Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- The UK House of Commons has approved the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, commonly known as the Assisted Dying Bill.
- Key Provisions:-
- This legislation would allow terminally ill adults over 18, with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live, to seek medical assistance to end their lives. Patients must be mentally competent to make such a decision.
- Assisted dying involves a patient self-administering prescribed life-ending medication, whereas euthanasia involves a doctor actively ending a patient’s life, often without terminal illness as a requirement.
- Ethical debates surround assisted dying. Proponents argue it respects personal autonomy and dignity, citing J.S. Mill’s view of reflective self-determination. Opponents stress the sanctity of life, a belief shared by many religious traditions. Medical ethics also come into question, as assisted dying challenges doctors’ duty to preserve life under the Hippocratic Oath. Critics also warn of potential coercion and misuse, particularly affecting vulnerable individuals like the disabled.
- Why in News?
- According to recent reports, Alphabet's Google has proposed adjustments to its search results to align with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- Key Provisions:-
- This move aims to address regulatory concerns and ensure fair digital market practices.
- Enacted in 2022, the DMA targets major tech companies—referred to as “gatekeepers”—that offer core platform services like search engines, app stores, and messaging platforms. These gatekeepers wield significant influence over the digital ecosystem, and the DMA seeks to prevent them from abusing this power.
- The law promotes fairness, competition, and consumer choice in the online space. It requires platforms to avoid self-preferencing, ensure interoperability, and provide users with options to switch providers easily. By enforcing these standards, the DMA aims to create a more open digital environment where smaller companies can compete and consumers benefit from better service, more transparency, and competitive pricing. Google’s proposed changes reflect the growing regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech in Europe.
- Why in News?
- A woman from Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island, has been identified as the sole known carrier of a newly recognized blood type, named "Gwada Negative."
- Key Provisions:-
- This rare blood group has been officially acknowledged by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and designated as ISBT042.
- Gwada Negative is characterized by the complete absence of the EMM antigen, which is typically found on red blood cells. The EMM antigen is considered a high-incidence antigen, meaning it is present in nearly every human, making its absence extremely rare and medically significant.
- With this discovery, Gwada Negative becomes the 48th officially recognized blood group system worldwide. Its identification is crucial for transfusion medicine, as individuals with such rare blood types face challenges in finding compatible donors. This breakthrough highlights the importance of global genetic diversity in understanding human biology and improving personalized healthcare practices in transfusion science.