Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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India, U.K. in talks over education

News

• India and the United Kingdom (U.K.) were holding talks to seal an agreement on mutual recognition of educational qualifications, London’s envoy said.

Beyond News

• Sir Dominic Asquith said that education was a major area of bilateral cooperation between the two sides which was likely to feature in official discussions during the upcoming London visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• India’s non-recognition of the one-year masters programmes given by various British universities had been an issue between two sides as these courses are popular among Indian students.
• One of the factors that had prevented India from recognising the one-year master courses was the fact that several less-reputed educational institutions were also found to be offering such courses, often jeopardising academic prospects of students.
• But Mr. Asquith assured that the government of Prime Minister Theresa May had undertaken steps to prevent Indian students from falling for such institutions.

Agreement with France

• India last month signed an agreement on mutual recognition of educational degrees with France, during the visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Delhi.
• The British envoy observed that ongoing talks between London and Delhi were on the lines of the Indo-France one.
• While international issues like the attempted assassination of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter with nerve chemical agent were expected to be the talking points at the Commonwealth meeting, the bilateral issues like cybersecurity cooperation and data protection were also expected to be on top of the agenda.

Seven MoUs signed with Russian OEMs

News

• Seven MoUs were signed at the Defiance Expo 2018 by Indian private companies and Russian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture and develop spares and sub-assemblies of identified Russian-origin platforms in use by the Indian armed forces.

Beyond News

• The MoUs were signed after the third India-Russia Military Industrial Conference at the Defence Expo 2018.
• The delegations from the two sides deliberated on the need to improve after-sales support of Russian-origin platforms being used by the Indian forces.
• They also deliberated on facilitating domestic manufacturing of some of the identified spare parts through collaborations between Indian vendors and Russian OEMs.
• Earlier in the day, secretary, Defence Production, invited Russian companies to invest in India. He invited them to manufacture spare parts and facilitate the transfer of technology of Russian equipment in India’s armed forces.
• Platforms such as Sukhoi 31, Mig-29, Mi-17 and INS Vikramaditya have been identified for manufacturing of spares in India through joint ventures and transfer of technology with Russian OEMs.

US and allies launch strikes on Syria

News

• The United States, Britain and France launched punitive military strikes against Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime in response to its latest alleged chemical weapons atrocity, President Donald Trump announced on Friday.

Beyond News

• Shortly after Mr. Trump began a White House address to announce the action, large explosions were heard in the Syrian capital  of Damascus.
• A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now under way.
• A U.S. official said the strikes had targeted chemical production facilities. Another official said multiple types of bombs were used, and a variety of targets chosen.
• Trump also warned Russia and Iran not to stand by their ally in Damascus.
• The strikes had been expected since harrowing footage surfaced of the aftermath of the alleged toxic gas attack in the Damascus suburb of Douma, which took place a week ago.
• Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria.
• Trump’s anger and apparent determination was quickly matched by France’s President Emmanuel Macron, who signed his country up for a joint response.
• Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May was more cautious, but by the time the first precision cruise missile was launched, Mr. Trump had a mini-coalition.
• May said there was “no practicable alternative” to the use of force against Assad.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Turtle with punk hairdo on endangered species list

News

• Boasting a green, punk hairdo and the unusual ability to breathe through its backside, an Australian turtle has become famous overnight but not only for its eccentricity.

Beyond News

• Unfortunately, just as many people are discovering the Mary River Turtle’s tantalising traits, it has become the latest creature to join the “EDGE of Existence” list of endangered species compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
• A native of Queensland, Australia, the turtle was one of 100 reptiles added to the catalogue this week.
• It lives only in the Mary River from which it takes its name. The inventory has no shortage of weird and wonderful creatures a limbless lizard, the world’s largest sea turtle, a blind snake, and a chameleon named after Tarzan.
• The species is known to scientists as Elusor macrurus. It can breathe underwater through specialised glands in the cloaca  orifices through which the turtle excretes urine and waste, and lays eggs.
• This turtle is able to spend so much time underwater — up to three days — without coming up for air due to its strange ability to breathe through its bum.
• They have specialised organs in their cloaca which process oxygen from the surrounding water.
• But perhaps the computer screen-sized turtle’s most distinguishing feature is the bright green, spiky mohawks sprouting on the heads of some.
• This is not hair, but algae. The Mary River Turtle spends so much time submerged underwater that some individuals become covered in algae and can end up with some pretty impressive bright green hairstyles!.
• According to Australia’s department of the environment, the Mary River Turtle’s rapid decline was sparked by its popularity as a house pet in the 1970s and 80s, known then as the “Penny Turtle”.
• The creature was only recognised and listed as a distinct species in 1994.
• Destruction of the creatures’ natural habitat through the building of dams, as well as the collection of its eggs for the pet trade, piled on the survival pressure.

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