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    Genome of the Asian elephant sequenced for the first time in India  –   (Environment) Why is there an increase in tuskless males among Asian elephants? Why do only males have tusks in Asia, while in Africa, both the sexes have tusks? Why does the elephant in the sub-continent have a keener sense of smell – sharper than that of a dog – than its African counterparts? Read More…

    SC steps in before U.P. Lokayukta takes over  –   (Indian Polity) In a dramatic twist 24 hours before Justice (retired) Virendra Singh is scheduled to swear in for an eight-year term as the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta, the controversy over his candidature refused to die down. The court asked the State on Saturday to defer his formal oath-taking ceremony till January 6. &nRead More…

  MHA sends back anti-conversion Bills  –   (Indian Polity) Even as the BJP-led NDA government has favoured an anti-conversion law — it has put the onus on the Opposition — the Ministry of Home Affairs has sent the pending anti-conversion Bills of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh back to these States. The MHA, the go-between the State and the President for Bills that are repugnant Read More…

    Luxury diesel vehicles banned in Delhi, NCR  –   (Environment) In a strong step to release the stranglehold of air pollution on the Capital city, the Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed a ban on the registration of diesel-run private cars of the capacity of 2000 CC and above and SUVs, noting that these vehicles were used by the rich and the common man or average citizen woulRead More…

      China consolidates in Africa following $60 billion pledge  –    (Economics) China is set to expand investments in Africa that would help absorb its excess manufacturing capacity as part of an effort to re-engage with the continent and integrate it within its Belt and Road connectivity framework. In tune with the meeting in Johannesburg, of the Forum on China-AfRead More…

    Israel is systematically killing Palestinians: Abbas  –   (International Relation) Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has said the recent eruption of violence in Jerusalem and West Bank is a “reaction to the violence and atrocities committed by Israeli security forces and settlers” against Palestinians. “This spontaneous movement was launched by Palestinians, MusliRead More…

      Supreme Court will ensure rule of law, says CJI Thakur  –    (Indian Polity) Noting that there is a political angle to the whole religious intolerance debate, Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur sent a strong message against divisive forces, saying that India is an inclusive society where people of all faiths and religions flourish with mutual respect and thRead More…

    How Bollywood turns black money into white  –   (Security) Behind the glitzy silver screen lies a dark secret. A recent report of the Income Tax Department wipes the gloss off Mumbai’s film industry, exposing its bad tax conscience: a combination of dodging and economic offences. Tax avoidance, evasion and dodgy financial dealings seem to be more the norm than the excRead More…

    Odd-even vehicles to run date-wise  –   (Governance) Frenetic activity related to implementation of the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme, which the Aam Aadmi Party government has proposed to check the rising levels of pollution, was witnessed in the Capital on Tuesday. While Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to seek the CentrRead More…

    Paris climate draft goes into the final round  –  (International Relation) A ‘Draft Paris Outcome’ providing the final base text for the 195 countries of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to craft the Paris agreement was released on Wednesday evening. It contains a provision for a progress review of the agreement that could be either in 2023 or 2024. &Read More…