Recently, the 61st National Maritime Day was celebrated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The event also included the celebration of Sports Day on 5th April 2024 in New Delhi. The day was observed as a tribute to the maiden voyage of the first Indian-owned ship, SS Loyalty from Mumbai to London on 5th April 1919. On this day, various ports and maritime organisations under MoPSW, commemorated the velour and dedication of seafarers, exemplifying Maritime Excellence. Seafarers are people who work on ships or people who travel regularly on the sea.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) has decided to organise a Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore on 5th - 6th June 2024. The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum is one of the initiatives under the IPEF, which was launched in May 2022. The Forum aims to mobilise investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects. It will provide a platform for climate tech entrepreneurs and companies in India to recognise the top climate tech companies and start-ups among the member countries and present them to global investors.
Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, and among the world’s most active volcanoes, has been sending up almost perfect rings of smoke into the air, which is a rare phenomenon that scientists refer to as volcanic vortex rings. Vortex rings are generated when gas, predominantly water vapour, is released rapidly through a vent in the crater. The vent that has opened up in volcano’s crater is almost perfectly circular, so the rings that have been seen are also circular.
The recent release of a film depicting the life of freedom fighter Usha Mehta resurfaces the importance of her historical contribution and sacrifice during the Quit India Movement. Commencing on 8th August 1942, marked by Mahatma Gandhi's iconic speech with slogan Do or Die. The QIM symbolises mass civil disobedience, nationwide protests, and the establishment of parallel governance structures. British authorities responded with mass arrests, detaining prominent leaders including Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel, thereby drastically reducing the movement's intensity. Usha Mehta, then a 22-year-old law student, was galvanised by Gandhi's ideology, prompting her to forsake her studies and actively participate in the movement. Recognising the efficacy of propagating information, Mehta conceived the notion of Congress Radio as a secretive means of communication.
A recently released report revealed that despite robust credit growth, Indian banks faced difficulty in garnering deposits in 2023-24, resulting in the highest credit-deposit ratio in at least two decades. Indian banks are grappling with a severe deposit cash crunch that has not been witnessed in the past two decades. Currently standing at 80%, the credit-deposit ratio is at its highest since 2015. The CD ratio indicates how much of a bank’s deposit base is being utilized for loans.
Apple has recently issued urgent security alerts to iPhone users in India and 91 other countries. The notifications warn that their devices have been remotely targeted in a mercenary spyware attack. Mercenary spyware attacks are exceptionally rare and highly sophisticated compared to regular cybercriminal activity or consumer malware. Unlike common cyber threats, mercenary spyware aims to gain unauthorised access to a user’s device.
The Indian Army contingent departed for the 5th edition of India-Uzbekistan joint military Exercise DUSTLIK, scheduled from 15th to 28th April 2024 in Termez, Uzbekistan. Exercise DUSTLIK is a yearly event alternately conducted in India and Uzbekistan. The exercise aims to foster military cooperation, enhance combined capabilities, focus on joint operations in mountainous and semi-urban terrain, develop interoperability, and enhance bilateral relations. This edition of Exercise DUSTLIK involves personnel from combat support arms and services, including two Women Officers. The first-ever exercise “Dustlik” between India and Uzbekistan was in 2019 which focused on counter-terrorism.
Israel has reopened the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks to allow more aid toGaza. Erez (or Beit Hanoon) is located in the north of the Gaza Strip. It was the main crossing for the movement of people between Israel and Gaza. It is primarily a pedestrian crossing but can also be used for road supplies. Movement through all of Israel’s crossings with Gaza was already heavily restricted before the war, as Israel imposed a blockade of the territory with Egypt 17 years ago. The only crossings currently operational are the Rafah crossing with Egypt and Kerem Shalom with Israel.
