Daily News Descriptions

1.Fiji

Why in the news?

President Droupadi Murmu was conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the country's highest civilian award, as she hailed the ties between the two countries and said India stands ready to partner with Fiji to build a stronger, resilient, and more prosperous nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also conferred this highest civilian award in 2023 in recognition of his global leadership.

About Fiji:

It is a part of Oceania.
It is situated north of Auckland, New Zealand.
It was a British colony for almost one hundred years from 1874.
It gained independence in 1970.
Its capital is Suva.
Its main rivers include Rewa, Navua, Sigatoka (Singatoka), and Ba (Mba).
Its highest peak is Mount Victoria (1,324 m).
Levuka Historical Port Town is a UNESCO’s world heritage site.
Its largest island is called Viti Levu.
It surrounds the Koro Sea.
These islands are largely formed through volcanic action, sedimentary deposit, and formations of coral.

Oceania:

It is a geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Outside of the English-speaking world, Oceania is generally considered a continent, while Australia is regarded as an island or a continental landmass contained inside of the larger continent of Oceania.
Spanning the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, at the centre of the water hemisphere, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of about 9,000,000 sq. km.
When compared to the continents (which it is often compared to, not including Australia), Oceania is the smallest in land area and the second-least populated after Antarctica.

2.Seahorses

Why in the news?

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted an international smuggling racket engaged in the illegal trade of dried seahorses at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
All species of seahorses in India are classified under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making their sale, purchase, and any form of utilisation illegal and punishable. Furthermore, the export of wild animals and marine species, including their parts and products, is prohibited.
Consequently, the seahorses were seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, in conjunction with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Seahorses:

These are a type of marine fish that are named for their distinctive head and neck, which resemble those of horses.
These are found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world.
There are 46 species of seahorses reported worldwide. The coastal ecosystems of India house nine out of 12 species found in the Indo-Pacific, one of the hotspots of seahorse populations that are distributed across diverse ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves, macroalgal beds, and coral reefs.
These nine species are distributed along the coasts of eight States and five Union Territories from Gujarat to Odisha, apart from Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Conservation status:
- These are listed under Appendix II of CITES
Threats:
- They are declining due to the overexploitation for traditional Chinese medicines and ornamental fish.
- Habitat degradation by anthropogenic activities.
- Despite the ban on fishing and trading activities on seahorses from 2001, clandestine fishing and trading still take place in India.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI):

It is the premier intelligence and enforcement agency of the Government of India on anti-smuggling matters.
It works under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance.
Functions:
- To collect intelligence about smuggling of contraband goods, narcotics, under-invoicing, etc. through sources in India and abroad, including secret sources.
- To analyze and disseminate such intelligence to the field formations for action and work on such intelligence, where necessary.
- To keep watch over important seizures and investigation cases. Associating with or taking over the investigations which warrant specialized handling by the Directorate.
- To guide important investigation/prosecution cases. Keeping liaison with foreign countries, Indian Missions, and Enforcement agencies abroad on anti-smuggling matters.
- To keep in liaison with C.B.I. and through them with the INTERPOL. To refer cases registered under the Customs Act to the Income Tax Department for action under the Income Tax Act.
- To keep statistics of seizures, and prices/rates etc. for watching trends of smuggling and supply required material to the Ministry of Finance and other Ministries.
- To study and suggest remedies for loopholes in law and procedures to combat smuggling.
The DRI, with its Headquarters in New Delhi, has 12 zonal units, 35 regional units, and 15 sub-regional units.

3.Gulf of Mexico

Why in the news?

Ships in the Gulf of Mexico escaped Hurricane Debby.
Tropical Storm Debby intensified into a category one hurricane, sparking warnings of high winds and potentially "catastrophic" flooding in the coming hours as it made landfall in Florida's Big Bend. .

About Gulf of Mexico:

It is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean and the world’s largest gulf.
It is surrounded to the West by the Mexican Yucatan and Veracruz regions, to the North by the United States, to the East by the Caribbean islands and Cuba, and to the South by the tapering Mexican mainland.
It is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel (between Cuba and Mexico) and to the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida (between Cuba and US).
Covering over 1.6 million sq. km., it is one of the oldest water bodies on Earth. It was formed in the late Triassic period, around 300 million years ago.
It is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas and has an average depth of 1,615 m.
The climate of the region varies from tropical to subtropical.
Currents:
- The Gulf Stream is one of the most powerful and warm ocean currents that enters the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea and flows out to the Atlantic.
- Some portions of the loop current often break away; forming gyres or eddies, which further affect the regional current patterns.
The Mississippi and the Rio Grande are the major rivers draining into the gulf.
Its major ports are Veracruz in Mexico and Galveston, New Orleans, Pensacola, and Tampa in the U.S.

Gulf:

It is a portion of the sea that is almost surrounded by land except one narrow opening.
It is formed when a giant rock collapses or when a piece of land sinks. This causes a big indentation in the area, and the water eventually fills it up.
It is also formed through a natural process of erosion.

4.Bharatanatyam

Why in the news?

Veteran Bharatanatyam dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy dies at 84
Ms. Krishnamurthy received the Padma Shri in 1968, Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She was also conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

About Bharatanatyam:

It originates from Tamil Nadu.
It is the oldest among the contemporary classical dances and is considered to be over 2000 years old.
Several texts beginning with Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra (200 BCE. to 200 C .E.) provide information on this dance form.
Historical references to dance are found in Silappadikaram (c. 2nd century CE) and Manimekalai.
The Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikesvara is one of the main sources of textual material, for the study of the technique and grammar of body movement in Bharatnatyam Dance.
Traditionally the word “Bharatanatyam” refers to a dance form where bhava, raga and tala are expressed.
This dance form was nurtured in the temple by the Devadasis, servants of the God.
It was taken to the princely courts and the Chola and the Pallava kings were believed to be the great patrons of this art.
It shares the dance poses of many ancient Shiva sculptures in Hindu temples. The Cave 1 of the Badami cave temples, dated to the 7th century, portrays the Tandava-dancing Shiva as Nataraja.
It is a solo, feminine type of a dance (now performed by male and group artists as well).
Its basic theme is devotion to the god or love of a mother for a child.
The musical instruments used in this dance include Mridanga, Manjira, Veena, Violin, Kanjira, Surpeti, Venu and Tanpura.
The costume consists of a richly embroidered dhoti of silk for both male and female dancers. There is a pleated or frilled cloth hanging from the waist to the knees which is laced over the Dhoti.

5.Parkinson's disease

Why in the news?

Associate Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa of Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology led a research group that has verified the physiological effect of Ecklonia cava polyphenols, seaweed antioxidants, on the prevention of Parkinson's disease.
As the global population ages, the number of Parkinson's disease patients is rapidly increasing.

About Parkinson's disease:

It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in motor control and cognitive function.
It is induced by neuronal damage due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species.
Suppression of reactive oxygen species generation is essential because it is fatal to dopaminergic neurons that manage dopamine neurotransmitters.
It impairs movement and can lead to immobility and dementia over time.
It usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also be affected. Men are affected more often than women.
Its prevalence has doubled in the past 25 years. India shares around 10% of the global burden of Parkinson's disease.
Its exact cause is not fully known yet, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
It is primarily characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Motor symptoms include slow movement, tremors, rigidity, and walking difficulties.
- Non-motor symptoms include cognitive issues, mental health disorders, sleep disturbances, pain, and sensory problems.
It has no cure, but therapies including medicines, surgery and rehabilitation can reduce symptoms. Levodopa/carbidopa, a combination medicine that increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, is the most common medication. Currently, only symptomatic treatment is available, so the development of treatment regimens and prevention methods is necessary.
Every year, 11th April is observed as World Parkinson's Day, which aims to amplify awareness and understanding about Parkinson's disease internationally.