Benzene
It has been found that certain cosmetic product contain harmful chemicals like Benzene.
- Benzene – It is a colourless or light yellow liquid at room temperature.
- Features –
- Has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.
- Highly volatile compound and is a natural component of gasoline and tobacco smoke.
- It is soluble in water
- Applications – Shoemaking, painting, printing and rubber manufacturing.
- Issues –
- Contaminate surface waters and soil.
- Health impacts include headache, tremors, including cancer and haematological effects
Blue Line
US envoy to Lebanon emphasised situation along the blue line has to change to guarantee peace and security.
- Blue Line – A boundary separating Israel and Lebanon (Blue Line is also a learning ecosystem created by the UN System Staff College)
- Set by – United Nations in 2000.
- Purpose – To confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south of Lebanon
- Extends from – Mediterranean to the Golan Heights to the east
INS Jatayu
Naval Detachment Minicoy has been commissioned in Indian Navy as INS Jatayu.
- INS Jatayu – India’s 2nd naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak
- Significance –
- Facilitate Indian Navy’s operational effort towards Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics Operations in Western Arabian Sea
- Augment Indian Navy’s capability as the first responder in the India Ocean region
- Augment connectivity with the mainland.
- Minicoy – Southernmost island of Lakshadweep
Global Counter-terrorism Forum (GCTF)
At 20th meet of US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group, US and India reaffirmed commitment to cooperation in GCTF.
- GCTF – An informal multilateral counterterrorism platform.
- Launched in – 2011
- Mission – To diminish terrorist recruitment and increase countries’ civilian capabilities for dealing with terrorist threats
- Members – Currently it has 32 members, including India
- Currently co-chaired by – Egypt and the European Union.
Gray Whale
Gray Whale has appeared off the coast of the United States’ New England region
- Gray Whale – It is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly.
- Habitat – North Pacific and adjacent seas
- Migrations – Known for their extensive migrations, covering up to 12,000 miles round trip between feeding and breeding areas.
- IUCN Status – Least Concern