DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Oct. 10, 2023

Amazon's Project Kuiper launches prototypes for global Internet access

Tags: Science and Technology

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.O) successfully launched its first two prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, into low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 500 kilometers (311 miles) as part of the "Protoflight" mission of Project Kuiper.

An Overview of the News

• The launch was performed using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States.

About Project Kuiper:

• Project Kuiper is a satellite system composed of satellites operating in LEO at altitudes between 590 and 630 kilometers (about 367 to 391 miles).

• Its primary objective is to provide fast and affordable internet access to over 10 million underserved communities globally.

• The project plans to deploy 3,236 satellites, spaced carefully to minimize overlap.

Launch Agreements and Partnerships:

• Amazon has partnered with three commercial space companies - Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance - to facilitate satellite launches.

• These companies will launch 83 rockets to deploy the Kuiper satellites.

• The project represents the largest commercial procurement of space launch services in history.

Important Points:

• Project Kuiper faces competition from SpaceX's Starlink project, which shares the same goal of providing global Internet coverage through a satellite constellation.

• Amazon.com, Inc. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States, it is led by Chairman and CEO Andy Jassy and was founded in 1994.

• The project's launch agreements include 38 launches on ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, 18 launches on Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket, and 12 launches on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, with an option for 15 additional launches.

North America's first Gandhi Museum opens in Houston, Texas

Tags: International News

North America's first Gandhi museum, the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston (EGMH) was inaugurated in Houston, Texas, USA.

An Overview of the News

• The inauguration ceremony took place on 2 October 2023, coinciding with Gandhi's 154th birth anniversary.

• The museum officially opened to the public on August 15, 2023.

Special guest at the inauguration ceremony:

• The event was attended by prominent personalities, including Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Isaac Newton Farris Jr. (nephew of Martin Luther King), and Consul General of India (CGI) in Houston D. Manjunath.

Architectural Features and Design:

• The architecture of the museum is inspired by Gandhi's iconic twenty-four-spoke Chakra Charkha.

• A prominent statue of Gandhiji is prominently displayed in front of the museum.

• The museum's semicircular exterior walls depict notable peace activists including Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Betty Williams.

Interactive Display:

• Inside the museum, visitors can see interactive exhibits that narrate Gandhi's life story in three different parts: "His Journey," "Our Journey," and "My Journey."

Indian Navy hosts CHAKRAVAT HADR exercise with 8 countries

Tags: Defence

The annual humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise 'Chakrawat' began in Goa on October 9, 2023. It is a three-day event organized by the Indian Navy.

An Overview of the News

• The 'CHAKRAVAT' 9 exercise involves the participation of the three armed forces, paramilitary forces and several disaster response organizations.

• The annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise CHAKRAVAT was initiated as a result of the Prime Minister's directive during the Joint Commanders' Conference in 2015.

• CHAKRAVAT is an annual joint HADR exercise involving the participation of all three services (Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary forces, disaster response organizations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organizations.

• In the 2023 edition, eight countries from the Indian Ocean region are also participating, with the aim of coordinating efforts at the national level.

Objective:

• The primary goal of the exercise is to develop collective and coordinated response mechanisms to deal with humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

• Given the increasing vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters due to climate change, the role of the Indian Navy in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations is critical.

Challenges arising from climate change:

• Climate change has increased the risk of natural disasters in the IOR, and coastal states in the region have limited capacity to respond effectively.

• The Indian Armed Forces aims to be the 'first responder' in the region, and a whole-of-government approach is being promoted to enhance preparedness and response.

Participating Agencies:

• Apart from the three armed services, various national agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and others participate in the exercise.

• This collaborative effort ensures a comprehensive response to disaster situations.

Joint Partnership:

• The insignia of this year's exercise represents the crests and flags of all participating agencies and countries, emphasizing the importance of joint and integrated action in HADR efforts.

Events during practice:

• The three-day exercise includes a seminar, a table-top exercise and a multi-agency capacity demonstration.

• Topics discussed at the seminar included climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, disaster response in IOR, and NGO collaboration in disaster reduction and response.

• An industrial showcase displays HADR equipment, and a multi-agency capability display displays rescue and relief exercises with lessons learned.

World Mental Health Day - 10 October

Tags: Important Days

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October to raise awareness related to mental health and promote positive changes.

An Overview of the News

• The theme of 2023 World Mental Health Day is "Mental health is a universal human right".

• The day aims to raise awareness and take action to protect the mental well-being of all as a fundamental human right.

History of World Mental Health Day

• In 1992, Richard Hunter, who led the World Foundation for Mental Health, proposed the idea of dedicating October 10 as "World Mental Health Day".

• The first World Mental Health Day was celebrated in 1994 and its theme focused on "Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services Throughout the World".

Principal Scientific Advisor inaugurates India NCX 2023

Tags: National

Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, inaugurated 'India NCX 2023' on 10 October 2023.

An Overview of the News

• The second edition of the National Cyber Security Exercise 2023, known as 'India NCX 2023', will be conducted as a hybrid exercise over twelve days till the 20th of this month.

• The primary objective is to train senior management and technical personnel of government, critical sector organizations and public and private agencies on contemporary cyber threats, incident handling and response strategies.

Organizers and Partners:

• 'India NCX 2023' is organized by the National Security Council Secretariat in collaboration with the National Defense University.

• This strategic partnership aims to enhance cyber security knowledge and readiness among the participants.

Key areas of cyber security training:

Participants in the exercise will receive training in various important aspects of cyber security, including:

• Intrusion detection technology

• Malware Information Sharing Platform

• Vulnerability Management and Penetration Testing

• Network protocols and data flow

• Digital forensics