NATIONAL:
1. “Dynamic Injunction”
Why in news – The Delhi High Court passed a “dynamic injunction” in favor of the cup’s broadcaster, Star India Private Limited.
Key Points –
• Delhi HC restrained 9 websites from illegally broadcasting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 matches.
• An injunction is an official order given by a law court, usually to stop someone from doing something.
• A dynamic injunction is passed to protect copyrighted works even before they are publicly released, distributed, or created.
• It ensures that no irreparable loss is caused to its authors and owner, owing to the imminent possibility of such works being uploaded on rogue websites.
Value Addition –
• UTV vs. 1337x.to case 2019 - The Delhi HC introduced the concept of “dynamic” injunctions for the first time.
• Copyright Act 1957 –
(a) Section 37 deals with a “special right” extended to every broadcasting organisation.
(b) Section 39 provides exceptions when the reproduction of such content can be considered as ‘fair dealing; and not copyright infringement.
2. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF)
Why in news – Glacial lake outburst flood killed 14 in Sikkim, 102 people missing.
Key Points –
• Flash floods occurred in north Sikkim after the South Lhonak Lake burst due to incessant rains.
• The South Lhonak Lake is a glacial lake situated in Sikkim northwest at 17,000 ft.
• This caused the rise of water levels in the Teesta River.
Value Addition –
• Glacial lakes are large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier.
• Glacial lakes are mostly dammed by unstable ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris.
• In case the boundary around them breaks, it causes flooding in the downstream areas. This is called GLOF.
• Causes of GLOF - earthquakes, extremely heavy rains and ice avalanches or landslides.
• In 2013, a GLOF was caused by the Chorabari Tal glacial lake in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath.
3. MS Swaminathan
Why in news – M S Swaminathan passed away on September 28, 2023, in Chennai, at the age of 98.
Key Points –
• He is a renowned Indian agricultural scientist and is regarded as the father of India's Green Revolution.
• He is known as the "Father of Economic Ecology" by the United Nations Environment Programme.
• He was instrumental in developing high-yielding varieties of paddy.
• Awards -
(a) First World Food Prize (1987), thereafter he set up the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Taramani, Chennai.
(b) Ramon Magsaysay Award (1971)
(c) Albert Einstein World Science Award (1986)
(d) One of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century by Time magazine.
Swaminathan Committee (2004)
• In 2004, he was appointed as chair of the National Commission on Farmers to look into farmer distress amid alarming suicide cases.
• The commission submitted its report in 2006.
• It suggested that the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Yaroslav Hunka
Why in news – Ukrainian Nazi Yaroslav Hunka was praised in Canada’s Parliament.
Key Points –
• Hunka received a standing ovation after he was called a hero on September 22.
• He was part of a Nazi military unit known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS organization, which was involved in killing thousands of innocent people.
• The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division was responsible for the Pidkamin massacre (March 12, 1944) in which hundreds of Polish villagers were killed.
• The International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg in 1946 declared SS organization a criminal organisation.
• After this, the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Anthony Rota resigned from his post.
2. Kevin McCarthy
Why in news – Kevin McCarthy (Republican) became the first ever Speaker of the United States House of Representatives to be removed from office.
Key Points –
• This is the first time ever that a House Speaker has lost a no-confidence vote (216-210).
• Matt Gaetz (Republican from Florida) moved a motion to remove McCarthy from the speakership.
• Patrick T McHenry (Republican from North Carolina) appointed as acting Speaker.
ECONOMY:
1. Mahadev Online Betting Racket
Why in news – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Ranbir Kapoor in connection with the Mahadev online betting case.
Key Points –
• He has been asked to appear for promoting illegal online betting and gaming platform.
• Mahadev Online Book provides online platforms for illegal betting in different live games such as ‘Teen Patti’, poker, ‘Dragon Tiger’, virtual cricket games, and more.
• Main promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have amassed as much as Rs 5,000 crores.
• ED enforces the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act, 2002.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Chemistry Nobel 2023
Why in news - The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2023 has gone to Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov.
Key Points –
• They are honored for “the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”.
About Quantum Dots –
• The smaller a particle, the more its electrons are squeezed together, and that affects its properties.
• Particles whose size determines their behavior are called quantum dots.
• These are the smallest components of nanotechnology.
• Applications –
• Computer and television screens based on QLED technology, where the Q stands for quantum dot.
• LED lamps to adjust the cold light of the diodes.
• Biochemistry and Medicine –
(a) Biochemists attach quantum dots to biomolecules to map cells and organs.
(b) Track tumor tissue in the body.
(c) Chemists use the catalytic properties of quantum dots to drive chemical reactions.
2. Physics Nobel 2023
Why in news - The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2023 has gone to Anne L’Huillier, Pierre Agostini, and Ferenc Krausz.
Key Points –
• They made it easier to observe electrons, which has potential applications in the field of diagnosing diseases and developing electronic gadgets.
• Electrons move so fast that it is impossible to observe them in real-time.
• They have demonstrated a way to observe and study the movement of electrons, by producing pulses of light that last only attoseconds (1×10−18 of a second).
• Applications –
• to study molecular-level changes in blood, to identify diseases.
• creating more efficient electronic gadgets.
3. Nobel Prize in Medicine 2023
Why in news – The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2023 has gone to scientists Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman.
Key Points –
• Their work enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against Covid-19.
• Their work fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system. It led to the unprecedented rate of Covid-19 vaccine development.
• mRNA technology uses messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) to deliver a message to the immune system.
• Genetically engineered mRNA can instruct cells to make the protein needed to fight a particular virus.
• Traditionally, vaccines have depended on introducing dead or weakened viruses into the human body.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Caste Survey
Why in news – The findings of the caste survey were released by the state government on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti).
Key Points –
• It was released by the state Development Commissioner Vivek Singh.
• Bihar’s current population, according to the survey, is 13,07,25,310.
Value Addition –
• On June 1, 2022, after an all-party meeting, Nitish Kumar announced that “all nine parties (including the Bihar BJP unit) unanimously decided to go ahead with the caste census.”
• Rs 500 crore was approved from Bihar’s contingency fund for the exercise.
• The survey’s first phase began on January 7 and ended on January 21. It involved counting the total number of households in Bihar.
• The second and final phase kickstarted on April 15 to collect data on people from all castes, religions and economic backgrounds.
• On August 25, the survey had concluded.
• On August 1, the Patna High Court said the survey was “perfectly valid”.
2. 10% EWS Quota in Lower Judicial Services
Why in news – The state cabinet gave its nod to provide 10% reservation for economically weaker section (EWS) in the lower judicial services.
Key Points –
• It is in pursuance of the amendment made by the Centre in 2019.
• It has increased the quantum of quota in the lower judiciary to 60%.
• It has been made through Bihar Higher Judicial Services (Amendment) Rules, 2023, and Bihar Civil Services (Judicial Branch) Recruitment Amendment Rules, 2023.
POINTERS:
• Shooters Prithviraj Tondaiman, Kenan Chenai, Zorawar Singh Sandhu have won which medal in the men's trap shooting at the Asian Games 2023 - Gold Medal.
• Which medal has Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayahika Mukherjee won in table tennis in the Asian Games 2023 - Bronze Medal.
• In which country has Southeast Asia's first high-speed rail been launched named “Whoosh” – Indonesia.
• Which state government will start a vaccination program for the prevention of cervical cancer – Kerala.
• Who has become the first Indian player to score a century in the Asian Games - Yashasvi Jaiswal.
• India's first solar roof cycling track 'Healthway' has been inaugurated in which city – Hyderabad.
• Which state has announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh each to 9 ISRO scientists of its state - Tamil Nadu.
• With whom has the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed two contracts for the indigenous Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile - Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• Combined Index of Eight Core Industries increases by what percent in August 2023 over August 2022 - 12.1% (provisional).
• Who will receive the 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for his exceptional contributions to mathematics - Ruixiang Zhang (University of California, Berkeley, USA).
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