Baby Wormhole

• Wormholes, or Einstein-Rosen bridges, are theoretical structures that can be considered a tunnel with two ends at different points in space-time.
• This tunnel could be connecting two points at large or small distances, or two different points in time.
• Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) created two simulated black holes in a quantum computer and transmitted a message between them, essentially creating a tunnel in space-time.
• The researchers did not create a rupture in space and time in physical space, it appeared a traversable wormhole was formed based on quantum information “teleported” using quantum codes on the quantum computer.
• The created wormhole is named as baby wormhole.

Doxxing

• Doxxing is basically the revealing of someone’s intimate information, where harassment is the intent.
• It is a popular and controversial tactic used against those with opposing political views and sometimes even celebrities and influencers have been doxxed with real-life consequences.
• In many cases, harassers have used this private information to send SWAT teams or armed police to the homes of many of the victims.
• This private information includes one’s address, phone number, financial information, etc.
• But some have argued that journalistic reports, especially on those running popular but anonymous accounts on social media, are examples of doxxing as well, which is not the case.
• Twitter’s policy now includes sharing the live location of any individual as a possible serious safety and security risk, and this is not allowed.
• The older version of the policy did not mention the live location aspect.

Agni-5 Missile

• The nuclear-capable missile, which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine, has been developed by DRDO.
• The development of Agni missiles started in early 1980 under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
• Medium to Intercontinental versions of Agni missile systems 1 to 5 have varying ranges, starting from 700 km for Agni-1 to 5000 km and above for Agni-5.
• Agni-5 can strike targets at ranges of 5,000 to 5,500 km.
• The missile is operated by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
• In 2021, DRDO successfully tested Agni P, a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.
• This means that the missile can be launched from road and rail platforms, making it easier for it to be deployed and launched at a quicker pace.
• Agni-6 is also said to be under development, with a range starting at 8000 km.

Group of Friends

• India has launched a ‘Group of Friends’ to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.
• India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal are co-chairs of the ‘Group of Friends to Promote Accountability for Crimes against Peacekeepers’.
• Group of Friends represents the "political will" of member states, particularly of the troop and police contributing countries, to champion the implementation of the provisions of U.N. Security Council resolution 2589.
• Resolution 2589 had called upon member states, hosting or having hosted United Nations peacekeeping operations, to take all appropriate measures to bring to justice perpetrators of the killing of, and all acts of violence against United Nations personnel, including, but not limited to, their detention and abduction.

Court Vacations

• The Supreme Court has 193 working days a year for its judicial functioning, while the High Court functions for approximately 210 days, and trial courts for 245 days.
• High Courts have the power to structure their calendars according to the service rules.
• The Supreme Court breaks for its annual summer vacation which is typically for seven weeks, it starts at the end of May, and the court reopens in July.
• The court takes a week-long break each for Dussehra and Diwali, and two weeks at the end of December.
• Generally, a few judges are available for hearing urgent cases even when the court is in recess.
• The combination of two or three judges, called “vacation benches”, hear important cases that cannot wait.
• Cases such as bail, eviction, etc. often find precedence in listing before vacation benches.
• It is not uncommon for courts to hear important cases during vacation.
• For example, in 2015, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court heard the challenge to the constitutional amendment setting up the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) during the summer vacation.
• In 2017, a Constitution Bench led by then CJI J S Khehar held a six-day hearing in the case challenging the practice of triple talaq during summer vacation.