11 January 2025; Daily Current Affairs Updates

International Organization for Migration (COM); GS-2 (International Relations) ▪️ Why in the News: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is expanding its appeal for Syria to USD 73.2 million to assist more than 1.1 million people across the country.

- Establishment: Founded in 1951, IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization focused on migration. It collaborates closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental partners.

• UN Affiliation: 10M operates as a related organization within the United Nations system.

- Mission and Principles:

• IOM is dedicated to the belief that humane and orderly migration brings benefits to both migrants and society.

o. The organization works to ensure the management of migration is carried out in an orderly and humane manner.

•. IOM promotes international cooperation on migration issues, seeks practical solutions to migration challenges, and provides humanitarian aid to migrants, including refugees and internally displaced persons.

> Key Roles and Responsibilities of IOM:

o. Labour Mobility and Human Development:

• IOM is responsible for overseeing labor mobility and migration-related matters. v Its Labour Mobility and Human Development Division provides policy and operational guidance on labor mobility, diaspora communities, and migrant integration.

• Coordination Role:

• IOM serves as the coordinator for the Secretary of the UN Network on Migration.

• Global Compact for Migration:

• IOM played a key role in supporting the negotiation and adoption of the UN Global Compact for Migration in 2018, which is a global agreement addressing international migration.

- Member States: IOM has 175 member states and 8 observer states.

> Publications:

• World Migration Report: A comprehensive report on global migration trends and issues.

• Migration Health Annual Report: A publication focusing on the health and well-being of migrants. > Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Ebola; GS-3(Science and Technology) ▪️Why in the news: Ebola virus, one of the deadliest pathogens, has a fatality rate

of about 50%, posing a serious threat to global health and safety

• About Ebola

> Definition: Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease caused by a group of viruses known as ortho ebolaviruses (formerly ebolavirus).

• Discovery: Orthoebolaviruses were identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and are primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa.

> Origin of Name: The disease is named after the Ebola River, located near one of the villages in DRC where the disease was first identified

> Affected Species: Ebola can affect humans as well as other primates, such as gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees.

• Transmission of Ebola:

• Natural Hosts: The virus is believed to be naturally hosted by fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family.

• Initial Transmission: Ebola is introduced to humans through close contact with infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelopes, or porcupines. This contact typically occurs with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of the animals, especially when they are sick or dead in the rainforest.

> Symptoms of Ebola:

• Incubation Period: Symptoms may appear between 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.

> Common Symptoms:

o. Fever

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Bleeding

• often leads to death.

> Fatality Rate: The average case fatality rate of Ebola is approximately 50%.

• Treatment for Ebola

•. No Known Cure: Currently, there is no established cure for Ebola. While experimental treatments have been explored, none have been fully tested for effectiveness and safety.

Z-Morh Tunnel; GS-3 (Economy - Infrastructure) ▪️Why in the news:

The Z-Morh tunnel is set to become the first major milestone in the effort to build a strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh.

> Location: The Z-Morh Tunnel is a 2-lane road tunnel situated between Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in Jammu and Kashmir.

> Origin of Name: The name "Z-Morh" is derived from the Z-shaped road section near the tunnel's construction site.

> Key Features:

• Tunnel Length: The tunnel stretches over 6.5 km.

• Traffic Capacity: It is designed to accommodate the flow of 1,000 vehicles per hour, with an approved maximum speed of 80 km/h.

• Toll-Free: No toll tax will be charged for vehicles using the tunnel.

Genome India Project; GS-3 (Science and Technology) ▪️Why in the news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the Genome India Project, a scientific program to study Indian-specific genetic diversity.

- Definition:

• The Genome India Project is a national initiative launched in January 2020 aimed at mapping the genetic diversity of India's population.

• It is a multi-institutional consortium supported and funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

> Goal:

• The project seeks to decode the genetic diversity of India's population through large-scale genome sequencing.

- Genome India Project Aims:

• Catalog Genetic Variations: The project aims to compile an extensive catalog of genetic variations found within the Indian population, including common, low-frequency, and rare variations, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and structural variations.

• Create Reference Haplotype Structure: A key goal is to develop a reference haplotype structure for Indians, which can be used to impute missing genetic variations in future studies.

• Affordable Genome-Wide Arrays: The project intends to design genome-wide arrays to enable research and diagnostics at affordable costs.

• Biobank for Research: Establish a biobank to store DNA and plasma samples collected for future use in genetic research

> Key Highlights of the Genome India Project:

• Genome Sequencing of 10,000 Individuals: The project successfully sequenced the genomes of 10,074 samples, representing 99 ethnic groups across India.

• Creation of a Genetic Database: The sequenced data is securely stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), serving as a reference for researchers worldwide.

• Genetic Insights for Public Health: The study uncovered unique genetic variations, some with significant clinical implications, paving the way for precision medicine and personalized healthcare.