30 May 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Netanyahu’s war
Page no- 10
GS 2, Policies
- At the time, it had seemed the March 25 UN Security Council resolution on Gaza would mark a turning point.
- The demand for a humanitarian ceasefire was not vetoed by the US — it had nixed three such resolutions till then — which signaled that Washington’s support for the Benjamin Netanyahu government was not limitless.
- That perception was strengthened earlier this month when President Joe Biden drew a “red line” around Rafah, saying that a ground offensive against the southernmost city in Gaza would lead to the US stopping its arms supply to Israel.
The vacation red herring
Page no- 11
GS2- Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Judiciary
- As we begin this summer’s court break, the debate about how much time judges actually put in on the Bench has been rekindled by a casual remark from a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, who said that judges work only for a few hours a day, take long vacations and need to modernise.
In heat island, a green oasis
Page no- 11
GS1- Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc
- Our popular imagination of parks is as spaces for rest and recreation.
- But in cities such as Bengaluru, they are also important from an ecology and equity perspective.
- It is, therefore, unfortunate that little attention is paid to these pockets of greenery that contribute to making life bearable in a rapidly concretising city.
- Equally concerning is that parks are becoming battlegrounds for determining who can access them, for what purposes and at what times of the day.
IT/ITeS policy revamp on cards to push sector’s GDP share, exports
Page no- 13
GS3- Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth
- The Centre has initiated discussions with the private sector to revamp its decade-old national information technology policy with an aim to increase share of the country’s burgeoning information technology (IT) sector in India’s gross domestic product, The Indian Express has learnt.
- The sector, which comprises companies like Infosys, TCS and Wipro along with a range of new-age startups, has been a big part of India’s services-led tech exports in the last two decades.
Global trade disruptions leading to rising temperatures: UNCTAD
Page no- 13
GS2- Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate
- Amid the ongoing Red Sea shipping crisis that has forced global shipping lines to take longer routes, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has said that global trade disruptions are causing ships to spend more days at sea causing a surge in the emission of greenhouse gases.
- Since the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel forces began in the Suez Canal last year in October, hundreds of ships have been diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about 10 to 15 days of voyage time resulting in higher emission.
- Reuters reported that more than 600 vessels have been rerouted since the attacks began in October.
Not just Delhi: temperature records are tumbling across the world
Page no- 14
GS1-Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc
- The extremely high temperatures recorded in New Delhi in the last two days are extraordinary.
- But they are in keeping with the global trend in the last couple of years that has seen record-breaking temperatures being reported from several locations across the world.
- For example, the United Kingdom crossed 40 degree Celsius for the first time ever in July 2022.
- A small town in China’s northwest recorded 52 degree Celsius last year, the highest ever for that country.
- In 2021, Sicily in Italy recorded 48.8 degree Celsius, the highest for Europe ever. These are just a few examples.
10 yrs of Manmohan Singh
Page no- 14
GS1-Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country
- From a pre-recorded telephonic message by the Prime Minister himself — “Main Atal Bihari Vajpayee bol raha hoon…(This is Atal Bihari Vajpayee speaking)” — to a blitz “India Shining” campaign that screamed from the billboards about the success of India’s urban growth story — the BJP was certain of tasting victory in the 2004 general elections.
June 1: Vote in Punjab, anniversary of 2 events that changed state’s politics
Page no- 14
GS1-Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country
- June 1, the day Punjab votes in the last phase of the Lok Sabha election, happens to be the anniversary of two pivotal events that have influenced the recent history and politics of the state.
- Both events have featured in the campaign — either as part of direct reminders to electors, or as echoes or references in speeches delivered by certain candidates.
