9 PM Current Affairs Brief – May 17th, 2018

New vistas for India SCO News: China will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SC0) summit at Qingdao in June, 2018 Important Facts: 2. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian multi-government organization established in 2001 3. The organization was launched by China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan 4. At present there are 8… Continue reading New vistas for India

General V.K. Singh makes surprise visit to North Korea India – North Korea News: Recently, Minister of State for External Affairs visited North Korea. Important Facts: 2. Range of bilateral issues covering political, regional, economic, educational and cultural cooperation figured in the India-North Korean talks 3. Concern over North Korea’s possible proliferation links with Pakistan… Continue reading General V.K. Singh makes surprise visit to North Korea

Even Parliament can’t deny right to life and liberty: SC Life and liberty News: The Supreme Court has defended the dilution of SC/ST Act and observed that even Parliament cannot allow the arrest of a person without a fair procedure. Important Facts: 2. The SC asserted that decision to dilute SC/ST Act seeks to protect… Continue reading Even Parliament can’t deny right to life and liberty: SC

Death in Gaza Israel- Palestine News: Violence erupted in Gaza after America opened its embassy in Jerusalem Important facts: S President Donald Trump’s decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem has complicated the peace process in Palestine The embassy shift happened on the eve of 70th Anniversary of Nabka- In 1948 thousands of Palestinians were… Continue reading Death in Gaza

Naveen ups the ante on Mahanadi River Dispute; Mahanadi river News: Recently, the Odhisa government started Mahanadi Suraksha Abhiyan (Save Mahanadi Campaign) Important Facts: 2. The 15-day long campaign seeks to aware people about the threat of construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government. 3. The campaign will cover 15 of the 30 districts of… Continue reading Naveen ups the ante on Mahanadi

Karnataka’s plea on Cauvery rejected Cauvery water dispute News: The Supreme Court on 16th May, 2018 refused Karnataka’s repeated pleas to pause the Cauvery management scheme, framed by the Center, till July’2018. Important facts: 2. Reason behind Karnataka’s plea: Formation of new government is still going on and The state wants to give suggestions on… Continue reading Karnataka’s plea on Cauvery rejected

Ready to join dialogue with India: Pak Army India- Pakistan News: The Pakistan army has recently announced that it is ready to enter into a dialogue process with India Important Facts: 2. India has been of the opinion that Pakistan Army is not in agreement with Pakistan’s civilian government when it engages in talks with… Continue reading Ready to join dialogue with India: Pak Army

Banned Ozone-destroying chemical on rise News: A new study published in the journal Nature, reveals rising emissions of ozone-destroying chemical banned by Montreal Protocol. Important Facts: 2. The ozone layer, a part of the stratosphere, extends 10 to 40kms above earth’s surface. It protects the earth from deadly ultraviolet rays of the sun 3. Industrial… Continue reading Banned Ozone-destroying chemical on rise

Newest frog in India is from Karnataka New species News: A team of researchers has discovered a new species of frog –Mangaluru narrow mouthed frog, in Karnataka Important Facts 2. The Mangaluru narrow mouthed frog is found only in one urban locality, close to the New Mangalore Port 3. Facts about the frog: Species: Microhyla Kodial… Continue reading Newest frog in India is from Karnataka

Cabinet approves new policy for biofuels Biofuels; ethanol News: The Union cabinet has approved the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 Important Facts: 2. Salient features of the policy: Categorizes biofuels as: a) First Generation (1G), which produce bio-ethanol from molasses and bio-diesel from non-edible oilseeds. b) Second Generation (2G) ethanol that can be produced from… Continue reading Cabinet approves new policy for biofuels

Mysuru cleanest among medium-sized cities in India Clean city; swachh bharat News: Indore has been named India’s cleanest city under Swachh Survekshan 2018 Important Facts: 2. Swachh Survekshan is a survey aimed at assessing all the municipal cities in the country for their progress on the Swachh Bharat Mission 3. State ranking has been introduced… Continue reading Mysuru cleanest among medium-sized cities in India

Anything but green The draft national forest policy 2018 News: The author, Ritwick Dutta, an environmental lawyer is of the opinion that even after the release of Draft National Forest Policy, the main motive for a new Forest Policy still remains unattended. Analysis: 2. According to the existing National Forest Policy, 1998: The need for… Continue reading Anything but green

Rupee rout Rupee depreciation News: The Indian rupee recently fell below 68.07 against the U.S. dollar, lowest level in 16 months. Important facts: 2. The rupee has weakened 6.2% in 2018.  This is due to: Rise in crude oil prices, rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and Decreasing global supply. 3. India’s merchandise exports are… Continue reading Rupee rout

Cliff habitat needs a vulture safe zone Environment News: Conservationists observe that there is a need to augment the conservation efforts to protect Palarapu cliff vulture habitat in Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Telangana Important Facts: 2. The Long-billed vulture or Indian vulture is critically endangered. 3. Palarapu cliff habitat is the only vulture habitat in Telangana… Continue reading Cliff habitat needs a vulture safe zone