News In Short 30-12-2024

18th edition of Exercise SURYA KIRAN

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News

The 18th edition of Exercise SURYA KIRAN will take place in Saljhandi, Nepal from 31st December 2024 to 13th January 2025.

About SURYA KIRAN 

• It is an annual joint military exercise conducted alternately between India and Nepal.
• It aims to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under the United Nations Charter.
• It focuses on operational preparedness, aviation aspects, medical training, and environment conservation.
• It  aims to improve combat skills, coordination, and operational capabilities of troops to function effectively in challenging situations.

Source:PIB

SpaDEX

Syllabus: GS3/Space

In News

ISRO will launch the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX). 

About SpaDeX 

• SpaDeX is a new mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at demonstrating in-space docking and undocking technologies.
• It aims to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a low-Earth circular orbit.
  • Each satellite weighing 220 kg,will be  launched together on the PSLV C60 rocket into a 470-km orbit with a 55° inclination.
• If successful, SpaDeX will make India the fourth country to achieve in-space docking.
  • Only the US, Russia, and China have mastered such advancements so far.
• The primary goal is to complete the docking manoeuvre, followed by secondary objectives like power transfer between the spacecraft, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations post-undocking.
• Importance:  The mission is vital for India’s space goals like Chandrayaan-4, Moon sample return, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

Source: TH

Parker Solar Probe

Syllabus: GS3/Space

In News

NASA scientists announced that the Parker Solar Probe survived the closest-ever approach to the Sun. 

About Parker Solar Probe

• Parker Solar Probe was developed as part of NASA’s Living With a Star program, which aims to explore the Sun-Earth system and its impact on life and society.
  •  The program is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. 
• The mission is named in honor of Dr. Eugene N. Parker, who first proposed the theory of the solar wind in the 1950s and revolutionized solar science.
• Parker has four instrument suites to study magnetic fields, plasma, energetic particles, and image the solar wind.
• The spacecraft is flying closer to the Sun than any previous probe, coming within about 4 million miles (6.5 million kilometers) of its surface, inside the orbit of Mercury.
• Corona Exploration: On Dec. 14, 2021, Parker became the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun’s corona, sampling particles and magnetic fields.
• Objectives : Parker Solar Probe aims to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun by studying its atmosphere, the solar wind, and the heating of the corona.
• Impact on Earth: Data from the probe will help better understand the Sun’s impact on Earth, including space weather, which can affect satellites, electronics, and technology on Earth.

Source: IE

Extension of Suez Canal

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometre extension to the Suez Canal as it tries to minimise the impact of currents on shipping and increase the key waterway’s capacity.

About

• The Suez Canal is a 193-km artificial waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia.
  • It was officially opened to ships in 1869.
• The Canal does not have locks and it is essentially a sea-level waterway.
  • This characteristic allows for a smoother, more efficient passage of vessels, thus supporting a high volume of maritime traffic.
• It is one of the busiest waterways in the world through which 12% of global commerce passes.
  • The new extension is set to boost the canal’s capacity by six to eight vessels a day.

Importance of Suez Canal

• Reduced Transit Time: The Suez Canal reduces the maritime distance between Europe and Asia by approximately 7,000 kilometers.
• World trade: It’s a major factor in the world’s economy, with roughly 12% of global trade, 7% of the world’s oil, and 30% of daily container traffic passing through it.
• Revenue Generation: The Suez Canal is one of Egypt’s primary sources of revenue. 
• Global Supply Chain Impacts: The canal’s uninterrupted functioning is crucial for the global supply chain.
  • The blockage of the Suez Canal in 2021 caused a major loss to international trade. The blockage cost an estimated US$90 million in the first week.

Source: TH

H-1B Visas

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Amid an online spat between Elon Musk and other right wing supporters in the US over H-1B visas, Donald Trump has said he has always liked the visas.

About

• It allows American employers to hire non-immigrant workers in specialty occupations that require a high level of skills and at least a bachelor’s degree.
  • Under it temporary employment of qualified individuals is facilitated, who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States.
• Visas Issued: The US government has capped the total number of new H-1B visas at 65,000 each financial year.
  • Another 20,000 visas can be given to those who have obtained a Master’s degree or higher from a US institution. 
• Majority Holders:  Indians have been the majority of H-1B visa-holders in the past few years.
  • In the fiscal year 2023, Indians accounted for 72.3% (2.79 lakh) of the total (3.86 lakh) H-1B approvals.

Source: IE

National Maritime Heritage Complex 

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• A review meeting on the upcoming National Maritime Heritage Complex was held recently.

About Complex 

• Developed by: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, launched in 2019.
• Nodal Agency: Indian Ports Association as the nodal agency, while Indian Port Rail Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) as executing agency of the project. 
• Location: It is being developed in Lothal, Gujarat – home to the world’s first manmade dock, and a major site of Indus Valley Civilization.
• Completion: The first phase will be completed by August 2025, and the entire project will be completed by 2028. 
• Components of NMHC: NMHC museum, Lothal Town and Open Aquatic Gallery, Lighthouse Museum, Bagicha Complex, Coastal State Pavilions and Recreation of Lothal city, Maritime research institute, etc. 
• Significance: It will not only boost tourism but will also generate employment in large numbers and will also help in reviving the local businesses of the region.

Do you know ? – Lothal, an important city of the Indus Valley Civilisation (2400 BCE), is historically significant for its advanced dockyard, thriving trade, and bead-making industry. Archaeological findings, including seals, tools, and pottery, highlight its rich cultural and economic history, making it a key site of the Harappan civilisation.

Source: IE

Cameroon Islands

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

•  In Cameroon, the NGO Papaye International runs a sanctuary for the Orphaned Chimpanzees on three islands in the Douala-Edea national park.

Cameroon Islands

• The Cameroon Islands refer to the chain of volcanic islands associated with the Cameroon Volcanic Line, a unique geological formation stretching from the Gulf of Guinea into the mainland of Africa.
• The key islands associated with it are Annobón (Pagalu), São Tomé, Príncipe etc.

Douala-Edea National Park 

• Location: It is situated along the Sanaga River and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Initially established as a wildlife reserve in 1932, it was upgraded to a national park in 2018 to bolster conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism.
• Flora: The mangrove forests include species like Rhizophora and Avicennia.
• Fauna: African forest elephants, Chimpanzees and Monkeys, including the endangered drills and red colobus monkeys.

Source: TH