Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 12 MAY 2019
::NATIONAL::
PM greets scientific community on National Technology Day
- President Ram Nath Kovind today greeted the scientific community
on National Technology Day marking the anniversary of the Pokhran nuclear
Tests of 1998.
- In a tweet, he said India is committed to using technology to
accelerate the developmental process and ensure a dignified existence for
every citizen.
- He said, the hard work of the scientists has always ensured a
stronger and safer India. He expressed hope that the country will continue
leveraging the power of technology for national progress.
- The Prime Minister said, the patriotism and farsightedness of the
former Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayee and his team had a major role to
play in the success of tests of 1998. He said AtalJi’s unwavering faith in
scientists proved valuable during that crucial time.
- He said it also demonstrated the difference a strong political
leadership makes.
Vice president addresses world leaders on UN day in Vietnam
- Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today urged the world leaders to
work together to promote dialogue, harmony and justice based on compassion
and wisdom. He said, sustainable society is possible only through
sustainable consumption and production given the limited natural resources.
- The genesis of conflict among nations has roots in the idea of
hate and violence originating from an individual’s mind-space. He said, the
growing menace of terrorism in the world is a manifestation of this
destructive emotion.
- Mr Naidu said, the proponents of ideologies of hate need to be
constructively engaged to avoid mindless death and destruction. He said,
Buddha’s message of peace and compassion provides an ideology and effective
answer to overcome sectarian and ideology-driven violence all over the
world.
::ECONOMY::
Jute availability projected to increase by 10 %
- Raw jute availability is expected to improve in 2019-20 with an
almost 10% increase being projected for the crop.
- Estimates are about 79 lakh bales in 2019-20 against 72 lakh bales
final estimate for 2018-19. Taken together with the opening stock and
imports, the total supply is estimated at 101.4 lakh bales against 97.4 lakh
bales.
- Although the crop estimates given by the various agencies have
differed, indications were that this year would be good for jute farmers, a
senior IJMA member told. At the meeting, the Director of the Jute
Development Directorate said that in 2019-20, the area coverage and
production would be normal and a crop size of 112 lakh bales was estimated.
- Farmers also got good prices, amid rumours of a crop shortage in
2018-19, it was learnt. Jute mills, too, have consumed more (69 lakh bales
against 68 lakh bales estimated earlier for 2018-19 by JAB) with good order
for foodgrain sacks, under the mandatory Jute Packaging Order.
RHCA meeting of World customs organisation concludes
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) had
organised a Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration of
Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Kochi from
08th to 10th May, 2019. India hosted this Conference in its capacity as
Vice-Chair of the Asia Pacific Region of WCO which it assumed on 1st July,
2018 for a two-year period.
- The Conference took stock of the progress made in carrying forward
the programmes and initiatives of WCO to promote, facilitate and secure
cross-border trade in the Region and the capacity building and technical
assistance required by Member Administrations to achieve these goals.
- In addition to the discussions on the strategic priorities of the
Asia Pacific Region, the Conference also deliberated on the work programs of
the Vice-Chair, ROCB & RILO, security related issues, trade facilitation,
e-commerce, performance measurement, trusted trader programmes and emerging
technological and logistical challenges in the fields of trade facilitation
and Customs Administrations. The Conference also facilitated Bilateral
Meetings between the Member States.
- Recognising the importance of the collaborative approach between
Customs and trade, a Trade Day was organised on 7th May, 2019 as a precursor
to the Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs.
- In the daylong deliberations, representatives from trade &
industry and think-tanks shared their insights and experiences that are
expected to shape the thinking of customs administrations of the region in
adopting policies and measures to promote trade facilitation and secure
global trade, and promote ethical leadership.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Former Maldives president calls for tight screening after srilankan blasts
- Mohameed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives, has called for
thorough screening of Islamic priests visiting the island nation.
- “While we are not certain if ZahranHashim came to the Maldives in
2016 as a preacher, we should screen well before allowing people to come
here posing as sheikhs and preachers,” he tweeted on Friday, referring to
the alleged mastermind of the Sri Lanka Easter attacks.
- Following the incident, and subsequent reports of the suspects’
movement in the region, security and intelligence agencies in the
neighbourhood have enhanced scrutiny of travellers. Sri Lanka has expelled
around 200 clerics for overstating their visas. Clarifying his tweet that
was in Dhivehi, the language of Maldivians, Mr.Nasheedtold : “He [Zahran]
might have travelled under another name, but the point is that we should be
mindful in allowing preachers.”
- Earlier, some reports indicated to Hashim’s likely travel to the
Maldives. However, the Maldives Immigration authorities refuted the claim.
An April 24 tweet from their official handle said: “Maldives Immigration can
confirm that, based on our records, the Sri Lankan national known as
MoulviZahranHashim, involved in the Easter Sunday terrorist attack in Sri
Lanka. has not travelled to Maldives in the past five years or even beyond
that.”
- In addition to developing a rehabilitation programme for
radicalised individuals, the government is closely monitoring potential
links that radicalised individuals might have with Islamist militant groups
abroad, according to Male-based official sources. Security forces and
Immigration have heightened scrutiny, though authorities have said no
imminent threat that has been detected.
India and Australia moves towards classified communication environment
- Though the Australian Navy is, at present, “hanging off” COMCASA —
India’s secure communications agreement with the U.S. — Australia and India
are “moving forward” toward a classified-level communications environment, a
senior Australian Navy spokesperson said.
- The spokesperson said COMCASA (the Communications Compatibility
and Security Agreement) was a “major step forward”, especially for
interactions between navies of two countries that are restricted to the
classified environment, for example, conversations on counter-terrorism.
- “Now we will see India moving to classified communications
environment that one would see, for instance, in the Combined Task Force
150, 151 and 152 operations [relating to counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and
maritime security], where there is a bunch of like-minded countries that
have a communications system that is operating at the classified level, to
be able to allow them to talk together,” the official said.
- At the present juncture, communication in an unclassified environment is
part of an age-old tradition of ships meeting on the high seas, the
spokesperson added, though even in that space, there has recently been an
“evolution of authority to Indian Navy ships’ commanding officers to be able
to do passage exercises”.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
Bioremediation technique to contain arsenic contamination in soil developed
- Several studies have pointed out that using arsenic-contaminated
water for agricultural purposes can lead to increased concentration of
arsenic in fruits and grains, proving toxic to humans.
- The researchers studied the two bacteria under different
concentrations of arsenate and arsenite, the toxic forms of heavy metal.
Arsenic treatment did not stunt or delay the growth of both the bacterial
strains.
- The bacterial strains were further scrutinised to understand if
they can help in plant growth too. In studies carried out in the lab, both
the bacteria were able to solubilise phosphorus. Phosphate solubilising
bacteria have been reported to increase phytoavailability of phosphate, thus
facilitating plant growth.
- These two bacterial strains were also found to produce
siderophores and ACC deaminase enzyme. Siderophore increase the
bioavailability of iron and other metal ions in polluted soil environment
and ACC deaminase is a well known plant growth promoting enzyme.
::SPORTS::
Kiki Bertens wins Madrid open
- Kiki Bertens beat SimonaHalep 6-4, 6-4 to win the 2019 women's
title in the Madrid Open tennis tournament.In the men's competition, Novak
Djokovic will face StefanosTsitsipas in today's men's final.
- Barbara Strycova and Hsieh Su-Wei won the women's doubles title,
beating Dabrowski and XuYifan 6-3, 6-1 in the final.
