US on sides of Israel
Why in news?
- The United States announced that it no longer thinks Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law. The new US view is different from that of most countries’ on this issue.
About:
- The West Bank is the name given to the territory that was captured by Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel snatched it back during the Six Day War of 1967, and has occupied it ever since.
- The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered by Jordan to the east and by the Green Line separating it and Israel on the south, west and north. The West Bank also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore.
Israeli settlements in West Bank:
- Israel has built formal and informal settlements in the West Bank over the last 20-25 years. Over 4 lakh Israeli settlers now live here, along with some 26 lakh Palestinians.
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the UN Security Council (UNSC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have said that the West Bank settlements are violative of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
- Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), an occupying power “shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”.
- Under the Rome Statute that set up the International Criminal Court in 1998, such transfers constitute war crimes, as does the “extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly”.
- Under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, both Israel and the Palestinians agreed that the status of settlements would be decided by negotiations. But the negotiations process has been all but dead for several years now.
- Most of the world’s nations look at it as occupied territory.
Rajya Sabha marshals
Why in news?
- On Monday, Rajya Sabha marshals appeared in a dark-coloured suit and a peak cap. Amid the criticism that followed from former Army officers and Opposition leaders, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu ordered a review of the new uniform of Rajya Sabha marshals.
Key highlights:
- So far, Rajya Sabha marshals were wearing white safari suits with a white turban. Former MPs said this had not changed since at least 1965.
- The new dark suit and cap appeared on Monday.
- The marshals themselves had sought a change to a uniform that would be user-friendly, and have a modern look. There was unhappiness among marshals as their existing uniform was the same as that of chamber attendants who are junior to them and assist MPs in the House.
- However, Army officers argued that copying and wearing of military uniforms by non military personnel is illegal. Even recently the Ministry of Home Affairs sent out directions that people outside the Army should not be copying military uniform.
All About The Pink Test
Why in news?
- On November 22, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium will host the first-ever International Day/Night Test in the country between India and Bangladesh.
When was the first Day/Night Test match played?
- The first Day/Night Test match was played between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval from November 27, 2015 to December 1, 2015.
- Cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had approved Day/Night Tests in 2012 and it took three years for the first Day/Night Test to get underway.
Why is Pink Ball is used for Day/Night Test?
- Test matches are played with a red ball. But in case of Day/Night Tests, because the natural light fades away and artificial lights come in effect a pink coloured ball is used.
- This is because a red ball takes on a brownish colour under yellow floodlights making it difficult to spot the ball against the colour of the pitch. The pink balls have better visibility and also deteriorate more slowly making it suitable for Test cricket.
Pink Ball Vs Red Ball:
- There is no difference in the core of the ball [inside quilt], which is made of cotswool and cork. There is also no difference in the manner in which we stitch the two balls.
- The difference is that the red ball is stitched with a white thread while the pink ball is stitched with a black thread.
- Wax is used on the red ball which gives the red ball its cherry colour. But wax can’t be used on pink balls as it would turn the pink ball black. This is why, instead, a PU based coat [ball polish] is used on the pink ball which prevents abrasions on the ball and helps maintain its colour till 40 overs.
- The seam of the pink ball is more pronounced which is an equal mix of synthetic and linen. On the other hand, the seam on the red ball is entirely synthetic.