• A Zero FIR case against a former minister for allegedly making objectionable comments against the Telangana Chief Minister.
   
• About Zero FIR
  • It refers to an FIR that is registered irrespective of the area where the offense is committed.
  • Once registered, it is transferred to the appropriate police station for investigation. 
  • No regular FIR number is provided initially, the relevant police station registers a new FIR for investigation. 
  • The provision for Zero FIR is under Section 154 of the CrPC 1973, based on the Justice Verma Committee's recommendation established after the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
     

• The Election Department of Puducherry will provide Braille signage in English and Tamil in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in all 967 polling stations.
  • It will enable visually impaired or blind voters to participate independently and confidentially in the electoral process. 
  • However, if the elector desires, he/she will still be allowed to bring a companion as provided in Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
• Braille signage is a type of sign that includes braille, a tactile writing system used by blind and visually impaired people. 

• The IMF Board increased the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement to $8 billion for Egypt.

• About EFF
  • It provides financial assistance to countries facing serious medium-term balance of payments problems because of structural weaknesses.
  • It offers longer program engagement and a longer repayment period.
  • EFF Support comprehensive programs with a focus on policies needed to correct structural imbalances over an extended period.
  • All member countries facing actual or potential external financing needs are eligible under it.

About INTERACT

• It is a project of large network of research stations focused on the Arctic and surrounding regions. 
  • Research stations spread across various countries including northern Europe, Russia, US, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Scotland.
• The project is funded by the EU.
• Objective:  Build capacity for identifying, understanding, predicting and responding to diverse environmental changes throughout the wide environmental and land-use envelopes of the Arctic.

• New species of cicada discovered in Meghalaya

• About Cicada
  • It belongs to the genus Becquartina and marks the first-ever record of this genus in the country.
  • The species in this genus are often called “Butterfly cicadas” because of their colourful wings.
  • The present discovery extends the distributional range of the genus Becquartina from Southeast Asia into Northeast India.
    • It increases the total number of known Becquartina species to seven.
•  

• The Swell Waves inundated coastal Areas of Kerala.

• About Swell waves
  • It is a series of mechanical or surface gravity waves generated by distant weather systems that propagate thousands of miles across oceans and seas.
  • These waves can propagate in directions that differ from the direction of the wind.
  • It takes place without any noticeable advance change in local winds or coastal environment
  • They are locally known as Kallakadal.

• Over 3 months, the Indian Embassy rescued 75 Indians trapped in cyber-slavery in Cambodia.

• About Cyber-slavery
  • It is a modern form of human trafficking that exploits people in the digital world. 
  • Victims are lured with employment opportunities and forced to work as online scammers.
  • It is emerging as a form of organized crime of unprecedented severity and scale.

• Russian President confirmed that the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile had been used in battle. 

• Hypersonic Missile
  • Missile that can travel at Mach-5 or faster, or at least five times the speed of sound.
  • They fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, making them harder to track.
  • Their extreme speed and manoeuvrability make them very difficult to defend against.
  • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles are two types of hypersonic weapons systems. 

Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857- 1930)

• Prime Minister paid homage to revolutionary freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Punya Tithi.

• Contributions 
  • Born in modern-day Gujarat, he founded Indian Home Rule Society, India House in London to carry out anti-British activities.
  • Propagated the cause of India’s independence through his writings in his publication journal called “Indian Sociologist”.
  • In 1905, he was barred from practicing law by Inner Temple(a professional associations for barristers in London) following charges of sedition for writing against the colonial government.

• Values: patriotism and selfless service.