Art and Culture 

South Korea’s Kang wins literature Nobel for her ‘intense prose’ - The Hindu

After two years of Europe-centric Nobel Prizes in Literature (Jon Fosse, Annie Ernaux), the Swedish Academy has looked east this year. It has awarded the 2024 prize to South Korean writer Han Kang “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”.

• Literary Impact: At 53, Han Kang is recognized as an innovator in contemporary prose, writing about women, patriarchy, violence, grief, and historical injustices.
• Key Works: 
  • Her breakthrough novel, The Vegetarian (2007), translated in 2015, won the Man Booker International Prize (2016). It explores themes of individual independence and family violence, often compared to Kafka's work.
  • Other notable works include Human Acts, The White Book, Greek Lessons, and her upcoming novel, We Do Not Part (2025), about a 1940s Korean massacre.

Katkari tribe - Indian Express 

Over 550 people from Katkari tribe were given caste certificates in a special ceremony held at the Hutatma Nagya Mahadu Katkari Community Development Centre in Male village, Mulshi Taluka, Pune as part of a drive conducted by Jantaiya Kalyan Ashram, supported by Pune-based Rohan builders.

Katkari Tribe

Polity 

Why Delhi HC allowed a 60-year-old couple to access dead son's sperm - Indian Express

The Delhi High Court last week allowed a couple in their sixties to gain access to their now deceased son’s sperm sample, effectively paving the way for posthumous assisted reproduction.

The Gruelling Course of Litigation in India - The Hindu 

Recently, the President of India highlighted the issue of court delays. She noted that these delays are what are making people hesitate approaching courts, as they fear that the pursuit of justice will complicate their lives further.

World Affairs 

PM unveils 10-point plan to strengthen India-ASEAN relations - Indian Express

Announcing a 10-point plan while underlining that dialogue and cooperation between India and ASEAN are of utmost importance at a time of conflict and tension in many parts of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday flagged “respect” for “each other’s national integrity and sovereignty” at the India-ASEAN leaders’ summit in Laos capital Vientiane.

WHO ARE THE UN PEACEKEEPERS AT LEBANON'S BORDER WITH ISRAEL? - Indian Express

India recently said it was “concerned” at the “deteriorating” security situation in parts of West Asia after two members of a United Nations peacekeeping mission operating along Lebanon’s border with Israel were injured. The incident took place after an Israeli tank fired on one of the group’s observation towers, according to UN officials.

UNIFIL’s (United Nations Interim Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)) Mission

• About: Consists of over 10,000 personnel from 50 countries & is tasked with preventing violations along the 121-km Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.
• Mandate: 
  • UN Resolution (2006) authorizes the force to ensure the area is not used for hostile activities.
  • Responsible for keeping weapons and fighters out of the zone and reporting violations to the UN Security Council.
• Challenges: It is argued that UNIFIL has been ineffective in stopping Hezbollah from stockpiling and firing rockets in the region.
• Use of Force: Peacekeepers are armed, but they can only use force in cases of immediate danger to their safety or that of civilians.

How does U.K.’s OpenSAFELY ensure transparency? - The Hindu

In a significant advancement for health data research, Ben Goldacre and his team have developed the OpenSAFELY platform, enabling access to the health records of approximately 58 million people in the U.K. without compromising individual privacy.

Economy 

Can India escape middle-income trap? - The Hindu 

The World Development Report 2024 — authored by the World Bank — calls attention to the phenomenon of the “middle-income” trap, or the slowing down of growth rates as incomes increase.

Release of Commemorative Stamps Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union - PIB 

On the occasion of World Post Day, the Department of Posts, Government of India, unveiled a special set of commemorative postage stamps celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). 

Environment

As green patch spreads in Antarctica, here's what is worrying scientists - Indian Express

Plant cover across the Antarctic Peninsula, a long, mountainous extension of Antarctica that points north towards South America, has increased more than 10 times over the past few decades due to rising temperatures, a new study says.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary’s vulture survey records 80 birds - The Hindu 

A two-day vulture survey that concluded in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary recently, the sole habitat of the bird in the State, has recorded the presence of 80 vultures across nine locations.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated in Wayanad, Kerala, within the southern Western Ghats, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Borders: Bordered by Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka (northeast) and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu (southeast).
• Indigenous Tribes: Inhabited by Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.
• Vegetation: A mix of moist deciduous, dry deciduous, and semi-evergreen vegetation.
• Flora: Teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak, covering about one-third of the sanctuary.
• Fauna: Elephants, tigers, panthers, jungle cats, wild dogs, bison, deer, bears & the largest tiger population in Kerala.

Wildlife population declined by 73% in 50 years: WWF report - Indian Express 

Monitored global wildlife populations have declined by 73 per cent in the last 50 years, owing to habitat loss, degradation, impacts of climate change and invasive species, the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) biennial living planet report said.

Sci and Tech 

Outdoor activities can reduce ‘progression of myopia’ - The Hindu 

A recent analysis of studies across the world has predicted that by 2050, a third of children and adolescents in the world could have difficulty reading without glasses. The worst affected could be children and adolescents in East Asia.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

• About: An eye condition causing difficulty seeing distant objects (e.g., while driving) but clear vision for close-up tasks (e.g., reading).
• Causes: Myopic individuals typically have elongated eyeballs, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it. The longer the eyeball, the more severe the nearsightedness.
• Symptoms: Squinting, eyestrain, headaches, and visual impairment.
• Treatment: Corrected with glasses or contact lenses using negative (minus) powered lenses. Refractive surgeries available for adults to correct myopia.

Defence 

INS TALWAR ARRIVES SOUTH AFRICA TO PARTICIPATE IN IBSAMAR VIII - PIB 

Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Talwar, arrived at Simon’s Town, South Africa, recently to participate in the eighth edition of IBSAMAR.

IBSAMAR VIII

• About: A joint multinational maritime exercise involving the Indian, Brazilian, and South African Navies.
• Aim: To enhance interoperability and strengthen cohesion between the three navies.
• Focus: Blue Water Naval Warfare, covering Surface and Anti-Air Warfare dimensions.
• Harbour Phase Activities: Professional exchanges, Damage Control & Firefighting drills, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure drills, cross-boarding, aviation safety lectures, joint diving operations, and an Ocean Governance seminar.
• Significance: Enhances mutual trust and interoperability among like-minded littoral nations, fostering a peaceful maritime domain and a positive maritime environment.