NATIONAL:
1. OTT Platform Regulation
Why in news – Over-the-top (OTT) platforms like Hotstar are governed by the Information Technology Rules, 2021, notified by MeitY.
Key Points –
• Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) said that OTT platforms are outside the purview of the TRAI Act.
• It is because OTT platforms do not require any permission or a license from the central government.
2. ‘DXN’ Code to Jewar Airport
Why in news – Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded Jewar airport (Noida) its own unique international three-letter code ‘DXN’.
Key Points –
• It gives a clear understanding of Delhi-Noida connectivity.
• The Noida International Airport at Jewar is being built by Tata Projects.
• Jewar Airport is owned by Zurich Airport.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Why in news – Russia might revoke its ratification of CTBT to be on level terms with the United States.
Key Points –
• The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions (both military and peaceful).
• It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996.
• 18 countries are yet to ratify. Russia ratified it in 2000, the US is still to do so.
• Treaty has not yet entered into force.
• India, Pakistan, and North Korea have neither signed nor ratified.
Value Addition –
• Limited Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (LTBT) – 1963.
• Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty – 1968.
• Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT) – 1974.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Nobel Prize for Peace 2023
Why in news – Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi the 2023 Nobel Prize for Peace.
Key Points –
• She was awarded for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran.
• Her book ‘White Torture’ is an account of life under solitary confinement.
• She is the second Iranian woman to be awarded in the prize's history. (1st - Shirin Ebadi, 2003).
• Her other awards - PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award 2023, UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2023, etc.
Value Addition –
• The Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology (medicine), and literature are awarded in Stockholm (Sweden), while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo (Norway).
2. Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2021
Why in news – Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Key Points –
• The award is considered the highest such honor in Indian cinema.
• It is given for “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema”.
• It is by the Directorate of Film Festivals (M/o Information and Broadcasting.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Invasive Conocarpus Trees
Why in news – Gujarat banned the use of invasive Conocarpus trees over concerns of its management.
Key Points –
• Lakhs of its saplings are used in afforestation and landscaping projects nationwide.
• Reason for ban –
(a) Native species failed to compete for space and soil resources were driven to extinction.
(b) Significant costs were incurred to ensure the management of the invasive species.
• Conocarpus erectus is native to South America, and C. lancifolius is native to East Africa.
• Invasive trees - Eucalyptus, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia mangium, Leucaena leucocephala and Lantana camara.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. OSIRIS-Rex Mission
Why in news – After a 7-year round trip, NASA's OSIRIS-REx brought asteroid samples to Earth on September 24, 2023.
Key Points –
• OSIRIS-REx (2016) is a robotic spacecraft that collected return samples from an asteroid called Bennu.
• It collected about 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of the rock.
• The samples were dropped over the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah, USA.
• After this, OSIRIS-REx will travel toward Apophis asteroid.
Value Addition –
• Hayabusa mission (Japan’s JAXA) – It brought back samples from the Itokawa asteroid.
• Hayabusa 2 (Japan’s JAXA) – It returned samples from an asteroid called Ryugu in 2020.
• Chang’e 5 (China’s CNSA) – It returned samples from the moon in 2020.
• Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX, 2024) aims to be the first sample return mission to bring back rocks from the Mars region.
• Moons of Mars - Phobos and Deimos.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. “Women, Power and Cancer” Report
Why in news – It was released by the Lancet Commission recently.
Key Points –
• Findings –
(a) Around 63% of premature deaths due to cancers in Indian women could have been prevented by screening, and diagnosis.
(b) 37% could have been averted with timely and optimal treatment.
(c) Cancer incidence and mortality in women remains high.
Value Addition –
• Isotopes used in cancer treatment –
(a) Interferon-alpha - treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
(b) Cobalt-60 - isotope of Cobalt is used in cancer treatments.
(c) Iodine-131 - isotope of iodine helps in the treatment of goiter.
(d) Arsenic-74 - an isotope of arsenic, used for determining the presence of a tumor.
(e)Sodium-24 - used for the detection of blood clots.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Mohamed Muizzu
Why in news – Mohamed Muizzu has won the presidential election in the Maldives.
Key Points –
• Muizzu defeated incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
• Muizzu belongs to the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
• Muizzu's PPM is behind an “India out” campaign to oust Indian military personnel.
Value Addition –
• Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
• Atolls in Maldives - Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll), Fuvahmulah atoll, Ari Atoll, Vaavu Atoll etc.
• Eight Degree Channel separates the islands of Minicoy (India) and Maldives.
SPORTS:
1. 19th Asian Games 2022
Why in news – For the first time, India breached the 100-medal mark at the Asian Games.
Key Points –
• It will also ensure India’s best-ever rank (4th) at the Asian Games in over 60 years.
• Of 100, 51 medals came just from two sports – athletics (29) and shooting (22).
• India’s chef de mission at Asian Games 2023 - Bhupinder Singh Bajwa.
• India sent a contingent of 921 people (655 athletes).
Value Addition –
• Venue - Hangzhou, China. (23 September to 8 October 2023).
• Slogan - Heart to Heart, @Future.
• Official emblem - Tides Surging.
• 3 mascots - Congcong, Chenchen, and Lianlian.
• It features 61 disciplines across 40 sports.
• It is the 3rd time that China has hosted the Asiad, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
BIHAR:
1. Banana Exhibition-cum-discussion
Why in news – One-day “banana exhibition-cum-discussion” program was held at the Krishi Bhavan, Patna.
Key Points –
• It was organized by the state agricultural department.
• Currently, Bihar produces approximately 19 lakh metric tonnes of bananas.
• There has also been a 125% increase in banana productivity in the last 20 years, reaching around 45 metric tonnes per hectare.
• Banana varieties - G-9 and Dwarf Cavendish.
• Bihar exports bananas to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Nepal.
2. Bihar's Green Cover
Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar asked the officials to increase the state's green cover from the existing 15% to 17%.
Key Points –
• Bihar was left with just 9% of green cover after its bifurcation in 2000.
• Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission (JJHM) aims for the creation of nurseries and dense plantation of trees, promoting the usage of alternative cropping, drip irrigation, organic farming etc.
• JJHM logo - Water, Life and Greenery, only then will be Prosperity. (जल- जीवन- हरियाली, तभी होगी खुशहाली)
POINTERS:
• With which country has India started the 11th edition of the annual joint military exercise ‘Sampriti’ in Umroi, Meghalaya - Bangladesh.
• RBI has approved the merger of Fintech Startup Slice with which bank - North East Small Finance Bank.
• Which medal has Parul Chaudhary won in 5000 meter race in the Asian Games 2022 - Gold Medal.
• Who has become the first woman to receive the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation - Sudha Murthy.
• Which cricketer has been appointed by ICC as the global ambassador of ODI World Cup 2023 - Sachin Tendulkar.
• Which medal has Neeraj Chopra won in Asian Games 2023 - Gold Medal.
• In which state/UT has ‘Green War Room’ been launched to monitor pollution during the winter season - Delhi.
• Which state/UT's famous Pashmina craft has got the GI tag - Jammu and Kashmir.
• Who has been appointed as public policy head by Google in India - Srinivas Reddy.
• Which company has introduced 100 percent recycled PET bottles for small packs - Coca-Cola India.
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