- The U.S. and China agreed to suspend most tariffs on each other’s goods.
- Trade Imbalance: The U.S. Trade Representative pointed to a $1.2 trillion trade deficit with the rest of the world as justification for tariffs.
- The Trump administration viewed this as the U.S. being "ripped off" by trading partners who protected and subsidized their own industries while benefiting from open U.S. markets.
- Strategic Protectionism: The administration believed that talking had not helped change global trade behavior, so high tariffs were seen as a tool to force other countries to open their markets. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 13-05-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 13 May, 2025
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- Pakistan is indulging in psychological warfare with the spread of misinformation across social media platforms aimed at misrepresenting India’s military actions and preparedness.
- Psychological warfare involves the planned use of propaganda and other psychological operations to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, and behavior of opposition groups.
- Propaganda: Spreading biased or misleading information to shape public opinion or sow confusion.
- Often used to glorify one side and demonize the enemy.
- Fear and Intimidation: Threats, displays of overwhelming force, or rumors to instill fear and undermine morale. Read More
Psychological Warfare
Context
Psychological Warfare
- India, now among the top global generators of electronic waste (e-waste), faces a critical challenge in managing the growing volume of obsolete electronic devices.
- E-waste refers to the discarded electronic and electrical devices that have reached the end of their lifespan or become obsolete due to rapid technological changes, including computers, phones, TVs, and other equipment.
- India ranks as the third-largest producer of electronic waste globally, following China and the United States.
- Growth: India’s e-waste increased by 151.03% over six years, from 7.08 lakh metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17.78 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. Read More
India’s Rising E-Waste and the Need to Recast Its Management
Context
E-Waste in India
- A recent study has found that geotubing technology deployed at Poonthura, Kerala, has been highly effective in controlling coastal erosion.
- Geotubes are large fabric containers filled with sand or slurry, placed strategically along the coast.
- They act as wave barriers, diminishing the force of incoming waves and preventing shoreline erosion.
- The multi-layered geotube system ensures long-term stability, even under intense sea motion. Read More
Geotubing: A Breakthrough in Coastal Erosion Control
Context
Geo-Tubing Technology for Coastal Erosion
- The Union Government approved an additional 2.8 million tonnes of rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) stock for ethanol production, raising the total allocation for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024–25 to 5.2 million tonnes.
- Ethanol is an alcohol-based biofuel made through the fermentation of sugar, starch, or cellulose derived from crops like sugarcane, maize, and rice. When blended with petrol, it helps reduce vehicular emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
- The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was launched in 2003 and accelerated since 2014. It mandates the blending of ethanol with petrol.
- India has achieved its E20 target — 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025 — and now aims to reach 30% blending by 2030. Read More
Centre Approves Additional FCI Rice for Ethanol Production
In Context
What is Ethanol and the EBP Programme?
- Glaciologists and local communities mourned the loss of Nepal’s Yala glacier, believed to be the first Nepalese glacier to be declared “dead”.
- Location: It is situated in Langtang National Park, in Nepal’s Himalayan region.
- Altitude: It lies at an elevation of about 5,000 meters above sea level.
- Type: It is a small plateau glacier often used as a training site for glaciological studies and mountaineering.
- Size: It has shrunk by 66% and retreated 784 meters since the 1970s. It is expected to vanish completely by 2040. Read More
