Current affairs - July 12, 2016
Kendrapada sheep gets rare
status
‘kuji mendha‘, a threatened breed of sheep found only in coastal Jagatsinghpur and
Kendrapara districts of Odisha has been conferred ‘rare
and singular species‘ tag by the central government. The National
Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has accorded the genetic
recognition. With NBAGR conferring it genetically rare status, conserving these
domesticated species would receive a boost.
India, Kenya to deepen security ties
India and Kenya have signed seven pacts. These pacts were signed
during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to the country.
MoUs signed between the two nations here
300 Indians stranded in Juba as civil war reignites
Reignited civil war in Juba has left at least 300 Indians
stranded. Juba is the capital of South Sudan. Fleeing the fight between the
heavily armed rival factions divided on ethnic lines, Indians have taken refuge
at various locations, including the Embassy of India.
- Law and order has broken down in the country. Even the U.N. peacekeeping contingent was busy defending its bases.
Roots of Khasis
Pre-historic megaliths and tools discovered in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi
district indicate that the Khasi tribe had made the State their home since
around 1200 BCE.
- Excavations carried out near Lummawbuh village in the northern slopes of Sohpetbneng (Heaven’s Naval) peak near the NH-40 revelaed these facts.
- Archealogists have found megalithic structures, and iron implements that date back to the prehistoric period in the ridge spreading over 1.5 k.m.
Cyber cell:
To address the issue of trolls and abusive online behaviour, the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry has set up a cyber cell and appointed an officer of the rank of joint secretary to monitor it. As part of the initiative, a separate e-mail id will be created for women to file their complaints. The cyber cell will go through the complaints. If the trolling pertains to threat or violent behaviour, the cell will refer it to the cyber crime department of Delhi Police for necessary action. Complaints will also be sent to social media platforms — Twitter or Facebook — where the alleged online abusive behaviour took place.
To address the issue of trolls and abusive online behaviour, the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry has set up a cyber cell and appointed an officer of the rank of joint secretary to monitor it. As part of the initiative, a separate e-mail id will be created for women to file their complaints. The cyber cell will go through the complaints. If the trolling pertains to threat or violent behaviour, the cell will refer it to the cyber crime department of Delhi Police for necessary action. Complaints will also be sent to social media platforms — Twitter or Facebook — where the alleged online abusive behaviour took place.
Bornean orangutan:
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is now critically endangered, with populations in sharp decline due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting. This was announced by the IUCN recently. Bornean orangutans live only on the island of Borneo, where their populations have declined by 60% since 1950. New projections anticipate their numbers will fall another 22% by the year 2025 to an estimated 47,000 apes. The species, along with the Sumatran orangutan (critically endangered), belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. The new IUCN findings suggest that hunting, habitat destruction, habitat degradation and fragmentation are the biggest drivers behind the population loss.
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is now critically endangered, with populations in sharp decline due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting. This was announced by the IUCN recently. Bornean orangutans live only on the island of Borneo, where their populations have declined by 60% since 1950. New projections anticipate their numbers will fall another 22% by the year 2025 to an estimated 47,000 apes. The species, along with the Sumatran orangutan (critically endangered), belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. The new IUCN findings suggest that hunting, habitat destruction, habitat degradation and fragmentation are the biggest drivers behind the population loss.
Dr Raghuveer Chaudhari:
Gujarati litterateur Dr Raghuveer Chaudhari was recently honoured with the 51st Bharatiya Jnanpith award for the year 2015 by President Pranab Mukherjee. The Jnanpith Award is one of the prestigious literary honours in the country. The award was instituted in 1961. Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour.
Gujarati litterateur Dr Raghuveer Chaudhari was recently honoured with the 51st Bharatiya Jnanpith award for the year 2015 by President Pranab Mukherjee. The Jnanpith Award is one of the prestigious literary honours in the country. The award was instituted in 1961. Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour.
Committee on Minimum Support Price (MSP):
The government has decided to set up a committee headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian to consider increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the bonus for pulses, a move that could promote pulses farming. The committee would consider a reasonable increase in the MSP for pulses and bonus for farmers for growing the crops. The committee will submit a report within two weeks.
The government has decided to set up a committee headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian to consider increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the bonus for pulses, a move that could promote pulses farming. The committee would consider a reasonable increase in the MSP for pulses and bonus for farmers for growing the crops. The committee will submit a report within two weeks.
Sushila Karki recently took charge as the first woman chief justice of Nepal’s
Supreme Court.
Euro-2016:
- Winner- Portugal
- Runnerup- France
