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Daily Current Capsules - 20th May 2019

Environment Conservation
The bird that came back from the dead
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the bird)

What's the NEWS
  • New research has shown that the last surviving flightless species of bird, a type of rail, in the Indian Ocean had previously gone extinct but rose from the dead thanks to a rare process called 'iterative evolution'.
  • A study published in zoological journal explained that an extinct bird came back from the dead after a process called ‘iterative evolution' twice.
  • In study done by University of Portsmouth and Natural History Museum, found that on two occasions, separated by tens of thousands of years, a rail species was able to successfully colonise at Aldabra.
  • This bird is called white-throated rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri) which came from its native home in Madagascar to Seychelle Islands Aldabra atoll. This place is believed safest for birds as it is predators free.
Know! more about it
  • Dryolimnas cuvieri first disappeared from the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles 1,36,000 years ago.
  • Since Aldabra is safest place for them, they had lost their ability to flight. Researchers found the last surviving flightless species of bird, a type of rail, in the Indian Ocean came back through a process called "iterative evolution.
Know! about iterative evolution
  • Iterative evolution is a repeated evolution of similar or parallel structures in the development of the same main line.
  • There are many examples of iterative evolution in the fossil record, spanning a wide range of groups. This evolutionary conservatism is probably owing to the overriding morphogenetic control exerted by certain regulatory genes.
International Events
Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the passed legislation + about Taiwan)
What's the NEWS
  • In a landmark decision, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage thus giving gay couples the ‘Right to Marry'.
Know! more about it
  • The Taiwanese parliament took the historic step by passing a law in favour of same-sex couples and allowing them to form ‘exclusive permanent unions'.
  • The bill was passed on 17 May which is celebrated annually as the ‘International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia'.
  • The law contains a clause that allows couples to apply for a ‘marriage registration' with the government agencies.
Know! about Taiwan
  • It is officially called as Republic of China (ROC) and is a self-governing island nation in East Asia.
International Organisations
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about WTISD)
What's the NEWS
  • World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) was celebrated throughout the world on 17TH May
  • The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of WTISD.
Know! about WTISD
  • The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was first observed on 17 May since 1969.
  • The day marks the establishment of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and also the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 in Paris. Since 1969 it is being celebrated every year.
  • It seeks to help raise awareness about possibilities which can be brought to societies and economies with the use of Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT).
This year's theme was: ‘Bridging the standardization gap'. 2019 theme will allow International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Members and other stakeholders to focus on opportunities:
  • To promote implementation of international standards in developing countries.
  • To Increase participation of developing countries in ITU's standards-making process.
  • To empower local experts in standardization process at national, regional and international levels.
Know! About ITU
  • ITU was established in 1865 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It is the specialized agency of United Nations (UN) for issues concerning information and communication technologies (ICTs).
  • The fundamental pillar of ITU's mission is setting standards. ITU standards also help accelerate ICTs for all Sustainable Development Goals(SDG).
  • It is a member of United Nations Development Group (UNDP).
  • Since 1869 India is an active member of ITU. It became a regular member of ITU Council in 1952. In November 2018, India was re elected as a ITU Council's Member for another 4-year term beginning 2019 to 2022
National Affairs
Government issues drought advisory to 6 southern, western states
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the advisory issued )
What's the NEWS
  • The Union Government has issued a drought advisory to states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and asked them to use water wisely as water storage in dams is dropping to a critical level.
  • With the dip in water level in the dams in the southern and western region, the Centre has decided to issue the drought advisory to the concerned states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, requesting them to use water intelligently.
  • The drought advisory is issued to concerned states when the water level in reservoirs is 20 per cent less than the average of live water storage figures of the past 10 years.
Know! more about the key highlights of the advisory
  • Water falls under the state list and the advisory recommends states to use it for drinking purpose only till the dams are replenished.
  • The water storage level in 91 major reservoirs across the country is monitored by the Central Water Commission.
International Affairs
US approves missile sales to South Korea, Japan
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the sale of missiles ) + Mains ( GS III international relations)
What's the NEWS
  • The United states approved more than $600 million worth air defence missile sale to South Korea and Japan, in the wake of mounting tensions with North Korea.
  • The US State Department has approved 94 SM-2 missiles used by ships against air threats, along with 12 guidance systems for a total cost of $313.9 million.
  • It approved the sale of 160 anti-air AMRAAM missiles and related guidance equipment to Japan for $317 million.
The USA North Korea tussle
  • The North Korea reportedly last week tested two-range missiles in its second launch in less than a week.
  • The missile tests come amid a standstill in negotiations between North Korea and the United States, where President Donald Trump had promised of putting an end to the North's missile tests.
  • The second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended in deadlock in February 2019, with the US side refusing demands to ease sanctions until Pyongyang takes major steps to end its nuclear program.
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