About Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV):

• It is a respiratory virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, which also includes the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
• It causes symptoms similar to the common cold.
• Transmission:
  • The virus is highly contagious. HMPV most likely spreads from an infected person to others through:
    • the air by coughing and sneezing
    • close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
    • touching objects or surfaces that have the viruses on them, then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes
  • Symptoms:
    • Symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
    • In some people, these symptoms may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia.
    • The symptoms of HMPV can be similar to symptoms from other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.
    • The majority of the cases are mild, but people with the highest risk of severe illness include young children, older adults, and those who are immunocompromised.
  • Treatment:
    • There is no vaccine, and there is no specific antiviral to treat HMPV.
    • Treatment primarily aims at managing symptoms and preventing complications.

About Raisen Fort:

• Located on a sandstone hill in Raisen town, it is one of the most prominent forts in Madhya Pradesh.
• Built in the 11th century, the Raisen Fort has witnessed the rule of:
  • Local Hindu chieftains
  • Sultans of Mandu
  • Mughals under Akbar (Raisen was a Sarkar headquarters in the Ujjain Subah)
  • Nawabs of Bhopal, including Fiaz Mohammad Khan, who occupied the fort around 1760 and was later acknowledged by Emperor Alamgir II as Faujdar of Raisen.
• Features:
  • The fort represents medieval Indian hilltop military architecture and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
  • It it one of the largest forts in Central India.
  • The fort has a massive stone wall pierced with nine gateways.
  • Adorned with a large courtyard and a beautiful pool in the middle, the Raisen Fort has four palaces, namely Badal Mahal, Rohini Mahal, Itradaan Mahal & Hawa Mahal, within its boundaries.
  • It also houses a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and a shrine dedicated to Muslim saint Hazrat Peer Fatehullah Shah Baba, making it a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic heritage.
  • The fort also had a well-maintained water management and conservation system with many
  • It also abounds in rock shelters with paintings created by the cave dwellers.

About Kharg Island:

• It is a small coral island in Iran in the northern Persian Gulf.
• This island is unique because it is one of the few islands in the Persian Gulf with freshwater, which has collected within the porous limestone.
• The island experiences hot and humid summers, and its highest point is Mount Didehban.
• The discovery of an offshore oil field in the waters around Kharg in the early 1960s stimulated the development of the island as a site for major petroleum and petrochemical installations.
• Connection by pipelines to the underwater oil fields, as well as to the oil fields in Khuzistan province, transformed Kharg into Iran's largest oil-loading terminal by the early 1970s.
• Its strategic significance lies in its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil passage.

About Stenothoe lowryi:

• It is a rare marine amphipod.
• This shrimp-like crustacean, previously known only from Malaysian shores, was detected for the first time in India during a targeted survey at Aryjapalli Beach in Odisha's Ganjam district.
• It belongs to the family Stenothoidae within the order Amphipoda.

What are Amphipods?

• They are a type of small crustacean.
• They are members of the invertebrate order Amphipoda, inhabiting all parts of the sea, lakes, rivers, sand beaches, caves, and moist (warm) habitats on many tropical islands.
• They are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
• The name ‘amphipoda’ means “different-footed.”
  • This is because they have many different kinds of legs.
  • Unlike some other crustaceans, their legs are not all the same.
• They typically have an elongated body with a distinct head, a pereon segments, and a six-segmented pleon (abdomen).
• Most amphipods eat tiny bits of dead plants and animals. Some are also scavengers, eating what they find.

About Kheybar Shekan Missile:

• It is Iran’s latest long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile.
• The name means “breaker of Khayber” in Arabic, a reference to the Battle of Khayber in Arab history.
• It is the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr missile family.
• Features:
  • It has a range of 1,450 kilometers.
  • It is powered by a locally developed 'Arond' engine integrated within its fuel tank to minimise length and enhance camouflage.
  • It uses solid fuel. This allows for faster launch preparation, easier storage, and better concealment, key advantages in modern missile warfare.
  • Its aerodynamic design reduces air drag, helping it evade radar detection.