Wanderoo, Indian Elephants, Nilgiri Tahr, Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros and Asiatic Lions

• Wanderoo – It is also known as the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus). It is a monkey native to the Western Ghats of South India.
• It is found only in India.
• Indian Elephants – It is a sub-species of Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia.
• The mainland Asia includes countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and Thailand.
• Nilgiri Tahr – It is an endangered mountain ungulate that is native to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern parts of the Western and Eastern Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• It is found only in India.
• Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros – It is found in the north-eastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal.
• Asiatic Lions – It is also known as the Persian lion.
• Its range has been restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Adjournments in Supreme Court

Recently the Supreme Court issued a circular tightening provisions relating to circumstances under which lawyers may seek adjournment of cases and imposed a bar on seeking two consecutive adjournments.

• The Supreme Court of India has recently notified the procedure and modalities relating to the circulation of letters for adjournment of cases.
• The circular states that no letters of adjournment will be entertained in cases relating to bail or anticipatory bail.
• No letters of adjournment are to be entertained in the following cases:
  • Relating to bail/anticipatory bail.
  • Where exemption from surrendering has been granted.
  • Where an interim order is operating in favour of the party who seeks adjournment.
  • Where suspension of sentence has been sought.
• In other matters, letters for adjournment can be circulated till one day prior to publication of the main list.
• The lawyers will have to submit the request for adjournment of a case through email in the prescribed format.
• The specific reason for seeking adjournment and the number of adjournments already sought are also to be mentioned.
• It will also be mandatory to obtain the consent or no-objection of the advocates or parties appearing on the other side, or the caveator, before circulating the letter for adjournment.
• The letters for adjournment can be circulated by one party or counsel to the case only once.
• The court will not allow two consecutive adjournments, irrespective of which party is seeking an adjournment, without the matter being listed before the court.
• The cases so adjourned will be listed before the court within an outer limit of four weeks with a specific date of listing and no mentioning of seeking advancement of the date in such matters will be permitted.
• The letters seeking adjournment will be placed before the competent authority.
• If such requests are considered favourably, the list of matters not listed as per schedule will be notified on the website of this court.

World Governments Summit

India with the Turkiye and Qatar was the guests of honour at the recently held World Government Summit 2024.

• World Governments Summit in its various activities, explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity.
• It is an initiative of the World Governments Summit Organization.
• World Governments Summit Organization is a global, neutral, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments.
• The World Governments Summit, 2024 was recently held at Dubai.
• Since its inception in 2013, the Summit has championed the mission of shaping future governments and creating a better future for humanity.
• In 2024, the World Governments Summit will take place under the theme of 'Shaping Future Governments'.
• The conversation will involve governments, international organizations, thought leaders, and private sector leaders from around the globe to international cooperation.
• It enables governments to identify innovative solutions for future challenges and further rippling to inspire and empower the next generation of governments.
• The 2024 summit includes various forums such as:

Alaskapox

First person in a state of USA has died from a recently discovered virus called Alaskapox.

• Alaskapox is caused by orthopox-virus, a family of brick-shaped viruses that can infect both animals and humans, leading to skin lesions or pox.
• It mainly has been found in small mammals, including red-backed voles and shrews.
• But pets, such as dogs and cats, may also carry the virus.
• It is related to smallpox, cowpox and mpox.
• Symptoms – It can include a rash, swollen lymph nodes and joint or muscle pain.
• Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
• But people with weakened immune systems can be in danger for more severe illness.
• Transmission – There has been no documented case of it spreading from one person to another.
• But Alaskapox is believed to occur through direct contact with infected animals.
• Prevention – To stay away from the pets and maintain hygiene.

Symbiotic Relationship: Frog and Mushroom, Clownfish and Sea Anemones, Barnacles and Humpback Whales and Corals and Sponges

Recently, for the first time the scientist have found a mushroom growing out of a frog, indicating a symbiotic relationship between a frog and the mushroom.

• Symbiosis is a term describing any relationship or interaction between two dissimilar organisms.
• The specific kind of symbiosis depends on whether either or both organisms benefit from the relationship.
• Symbiotic relationships can be useful measures of an ecosystem’s health.
• There are 4 main symbiotic relationships:
  1. Mutualism
  2. Commensalism
  3. Parasitism
  4. Competition
• Barnacles & Swimming Crabs - In parasitism, one species (the parasite) lives with, on, or in a host species, at the expense of the host species.
• Examples of common parasites found in the ocean include nematodes, leeches and barnacles.
• A barnacle may root itself within a swimming crab’s reproductive system. While the crab does not die from this interaction, its reproductive capabilities are greatly diminished.
• Clownfish and Sea Anemones - In the warm waters of the Pacific or Indian Oceans, the excellent example of mutualism is the relationship between clownfish and sea anemones.
• In a mutualistic relationship, both species benefit.
• Barnacles & Humpback Whales – The commensalistic relationship exists between them.
• Commensalism happens when one species lives with, on or in another species, known as the host.
• The host species neither benefits nor is harmed from the relationship.
• The huge whales transport the tiny barnacles to plankton-rich waters, where both species feast upon the abundant microorganisms that live there.
• Corals & Sponges – It is an example of interspecific competition in the ocean is the relationship between corals and sponges.
• Competition can happen between members of the same species (intraspecific competition) and between different species (interspecific competition).
• Sponges are very abundant in coral reefs. If they become too successful, however, they take needed food and other resources from the corals that make up the reef.