9 PM Current Affairs Brief – December 12, 2018

Kochi biennale attempts to make India ‘a place beyond belief News: Kochi biennale attempts to make India a place beyond belief Facts: The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art held in Kochi, Kerala. It seeks to invoke the latent cosmopolitan spirit of the modern metropolis of Kochi and its mythical past, Muziris,… Continue reading Kochi biennale attempts to make India ‘a place beyond belief

US Adds Pakistan to Blacklist For Religious Freedom Violations News: US adds Pakistan, China to its blacklist for religious freedom violations Facts: US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Pakistan be designated as a “country of concern” because of its alleged serious violations of religious freedom. US, in Nov 2018 has designated Burma… Continue reading US Adds Pakistan to Blacklist For Religious Freedom Violations

India to hold talks on upgrading bilateral trade pact with South Korea this week News India and South Korea are negotiating to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Important facts India plans to seek inclusion in the list of countries allowed to participate in the English Program in Korea (EPIK). Earlier the request was… Continue reading India to hold talks on upgrading bilateral trade pact with South Korea this week

India’s FTAs with ASEAN, Japan and Korea have widened trade deficit: Study News: According to a study titled ‘India’s CEPAs with ASEAN, Japan and Korea’ published by Third World Network, India’s three existing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea have led to increasing trade deficits Important Facts: Key takeaways from the… Continue reading India’s FTAs with ASEAN, Japan and Korea have widened trade deficit: Study

El Nino may weaken beyond February 2019, but caution advised News: According to an advisory released by UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), the concurrent 2018 El Nino in the Equatorial Pacific is forecast to weaken beyond… Continue reading El Nino may weaken beyond February 2019, but caution advised

Fighting climate change in the shadow of Mount Everest News Scientists have warned that climate change and consequent melting of glaciers could lead to swelling of Himalayan lakes like Imja and lead to a catastrophe Important Facts: About Lake Imja Located at a height of nearly 5,000m in eastern Nepal, Imja lake is a glacial… Continue reading Fighting climate change in the shadow of Mount Everest

Renewables cross one-fifth of India’s total energy capacity News: According to government data, renewable energy contributes to one-fifth of India’s total energy capacity. Important facts: As of October 2018, renewable energy accounted for 21.12 % (73.35 GW) of the total installed energy capacity of 347.37 GW. Of the 73.35 GW of renewable energy capacity, wind had a… Continue reading Renewables cross one-fifth of India’s total energy capacity

UK, the single largest Western investor in India, says report News: According to a recent report titled ‘Sterling Assets: Britain Meets India’ report by the Confederation of British Industry and Grant Thornton India, United Kingdom has strengthened its investments in India to become the largest single western investor. Important Facts: Key takeaways from the report… Continue reading UK, the single largest Western investor in India, says report

Nasa’s Voyager 2 probe ‘leaves the Solar System’ News: NASA Voyager 2 probe approaches interstellar space Facts: About Voyager Probe The probe is only the second human-built object to leave the bubble of solar particles that emanates from our sun. Voyager 1 departed Earth on 5 September 1977, a few days after its sister spacecraft,… Continue reading Nasa’s Voyager 2 probe ‘leaves the Solar System’

NASA probe finds signs of water on nearby asteroid Bennu News: NASA probe finds signs of water on nearby Asteroid Bennu Facts: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has discovered traces of hydrogen and oxygen molecules near asteroid Bennu. Data obtained from the spacecraft’s revealed the presence of molecules that contain oxygen and hydrogen atoms bonded together, known… Continue reading NASA probe finds signs of water on nearby asteroid Bennu