The US President signed a stopgap bill to end the longest shutdown of the US government in history.

About Government Shutdowns:

• Meaning: It occurs when the legislative branch does not pass essential budgetary or appropriations bills required to fund and authorize executive branch operations.
• Impact of shutdowns: It results in the cessation of some or all operations of a government.
• It is generally a feature in the Presidential System where there is a strict separation of powers between executive and legislature.
• Shutdowns do not occur in Parliamentary systems like India, where the executive is drawn from and dependent on the confidence of the legislature.

Recent studies show that fall in water levels of Lake Turkana due to climate change has led to increased earthquake activity in the region.

• When a lake’s water level drops, the reduced weight decreases pressure on the Earth’s crust, making faults more prone to movement and increasing the likelihood of earthquakes.

Lake Turkana

• It is world’s largest desert lake and largest alkaline lake.
• Location: It lies mainly in Kenya, with the northern tip extending into Ethiopia.
• Over 90% of inflow comes from the Omo River (located in Ethiopia).
• The Lake Turkana National Parks site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997.

Wholesale prices fell to a 27-month low and slipped back into deflation in October, owing to a drop in prices.

About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

• WPI measures the change in prices in the wholesale market, where goods are traded in bulk.
  • Considers only basic prices and does not include taxes, rebate/trade discounts, transport and other charges. 
• Released by: Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Base year: 2011-12.

About Deflation

• Deflation is a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services in an economy, essentially negative inflation.

NSA has invited Bangladesh to the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) meeting in New Delhi.

About Colombo Security Conclave

• It is regional security grouping established in 2020.
• Objective: To promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges of common concern to the Member States. 
• Members: India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and recently joined by Bangladesh.
  • Seychelles is an observer nation.
• Five pillars of cooperation: Maritime Security; Countering Terrorism; Combating Transnational Organised Crime; Cyber Security; and Humanitarian Assistance.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved a landmark one-stop travel system designed to streamline movement across member states.

About Gulf Cooperation Council

• Established: 1981.
• Members: 6 Gulf states (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait)
• Objectives: To have coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields.

About One-stop travel system

• Enables travellers to complete all procedures- immigration, customs, and security at a single checkpoint before departure.

Exercise Garuda is being held in France. 

About Exercise Garuda

• Bilateral air exercise between Indian Air Force and  French Air and Space Force
• 2025 edition is being held at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France.

Iranian forces intercept, move tanker with high-sulphur gasoil towards Iran in Strait of Hormuz

About Strait of Hormuz

• The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Musandam Peninsula (Oman).
  • Musandam Peninsula is a northeastern extension of the Arabian Peninsula.
• It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. 
• Strategic Importance: About 25% of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.