DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

12.02.2025

• News 1: Exercise Cyclone
  
  

GS-3 Defence and Security

About The News:                                                 

• India and Egypt will hold Exercise Cyclone 2025 from February 10 to 23 in Rajasthan.

Key points for prelims

Exercise Cyclone:

• It is a joint military exercise held between India and Egypt army.
• This is the third edition of Cyclone exercise.
• The first edition of the exercise was conducted in 2023 (In India) and second edition (In Egypt) was in 2024.
• Goal of Exercise Cyclone 2025: The goal is to improve coordination between the two armies. Training will include real-world scenarios and tactical drills.
• Motto of Exercise Cyclone 2025: “Together we train, together we excel”
• The exercise will involve the special forces of both countries. The Indian Army and the Egyptian Army would train together in desert conditions.
• The focus will be on counter-terrorism, high-intensity combat, and survival techniques.
• Military cooperation between India and Egypt has strengthened in recent years.
• Both countries have emphasised the need to strengthen security efforts.
• The exercise will allow both forces to operate together in simulated combat situations.
• Significance of Exercise Cyclone 2025: The exercise is expected to enhance defence cooperation and improve readiness for security challenges.
• NEWS 2: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

GS-03 Science and Tech

About The News:

• Recently, Natco Pharma has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration final approval for Bosentan tablets for oral suspension, its generic version of Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc.’s pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) drug Tracleer.

Key points for prelims:

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension:

• It is a specific type of pulmonary hypertension that is caused when the tiny arteries in your lung become thickened and narrowed.
• This blocks the blood flow through your lungs which raises the blood pressure in the lungs and causes your heart to work harder to pump your blood through those narrowed arteries.

Causes of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension:

• The exact cause of PAH is unknown but it is believed that PAH occurs when there is injury to the cells that line the blood vessels of the lung, which over time results in this blood vessel disease.
• It can also develop in association with other medical conditions including congenital heart disease, liver disease, HIV and connective tissue diseases — such as scleroderma and lupus.
• PAH can even be associated with past or present drug use, such as the use of methamphetamine or certain diet pills.
• Symptoms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Blue fingers or lips, Chest pain, Dizziness or fainting, Fatigue, Shortness of breath that gets worse over time etc.
• Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: While there are treatment options for PAH, there is no known cure.

GS-03 Environment 

About the news:

• University of Florida scientists have statistically analyzed large amounts of data collected by Burmese python contractors, revealing critical insights about how to most efficiently remove the reptiles.

Key points for prelims:  

Burmese Pythons:

• It is one of the largest snake species in the world.
• It can grow up to 20 feet and weigh more than 250 pounds, with females being larger than males.
• It is a non-venomous, solitary and mainly nocturnal forest dweller snake.
• It is also an excellent swimmer and is able to stay submerged for up to half an hour.
• Burmese pythons spend the majority of their time hidden in the underbrush and will usually move only when hunting or when threatened.
• Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of Python molurus, but is now recognized as a distinct species.
• Habitat of Burmese Pythons: They live in grasslands, marshes, swamps, wet rocky areas, caves, woodlands, rainforests, mangrove forests, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings.

Distribution of Burmese Pythons:

• It is native to the tropical rainforests and subtropical jungles of eastern and northeastern India, Myanmar, southern China, Southeast Asia, and some extent of the Indonesian archipelago.
• Its distribution also encompasses eastern Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
• It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade.

Conservation Status of Burmese Pythons:

• IUCN: Vulnerable

Mains Questions:

• Invasive species pose a significant threat to biodiversity. Analyze the ecological impact of Burmese Pythons in Florida and suggest strategies to manage their population.