{"id":41844,"date":"2025-04-23T19:28:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T13:58:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=41844"},"modified":"2025-04-23T19:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T13:59:11","slug":"news-in-short-23-04-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-04-2025\/news-in-short-23-04-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short-23-04-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Arsenic Pollution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health links climate change to rising arsenic levels in rice, warning of increased health risks in Asia by 2050.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Arsenic (As)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arsenic<\/strong> is a naturally occurring trace element that occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>highly toxic<\/strong> in its inorganic form.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Effects on health\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause <strong>cancer, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes <\/strong>etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In-utero and early childhood exposure<\/strong> have been linked to negative <strong>impacts on cognitive development<\/strong> and increased deaths in young adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Taiwan, arsenic exposure has been linked to \u201c<strong>Blackfoot disease\u201d<\/strong>. It is a severe disease of blood vessels leading to gangrene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Permissible Limits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The World Health Organization\u2019s<\/strong> provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water is <strong>0.01 mg\/l (10 \u03bcg\/l).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In India<\/strong> the permissible limit of arsenic in the absence of an alternative source is <strong>0.05 mg\/l (50 \u03bcg\/l).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Arsenic Contamination in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The occurrence of Arsenic in groundwater was first reported in <strong>1980 in West Bengal in India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximum number of the arsenic-affected habitations are in the <strong>Ganga and Brahmaputra alluvial plains.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Steps taken by India:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP): <\/strong>Addressing contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic through water treatment plants and alternate water supply solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IIT-Madras<\/strong> has developed a technology called \u2018<strong>AMRIT\u2019 (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian Technology)<\/strong> for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions from water.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/study-links-climate-change-with-rising-arsenic-levels-in-rice-increasing-cancer-risks-for-asians\/article69474056.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Section 69 of the BNS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The issue of rape allegations based on false promises of marriage has long been debated in India.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It<strong> <\/strong>introduces a new offence for cases where a man engages in sexual intercourse with a woman by making a false promise of marriage without intent to fulfill it.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is distinct from rape under<strong> Section 63 BNS (formerly Section 375 IPC)<\/strong> and is punishable with up to<strong> 10 years in prison and a fine.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also includes deception related to employment, promotion, or identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supreme Court Observations\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Intent matters \u2013<\/strong> If a man had a genuine intention to marry but later couldn&#8217;t due to unforeseen events, it\u2019s not rape (e.g., Anurag Soni v. State of Chhattisgarh, 2019).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Long-term consensual relationships<\/strong> are unlikely to qualify as rape if the woman continued the relationship knowingly (e.g., Rajnish Singh v. State of U.P., 2025).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If the woman was already married<\/strong>, consent based on a false promise to marry does not legally qualify as consent obtained by deception (Abhishek Arjariya v. State of M.P., 2025).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>International Telecom Union (ITU)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has nominated Ms. M. Revathi as its candidate for Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is the UN&#8217;s specialized agency for digital technologies (ICTs), comprising <strong>194 Member States<\/strong> and <strong>over 1,000 organizations, <\/strong>including companies and universities.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is Headquartered in Geneva with global offices and\u00a0 it is the oldest UN agency, founded in 1865.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It operates through three sectors: ITU-T (Standardization),ITU-D (Development) and ITU-R (Radiocommunication).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Radiocommunication Bureau manages the global radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, ensuring safe, interference-free use of critical technologies like 5G, aviation, GPS, broadcasting, and space missions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :PIB<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Gold Prices Cross Rs 1 lakh-mark For First Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gold prices in India have crossed the \u20b91 lakh mark for 10 grams, hitting a historic high.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Factors Influencing Gold prices<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Supply and Demand:<\/strong> The availability of gold and the demand for it, both for investment and industrial use, directly impact prices.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increased mining output can lower prices, while high demand can raise them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inflation:<\/strong> Gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, investors flock to gold to preserve their purchasing power, driving up prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interest Rates:<\/strong> Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding gold, making it more attractive to investors. Conversely, higher rates lead to lower gold prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Stability:<\/strong> Political uncertainty or conflict lead investors to seek safety in gold, boosting demand and prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Currency Strength:<\/strong> Gold is typically priced in U.S. dollars. A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for holders of other currencies, potentially increasing demand and prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Central Bank Policies:<\/strong> Actions by central banks, such as gold purchases or sales, significantly influence market prices. Central banks often hold gold as part of their reserves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Economic Conditions:<\/strong> Economic downturns or uncertainties lead to increased demand for gold as a safe haven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Facts Related to Gold<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>China is the world&#8217;s largest gold producer<\/strong> followed by Russia and Australia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>China <\/strong>is also the world\u2019s <strong>largest gold consumer <\/strong>followed by India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The United States<\/strong> holds the largest gold reserves in the world, with approximately 8,133.5 metric tons followed by Germany, and Italy .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/gold-rates-international-prices-markets-surge-us-fed-9958434\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>China-U.S. Trade War Redrawing Global LPG Trading<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The global Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) trade is undergoing a significant shift due to high tariffs imposed by China on U.S. LPG imports, affecting prices, trade flows, and energy strategies across the globe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China is replacing U.S. LPG cargoes with supplies from the <strong>Middle East<\/strong> due to newly imposed tariffs.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Middle Eastern countries are gaining market share in China, charging premiums of <strong>$30\u2013$60\/ton<\/strong> over benchmark prices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. LPG shipments are being redirected to <strong>Europe<\/strong> and other <strong>Asian nations like Japan and India<\/strong>, often at discounted prices.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shale gas producers in the United States face lower prices due to oversupply and higher inventories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Components: <\/strong>It primarily consists of <strong>propane (C3H8) <\/strong>and <strong>butane (C4H10)<\/strong> or a mixture of both.<br>&#8211; <strong>Characteristics:<\/strong> It is a<strong> colorless, odorless, flammable liquid <\/strong>that is used as a fuel.<br>&#8211; <strong>Applications:<\/strong> Power generation, Energy Storage, Transportation, Industrial usage, etc.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/sino-us-trade-war-redrawing-global-lpg-trading-outlook\/article69477962.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Green Way to Recycle Toxic Perovskite Solar Cells<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In a recent paper published in Nature, scientists have introduced a water-based method for recycling Perovskite solar cells (PSCs).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Perovskite Solar Cells<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a class of next-generation photovoltaics (PVs) that use a unique crystal structure known as perovskite to absorb sunlight.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These materials have <strong>high power conversion efficiencies (PCE)<\/strong> at relatively low production costs.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, perovskites contain toxic substances like lead, raising concerns about safe disposal and environmental contamination.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Traditional methods for recycling PSCs rely heavily on toxic organic solvents such as <strong>dimethylformamide (DMF),<\/strong> which pose environmental hazards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Water-Based method for Green Recycling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The chemical process avoids toxic organic solvents and uses three key salts:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sodium acetate<\/strong> which binds with lead to form water-soluble lead acetate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sodium iodide<\/strong> provides iodide ions that help restore the degraded perovskite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hypophosphorous acid<\/strong> stabilizes the solution for reuse and ensures high crystal quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This approach dissolves the toxic perovskite layer and re-synthesize high-purity perovskite crystals that can be reused for making new solar cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scientists also used <strong>ethanol and ethyl acetate <\/strong>to dissolve and recover other components, such as metal electrodes and glass substrates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/scientists-find-green-way-to-recycle-toxic-perovskite-solar-cells\/article69452118.ece#:~:text=The%20scientists%20also%20developed%20soluti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>NEERI to Study Industrial Impact on Taj Mahal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court tasked the <strong>National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)<\/strong> to study the <strong>impact of<\/strong> <strong>glass industries on the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage site.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NEERI is a premier Indian research institution specializing in environmental science and engineering.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Established in 1958<\/strong> in Nagpur, Maharashtra, it was originally named the <strong>Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute (CPHERI).\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In 1974,<\/strong> it was renamed NEERI by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NEERI operates under the <strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), <\/strong>which is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mission:<\/strong> To offer innovative and effective solutions for environmentally sustainable development, aiding the government, industry, and society, with a focus on benefiting the underprivileged population of India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taj Mahal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It sits on the south bank of the Yamuna River.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commissioned in 1632 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628\u20131658).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is regarded as a prime example of Mughal architecture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"aaa8a5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/taj-mahal-pic.png\" alt=\"taj mahal\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-41845\" style=\"--dominant-color: #aaa8a5; width:430px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/taj-mahal-pic.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/taj-mahal-pic-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/taj-mahal-pic-768x433.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/assess-glass-industry-impact-on-taj-mahal-supreme-court-to-neeri\/article69477752.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health links climate change to rising arsenic levels in rice, warning of increased health risks in Asia by 2050.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>What is Arsenic (As)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Arsenic is a naturally occurring trace element that occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-04-2025\/news-in-short-23-04-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41844"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41858,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41844\/revisions\/41858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}