Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 18 July 2014

India, Brazil to expand trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and two countries signed agreements on cooperation in the field of environment and remote sensing.
During the meeting, the two heads of nations agreed to take steps to further expand and diversify trade and investment flows and deepen cooperation in agriculture and dairy science, conventional and renewable energy, space research and application, defence, cyber security and environment conservation.
They also agreed to intensify cooperation in international forums and multilateral institutions, including the G20.
The two sides signed Memoranda of Understanding on environment; on cooperation in augmentation of a Brazilian earth station for receiving and processing data from Indian Remote Sensing satellites; and on cooperation in the establishment of a consultation mechanism on mobility and consular issues.

The government on Thursday said that based on the outcome of the action plan on Ganga, it may extend it to other major rivers of the country.
Central assistance is being provided to states under two schemes — Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies and Flood Management Programme (FMP) during 12th Plan.
Under the RRR scheme, a total of 3341 water bodies were taken up for restoration in 12 states, out of which 2033 water bodies have been completed till date. Under the FMP, a total of 420 workers were approved during XI Plan out of which 252 works were completed.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will visit India next month to discuss bilateral defence and security ties with Indian officials.
The trip will follow the State Department’s Strategic Dialogue, scheduled for July 31 in New Delhi, and will be first opportunity to engage in a direct and meaningful way with India’s new leadership.
Defence relations continue to play a significant role in advancing the strategic partnership.
One of the pillars of US effort to build a strategic partnership with India on defence issues is the US—India defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
Under the auspices of DTTI, the US was ready to move forward on a number of efforts, from co—production / co— development proposals to procurement and sales.

Kharif production is likely to be lower by about 10 million tonnes owing to deficient and poorly distributed southwest monsoon.
The worst hit will be soyabean, cotton and groundnut harvest in key growing States such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
However, rice output will be unaffected as rainfall has been better in northeast India, and North India has good irrigation facilities.
Monsoon is lower by 41 per cent with 53 per cent departure from normal in north-west India and 55 per cent lower in central India.

A Bill that makes it a punishable offence for public servants to “wilfully neglect” duties on matters relating to atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes was referred to a Standing Committee.
The Bill replaces an Ordinance that states that if a non-SC/ST public servant wilfully neglects duties required to be performed under this Act, he or she shall be punished with imprisonment for a term from six months to one year.
The Bill also makes provisions for States to set up special courts to try offences under the Act.

India will be hosting the 7th IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Summit in 2015.
IBSA is a trilateral initiative amongst India, Brazil and South Africa “to promote, inter-alia, South-South cooperation and exchange”.
The platform was announced, following a meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries in Brasilia in 2003, through the adoption of the Brasilia Declaration.
The IBSA summit involves consultations at the Heads of State level while meetings between Ministers and officials are held at the Trilateral Joint Commission and Focal Point levels respectively.
New Delhi would also be hosting the India Africa Forum in December this year.

A passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down over a town in the east of the Ukraine. killing all 295 people aboard.
Ukraine separatist group blames Ukraine Air Force for the incident. Pro-Russian separatists have told Russian news agency Ria that they are willing to have up to 3-day ceasefire in Ukraine to allow for recovery work at site.
Ukrain has categorically denied the charges.
European Union called for an international investigation into the crash of the Malaysian jetliner in eastern Ukraine and for parties to “share all relevant information”.
The aircraft, which other sources said was a Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, came down near the city of Donetsk, stronghold of pro-Russian rebels, adding that it was hit by a ground-to-air missile.
The region has seen severe fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia separatist rebels in recent days.

The strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year killed 38 people and left millions without power for a second day.
Most of the deaths were caused by toppled trees, collapsed structures and other debris.
Many parts of the eastern and central Philippines are still recovering from Haiyan, which killed more than 6,200 people and displaced over 4 million in November.