Days before the U.S. government’s debt default deadline, President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reached an agreement in principle to raise the nation’s legal debt ceiling.   What is the U.S. debt ceiling? Origin of debt ceiling in US — In 1917, Congress passed the Second Liberty Bond Act, to allow then-President to take out… Continue reading U.S. debt ceiling crisis

The Union Health Ministry has recently urged State Governments to audit hysterectomy trends in public and private hospitals. This was done in response to a Supreme Court petition arguing that women from marginalised locations are at risk of unjustified hysterectomies for economic gains and exploitation.   Details – A petition was filed in the Supreme… Continue reading Hysterectomies

A Foucault pendulum that rotates on its axis is suspended from the ceiling of the entrance hall of the Constitution Hall of India’s new Parliament building, signifying the integration of the idea of India with the idea of the cosmos. Created by the National Council of Science Museum (NCSM, Kolkata), the pendulum is being dubbed… Continue reading Foucault’s Pendulum

On May 29, the Indian Army commemorated the 75th International Day of UN Peacekeepers. On this day, India also announced that it will organise two initiatives later this year for women personnel from South East Asia as part of defence cooperation with ASEAN. This announcement follows Indian Defence Minister’s suggestion last year to focus on… Continue reading United Nations Peacekeeping

Authorities in the U.S. and Mexico recently appealed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a public health emergency over a fungal meningitis outbreak.   About Meningitis – Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are called meninges. The most common causes of meningitis… Continue reading Meningitis

Amid the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan Coast Guard (JCG) source recently revealed that a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel has been navigating in Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands.   About Senkaku Islands – Location — The Senkaku Islands are an uninhabited group of islands situated in the East China Sea.… Continue reading Senkaku Islands

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s subsidiary, ONGC Videsh, recently said that oil output from the Sakhalin-1 project in Russia had bounced back to its plateau level of about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from zero.   About Sakhalin-1 Project – Location — The Sakhalin-1 oil and gas development project is located in the Okhotsk Sea, off… Continue reading Sakhalin-1 Project

According to a recent report, as many as 53 per cent of organisations studied in India were victims of spear phishing in 2022.   About Spear Phishing – It is an email or electronic communications scam targeted towards a specific individual, organisation or business. It is a targeted attempt to steal sensitive information such as… Continue reading Spear Phishing

A group of scientists recently discovered a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly superbug called Acinetobacter baumannii.   About Acinetobactor baumannii – Acinetobacter is a group of bacteria (germs) commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water. While there are many types, the most common cause of infections is Acinetobacter baumannii, which accounts… Continue reading Acinebacter Baumannii

South Korea has recently come up with a special proposal to provide its advanced KSS-III Batch-II submarine to India.   About KSS-III Batch-II Submarine – The KSS-III, the largest submarine to ever be built by South Korea, is being developed in two phases, Batch-I and Batch-II. It is a series of diesel-electric attack submarines. KSS-III… Continue reading KSS III Batch-II Submarine