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7th June, 2023 Current Affairs

7th June, 2023 Current Affairs
7th June, 2023 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Govt launching Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research, MAHIR

  • Government is launching Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research, MAHIR, to quickly identify emerging technologies in the power sector and develop them indigenously for deployment within and outside the country. The Mission aims at facilitating indigenous research, development and demonstration of the latest and emerging technologies in the power sector. By identifying emerging technologies and taking them to implementation stage, the Mission seeks to leverage them as the main fuel for future economic growth and make India a manufacturing hub of the world.
  • The Mission will be funded by pooling financial resources of the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and various Central Public Sector Enterprises under the two Ministries. Any additional funding needed will be mobilized from the central government's budgetary resources. Planned for an initial period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28, the Mission will follow the technology life cycle approach of Idea to Product.
  • The Mission will serve as a catalyst for national priorities such as achieving Net Zero emissions and promoting initiatives like Make in India and Start-up India. He said that it will also contribute towards achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

INTERNATIONAL
India and Germany reaffirm commitment to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and enhance industrial partnership

  • India and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and explore ways to further enhance the defence-industrial partnership. The decision was taken during a delegation-level talk between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in New Delhi.
  • India’s skilled workforce and competitive costs along with Germany’s high technologies and investment can further strengthen defence ties. The bilateral meeting was preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary.
  • Boris Pistorius will interact with some Indian defence start-ups at IIT Delhi during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Seeks to Mend Ties During Saudi Arabia Visit Amid Strained Relations and Prospects of Israel Normalization

  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a crucial visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, aiming to restore stability in the strained relationship between the two countries. The visit comes as the United States seeks to address deepening disagreements on key issues, including Iran, regional security, and oil prices.
  • Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington-based think-tank, highlighted discouraging a closer Saudi-Chinese relationship as a crucial aspect of Blinken's visit. Goldberg stressed the importance of explaining to Saudi Arabia why aligning closely with China might hinder their relationship with Washington and why it is not in their strategic interests. Secretary Blinken's visit to Saudi Arabia holds significant implications for the future of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, the stability of the region, and the prospects of regional partnerships. Both parties are keen on addressing their differences and finding common ground to strengthen their ties moving forward.

BIMSTEC Centre for energy cooperation will be inaugurated in India this year

  • The BIMSTEC Energy Centre which will act as the Secretariat for BIMSTEC energy cooperation will be formally inaugurated in India later this year.
  • On the occasion of the 26th BIMSTEC Day programme in Dhaka Tenzin Lekphell said that  the three key components  to realise intergrid connection namely the BIMSTEC Energy Master Plan; BIMSTEC Policy for Transmission of Electricity; and the Policy for Trade, Exchange of Electricity and Tariff Mechanism – are nearing completion.
  • The BIMSTEC Maritime cooperation agreement endorsed by the 19th ministerial meeting held in March this year will be signed during the upcoming sixth summit in Thailand.
  • The distinguished gathering of diplomats, senior officials of the Bangladesh government and others that the upcoming 6th summit in Thailand is expected to adopt a ‘BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030’ to serve as the guiding document and guiding principle with common aspirations of all seven member countries to make BIMSTEC an open, resilient and prosperous regional organisation.
  • Pursuing BIMSTEC integration for rapid economic and social progress for the peoples of this region is one of the top priorities of her Government’s Foreign Policy, said the Minister.
  • The Bay of Bengal region has a tremendous amount of untapped and unexplored potential for growth and development. He urged all the stakeholders for the earliest conclusion of all constituent agreements and MoUs pertaining to the BIMSTEC FTA.

White House lauds India as vibrant democracy

  • The White House has lauded India as a vibrant democracy. In response to a media query at a news conference in Washington, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House's National Security Council, John Kirby, stressed that India is a vibrant democracy, and emphasized that anybody that happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves.
  • With respect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States later this month, Mr Kirby hoped for a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward.

$95 Million Undersea Cable Connection Project in Micronesia

  • Japan, the United States, and Australia have recently announced their joint venture in signing a significant undersea cable project. This initiative aims to improve network connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region, while also countering China’s expanding influence.
  • The undersea cable will span approximately 2,250 kilometers, linking the state of Kosrae in the Federated State of Micronesia, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Nauru to the existing cable landing point situated in Pohnpei, Micronesia. This ambitious undertaking will enable enhanced connectivity among these East Micronesia island nations, fostering socio-economic growth and development.
  • The collaboration between Japan, the United States, and Australia in this undersea cable project reflects their shared objective of countering Beijing’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. By bolstering connectivity and communication networks, these nations aim to maintain security and economic stability within the Indo-Pacific.
  • Once completed, the undersea cable will connect more than 100,000 people across the three Pacific countries involved in the project. This connectivity will enhance their access to information, promote socio-economic growth, and strengthen regional cooperation.

ECONOMY
'India will have 200-220 more airports in next 5 years': Jyotiraditya Scindia

  • India will have 200-220 more airports, heliports, and water aerodromes, said Union Civil Aviation Minister JyotiradityaScindia on 7 June.
  • In just 9 years the number of airports doubled in the country from 74 to 148.
  • There were some states in the region where there were no airports but today, Arunachal Pradesh has three new airports, Sikkim also has an airport now.
  • Meanwhile, on 5 June, reports arrived that the civil aviation ministry will meet with airlines regarding the escalating airfares on specific routes in recent weeks.
  • As per the report, airfares have witnessed a significant surge, particularly following the suspension of operations by crisis-affected airline Go First starting on May 3.

SPORTS
World Test Championship Final between India and Australia to begin at Ovals

  • World Test Championship, WTC Final will begin between India and Australia at the Oval in England in a short while from now.This will be team India's second consecutive WTC final in as many editions and will look to go one better this time around. India lost to New Zealand in the final of the inaugural edition of the championship. They will be looking to lift the title at the second attempt.
  • The match will be played with the famous Dukes' ball. It is the preferred choice for Test cricket played in England. The match is scheduled to be played from today till 11th of June, with one day reserved as a back-up in case of adverse weather conditions.
  • India is playing without its key players like pacer JaspritBumrah, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to their injuries.

AWARDS
Former PM Jacinda Ardern receives New Zealand’s second-highest honour

  • Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received one of New Zealand’s highest honours for her service leading the country through a mass shooting and coronavirus pandemic. Ardern received the Dame Grand Companionship, New Zealand's second-highest honour, as part of the King Charles Birthday Honours.
  • In New Zealand, royal honorees are typically chosen twice a year by the Prime Minister and signed off by Charles, the British king who is also recognised as New Zealand’s king.
  • Prime Minister of New Zealand, said that she was being recognised for her service during some of the greatest challenges our country has faced in modern times.

REPORTS

Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023

  • Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) is a crucial part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at addressing global energy challenges. A new report titled Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023 was released recently to provide insights into the progress made inachieving SDG 7.
  • SDG 7 primarily focuses on achieving universal energy access, ensuring that affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy is available for all. By 2030, the goal is to eliminate energy poverty and promote renewable energy sources to foster economic growth and environmental sustainability.
  • The Energy Progress Report 2023 was released in collaboration with various agencies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), emphasizing the importance of accurate data collection and analysis to monitor progress towards SDG 7.
  • The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was launched in 2015 as a collective effort to end poverty and address various global challenges. It encompasses 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 7, which plays a vital role in promoting sustainable energy practices worldwide.
  • 2023 marks the halfway point for achieving the SDGs by 2030. As progress is evaluated and gaps are identified, it becomes crucial to prioritize and intensify efforts to ensure the successful attainment of SDG 7 and other related goals.
Published date : 07 Jun 2023 06:10PM

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