Current Affairs – 3 May 2024
Diplomatic Passport
Recently, suspect in a sex abuse case, one of the Member of Parliament (MP) fled to Germany on a diplomatic passport.
About Diplomatic Passport:
- Diplomatic passport holders have privileges and immunities under international law, including immunity from arrest and detention.
- Issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, diplomatic passports (Type D) are provided to individuals with diplomatic status, government-appointed officials, high-ranking officers in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and their immediate family.
- Visa notes are issued to government officials traveling abroad for official assignments by the MEA.
- Passport revocation can occur for various reasons, including wrongful possession, suppression of information, or court orders prohibiting departure.
- Operational visa exemption agreements exist between India and 34 countries, including Germany, allowing Indian diplomatic passport holders to visit without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Similar agreements are in place with countries such as France, Austria, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Iran, and Switzerland.
- India also has agreements with 99 other countries where diplomatic, service, and official passport holders can enjoy visa exemptions for stays up to 90 days
High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
Russia’s government recently published new footage claiming to show the targeting of two Ukrainian High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
- IMARS is a light, multiple rocket launcher designed to engage and defeat various targets, including artillery, air defense concentrations, light armor, and personnel carriers.
- Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, it is intended for mobility and versatility in combat situations.
- The launcher is mounted on a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), making it air-transportable.
- It can carry either a launcher pod of six rockets or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of 300 km (186 miles).
- HIMARS requires less than 20 seconds to prepare for firing, and a full load of six rockets can be fired within 45 seconds.
- After firing, the system can quickly move away from the area to evade detection by enemy forces.
- The Increased Crew Protection cabin is equipped to shield the three-man operating crew from plume gases, rocket launch debris, and small arms fire, enhancing crew safety.
Five Eyes Intelligence-sharing Network
Recently, 4 countries on 3 continents, which are part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network has been, accused India for running espionage operations.
- Five Eyes is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network involving over 20 agencies from five English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Originating from the 1946 UKUSA Agreement, it focuses on surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT) sharing.
- Intelligence documents exchanged among member countries are classified as ‘Secret—AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US Eyes Only,’ hence the name ‘Five Eyes.’
- Initially limited to communication intelligence matters, its scope includes the unrestricted exchange of intelligence products in six areas: collection of traffic, acquisition of communication documents and equipment, traffic analysis, cryptanalysis, decryption and translation, and acquisition of information regarding communication organizations, practices, procedures, and equipment.
- The network expanded to include ‘second party’ countries over time, with Canada joining in 1948 and Australia and New Zealand becoming part of the alliance in 1956.
Commission on Population and Development
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund is organizing event titled “Localizing the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way” during the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57).
Commission on Population and Development:
- Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946, renamed as Commission on Population and Development in 1994 by the General Assembly.
- Composed of 47 member countries.
- Members are elected by ECOSOC for four-year terms based on geographic distribution.
- Constituted as a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism to follow up on the implementation of population-related programs at national, regional, and international levels.
- Meetings were held every two or three years until 1994, and annually thereafter.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
- International development agency created in 1968 to support projects and programs in population and sexual and reproductive health.
- Officially renamed as UNFPA in 1987 while retaining the original abbreviation.
- Not directly responsible for primary statistics collection but provides technical and financial support for statistical activities in countries, including population censuses and surveys.
- Headquarters located in New York.
Batillipes chandrayaani
A new species of marine tardigrade discovered from the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu has been named Batillipes chandrayaani after the Chandrayaan-3.
About Batillipes chandrayaani:
- Discovered in intertidal beach sediments at Mandapam, Tamil Nadu.
- Size: Grows to a length of 0.15 millimeters and a width of 0.04 millimeters, similar to other tardigrades.
- Features: Trapezoid-shaped head, four pairs of legs with sharp-tipped sensory spines.
- Both sexes share similar morphology and size.
- The 39th species described under the genus Batillipes.
Tardigrades (“Water Bears”):
- Microscopic organisms known for their resilience.
- Marine tardigrades constitute 17% of all known tardigrade species and are found in all oceans.
- Despite their small size, tardigrades are incredibly hardy and can survive extreme conditions, including mass extinctions.
- Highly regarded for their survival skills and ability to withstand harsh environments.
Solomon Islands Elects Pro-China Leader Jeremiah Manele as New Prime Minister
- Jeremiah Manele elected as the new Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, securing 31 votes in a secret ballot.
- Manele defeated opposition leader Matthew Wale, who received 18 votes, promising to govern with integrity and prioritize national interests.
- Manele’s victory indicates a likely continuation of close ties with China, supported by the withdrawal of former pro-Beijing Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare from the contest and his endorsement of Manele.
- During Sogavare’s term, the Solomon Islands saw significant growth in China’s influence, including a switch in diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing and the negotiation of a secret security pact raising concerns about Chinese naval presence.
- Meg Keen from the Lowy Institute suggests that Manele, while less combative, is expected to maintain close relations with China.
- The Solomon Islands’ political landscape has been marked by instability, with riots following elections and leadership changes, and its ties with China have been contentious, raising concerns among regional powers and allies.
- Manele faces challenges in navigating complex geopolitical dynamics in the South Pacific while addressing domestic issues like economic development, social stability, and governance.
- The international community will closely monitor Manele’s leadership and foreign policy direction, particularly regarding relations with China and other regional powers
Micron’s Venture in India: Rollout of First India-Made Chips
- Micron India’s Sanand unit gears up to unveil its inaugural batch of domestically manufactured semiconductor chips in 2025, with a focus on global exportation. Anand Ramamoorthy, the managing director, underscores the burgeoning global demand, strategic partnerships, and the diverse applications spanning various sectors, notably emphasizing agility and the scarcity of talent in niche domains such as cybersecurity.
Export Focus and Market Dynamics
- Ramamoorthy highlights the predominant emphasis on exports from the Sanand unit, aligning with the substantial global demand for semiconductors. While acknowledging the burgeoning domestic demand, he asserts that India’s market size for semiconductor chips remains modest compared to international demand.
Utilization and Application
- The chips packaged at the Sanand unit are slated for utilization across diverse sectors including data centers, smartphones, notebooks, IoT devices, and automotive applications.
Implications of Domestic Foundries
- The trajectory of India’s semiconductor demand is expected to be influenced by initiatives like the Tata Group’s collaboration with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, shaping the demand-supply dynamics in the semiconductor ecosystem.
Agility in Response to Market Dynamics
- Ramamoorthy underscores the necessity for agility and adaptability in responding to the evolving demands of various sectors, acknowledging the fluidity of product allocations driven by factors such as inventory, turnaround time, pricing, and customer requirements.
Investment and Employment Outlook
- Micron’s significant investment in the Sanand unit, totaling $2.75 billion, underscores its commitment to bolstering India’s semiconductor landscape. The expansion plans also aim to ramp up employment, with a target of increasing the India headcount to 5,000 and creating around 15,000 indirect jobs.
Talent Development and Global Training
- Highlighting the global talent shortage, particularly in niche sectors like cybersecurity and semiconductors, Ramamoorthy emphasizes Micron’s focus on continuous training and development, including global rotations and a significant proportion of fresh college graduates in its R&D workforce.