Context: Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) becomes second country in 2023 after Bangladesh to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.

• According to the WHO progress report on the disease, Nineteen countries have been able to eliminate this disease.

• Of the 19 countries, 11 belong to the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR). Lao PDR is 11th country in the WPR region to successfully eliminate LF.

• South-East Asia region: Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. 

• Africa region: Malawi and Togo.

About Lymphatic filariasis

• Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD), which occurs when filarial parasites mainly nematodes (roundworms) are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

• NTDs are a diverse group of tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

• Commonly known as elephantiasis, this infection is usually acquired in childhood and causes hidden damage to the lymphatic system.

• The painful and profoundly disfiguring visible manifestations of the disease (lymphoedema, elephantiasis and scrotal swelling) occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability.

Cause and transmission

Causes

There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms-

1. Wuchereria bancrofti is responsible for 90% of the cases.

2. Brugia malayi causes most of the remainder of the cases.

3. Brugia timori causes the disease.

Transmission

• Mosquitoes are infected with microfilariae by ingesting blood when biting an infected host.

• Microfilariae mature into infective larvae within the mosquito.

• When infected mosquitoes bite people, mature parasite larvae are deposited on the skin, from where they can enter the body.

• The larvae then migrate to the lymphatic vessels where they develop into adult worms, thus continuing a cycle of transmission.

• Lymphatic filariasis is transmitted by different types of mosquitoes, for example by the Culex mosquito, widespread across urban and semi-urban areas, Anopheles, mainly found in rural areas, and Aedes, mainly in endemic islands in the Pacific.

Symptoms

• Lymphatic filariasis infection involves asymptomatic, acute and chronic conditions.

• It many times does not show external signs of infection while contributing the transmission of the parasite.

• It can damage the lymphatic system and the kidneys and alter the body's immune system.

• When lymphatic filariasis develops into chronic conditions it leads to lymphoedema (tissue swelling) or elephantiasis (skin/tissue thickening) of limbs and hydrocele (scrotal swelling).

Treatment

• The WHO-recommended preventive chemotherapy strategy for elimination of lymphatic filariasis by using Mass Drug Administration (MDA).

• MDA administered an annual dose of medicines to the entire at-risk population.

• The medicines used have a limited effect on adult parasites but effectively reduces the density of microfilariae in the bloodstream and prevent the spread of parasites to mosquitoes.

• Currently there is no vaccine available to prevent this infection in human.

Context: Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have conducted a recent study to investigate drug resistance in cancer cells, focusing on resistance to a drug known as Taxol.

• It studied Chemotherapy and cancer relapse, particularly when a small number of cancer cells resist treatment and remain dormant, potentially leading to a resurgence of the disease.

About Cancer

• It is a complex and broad term used to describe a group of diseases characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body.

• These abnormal cells, known as cancer cells, have the ability to invade and destroy healthy tissues and organs.

• In a healthy body, cells grow, divide, and die in a regulated manner, allowing for the normal functioning of tissues and organs.

• However, in the case of cancer, certain genetic mutations or abnormalities disrupt this normal cell cycle, causing cells to divide and grow uncontrollably.

• These cells can form a mass of tissue called a tumour.

Chemotherapy and its limitations

• Cancer cells are characterized by uncontrolled and rapid division.

• Chemotherapeutic drugs aim to halt this proliferation, often triggering programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, in response to halted cell division.

• However, this approach also damages healthy dividing cells, leading to adverse side effects.

Fine-Tuning Cancer Treatment

• Oncologists face the challenge of finding an effective drug dose that eliminates cancer cells while minimizing unbearable side effects for patients.

• One approach has been the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that target specific proteins found mainly on cancer cells, sparing non-cancerous cells.

Unraveling Drug Resistance

• P-gp Protein: Some cancer cells escape drug treatments by overexpressing a protein called P-gp (permeability glycoprotein), which acts as a pump, expelling toxic compounds, including chemotherapeutic agents.

• ABCB1 Gene: The production of P-gp is controlled by the ABCB1 gene, and cells that produce excessive P-gp can flush out chemotherapy drugs, preventing them from accumulating at levels needed to trigger apoptosis.

Role of Cellular Location

• Recent Findings: The study examined the sensitivity of cells to Taxol and identified that the location of the ABCB1 gene within the cell’s nucleus plays a crucial role.

• Nuclear Envelope: In sensitive cells, the ABCB1 gene is located close to the nuclear envelope. In resistant cells, the gene has detached from the envelope and moved further inside the nucleus, resulting in a 100-fold increase in ABCB1 gene-related RNA.

Key Protein: Lamin B Receptor (LBR)

• LBR’s Influence: Researchers discovered that the presence or absence of a protein called Lamin B Receptor (LBR) affects the location of the ABCB1 gene.

• Depletion of LBR: When LBR is depleted, cells can activate the ABCB1 gene when exposed to Taxol. However, the absence of the LBR gene itself does not immediately increase ABCB1 expression, indicating the involvement of additional factors.

• Diverse Responses: Different cancer types exhibit varying responses to LBR depletion, highlighting the complex mechanisms governing gene expression and silencing.

• Analogy: A simple analogy illustrates the diversity: Different bathrooms offer various options for drying clothes, and cancer cell types rely on different mechanisms to tether genes to the nuclear envelope.

Significance

• These findings emphasize the need for further research into the diverse ways cancer cells express or suppress genes.

• Understanding drug resistance mechanisms opens avenues for developing strategies to maintain the potency of anti-cancer drugs while minimizing side effects, ultimately benefiting patients on their path to recovery.

Context: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued a directive aimed at ensuring that Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognized start-ups are not burdened with unnecessary scrutiny under the revised angel tax provisions in the Finance Act, 2023.

New Tax Directives Related to Start-ups

• The CBDT has directed its officers to refrain from scrutinizing the angel tax provisions for start-ups that have received recognition from the DPIIT.

• This directive comes in response to concerns raised by many start-ups regarding scrutiny notices for angel tax.

Recent notifications regarding the angel tax

Exemptions given to investors from 21 countries

• In May 2023, the Finance Ministry had exempted investors from 21 countries including the US, UK and France from the levy of angel tax for non-resident investment in unlisted Indian start-ups.

• However, the list excluded investment from countries like Singapore, Netherlands and Mauritius.

Final valuation rules for foreign and domestic investors

• In September 2023, the Finance Ministry notified final valuation rules for foreign and domestic investors into unlisted companies such as start-ups under the new angel tax mechanism.

• The rules had accounted for the industry’s calls by addressing an additional sub-clause of compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS).

• CCPS are a type of preferred stock that can be converted into a fixed number of equity shares of the issuing company after a specified date.

• It stated that the valuation of CCPS can also be based on the fair market value of unquoted equity shares.

• The tax department has asked its field officials to not do verification for the “recognised” start-ups for cases pertaining to Section 56 (2) (viib) of the Income-tax Act.

• There are 99,380 startups recognised by the DPIIT.

• Besides, in cases where proceedings are auto generated, contentions of such recognised startup companies on the issues will be summarily accepted.

• However, they may be subject to verification for other taxation issues.

• This clarification by the tax department comes after many startups had raised concerns about receiving scrutiny notices for angel tax.

• Many startups received notices under Section 56(2)(viib). They were asked to furnish income tax returns (ITRs) of their stakeholders for the past three consecutive years.

Angel Tax

• Angel tax is an income tax levied at the rate of 30.6% when an unlisted company issues shares to an investor at a price higher than its fair market value.

• Angel Tax is a term basically used to refer to the income tax payable on the capital raised by unlisted companies via the issue of shares through off-market transactions.

• This tax is levied on the capital raised via the issue of shares by unlisted companies from an Indian investor/ foreign investors from certain countries if the share price of issued shares is seen in excess of the fair market value of the company.

• The excess realization is considered as income and therefore, taxed accordingly.

• E.g., If the fair market value of a start-up share is Rs 10 apiece, and in a subsequent funding round they offer it to an investor for Rs 20, then the difference of Rs 10 would be taxed as income.

• Angel tax gets its name from the wealthy individuals (“angels”) who invest heavily in risky, unproven business ventures and start-ups, in the initial stages when they are yet to be recognised widely.

• Fair market value is the price of an asset when buyer and seller have reasonable knowledge of it and are willing to trade without pressure.

• Initially, angel tax was applicable only to investments made by resident investors. The Finance Act, 2023 extended this provision to include foreign investors as well.

• This means that when a start-up raises funding from a foreign investor, it will also be counted as income and subjected to taxation.

• However, DPIIT-recognized start-ups are now excluded from the angel tax levy.

What is the rationale behind introducing Angel Tax?

• Rule related to Angel Tax is described in Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

• This clause was inserted into the act in 2012 to prevent laundering of black money, round-tripping via investments with a large premium into unlisted companies.

The Canada Government has removed a total of 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their immunity. The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tension between India and Canada over slain pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

• Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly said 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents.
• Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India.  
• The moves come after Canada's allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harboring separatists and “terrorists," but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as “absurd" and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Trains of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor this morning. 

• The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut with a travel time of less than an hour through urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar.   

• The 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is scheduled to be opened for passengers on October 21 (Saturday). 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen interacting with school children and crew of RapidX train - 'NaMo Bharat' - connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, onboard the train. 

• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), in April, had named RRTS trains as 'RAPIDX'. NCRTC is implementing India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service project. The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 kmph.

The cabinet also approved the Amendment of Arunachal Pradesh State Industrial and Investment Policy 2020, which is expected to make the state a favoured destination for investment 

• The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet approved the constitution of a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the three tiger reserves of the state – Namdapha, Pakke and Kamlang.
• A statement from the chief minister’s office mentioned that 336 regular posts will be created for the purpose. 
• According to the 2022 national tiger census, Arunachal Pradesh has a total of nine tigers in the three reserves– a decline of 20 tigers from the previous census done in 2018.

The European Union’s top human rights prize on Thursday, awarded Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year.

• She was arrested by the so-called Iranian Morality Police for not wearing the burqa (a black scarf) properly in a public place. Several videos that went viral on social media platforms showed she slipped into a coma after being tortured brutally by the Iranian police.
• This had prompted worldwide protests against the country’s conservative Islamic theocracy. 
• The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.

The International Monetary Fund expects India to increase its contribution to global growth over the next five years as the economy continues to grow fairly rapidly.  

• India will likely account for 18 per cent of world growth by 2028, up from 16per cent currently, Krishna Srinivasan, director of the Asia and Pacific Department of IMF, told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday.
• India’s faster growth compared with China’s economic slowdown could see the South Asian nation make a bigger contribution to global growth than its larger rival — only temporarily — the latest IMF figures show. 
• However, in terms of the size of their economies, China remains dominant. Based on the latest estimates from the IMF, China’s nominal gross domestic product will increase to $23.61 trillion by 2028, while India’s will reach $5.94 trillion.
• China and India will jointly contribute about half of world growth in both 2023 and 2024, IMF figures show.  

Mumbai is currently under a cyclone alert due to the warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding possible weather disturbances in the city of Maharashtra.

• This alert has been prompted by the expected development of a low-pressure system in the southeastern and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea within the next 48 hours.
• The period from October to December is considered to be favourable for cyclone formation in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, mainly due to higher ocean temperatures.
• If a tropical storm forms in the Indian seas during this time, it will be named "Tej" according to the established cyclone naming practice in the Indian Ocean region. 
• Currently, the chances of this system developing into a cyclonic storm are not considerably high. It is worth mentioning that in 2022, no tropical storms were observed in the Arabian Sea after the monsoon season, whereas the Bay of Bengal witnessed the emergence of two tropical storms, namely Sitrang and Mandous.

World Statistics Day is celebrated every year on 20 October. The day is dedicated to create awareness about the significant role of advanced, reliable, and good quality statistics in the development of global nations.

• The United Nations General Assembly established World Statistics Day on 20 October 2015.
• The main of observing this day is to highlight the huge achievements of national statistical systems, and to foster the importance of statistics in various aspects of society.
• Celebrating World Statistics Day provides an opportunity for statisticians, government organisations, policymakers, and other agencies to promote the values of high quality date and statistics in the current data-driven world. 
• Statistics plays a magnificent role in areas like healthcare, economics, education, environment, and social welfare.
• It not only helps in understanding the complexities of the world, but also helps in the development of effective policies in diverse fields. Statistics is an important aspect of evidence-based decision-making.

Several Foreign Ministers, including those of India, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa, will participate in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers meeting in Colombo on October 11, 2023, according to the Sri Lankan government, which is preparing to take over as Chair of the regional grouping this week.

• Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will chair the Council, the highest decision-making body of the IORA, taking over from the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, the current Chair, for the next two years.
• The Ministers will deliberate on ways to cooperate on six priority areas identified by the IORA, including Trade and Investment, Maritime Safety and Security, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management and Blue Economy. The Council will be preceded by the 25th meeting of the Committee of IORA Senior Officials on October 9 and 10.
• Established in 1997 as an intergovernmental organisation of States on the rim of the Indian Ocean, the IORA has members from Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Oceania. The Association’s membership has expanded to 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is working to upgrade its fleet of Sukohi-30 MKI fighters with indigenous weapon systems and radar named Virupaaksha, sources informed India Today on Thursday( 19 October 2023)

• The IAF currently operates a fleet of more than 250 Sukohi-30MKI fighters.
• The Virupaaksha radar is being developed indigenously, keeping in view the requirements of IAF in different sectors and would be the most advanced one among all the Sukohi-30 variants being flown around the globe, the government sources said.
• The Indian Air Force has been working on a mission mode to indigenise the equipment in its inventory and looking to buy equipment from Indian firms worth over Rs three lakh crore in the near future, the government sources added.

SUKOHI-30MKI JETS

• The Su-30MKI is a multi-role air dominance fighter that can carry a versatile array of weapons including the Astra Mk-1 long-range air-to-air missile, Brahmos Air Launched missile, and an array of bombs, among others.
• It is a 4.5 generation aircraft that can carry out complex manoeuvres at both high speeds and low speeds, which includes the iconic vertical Charlie maneuver.

In a breathtaking display of chess mastery, 24-year-old Indian grandmaster Karthikeyan Murali delivered a remarkable blow to the reigning world champion and number one player, Magnus Carlsen.

• This stunning victory, achieved in the classical chess format at the ongoing Qatar Masters, marks a historic moment in the world of chess. 
• Karthikeyan Murali’s victory over Magnus Carlsen is a significant milestone for Indian chess.
• This remarkable feat occurred in the seventh round of the prestigious tournament, where Karthikeyan deftly handled the black pieces.
• It is only the third instance in chess history where an Indian player has emerged triumphant against the formidable Magnus Carlsen.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship, electronics and information technology, inaugurated Heartland Tripura, a project to impart skill development training to the youth, and said it would attract investments and create jobs.

• The project is undertaken in partnership with Deloitte India and Agartala’s National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology. 
• The minister also said the central government initiated the step to convert the Northeast into a destination of investments and a hub of jobs. 
• He said the government wanted to make Tripura a centre of technological innovation and hoped that big companies like Microsoft and IBM would create opportunities in the state in future.