1.Global South

Why in the news?

• India will host the third Voice of Global South Summit in the virtual format on August 17 with a view to pitch for a sustainable future for developing countries. 
• The summit is expected to act as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous meets on a range of complex challenges such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, and climate change, all of which affect the Global South. 
• The previous editions of the summit saw the participation of over 100 countries from the Global South.

About Global South:

• It refers to countries often characterized as developing, less developed, or underdeveloped, primarily located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• These nations typically experience higher levels of poverty, income inequality, and challenging living conditions compared to the wealthier nations of the Global North.
• The “Global North” is richer nations that are located mostly in North America and Europe, with some additions in Oceania and elsewhere.
• Geopolitical and Economic Commonalities:
  • The term ‘Global South’ does not have a strict geographical definition. It signifies a combination of political, geopolitical, and economic similarities among nations.
  • Many countries in the Global South have a history of Imperialism and Colonial Rule, particularly evident in African countries.
  • This history has shaped their perspectives on the relationship between the global center (Global North) and periphery (Global South) within the world political economy.
• Significance of Global South:
  • Shifting Economic and Political Power:
    • The Global South has experienced a significant shift in wealth and political visibility in recent decades. The World Bank (WB) has acknowledged a "shift in wealth" from the North Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific region, challenging conventional notions of economic power distribution.
    • Projections indicate that by 2030, three of the four largest economies will belong to Global South countries, with China and India leading the way.
    • The combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) already surpasses that of the G-7 nations. Moreover, political actors from the Global South, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, are increasingly playing influential roles in global affairs.
  • Impact on Geopolitics:
    • Asian nations are predicted to play a significant role in what experts call the "Asian Century."
    • Additionally, there is talk of a "post-Western world" as the influence of the Global South challenges the historical dominance of the Global North.
    • These shifts signify the increasing assertiveness and influence of the Global South on the world stage.

2.Dengue

Why in the news?

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec Ltd. announced the initiation of the first Phase 3 clinical trial for a dengue vaccine in India.

About Dengue:

• It is a mosquito-borne viral infection.
• It is also referred to as break-bone fever.
• It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
• While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death.
• Transmission:
  • It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitos carrying one of four types of dengue virus.
  • Dengue isn’t contagious from person to person except when passed from a pregnant mother to her child.
  • An estimated 400 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 million resulting in illness.
  • A person can be infected with dengue multiple times in their life.
• Symptoms:
  • The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will get better in 1–2 weeks.
  • Symptoms show up as the fever begins to ease. These may include vomiting that does not go away, rapid breathing, blood in vomit, and bleeding gums.
  • A very small portion of people with dengue fever get a severe case. It’s called dengue hemorrhagic fever.
• Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.
• Treatment:
  • There is no specific medicine to treat dengue. The focus is on treating pain symptoms.
  • It is generally treated with supportive care such as pain relievers, bed rest, and fluids. 

3.Ramsar Sites

Why in the news?

• The Environment Ministry said three more wetlands in India had been designated Ramsar sites. 
• This brings the total number of such sites in India to 85. 
• The new sites are the Nanjarayan and Kazhuveli bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and the Tawa reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

About Ramsar Sites:

• These are wetland sites designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Ramsar Convention:
  • It is commonly known as "The Convention on Wetlands".
  • It is an international environmental treaty signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO. 
  • It came into force on 21 December 1975, when it was ratified by a sufficient number of nations. 
  • It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources.
  • It identifies wetlands of international importance, especially those providing waterfowl habitat.

Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary:

• It is a biodiversity hotspot.
• It is the 17th bird sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.
• It is also known as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir.
• It is located on the outskirts of Tirupur city about 60 km. from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary:

• It is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal along the east coast.
• It is one of the major wetlands on the Coromandel Coast after Pulicat Lake.
• It is listed as one of Tamil Nadu’s 141 prioritised wetlands. It is also a wetland of international significance.
• It has varied habitats including sloping wetlands preferred by shore birds, darters and waders, birds on floating vegetation and open grasslands preferred by different species of birds and fauna. 

Tawa reservoir:

• It is a reservoir on the Tawa River in central India. 
• It is located in Itarsi of Narmadapuram District of Madhya Pradesh state, above Betul district. 
• It was formed by the construction of the Tawa Dam, which began in 1958 and was completed in 1978. The dam provides for irrigation to several thousand hectares of farming land in Narmadapuram and Harda districts. 
• It is also a big tourist attraction during the monsoon months. 
• It forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

4.Thanjavur Cut Glass Work

Why in the news?

• Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar) and Thanjavur Handicrafts Workers Cooperative Cottage Industrial Society have recently made a fresh application for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the temple town’s heritage of cut glass work in a bid to preserve the art for posterity.

About Thanjavur Cut Glass Work:

• It uses plain and mirrored glass pieces that are individually cut and pasted on to wooden or metallic objects with a homemade gum and heat application to form geometric and self-repeating patterns. 
• Glitter paper adds a shine to the handicrafts.
• Traditionally, it was used in particular items such as:
  • poorna kalasam (a ceremonial pot with coconut and leaves made out of wood or metal)
  • jewel box
  • kungumam chimizh (a holder for vermilion powder)
  • visiri (hand fan)
  • prayer artifacts
  • trays
• Most of these items were first manufactured from the wood of the moringa tree by carpenters before we started our work. Of late, however, due to shortage of labour, wood and other raw materials, artists shifted to metallic plates and other cheaper alternatives.