Daily Current Affairs and GK | 08 May 2020

1. Ultra Violet Disinfection Room established at Cochin International Airport

• Recently an ultra violet disinfection chamber has been installed by the Defense Research and Development Organization at Cochin International Airport in Kerala.
• Earlier on April 7, DRDO set up a disinfectant chamber at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.
• This chamber will prove to be helpful in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
• DRDO is also striving to provide a large number of medical and personal protective equipment for health workers in the country.
• Recently DRDO has developed an UV disinfection tower for rapid disinfection of high infection areas.

2. Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghan peace talks arrived in Delhi

• Recently, Zalmay Khalilzad, Special Representative of the United States arrived in New Delhi for Afghan reconciliation or peace talks.
• In New Delhi, Zalmay Khalilzad met India's Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
• Lisa Curtis, Senior Director at the US National Security Council and US Ambassador to India Ken Juster were also present during the meeting.
• Dr. S. Jaishankar said that there is a need to help the people of Afghanistan to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
• At the same time, he also emphasized that the abolition of terrorist bases is necessary for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

3. PPE kit designed by Indian Navy certified INMAS

• Recently the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed and manufactured by the Indian Navy has been certified by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).
• This kit is certified to be mass produced and used in clinical situations.
• A team formed by the Innovation Cell, Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai and Naval Dockyard Mumbai has assisted in the design and manufacture of this kit.
• Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS):
  • It is a laboratory of the Defense Research and Development Organization that is tasked with testing and certification of PPE.
  • It is located in New Delhi.
  • It is responsible for nuclear medicine research and nuclear accidents and explosions.
  • Its current director is Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh.
  • It was founded in 1956.

4. Ministry of AYUSH launches medical research program

• Recently the Ministry of AYUSH has started a clinical research program on use of Ayurveda for the treatment of COVID-19.
• The research will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of Health, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• The objective of the research program is to explore the possibilities of using Ayurvedic medicines for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
• In this research, herbs such as Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi and Pippali and a herbal formulation AYUSH-64 will be explored to treat diseases.

5. IIT Bombay built an ultra-violet portable sanitizer

• Recently researchers at IIT Bombay have developed an ultra-violet portable sanitizer.
• Very large areas can be made infection free by this machine.
• In this, the sanitizing machine can be free from infection by rolling over a large area. Arrangements have also been made for cleaning the areas where the machine does not reach.
• This research team also plans to develop a robotic version of this UV sanitizer, which will be more efficient in disinfecting the passenger seats of airplanes as well as public transport systems such as buses and metro trains.

6. The team of IIT Kanpur and Bharat Dynamics Limited together developed a cheaper ventilator

• Recently Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has developed a cheap ventilator for the treatment of COVID-19.
• An MoU was signed between Bharat Dynamics Limited, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kanpur's incubator Foundation for Innovation and Research in Science and Technology and Nocca Robotics Pvt Ltd - an incubated start-up of IIT Kanpur.
• An inexpensive, indigenous ventilator designed and developed by this team to provide life support to overall ill COVID-19 patients has been designed.
• This team was led by Professor Amitabh Bandyopadhyay.
• This ventilator is equipped with unique features to protect frontline healthcare workers from exposure to the virus, in addition to providing critical patient support.

7. Styrene gas leaked in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

• Styrene gas leaked at the LG Polymers firm in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• This toxic gas leak has killed 11 people and more than 800 people are seriously ill.
• Styrene gas, also known as ethenylbenzene or vinylbenzene, is a flammable liquid which is used to manufacture polystyrene plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex.
• It can affect the central nervous system, causing headaches, fatigue, weakness, and depression.
• According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the short term exposure of styrene in humans cause mucous membrane, eye irritation, gastrointestinal issues, etc.

8. Mustafa Al Kadhimi sworn in as the next Prime Minister of Iraq

• Recently Mustafa Al Kadhimi was sworn in as the next Prime Minister of Iraq.
• He has been the former head of Iraq's intelligence agency.
• With this, the political crisis that has been going on in the country for five months has ended.
• Former intelligence chief Mustafa Al Kadhimi became the country's sixth prime minister after 2003.
• Iraq:
  • It is a country in Western Asia.
  • It borders Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.
  • Its capital is Baghdad and the currency is the Iraqi dinar.

9. Bed facility with ventilator in hospitals of each district of Uttar Pradesh

• Each district hospital in the state of Uttar Pradesh has beds with ventilators.
• Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide this facility.
• Currently all 75 districts of the state can provide high level of care to the patients of COVID-19.
• Uttar Pradesh:
  • It is the most populous state in India.
  • The capital of the state is Lucknow.
  • The Chief Minister of the state is Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel.

10. 8 May: International Red Cross Day

• Every year, World Red Cross Day is celebrated on 8 May to celebrate the principles of the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement.
• On this day people pay tribute to Red Cross volunteers for their contribution in helping the needy people.
• The day is celebrated on 8 May on the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• The main objective of the Red Cross Society is basically to inspire and encourage all types of human activities in all times and situations.
• Henry Dunant is also the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

11. 8 May: World Thalassaemia Day

• World Thalassaemia Day is observed every year on 8 May.
• It is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about Thalassaemia and its symptoms.
• The theme of World Thalassaemia Day 2020 is: "The beginning of a new era for thalassaemia: time for a global effort to make novel medicine accessible and affordable for patients".
• Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that significantly reduces the amount of hemoglobin.
• Hemoglobin is a protein molecule present in red blood cells, which helps the RBCs carry oxygen and circulate it throughout the body.