The Daily Briefs are a comprehensive update of current affairs for the day. To know more about them, read this. If you’d like to receive updates for current affairs every day, you’ll need to subscribe by entering your email address at the right side of this page. The previous Briefs can be accessed at the archives here. Also, check out our mock tests!
- A Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy will deliver separate judgments today at the Supreme Court, on appeals filed by the Karnataka government and others against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, J. Ilavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran in the disproportionate assets case, which has cast a shadow over Ms. Sasikala’s campaign for the chief minister’s chair.
- The GVK-led Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which owns and operates the existing city airport, has won the bid to construct and operate the Navi Mumbai airport, ending a wait of over 15 years.
- Anil Ambani group’s Reliance Defence and Engineering has inked a major contract with the U.S. Navy to provide repair and alteration services for ships of the Seventh Fleet. This would be the first instance of an Indian company, either public or private, providing logistical support to the U.S. military within Indian territory.
- The Supreme Court has agreed to hear in detail a challenge by Jairam Ramesh, MP, to the passing of the Aadhaar Bill as a Money Bill even as the Union government said the judiciary had no jurisdiction to encroach on legislative procedure in Parliament, where the Speaker was the final authority.
- Paving the way for the conduct of kambala, traditional buffalo race, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017.The Bill seeks to exempt kambala and bullock-cart racing from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. Kambala is currently stayed by the High Court following a petition by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
- India’s first floating elementary school named Loktak Elementary Floating School was inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok floating village on Loktak Lake in Manipur. The first of its kind school aims to provide education to drop outs students as well as illiterate adults. Currently it will provide education to around 40 children from Class I-III by engaging two local teachers. It was opened under the initiative undertaken by All Loktak Lake Fisherman’s Union with the support of an NGO People Resources Development Association (PRDA).
- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has planned to develop large deposits of uranium found in Meghalaya to tap its potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for atomic power plants in the country.
- The episode of land acquisition at Singur will be part of the West Bengal Board text books from the current academic session.
- Russia released drone footage showing new destruction in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra, which was recently recaptured by the Islamic State (IS) group, and warned that the militants could be planning the further demolition of antiquities.
- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test and called for a united international response to the “further troubling violation” of UN resolutions. His statement came ahead of an urgent UN Security Council meeting called to discuss Sunday’s missile test — nuclear-armed North Korea’s first since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office.
- The 70th British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards ceremony was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This year the BAFTA awards were conferred for the outstanding performances in films and documentaries screened at British Cinemas in 2016. La La Land won the most awards at the event, winning five and was also most nominated in 11 categories.
- The 59th Annual Grammy Awards were announced by the Recording Academy announced at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016. In this edition of awards, British singer Adele won the most awards in 5 different categories. She also created history by becoming first artist to win the top three categories twice (for first time in 2012).
Thank you