Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 20 September 2016
:: National ::
SC body slashed the quantum of Cauvery water that Karnataka is required to release
A technical body, empowered by the Supreme Court, has slashed by three fourths the quantum of Cauvery water that Karnataka is required to release downstream between September 21 and September 30.
However the body has failed to get Karnataka and Tamil Nadu closer to a lasting solution over the water-sharing dispute.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are expected to approach the Supreme Court to seek fresh directions.
The Cauvery Supervisory Committee (CSC) on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cubic feet of water per second (cusecs) for the rest of the month.\
The decision on the quantum of release arrived at after calculating water availability in the river, monsoon performance, agricultural and drinking water requirements in both States, was rejected by both States.
The supervisory committee, at its previous meeting on September 12, had failed to arrive at any decision for want of adequate information on water availability.
Government stepped up diplomatic offensive against Pakistan
A day after the attack on an Army base in Uri, the government stepped up a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan to have it declared a global “terrorist state”, and Army said it reserved the right to respond at the time and place of its choosing.
“UN should take up this issue in a serious manner because terrorism is an enemy of humanity. Pakistan has become an epicentre of terrorism; it’s high time that United Nations comes forward to declare Pakistan a terrorist state” said the government.
While the U.S. has designated Iran, Syria and Sudan as “state sponsors of terror”, the U.N. designates entities and not states.
After the U.S. and U.K.’s statements of condemnation, France, Canada, Russia and China issued strong statements supporting India, even as France and China called for talks between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute.
The government plans to raise the issue of cross-border terror at the U.N. when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the General Assembly on September 26.
Among the options being discussed are targeted strikes on terror camps and targeting of Pakistani posts along the LoC which allow terror groups to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.
However, defence officials are understood to have indicated that a “swift strike” may be unfeasible, and could cause “civilian casualties.”
Meanwhile security installations across J&K have been put on high alert with personnel being told not to venture out to civilian areas.
Intelligence inputs have indicated that there could be more terrorists who have infiltrated in recent days.
Lancet report points to high no. of maternal deaths in India (Register and Login to read Full News..)
:: India and World ::
Fantasy epic Game of Thrones made history at Emmy
Fantasy epic Game of Thrones made television history at the 68th Emmys on Sunday, becoming the most decorated fictional show since the awards began nearly seven decades ago.
The HBO series picked up 12 Emmys, television’s equivalent of the Oscars: nine awards in technical categories and three top prizes at the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles.
That gives it a total haul over the years of 38, overtaking the record of 37 won by long-running comedy Frasier .