time in India at Great Nicobar Island of the Andaman and Nicobar island chain.
- The Zappey’s Flycatcher a songbird from China and Javan Pond Heron from Thailand was also recorded for the first time in India in 2018.
- These birds also use Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a few weeks rests before they can fly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF).
EAAF
- The routes that migratory waterbirds traverse on an annual basis are known as ‘flyways’ and there is nine major flyway around the world.
- The major flyways are as follow
- East Atlantic Flyway
- Black sea/ Mediterranean Flyway
- Mississippi Americas Flyway
- Atlantic Americas Flyway
- Pacific Americas Flyway
- West Pacific Flyway
- East-Asian Australian Flyway
- Central Asian Flyway
- West Asian- East African Flyway.
- India comes under the Central Asian Flyway and East Asian Flyway.
- EAAF which extends from Arctic Russia and North America to the south Australian boundaries and includes the most of the East Asian regions including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- During migration, waterbirds rely on a system of highly productive wetlands to rest and feed, building up sufficient energy to fuel the next phase of their journey.
Garia Festival
- Garia Puja is an important festival for the Tripuri tribal community of the state.
- The Garia dance is very popular among the Tripuris and the Reangs during the festival.
- Symbolic of the worship of deities as well as of the socio-economic activities of the households, these dances represent hunting, fishing, food-gathering and various other activities.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express, Indian Express
