Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 23 Jun 2023
- 4 min read
'Made-in-Surat' Eco-Friendly Diamond
During the Indian Prime Minister's visit to the White House, US, an eco-friendly lab-grown diamond (LGD) was presented as a gift to US First Lady Jill Biden. Produced in Surat, India, the diamond showcases the excellence of the country's diamond industry.
LGD are synthetic diamonds produced in laboratories, possessing the same chemical composition and physical properties as naturally occurring diamonds. They are manufactured through High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) methods using a seed diamond, a slice of another diamond. Lab-grown diamonds have applications in industrial tools and machinery due to their hardness, and pure synthetic diamonds are used as heat spreaders in electronics.
Read more: Lab-Grown Diamonds
Summer Solstice
The summer solstice, occurring on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, signifies the longest day of the year. This astronomical event is a result of the Earth's tilt on its axis. This tilt, always at 23.5 degrees with respect to the Sun, creates the phenomenon known as the solstice. The solstice, derived from the Latin phrase meaning "sun stands still,". The Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight between March and September, leading to the summer season in this region. The amount of sunlight received during the summer solstice varies based on latitude, with areas further north experiencing more daylight. In fact, at the Arctic Circle, the sun remains visible throughout the entire day during the solstice.
In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere receives most sunlight on December 21, 22 or 23 when the northern hemisphere has its longest nights– or the winter solstice.
Read more: Summer Solstice: 21st June
National Florence Nightingale Award
Recently, the President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to the Nursing professionals at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the year 1973 as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to the society.
Read more: International Nurses Day
Legal Counsel Challenges ED's Authority in PMLA Arrest Case
A senior counsel representing a petitioner before the Madras High Court questioned the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) jurisdiction to insist on custodial interrogation in a case related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The counsel argued that the PMLA does not grant ED officials the powers of a Station House Officer (SHO), making their demand for custody of the arrested person legally questionable. Additionally, a Supreme Court ruling was cited that restricts custodial interrogation beyond 15 days from the date of arrest, regardless of circumstances.
The ED is a multi-disciplinary organisation mandated with investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
Read more: Directorate of Enforcement, Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
