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INDEX 1. National news 1.1 IMA tightens the screws on antibiotic prescriptions 1.2 Does privacy outlive death, asks SC 1.3 Special courts to try politicians 1.4 More time to link accounts to Aadhar
2. International News 2.1 ICAN receives noble peace prize 2.2 US, S. Korea, Japan start missile-tracking drill 2.3 Putin orders pullback from Syria 2.4 A 3-nation Indo-Pacific compact 2.5 Govt, ASEAN in talks to take IMT highway up to Vietnam 2.6 U.S. vetoes UN call on Jerusalem’s status
3. Polity and Governance 3.1 Free sanitary napkins for women belonging to BPL families in Haryana 3.2 Supreme Court to reexamine Adultery Law in India 3.3 Big push for Northeast roads
4. Bills and Acts 4.1 FRDI: Depositors will be protected 4.2 Parliament gives nod to IIM Bill
5. Economy 5.1 Lighthouse projects to spur digitization 5.2 Ministry may face fund crunch for UDAN 5.3 World Inequality Report 2018
6. Science and Tech 6.1 NASA’s Juno probes depths of Jupiter’s Red Spot 6.2 ISRO developing a compact launcher for smaller satellites 6.3 New Island offers clues in search for life on Mars: NASA
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7. Environment / Geography 7.1 SC eases pet coke ban for 2 sectors 7.2 Biodiversity under alien attack
8. Security 8.1 HAL to produce 100 of its own trainer aircraft 8.2 Kalvari inducted into the Navy 8.3 Govt. looking at JVs in ordnance sector 8.4 IAF’s Mi-8 chopper flies into history
9. India and World 9.1 WTO meet ends without consensus 9.2 India, Australia call for ‘open’ Asia-Pacific zone 9.3 Pakistan files counter in ICJ 9.4 Russia, India and China Triangle 9.5 US failed to walk the talk on Pak.: Karzai 9.6 China a threat, India an ally: US 9.7 Northeast policy to air trade with ASEAN
10. Short News 10.1 Hornbill festival attracted record tourists in Nagaland 10.2 UN needs to define terror: Vice-President 10.3 Govt. looking at JVs in ordnance sector 10.4 A rare visitor returns to Kolleru 10.5 Centre examining effects of e-cigarettes 10.6 US blames North Korea for WannaCry Cyberattack
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Current Affairs (11-Dec to 20-Dec, 2017) 1. National News 1.1 IMA tightens the screws on antibiotic prescriptions
Indian Medical Association (IMA) has advised doctors to follow strictly guidelines while prescribing antibiotics. The problem of growing antibiotic resistance has made it difficult to treat many bacterial infections and is a serious concern for alarm for the association. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set up the National Anti-Microbial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network (AMRRSN) to enable compilation of data of such resistance at different levels of healthcare. Apart from this, it also publishes treatment guidelines for anti-microbial use in common syndromes. The doctors from now onwards will have to give clear instructions to the patient about no refill of antibiotic prescription without the signature of the doctor.
1.2 Does privacy outlive death, asks SC
SC has thrown open the floor for debate on whether or not an individual’s fundamental right to privacy subsists after death. The topic arose over a plea against HC order to give Aadhaar data to verify Jayalalithaa’s fingerprints. The Supreme Court stayed the High Court order on a petition filed by leaders of the All India Anna Dravida Munntra Kazhagam. It has decided to examine whether or not the High Court’s order “amounts to intrusion into the fundamental right to privacy of a third party”. On August 24, 2017, the nine judges of the SC gave the landmark verdict which upheld privacy as a fundamental right.
1.3 Special courts to try politicians
The Supreme Court gave the green signal for the Centre’s scheme to set up 12 fast track courts to exclusively prosecute and dispose 1,581 criminal cases pending against Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies within a year.
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It further directed the Centre to allocate ₹7.8 crore to the States for setting up such courts.
1.4 More time to link accounts to Aadhar
The government extended the December 31 deadline for linking bank accounts to Aadhaar numbers by three months to March 31, 2018. If Aadhaar will not be linked to bank accounts as per the date notified by the government, the account would be blocked till the submission of Aadhaar and PAN numbers.
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2. International News 2.1 ICAN receives noble peace prize
The leader of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the group that won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on Sunday urged nuclear nations to adopt a UN treaty banning atomic weapons in order to prevent “the end of us”. What is ICAN ? It is a global civil society coalition working to promote adherence to and full implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. ICAN was launched in 2007 and counts 468 partner organizations.
2.2 US, S. Korea, Japan start missile-tracking drill
The two-day exercise named Vigilant ACE kicked off in waters near the Korean peninsula and Japan. The trilateral drill comes less than two weeks after Pyongyang test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named Hwasong-15. North Korea declared it had achieved nuclear statehood, escalating global alarm over its weapons push.
2.3 Putin orders pullback from Syria
Russia will withdraw its forces from Syria but will permanently retain airbase and naval base in the country. Russia has been fighting alongside Syria against the Islamic State (IS). Earlier this year, IS was ousted from its last major stronghold Raqqa.
2.4 A 3-nation Indo-Pacific compact
India, Japan and Australia agreed to greater collaboration on maritime security. The three sides stressed the need for greater collaboration on maritime security and domain awareness and disaster response capabilities. They also renewed their resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed the need for enhanced cooperation on counter-terrorism.
2.5 Govt, ASEAN in talks to take IMT highway up to Vietnam
The government is in talks with ASEAN countries to extend the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway up to Vietnam.
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India and ASEAN countries are holding consultations on the extension of the 1,360 km IMT highway — from Moreh in India to Mae-Sot in Thailand — to Laos, Cambodia and to Vietnam. Connectivity can generate annually, an estimated USD 70 billion in incremental GDP and 20 million in incremental aggregate employment by 2025 Connecting India with the Southeastern countries through a network of road will create jobs, market for crops grown in hilly regions of the Northeast which will also help growers in getting better price for their produce
2.6 U.S. vetoes UN call on Jerusalem’s status
The U.S has vetoed the resolution whereas all the other remaining 14 members voted in favour of the Egyptian-drafted resolution. The resolution called for the declaration of Jerusalem as capital by U.S. to be withdrawn.
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3. Polity and Governance 3.1 Free sanitary napkins for women belonging to BPL families in Haryana
The Haryana government would soon provide sanitary napkins free of cost to all women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category in the state. It is a noteworthy achievement given the poor health condition of women and social stigma related to menstrual health. With the efforts of state government and cooperation of the people, the monthly average of gender ratio has touched 937 which was around 840 before the launch of the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ scheme. Now the gender ratio in many districts is more than 900 girls over 1000 boys.
3.2 Supreme Court to reexamine Adultery Law in India
SC agreed to have another look at the constitutional validity of Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, under which men can be prosecuted for adultery. It has re-opened a question that has been decided thrice in the past. While agreeing to issue notice to the government, the Bench has observed that the provision is archaic. It has further noted that in a case of adultery, one person is liable for the offence but the other is absolved, and that the concept of gender neutrality, on which criminal law normally proceeds, is absent. The court has also noted that once the consent of the husband is established, there is no offence of adultery at all. It rightly describes this as subordination of a woman and something that “creates a dent on the independent identity of a woman”.
3.3 Big push for Northeast roads
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated crucial connectivity and power projects in Mizoram and Meghalaya. The 60-MW Tuirial hydropower power project was inaugurated in Mizoram. Mizoram has now become the third power-surplus State in the northeast after Sikkim and Tripura. A grant of Rs. 90,000 crore for improving roads and national highways in the northeast over two or three years to improve connectivity was given to Meghalaya. He dedicated to the nation a 271-km two-lane national highway connecting Tura in western Meghalaya to Shillong.
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India’s Act East Policy would soon make Mizoram the gateway to the Southeast Asian countries, which include Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Apart from this, the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, connecting Aizawl with the deep-water Sittwe Port in Myanmar, would provide great benefits to the people of the north-eastern States. With the allocation of Rs. 10,000 crore for the power sector, a state-of-the-art transmission system would be in place soon in the Northeast. The development of the Rih-Tiddim road and the establishment of numerous rural markets along the Mizoram-Myanmar border would increase trade volume.
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4. Bills and Acts 4.1 FRDI: Depositors will be protected
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has categorically asserted that depositors would be “fully protected” in the event of a bank failure. The FRDI Bill, first introduced in Lok Sabha in August this year, is currently undergoing scrutiny by a joint parliamentary committee. Refer to current affair analysis from 1st to 10th Dec for more details about FRDI bill.
4.2 Parliament gives nod to IIM Bill
Parliament on Tuesday (19th Dec.) unanimously passed a Bill to grant the Indian Institutes of Management the power to grant degrees instead of post-graduate diplomas. The Bill also allows students to acquire doctoral degrees from the IIMs. It is hoped that the passage of this Bill will pave the way for more research at these prestigious institutions. The Bill also confers on the 20 IIMs the status of institutions of national importance, granting them greater functional autonomy by restricting the role of the government in them. Till now, the Centre had a role in the appointment of the chairpersons and directors to their Boards and also fixing the pay of the directors. As per the IIM Bill, 2017, a Board of Governors will appoint the Director of each IIM. A search-cum-selection-committee will recommend the names. And the director will be eligible for variable pay as determined by the Board.
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5. Economy 5.1 Lighthouse projects to spur digitization
The government and the industry have decided to carry out a number of ‘lighthouse projects’ to spur digitization. How does it work? For example, Google will work with publishers and advertisers to bring more regional language content online, while Bharti Airtel will be working towards bringing high speed Internet to rural India as well as building data centres in the country.
5.2 Ministry may face fund crunch for UDAN
With more routes set to be operational under UDAN, the Civil Aviation ministry is likely to face paucity of funds in providing viability gap funding (VGF) to participating airlines. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development and "Regional Connectivity Scheme" (RCS) of Government of India, with the objective of "Let the common citizen of the country fly”. It is aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread, to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states of India. The ministry contributes 80 per cent of the VGF amount, while the remaining comes from the state governments concerned and in the case of north-eastern states and union territories, the sharing ratio is 90:10.
5.3 World Inequality Report 2018
The World Inequality Report 2018 released by the World Inequality Lab last week says that income inequality in India has increased since economic liberalisation. As expected, the finding has been used by many to argue that the rich should be taxed more to help the poor. The logic is that the rich get richer at the expense of the poor, so taxes that redistribute wealth are only a rational response to inequality. It is true that the rich and the middle class control a major share of the world’s resources, which consequently is not available to the poor. They enjoy higher incomes from better jobs and investments, which allows them to outbid the poor to purchase various goods.
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What is not true, however, is that the poor will get to enjoy many luxuries if only the rich were taxed more and the money was used to write welfare cheques to the poor, thus boosting their purchasing power. Instead, when taxes are high, people who help produce the goods that the rich and the middle class enjoy today will have less of an incentive to do their jobs as before. Workers, for instance, may no longer be attracted towards high-skill jobs when their income from such jobs is taxed at high rates. Investors too will have lesser reason to put in their money in crucial projects when their profits are taxed at high rates. In fact, India before economic liberalisation faced this problem when it tried to tax its way to prosperity. Income inequality will always exist in a market economy where people are allowed to engage in free exchange and earn incomes according to their personal capabilities. Doctors, for instance, earn many more times than plumbers and carpenters because they offer rare services. At the same time, however, the higher incomes of the rich and the middle class do not last forever in a marketplace that is free of legal entry barriers. More people will be attracted towards professions and businesses that offer higher returns, which in turn will drive up the incomes of the new entrants while driving down the returns of incumbents. This is why we must look at income mobility, which reflects the number of people moving up and down the economic ladder, and ways to foster it rather than inequality. In fact, income inequality might even widen during times when there is a lot of economic mobility. To enable mobility, however, the government needs to look beyond taxes and handouts, and ensure social goods — education and healthcare — for all in order to level the playing field.
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6. Science and Tech 6.1 NASA’s Juno probes depths of Jupiter’s Red Spot
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, the solar system’s most famous storm, is almost one-and-ahalf Earths wide and penetrates about 300 km into the planet’s atmosphere The data was data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft. Juno is a NASA space probe orbiting the planet Jupiter. The spacecraft was launched in 2011 as part of New Frontiers program. Juno's mission is to measure Jupiter's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere.
6.2 ISRO developing a compact launcher for smaller satellites
Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to manufacture a low-cost small satellite launcher. The launcher should be able to put satellites of up to 500-600 kg in orbits close to the Earth. It could tremendously cut the launch fee that customers would have to pay. Today, it takes 300-plus engineers and about 40 days to assemble a PSLV. A small launcher that can be got up perhaps in three days by a small team would make a big difference in the market as well as to the launch provider.
6.3 New Island offers clues in search for life on Mars: NASA
According to NASA, the world’s newest island — formed during a volcanic eruption in the remote Pacific three years ago — may offer clues to how life potentially developed on Mars. The island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai rose from the seabed about 65 km northwest of the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa in late 2014 or early 2015. Mars had many similar volcanic islands that appeared to have been surrounded by water when they were created. Such spots may be prime locations to look for evidence of past life because they combined a wet environment with heat from volcanic processes.
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Examining how life gained a foothold on the Tongan island could help scientists pinpoint where to look for evidence of life on Mars.
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7. Environment / Geography 7.1 SC eases pet coke ban for 2 sectors
The Supreme Court relaxed its ban on the use of petroleum coke (petcoke) and allowed cement and limestone industries to use it. The SC bench asked Environment ministry to frame a scheme within four weeks to contain the illegal diversion of petcoke from cement industries to other fields. The decision to modify its ban was largely due to the government’s submissions that petcoke is used as an ingredient and not as fuel in the cement industry. The Sulphur is mostly absorbed in the process of cement-making.
7.2 Biodiversity under alien attack
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has for the first time compiled a list of alien invasive animal species. Just as alien plant species such as Parthenium hysterophorus (cotton grass) and Lantana camara (Lantana) are known to harm agriculture and biodiversity, invasive animal species pose a threat to biodiversity and human well-being. Alien species become ‘invasive’ when they are introduced deliberately or accidentally outside their natural areas, where they out-compete the native species and upset the ecological balance. Paracoccus marginatus (Papaya Mealy Bug), which belongs to Mexico and Central America but is believed to have destroyed huge crops of papaya in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Phenacoccus solenopsis (Cotton Mealybug) is a native of North America but has severely affected cotton crops in the Deccan. Among the invasive fish species, Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Amazon sailfin catfish) has been destroying fish populations in the wetlands of Kolkata. Achatina fulica (African apple snail) is said to be most invasive among all alien fauna. It is a mollusc and was first reported in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But today it is found all across the country and is threatening the habitats of several native species. Tubastrea coccinea (Orange Cup-Coral), which originated in Indo-East Pacific but has now been reported in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Gulf of Kutch, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
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8. Security 8.1 HAL to produce 100 of its own trainer aircraft Military aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. plans to make 100 of its own product, the basic trainer aircraft HTT-40, over the coming years once the aircraft clears the ongoing critical ‘spin’ tests.
8.2 Kalvari inducted into the Navy
Kalvari submarine is the Navy’s first modern conventional submarine in almost two decades since the INS Sindhushastra was procured from Russia in July 2000. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally commissioned the first of six Scorpene dieselelectric submarines into the Navy. The Scorpene submarines can undertake different missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.
8.3 Govt. looking at JVs in ordnance sector
The union government is examining the ordnance factories to explore ways to boost their productivity, including through possible joint ventures (JV) through possible Transfer of Technology. The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has about 41 factories under its ambit and there have been several demands to undertake reforms to improve their productivity and efficiency.
8.4 IAF’s Mi-8 chopper flies into history
The Indian Air Force's 45-year-old, reliable, medium lift Mi-8 attack and utility helicopter, flew last time on Sunday (Dec. 17). The Russian-made Mi-8 entered India in 1971. The IAF has replaced the Mi-8 with new inductions in the same category such as the Mi-17, Mi-1v and more recently the Mi-v5.
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The Mi-8 helicopters were part of Operation Meghdoot of 1989 in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The craft operated extensively in humanitarian, rescue and disaster relief operations across the country including during the devastating 2015 Chennai floods of 2015, apart from ferrying many VIPs and VVIPs.
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9. India and World 9.1 WTO meet ends without consensus
WTO ministerial meet is the highest decision making body of WTO and meets annually. The 2017 meet was held in Bueno Aires, Argentina. WTO’s 164 members failed to reach a consensus on substantive issues such as the food security right of developing countries and the centrality of development in multilateral trade negotiations. The Ministerial Conference managed to salvage a commitment from member nations to secure a deal by 2019 on banning certain forms of fisheries’ subsidies.
9.2 India, Australia call for ‘open’ Asia-Pacific zone
Continuing with the strategic bilateral discussion, Australia and India discussed the need to maintain the Asia-Pacific region as a “free” and “open” zone under the “2+2” dialogue model which includes the foreign and defence secretaries of both sides. The discussion was the first meeting of this level since the two sides participated in the quadrilateral discussion for a new strategic partnership targeting the Asia-Pacific region.
9.3 Pakistan files counter in ICJ
Pakistan filed a counter-memorial before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against India’s plea to prevent execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court in April. India had won a stay from the ICJ on Jadhav’s execution on May 18 following Pakistan’s refusal to allow consular access to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad despite repeated requests. Pakistan has allowed the family of Jadhav to meet him on December 25. The Pakistani authorities also allowed the presence of an Indian High Commission official at the meeting as requested by New Delhi during the meeting.
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9.4 Russia, India and China Triangle
The Russia-India-China trilateral held its 15th meeting in what can be construed as New Delhi’s attempt to get a semblance of balance in its ties with Moscow and Beijing. Scope of talks- The broader discussions took place in the backdrop of the political scenario in West Asia and North Africa, numerous challenges in putting the world economy back on the growth track, concerns relating to terrorism, transnational organised crime, illicit drug trafficking, food security, and climate change. Formation of triangle- The proposal for a Moscow-Beijing-Delhi ‘strategic triangle’ had originally come from former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during his visit to India in 1998, when he argued that such an arrangement would represent a force for greater regional and international stability. Expectations of Russia- Russia’s role was key as its loss of power and influence on the world scene was a major cause of concern for its leadership. It is against this backdrop that Russia tried to establish itself as the hub of two bilateral security partnerships that could be used to counteract U.S. power and influence in areas of mutual concern. Expectations of China- China which emerged as a rising superpower, recognised the importance of cooperating with Russia to check U.S. expansionism in the world, even if only for the short term. India’s stance- India saw in the trilateral a mechanism to bring greater balance in the global order as it believed that a unipolar U.S.-dominated world was not in the best interests of weaker states like itself, even as strategic convergence deepened between Washington and Delhi.
9.5 US failed to walk the talk on Pak.: Karzai
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that India should rethink its support to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Afghanistan policy. India had welcomed the new U.S policy on Afhanistan, which entailed a larger role in development work for India as well as more pressure on Pakistan to act against terrorist safe havens within its borders. The criticism came against the backdrop of defense authorisation bill that Mr. Trump signed into law , which provides for up to $700 million to be transferred to Pakistan for coalition support.
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9.6 China a threat, India an ally: US
President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy, announced on Monday, promised support for India’s emergence as a “leading global power,” while identifying China, Russia and Islamism as main threats. US also seeks to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia, and India. It will expand defense and security cooperation with India, and support India’s growing relationships throughout the region. The document also said that Russia and China are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence. The document also underscores the warning to Pakistan.
9.7 Northeast policy to air trade with ASEAN
The new Industrial Policy being framed for the development of industries in the northeast would prove catalytic to the trade with Southeast Asian nations. It would be done through... Business Leaders’ Forums, CEOs’ forums and Invest India and by further intensifying present efforts in this direction. Of the $56 billion of FDI that came in in 2000-2017 from ASEAN countries, $54 billion was from Singapore.
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10. Short News 10.1 Hornbill festival attracted record tourists in Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland attracted a record 2,43,214 visitors this year, a sharp climb compared to the previous years. The 10-day festival, which is the annual showpiece tourism event of the State, was inaugurated on December 1 — coinciding with the 54th Statehood Day celebrations by Predident Ram Nath Kovind.
10.2 UN needs to define terror: Vice-President
It is time that the United Nations concluded with the process of defining terror and acted against it by taking stringent action. Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that giving value to human rights is part of the DNA of India, which has no history of aggression against any country in the world.
10.3 Govt. looking at JVs in ordnance sector
The Defence Ministry is conducting a detailed performance audit of ordnance factories functioning under the Department of Defence Production. There are 41 factories under the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and there have been several demands to undertake reforms to improve their productivity and efficiency. In an effort to given greater role for the private sector, the Defence Research and Development Organisation has also asked to “identify patentable products that can be commercialised.” To begin with, Chennai-Bengaluru and Mumbai-Pune-Aurangabad are being looked at as they have a large pool of start-ups that can help in defence manufacturing.
10.4 A rare visitor returns to Kolleru
The great white pelican returned to Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh. IUCN status-Least Concern
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10.5 Centre examining effects of e-cigarettes
The government is examining the legal implications and health effects of e-cigarettes, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (19 Dec). The Health Ministry had constituted three groups to study the various aspects of ecigarettes. One was to study the legal implications of this e-nicotine drug induce system, another was to go into the health effects and the other was to study advocacy. E-smoking- It refers to the practice of inhaling capsules of nicotine in a vaporised form after they were heated. This is actually an electronic nicotine delivery system. It has a nicotine capsule, which has no tobacco but nicotine that gives excitement as it hits the brain. Some countries have regulated e-smoking, while others have banned it.
10.6 US blames North Korea for WannaCry cyberattack
US administration publicly blamed North Korea for a ransomware (WannaCry) attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide in May and crippled parts of Britain’s National Health Service.
What is a Ransomware? Ransomware is a type of malicious software from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid.
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