Current Affairs

Jordan’s PM Hani Mulki quits after public outrage over tax hike

Widespread anger over economic policies spark largest protests in several years and dozens of arrests.
Jordan’s Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted his resignation to King Abdullah on Monday, an official source said, to soothe widespread anger over economic policies that have sparked the largest protests in several years and dozens of arrests. Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of capital Amman and main provincial towns again on Sunday, extending days of protests that have shaken Jordan, a staunch U.S. ally that has remained stable through years of turmoil in the region.

Police chief Major General Fadel al-Hamoud said security forces had detained 60 people for breaking the law during the protests and 42 security force members had been injured, but protests remained under control.



World Environment Day 2018: Host Country India Focuses on ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’

India, a country that ranks third from the bottom in the global Environmental Performance Index, is hosting the World Environment Day this year, on June 5. The theme for this year is 'Beat Plastic Pollution', which urges governments, industry, communities and individuals to come together and explore sustainable alternatives and urgently reduce the production and excessive use of single-use plastic that is polluting our oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health. When it comes to saving the environment, these Bollywood celebrities believe in working for the cause, and not necessarily for the applause.

From harvesting rainwater to building India's first elephant village, they have been quietly contributing to make the world a better, cleaner and greener place. We are remembering the work of these celebrities on World Environment Day because their efforts extend beyond smiling for the cameras or posing for campaigns. Let's take a leaf from their book.



Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan being implemented in 25 villages in each of the 111 Aspirational Districts from 1st June to 31st July, 2018

The Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ welfare in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has launched the Krishi kalyan Abhiyaan from 1st June, 2018 till 31st July, 2018 so as to aid, assist and advice farmers on how to improve their farming techniques and raise their incomes.

The Krishi kalyan Abhiyaan will be undertaken in 25 Villages with more than 1000 population each in Aspirational Districts identified in consultation with Ministry of Rural Development as per directions of NITI Ayog. In districts where number of villages (with more than 1000 population) is less than 25, all villages will be covered.

An Action Plan comprising specifically identified activities under various departments of the ministry namely, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F) and Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE-ICAR) will be implemented to saturate these 25 villages in each district with these activities.



IATA accuses India of flouting global laws by taxing international air tickets

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today castigated India for taxing international tickets, as it asked governments to facilitate the growth of worldwide connectivity by avoiding creeping re-regulation, maintaining the integrity of global standards and addressing a capacity crisis.

We must take governments to task. It is unacceptable that global standards are being ignored by the very governments that created them, IATA's Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. Ai.

The Indian government had announced the implementation of the GST from July 1, 2017. The tax covers airline products and services including tickets, ancillary, change, refund and other products and fees. De Juniac was presenting a report on the air transport industry at the opening session of the 74th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, which began here today. On aviation's core mission to deliver safe, secure, accessible and sustainable connectivity, the state of our industry is strong and getting stronger. And with 'normal' levels of profitability we are spreading aviation's benefits even more widely.



China increasingly challenges American dominance of science

Like many ambitious young scientists, José Pastor-Pareja came to the United States to supercharge his career. At Yale University, he worked in cutting-edge laboratories, collaborated with experts in his field and published in prestigious journals. 

But the allure of America soon began to wear off. The Spanish geneticist struggled to renew his visa and was even detained for two hours of questioning at a New York City airport after he returned from a trip abroad. In 2012, he made the surprising decision to leave his Ivy League research position and move to China. 

“It is an opportunity not many take,” Pastor-Pareja said. But the perks were hard to resist — a lucrative signing bonus, guaranteed research funding, ample tech staff and the chance to build a genetics research center from scratch.

After decades of American dominance, Chinese science is ascendant, and it is luring scientists like Pastor-Pareja away from the United States. Even more China-born scientists are returning from abroad to a land of new scientific opportunity.



Norway Chess 2018: Viswanathan Anand holds Magnus Carlsen, stays in title contention

STAVANGER (Norway): Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw with reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway to stay in contention for top honours after the end of the fifth round of Altibox Norway Chess tournament, here.


Having won two games in a row with white pieces earlier in the tournament, Carlsen could do little against Anand this time and the Norwegian was not quite happy with his play.

It was a Sicilian through some transposition wherein Anand surprised Carlsen early in the opening. Carlsen in fact came to confessional box and declared early that although the damage was limited he was not very optimistic about getting an advantage.

As it happened in the game, the players reached an identical pawn formation soon and Anand had to find some precise moves to keep Carlsen's pieces at bay. The peace was signed after 45 moves



Indian Navy evacuates 38 Indians stranded on Yemen's Socotra island

The Indian Navy on Sunday evacuated 38 stranded Indians from Socotra island in Yemen where they got stuck after a cyclone hit the area 10 days ago, forcing India to launch an operation to rescue them. All are reported to be safe.

The Navy evacuated the Indians as part of operation 'NISTAR' carried out off the coast of Socotra early on Sunday and embarked them at Indian Naval ship INS Sunayna to bring them back to India. Immediate medical care, food, water and telephone facilities to call and reassure their families at home were provided to them.

"INS Sunya pressed into action to evacuate the 38 Indian nationals from Socotra. The evacuated Indians were ... immediately provided with medical care, food, water and telephone facilities to call and reassure their families. All have been reported to be safe. Post evacuation, the ship would be proceeding towards Porbandar," he said.



Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sworn in for second term amid crackdown on critics

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in for a second term as Egyptian president amid a crackdown on his opponents, after a landslide victory in a March election in which all serious opponents had withdrawn.

Key points:


Mr Sisi has overseen a crackdown on political opponents, struggled to revive the economy
According to his supporters, his harsh measures were needed to protect the state
In March, Mr Sisi won 97 per cent of the vote after all serious contenders had withdrawn



Pedro Sánchez sworn in as Spain’s prime minister after no-confidence vote

Pedro Sánchez was sworn in as Spain’s new prime minister on Saturday, a day after the socialist leader overthrew his conservative predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in a historic vote of no confidence provoked by anger over corruption in Rajoy’s party.

Sánchez, whose PSOE party relied on support from the anti-austerity Podemos party as well as Basque and Catalan nationalists to depose Rajoy, will have to govern with just 84 MPs in Spain’s 350-seat parliament.

The 46-year-old former economics professor has promised to address the “pressing social needs” of citizens in the country still plagued by high unemployment and the effects of the financial crisis, but he faces an uphill battle. Analysts warn that parliamentary consensus will be in short supply, making significant social reforms hard to achieve.



Whistleblower in ICICI-Videocon case levels new allegations against Kochhar in letter to prime minister

Arvind Gupta, the shareholder activist who raised serious concerns about questionable deals between Videocon Group and NuPower Renewables Ltd, a company owned by Deepak Kochhar, husband of ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar, has levelled fresh allegations against the husband-wife duo.

In a letter dated 11 May, 2018, dispatched to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several regulators and ministries, Gupta has said NuPower received round-tripped investments of Rs 453 crore from Essar Group, routed through an organistion called Matix Group and its holding entity Firstland Holdings Limited, both based in Mauritius. These firms are owned by Nishant Kanodia, husband of Smiti Ruia, who is the daughter of Essar Group vice-chairman Ravi Ruia.