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GS-2
India gave right of passage to Pakistan Minister’s plane
India had granted permission for Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s aircraft to fly over the country for his visit to Male and Colombo
UGC to review PhD theses over last 10 years
The University Grants Commission has launched a review of PhD theses in Indian universities — Central, State and private — over the last ten years, amid concerns that doctoral degrees are being granted to candidates whose theses lack originality and quality.
‘Draft QC orders will raise cost of medical devices’
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), through the Department of Pharmaceuticals, is in the process of finalising a quality-control mechanism for medical devices and has issued draft Quality Control Orders (QCO) for six categories of devices
HC seeks Centre’s response on plea for raising abortion time period
The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking to raise the time period for terminating pregnancy in case of health risk to the mother or the foetus from the current cap of 20 weeks to 24-26 weeks.
Sri Lanka, Japan & India sign deal to develop container terminal
Sri Lanka, Japan and India on Tuesday signed an agreement to jointly develop the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port.
Foreign occupation should end, says Taliban
Senior Taliban officials, including the group’s top political adviser, met with Afghan political figures in Moscow, saying that they were committed to peace in Afghanistan — even as U.S.-led talks appear to have stalled.
China rejects U.S. call for dialogue with Dalai Lama
China has rejected U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad’s call to Beijing to engage in “substantive dialogue” with the Dalai Lama, saying that it was firmly opposed to “foreign interference” in Tibet and its internal affairs.
Attacks on Afghan schools tripled: UN
The number of attacks on schools in Afghanistan nearly tripled last year, UNICEF has said, cutting children’s access to education amid worsening security in the nation.
‘Burnout is not a medical condition’
The World Health Organization said that “burnout” remains an “occupational phenomenon” that could lead someone to seek care but it is not considered a medical condition.
Karnataka ordered to release 9.19 tmcft
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Tuesday ordered Karnataka to release 9.19 tmcft of water for the month of June from the Biligundlu reservoir to the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu.
GS-3
Scientists give the thumbs-up for Anthropocene epoch
On May 21, a 34-member panel of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) voted 29-4 in favour of designating a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene.
Exotic Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed poses threat to coral reef
The invasive Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed, which smothers and kills coral reefs, has spread its wings to coral reef areas in Valai Island in the Gulf of Mannar (GoM) and set to invade new coral colonies in the marine national park.
Post Balakot, Indian Air Force zeroes in on key vulnerability
Drawing lessons from the Balakot air strike, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has identified a shortage of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft to provide round-the-clock surveillance as a major deficiency
Malaysia to send back 450 tonnes of plastic waste
Hundreds of tonnes of imported plastic waste will be shipped back to where it came from, Malaysia said, insisting that the country did not want to be a global dumping ground.
