Current Affairs:
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended changes to improve the regulation and promotion of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) drugs in India. The government wants to make sure AYUSH drugs are held to high standards and that more people know about them. They want to create a dedicated agency to regulate these drugs and work with other countries and organizations to promote traditional Indian medicine.
- President Trump recently tried to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. However, a judge blocked these deportations, leading to a debate about this old law. An old law allows the President to deport people from "enemy" countries during wars. President Trump tried to use this law to deport gang members, claiming they were an "invading force." However, a judge blocked this, and now there's a debate about whether this law can be used in this way.
- India has made a significant advancement in cancer treatment with the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy, showing promising results in recent clinical trials published in The Lancet.
- Recent research has revealed important genetic factors contributing to obesity in Labrador retrievers. A study published in the journal Science marks the role of the DENND1B gene in regulating appetite and body mass. Conducted by a team at the University of Cambridge, this research not only sheds light on canine obesity but also offers insights applicable to human obesity.
- The US government has launched a new app, CBP Home, to encourage undocumented migrants to "self-deport." This is different from the existing legal process of "voluntary departure (CBP HOME). The US government is offering a new way for undocumented migrants to leave the country quickly, called "self-deportation." This is different from the existing legal process, "voluntary departure," which involves court hearings. The new app aims to make self-deportation easier, but it may have long-term consequences for those who choose it.
- India and New Zealand have restarted talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after a 10-year break. This is a move to strengthen their economic relationship. India and New Zealand are trying to make it easier to trade with each other.
They're restarting talks that stopped 10 years ago. There are some challenges, like differences in import taxes and what each country wants to sell, but they're hoping to reach an agreement that benefits both sides. - A new plant species, Uniyala keralensis, has been discovered in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in Kerala, India. Scientists have found a new purple-flowered shrub in a protected area in southern India. They'd had a sample of it for a long time, but only recently realized it was a completely new species. Because they don't know much about it yet, they need to do more research to make sure it's protected. This discovery reminds us that there are still many unknown plants and animals in the world.
- The 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism is a meeting happening in New Delhi. India and Malaysia are leading this meeting together. Many countries from Southeast Asia and their partners are meeting in India to discuss how to work together to fight terrorism and other security threats. They'll share ideas and make plans for future cooperation.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has won a Digital Transformation Award from Central Banking in London for its digital initiatives, Sarthi and Pravaah. The RBI has created two new digital systems that have made its work much more efficient. These systems have helped to reduce paperwork and speed up processes.
Because of these advances, the RBI has won an international award. - ISRO has developed two new 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for use in space. ISRO has created two new "brains" for its space equipment. These brains are more powerful and versatile than previous versions, and they're made entirely in India. This is a big achievement for India's space program and will help it become more independent.
- Scientists have discovered that light can be turned into a "super-solid," a strange state of matter that acts like both a solid and a liquid. Scientists have found a way to make light act like a weird material that's both solid and liquid at the same time. This is exciting because it could lead to new technologies like better quantum computers and optical devices.
- Melioidosis, a serious bacterial infection, is becoming a growing concern in Odisha, India, with recent studies highlighting the link between the disease and environmental factor.
A dangerous bacterial infection is becoming more common in Odisha, and scientists have found that weather patterns play a big role in its spread. They've created a map of high-risk areas and are urging public health officials to use climate data to track and prevent outbreaks.