Metformin: Study

What is Metformin?

• Metformin is an anti-diabetic medication (biguanide)
• It is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
• It was first introduced for diabetes treatment in France during the 1950s.
• Metformin is derived from guanidine, a compound found in Goat’s Rue, a herbal medicine that has been used in Europe for a long time.
• Benefits of Metformin
• • Metformin has effects beyond controlling diabetes.
    • It reduces the risk of cancer.

Windfall Tax

About Windfall Tax:

• A windfall tax is a higher tax levied by the government on specific industries when they experience unexpected and above-average profits.
  • For Example: Windfall tax was levied on the oil companies of the United States in the 1980s. There was a sudden rise in oil prices due to the crisis of oil in 1979, leading to windfall gain for the companies in the sector later on.
• Purpose: To redistribute excess profits in one area to raise funds for the greater social good.
• Introduction  of Windfall Tax in India: To address the shortage of energy products on the domestic market, the Indian government added a special additional excise duty on the export of gasoline and diesel, known as the Windfall Tax, on July 1st, 2022.

Karam Parv

• About Karam Parv: Karam (colloquially Karma) is a harvest festival dedicated to the worship of Karam-Devta (Karam-Lord/God), the god of power, youth and youthfulness. 
• Origins of the festival: The Oraon/Kurukh people linked their cultural traditions to the agricultural cycle, celebrating Karma as the festival of grains (dhaan/anaaj) after watering their fields during the autumn rains.
• Symbolism of Karam Tree/Kadam Tree: The Karam tree is the focus of the festival. It is traditionally seen as a symbol of Karam Devta or Karamsani.
  • Kadam Tree (Neolamarckia cadamba)  is an evergreen, tropical tree native to South and Southeast Asia. 
• Communities Celebrating the Karma Festival: Popular among Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal peoples.

Hezbollah  and Its Reliance On Pagers

• Pagers
  • About: A pager is a small, portable device used to receive short messages or alerts.
  • Operates on:  It operates on a radio frequency network.
  • Working of Pagers: Pagers work by receiving wireless signals transmitted over a radio frequency network. 
    • Message Sent: A message is sent to the pager via phone or computer, then relayed through a paging network’s base station.
    • Radio Signal Transmission: The paging system then broadcasts a radio signal, carrying the message, to the pager’s unique identification code (address). This signal is transmitted over dedicated radio frequencies.
    • Pager Receives Signal: The pager listens for signals on the specific frequency and, when it recognizes its code, it picks up the transmitted message or phone number.
    • Alert: Upon receiving the message, the pager alerts the user and the message is displayed.
• Hezbollah:
  • About: Hezbollah is a Iran backed Shia Islamist political party and militant group rooted in Lebanon, which arose in the 1980s in response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. 
    • It is designated as a terrorist organisation by several nations, including the United States and Israel.
• Reasons for Iran Backed Hezbollah’s Reliance on Pagers:
  • Evade Israeli location-tracking: Pagers use their own frequency and are therefore considered more reliable as they bypass mobile telephone networks that can be impacted by frequent interruptions, connection issues or can be intercepted.
  • They offer reliable, real-time communication in areas with poor cellular coverage or during emergencies.

Green Climate Fund (GCF)

More on the news

• The GCF has identified 19 climate-vulnerable nations that have received little or no funding from the organisation.
• These nations include Algeria, the Central African Republic, Chad, Iraq, Lebanon, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, and Somalia.

About Green Climate Fund

• Founded: It was set at COP 16 held in Cancun in 2010
• Headquarters: Songdo, Incheon, South Korea. 
• It is a major climate finance organisation.
• It was established under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• This fund focuses on the needy societies that are highly impacted by climate change such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and African States.
  • The funds help countries:
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Adapt to climate change effects such as storms, droughts, heatwaves, and rising sea levels.
• Goals of GCF:
  • Enhance the organization’s role as a key partner for the most vulnerable nations.
  • Ensure funds are used effectively where they are needed most.

Demchok and Depsang friction points 

About Demchok and Depsang Friction 

• Location: Both Demchok and Depsang are in Eastern Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
• Issue:  These areas are the source of tension between India and China.
  • Military Standoffs: Both regions have seen prolonged military standoffs.
  • Unresolved Issues: There has been no resolution to the disputes in these areas.

Disengagement Status at the Border

• Disengagement Areas: China also acknowledged that both sides have undertaken disengagement from four areas in the border areas.
• Current Facts:
  • Partial Disengagement: India and China have mutually agreed and verified disengagement from five of seven friction points.
    • Galwan Valley (post-June 2020 clash)
    • North and South Banks of Pangong Tso (February 2021)
    • Patrolling Point (PP) 17 in Gogra-Hot Springs (August 2021)
    • PP15 (September 2022)
  • Pending Issues: Two friction points, Demchok and Depsang, are still unresolved.
    • Lack of Progress: There has been no significant progress on resolving these two points in the past two years.

Challenges and Concerns

• Infrastructure Build-Up: Both India and China are heavily improving their infrastructure and increasing their military presence along the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• De-escalation Difficulties: The large-scale deployment of troops and equipment by both sides makes it hard to return to the conditions that existed before the standoff began.