[Newsbits] 20-24.04.2024: Crystal Maze 2, VASA-1, Project Nimbus & More

Armenia and Azerbaijan have initiated a border delimitation process, placing the first marker as part of a broader peace treaty negotiation following their prolonged conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. This historic agreement involves both sides making territorial concessions, which has been met with local resistance, especially in Armenia’s Tavush province. The process is supported by international mediators from the EU, the US, and Russia, aiming to establish a lasting peace in the region by addressing long-standing territorial disputes and fostering cooperation between the two nations.

The India-Russia S-400 missile deal, valued at $5.5 billion, involves India purchasing five units of the advanced S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems, aiming to strengthen its air defense, particularly against threats from China. Signed in October 2018, three units have been delivered as of April 2024, with the remaining two expected by 2025. Deployed along critical borders with China and Pakistan, these systems significantly boost India’s defense capabilities. Despite potential sanctions threats under the CAATSA from the US, India continues with its purchase while also developing indigenous defense technologies, including the long-range air defense system, Project Kusha, led by DRDO.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is advancing its Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight program, with a second uncrewed test flight planned for April 2024. This marks a significant milestone in a series of preparations that include multiple test flights aimed at demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities. By the end of 2025, ISRO plans to launch a crewed mission, aiming to make India one of the few nations capable of sending humans to space. The mission employs the LVM3 rocket, adapted to meet human safety standards, and involves the development of critical technologies such as life support systems and crew training at ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC).

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has emphasized the need for the Indian economy to achieve an 8-10% annual growth rate over the next decade to effectively harness its demographic dividend. This growth is crucial to maximize the economic contributions of India’s rapidly expanding working-age population. The RBI’s developmental strategy centers on enhancing labor quality and employability, particularly through the formalization of employment for youth and women. Challenges such as inflation risks due to external factors like weather and geopolitical tensions remain significant. Achieving and sustaining this high growth rate is essential for improving the living standards of India’s population.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India has recently unveiled the country’s lightest bulletproof jacket, designed by the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) in Kanpur. This jacket is the first in India to meet the highest threat level 6 according to BIS 17051 standards, offering superior protection against 7.62 x 54 R API ammunition. It features a cutting-edge design with a monolithic ceramic plate and polymer backing that improves durability, wearability, and comfort. This innovation not only bolsters the safety of security personnel but also demonstrates DRDO’s dedication to advancing indigenous defense technologies and reducing reliance on imports.

The ISRO report highlights a significant expansion of over 27% in glacial lakes within the Indian Himalayas since 1984, particularly affecting the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. This expansion, primarily attributed to human-induced climate change, underscores the dramatic retreat and thinning of glaciers. Monitoring these changes through satellite technology is vital for understanding glacier dynamics, assessing risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and formulating effective conservation strategies. The report points out the critical role of these lakes in providing freshwater and their function as indicators of environmental impact due to climate change.

The Government of India is actively working with SBI Card and telecom operators to address OTP frauds, a significant cyber threat. This collaboration includes an innovative solution that involves tracking the geolocation of a SIM card against the customer’s registered address. If discrepancies arise, this system can alert the user or block the OTP to prevent misuse. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to enhance cybersecurity in India, supported by institutions like the National Cyber Security Coordinator and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, reflecting the country’s increasing digital payment transactions and commitment to protecting its vast telecom user base.

The UK’s Rwanda Scheme, initiated in April 2022, is a controversial policy designed to deter unauthorized migration by rerouting asylum seekers to Rwanda. The plan intends to disrupt the business of human traffickers and discourage dangerous journeys across the English Channel. However, it has faced significant backlash due to concerns about the safety and rights of asylum seekers and Rwanda’s political environment. Legal challenges peaked with the UK Supreme Court’s ruling against the policy as unlawful, prompting revisions under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Despite modifications and a new treaty, no deportations have occurred, and the plan remains contentious and legally precarious.

The Indian government has approached the Supreme Court to clarify whether it can allocate spectrum administratively rather than through auctions, primarily in cases where national security, public interest, or technical and economic challenges make auctions non-viable. This request stems from the 2012 2G spectrum case, where the Supreme Court mandated auctions for distributing scarce natural resources. The government’s plea highlights the need for flexibility in spectrum allocation to meet unanticipated demands and maintain essential services like defense and disaster management.

The Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference, set for Earth Day 2024 in Bhutan, aims to secure $1 billion over the next decade to protect tiger habitats in Asia. This initiative, under the patronage of Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and organized with the Tiger Conservation Coalition, seeks to preserve biodiversity, store carbon, and support over 100 million people by maintaining vibrant and healthy tiger landscapes. With global tiger populations showing hopeful signs of recovery, the conference will focus on sustainable finance, the linkage with global biodiversity frameworks, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure long-term conservation efforts.

Project Nimbus involves a significant contract between Google, Amazon, and the Israeli government, initiated in 2021, valued at $1.2 billion. This agreement provides Israel with advanced cloud services and AI capabilities, although it has faced substantial internal and external criticism due to ethical concerns about its potential military applications in the conflict with Gaza. Google has maintained that these technologies are not used directly in military operations. The project’s controversy has led to employee protests and subsequent firings, raising issues of freedom of expression and the ethical responsibilities of tech companies in global conflict zones.

Yozma 2.0 is a new investment initiative launched by the government of Israel, designed to boost investment in the country’s high-tech sector by encouraging institutional investors like insurance companies and pension funds to invest more in tech companies. The fund aims to diversify funding sources and enhance returns on these investments. With a substantial contribution from the Israel Innovation Authority and the Finance Ministry, Yozma 2.0 supports early-stage tech companies, particularly in deep technology sectors, and plays a critical role in transitioning Israel from its current challenges to a period of economic growth.

A recent intense heat wave has struck India, marked by a second wave in April affecting several regions including Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat, with temperatures soaring as high as 46°C in Bahargora. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), established in 1875, defines heat waves based on specific temperature thresholds and departures from normal, with severe heat waves exceeding 6.4°C departure. IMD’s predictions for April to June indicate an increase in heat wave days, with potential extreme cases affecting various states. While the heat wave poses challenges such as strain on power grids and water shortages, it also underscores the importance of awareness, preparedness, and infrastructure improvements, with IMD’s role crucial in providing timely warnings and forecasts for effective mitigation. Additionally, global weather patterns like El Niño weakening and La Niña expected later in the year further emphasize the need for proactive measures and international collaboration in managing extreme weather events.

The International Rainbow Tourism Conference held in Kathmandu on April 20, 2024, marked Nepal’s effort to promote itself as a safe and welcoming destination for LGBT tourists. Organized by Mayako Pahichan Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board, the event aimed to integrate diversity and inclusivity into Nepal’s tourism strategy. This aligns with global trends in Rainbow tourism, a sector valued at over $200 billion, catering specifically to LGBT travellers who value inclusive destinations with progressive laws. Despite significant advances, challenges remain, including the need for legal protections in various destinations.

Space debris, including defunct satellites and rocket parts, poses a significant threat to Earth’s defenses by potentially disrupting the ionosphere and magnetosphere—critical layers that protect the planet from solar radiation and cosmic rays. As satellite numbers are projected to reach 100,000 in the coming years due to increased launches by commercial entities, the risks associated with space debris are escalating. This debris, composed of metallic materials like aluminum, could interfere with Earth’s magnetic field and atmospheric functions, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive research and strategic management to mitigate these impacts.

India’s foreign exchange reserves experienced a decline of $5.4 billion to $643.16 billion recently, following a period of steady gains. The primary cause of this drop was a reduction in foreign currency assets. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) actively manages these reserves, which include foreign currencies, gold, special drawing rights, and the reserve position with the International Monetary Fund. These reserves are crucial for maintaining economic stability, managing external trade, and providing a buffer against economic shocks. The RBI intervenes in the foreign exchange market to control volatility and prevent excessive fluctuations in the rupee’s value.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has criticized Moderna Inc. for halting plans to build a $500 million vaccine manufacturing facility in Kenya, initially announced in October 2021. This decision came despite a previously signed memorandum of understanding with the Kenyan government in March 2022. The reversal, attributed to a decreased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa, has been denounced by the Africa CDC as demonstrating a lack of genuine commitment to vaccine equity. The agency emphasizes the importance of local production to improve access to vaccines and enhance regional health security, urging vaccine manufacturers to support local capacities, aligning with the African Union’s goal to localize vaccine production significantly by 2040.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently approved Euvichol-S, a new oral cholera vaccine developed by EuBiologics Co., Ltd. in South Korea. Euvichol-S simplifies the formulation of the previous Euvichol-Plus vaccine while retaining its effectiveness, making production faster and more cost-effective. This approval comes amidst a global increase in cholera cases, where the vaccine’s simpler production could help alleviate the current strain on global vaccine supplies. In addition to vaccines, cholera management involves improving water, sanitation, and hygiene to comprehensively tackle outbreaks.

North Korea has recently conducted missile tests for a new “super-large” warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a new anti-aircraft missile, the Pyoljji-1-2. The Hwasal-1 Ra-3 is intended to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, bolstering North Korea’s standoff capabilities, while the Pyoljji-1-2 aims to enhance air defense against enemy aircraft and missiles. These developments occur despite heavy international sanctions imposed on North Korea since 2009. The tests highlight North Korea’s ongoing efforts to advance its military capabilities and its growing military cooperation with Russia amidst heightened tensions with the United States.