First human infection with avian influenza A (H5N2) virus found in Mexico.

• Depending on the original host, influenza A viruses can be classified as avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses.
• Avian influenza or Bird flu is a viral infection that primarily affects birds.
  • Certain subtypes of the virus can infect humans, leading to severe respiratory illnesses like H5N1.
  • Symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and severe respiratory distress in advanced cases.

IBBI issues new guidelines to streamline the process of appointing Insolvency Professionals (IPs) as resolution professionals.

About IBBI

• Statutory body under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Functions
  • It has regulatory oversight over the service providers in the insolvency ecosystem.
  • It has responsibility to provide a regulatory framework for insolvency and resolution processes of corporates and individuals.
• Functioning of the IBBI are governed by a Governing Board constituted by the Central Government.

Israel is accused of using white phosphorus munitions in southern Lebanon.

White Phosphorous

• It is a toxic substance produced from phosphate-containing rocks.
• Reacts and burns in air at temperatures above 30 °C until deprived of oxygen
• Uses:
  • Military:In ammunition, to produce smoke for concealing troop movements and identifying targets.
  • Industrial: To manufacture chemicals used in fertilizers, food additives, and cleaning compounds. 

• It is not considered a chemical weapon under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

New research has revealed that Orchid plants nurture their seedlings via an underground fungal network.

Orchids 

• They can be terrestrial, epiphytes (grow on trees), lithophytes (grow on rocks), saprophytes (grow on decaying matter) or semi-aquatic.
• Orchids are grown by seeds, tissue culture and vegetative propagation.
• India is home to about 1256 orchid species, of which only 11 are protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972. 
  • Arunachal Pradesh is considered as “Orchid Paradise of India” as it harbors 40% of country’s orchid species.
  • Five major flowering regions in India include North Eastern Himalayas, Peninsular region, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

An MoU was signed between CSC Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare to convert 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) into CSCs.

• FPO is a type of Producer Organisation (legal entity formed by primary producers) where the members are farmers.

About CSC

• CSCs provide citizen access to Government-to-Citizen e-services by creating physical service delivery ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure.
• Initially part of National e-Governance Plan, CSC 2.0 is being implemented under Digital India Mission.
  • Presently, there are 5.43 lakh functional CSCs. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued advisory on unauthorized use of liquid nitrogen in food by food serving establishments. 

About Liquid Nitrogen

• Nitrogen is colourless, odourless gas or liquid (cooled to liquid at very low temperature).
• It has functional use as 'freezing agent, propellant, packaging gas & foaming agent'.
• As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, nitrogen is a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) additive.
  • It is allowed in dairy-based ice cream desserts at GMP levels solely for contact-freezing and cooling purposes.
• Health Effects: Frostbite, burns, asphyxiation and damage to internal organs.

Cities across southern and western states in the USA are facing heat waves due to a weather phenomenon known as Heat Dome.

About Heat Dome

• It is a weather phenomenon where a ridge of high pressure gets stuck in the atmosphere.
• It traps hot air that expands vertically into the atmosphere and high pressure pushes it toward the ground.
• Winds usually move from high pressure but with the dome stretching far into the atmosphere, these weather systems become almost stationary.

Researchers have found two antlion species for first time in India, Thailand and Vietnam. 

• They are Pseudoformicaleo nubecula and Creoleon cinnamomeus and were found in Kerala.

About Antlion

• Belong to family of insects. 
• Comparison with damselflies: Although both have morphological resemblance, antlions are distinguished by their long, distinct antennae.
• Behaviour: Known by their pit-building habit as part of their predation strategy.
• Ecological Significance: Being carnivorous, they serve as biological agents to destroy the harmful pests.