NATIONAL:
1. Rights of Unborn Child
Why in news - The Supreme Court is hearing a married woman’s request to end her 26-week pregnancy.
Key Points –
• The court reasoned that an unwanted pregnancy due to failure of contraceptive methods is the same as a forced pregnancy.
• Roe v Wade case (1973) - US Supreme Court made abortion a constitutional right and allowed abortion up to the point of foetal viability.
• Foetal viability - the time after which a foetus can survive outside the womb.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 –
• It allows termination of pregnancy in 3 stages –
(a) Upto 20 weeks - on the advice of one doctor.
(b) 20-24 weeks - two registered medical practitioners determine right to seek abortion.
(c) After 24 weeks - a medical board may “allow or deny termination of pregnancy” only if there is substantial foetal abnormality.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Indigenous Voice Referendum
Why in news – Australian referendum to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament failed on October 14.
Key Points –
• Australians will decide whether the country’s indigenous peoples should be formally consulted in making laws.
• The referendum aims to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Value Addition -
• Torres Strait Islands is an archipelago of small islands in the Torres Strait.
• Torres Strait a narrow body of water between the northern tip of the state of Queensland and the large island of Papua New Guinea.
• First Europeans arrived in the early 17th century.
• First documented landing of a European - Willem Janszoon (Dutch explorer).
• Willem Janszoon arrived on the western side of Cape York peninsula in 1606.
• Early British settlers in Australia were criminals and convicts.
SCIENCE–TECH:
1. Activision Blizzard Deal
Why in news – Microsoft closed its $69 billion deal for “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard.
Key Points –
• Activision agreed to sell its non-European streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. President’s Colour (Nishan)
Why in news – The 3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment (3 Naga) got the President’s Colour award.
Key Points –
• The 3rd battalion of the Naga regiment was raised on 1 October 2009 at Haldwani (Kumaon Hills).
2. Athlete of the Year Award 2023
Why in news – World Athletics nominated Neeraj Chopra for the Men's Athlete of the Year award 2023.
Key Points –
• Javelin thrower Neeraj is an Indian Olympic and World Championships Gold medalist.
• World Athletics made a list of 11 nominees comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.
• The gold medal in Budapest helped him to complete the golden set of Olympics and World Championships.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Christopher Luxon
Why in news – Christopher Luxon (National Party) will be New Zealand’s next prime minister.
Key Points –
• Current Prime Minister Chris Hipkins conceded defeat.
• New Zealand has a proportional voting system.
SPORTS:
1. Asian Women's Hockey Championship
Why in news – Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot - Juhi for the championship at Ranchi.
Key Points –
• Mascot - ‘Juhi’ the elephant.
• Venue – Ranchi.
• 6 countries— India, Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and Thailand - will participate in the championship.
• The championship is being organized for the first time in India.
• President of International Hockey Federation - Mohammad Tayyab Ikram.
2. Cricket in Olympics
Why in news – International Olympic Committee recommended cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Key Points –
• Los Angeles 2028 will include cricket, squash, flag football, baseball and lacrosse.
• Compound archery was not included.
• The sport is set to be a six-team T20 event (USA - direct berth as being hosts).
Value Addition –
• Cricket was last played at the Olympics in Paris in 1900 when just two teams competed: France and Great Britain. Great Britain won the contest.
POINTERS:
• With whom has International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed an agreement to promote Olympic Games in India – Reliance.
• With whom has Bridgestone partnered to install EV Charger for 4 wheelers - Tata Power.
• In which state the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department has unveiled the ‘A-Help’ program – Jharkhand.
• Who was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) by Jawaharlal Nehru University for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy, and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism - Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan (1st woman President of Tanzania).
• Which Union Minister has unveiled the system based automated ‘Status Holder’ certificate under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 - Minister Piyush Goyal.
• Which state has inaugurated its first 3D-printed building named Amaze-28 – Kerala.
• India and which country have signed an agreement for green hydrogen - Saudi Arabia.
• Who has been appointed by Yomart as its brand ambassador - Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
• Which day is celebrated all over the world on 9 October 2023 - World Post Day.
• After facing several technical issues during flight operations, who has commissioned a warehouse facility at Delhi to facilitate storage of over 1,000,000 engineering spares - Air India.
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