Daily Current Affairs- 13th June 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 13th June 2025

Bairabi-Sairang Project

In the News: On June 11, 2025, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) completed the safety inspection and granted approval for operations on the final 33.86 km stretch between Hortoki and Sairang, formally connecting Mizoram’s capital region to the Indian Railways network via the 51.38 km Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge line.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: The line spans 51.38 km from Bairabi to Sairang, featuring 48 tunnels (total length ~12.85 km), 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, 5 road overbridges, and 6 underbridges.
• Phased Rollout & CRS Inspection: Bairabi–Hortoki (16.72 km) was completed and certified in July–August 2024. CRS inspected the Hortoki–Sairang section from June 6–10, 2025, including speed trials at up to 110 km/h. Safety clearance was granted for public goods and passenger services at up to 90 km/h.
• Operational Timeline & Costs: Formal inauguration is expected in June–July 2025. Originally estimated at ₹2,384 crore, costs were revised to ₹5,021 crore and later to around ₹8,200 crore.
• Engineering Feat: Includes 32 tunnels and 35 major bridges in the final section. Notable bridge pier #196 stands at 104 m—42 m taller than the Qutub Minar.
• Strategic Connectivity: Sairang, ~20 km from Aizawl, becomes the terminus station, marking Aizawl as the fourth North‑East capital connected by rail (after Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar).
• Regional & Economic Impact: Expected to reduce travel/logistics costs, boost tourism, trade, local market access, and support the Act‑East Policy
• Local Governance & Employment: Mizoram’s CM has requested enhanced services (Rajdhani Express, Howrah link), reservation and parcel centres, internet facilities, and local youth employment in station operations. Use of Inner-Line Permit (ILP) system and railway police positions are being reviewed in preparation for operations. 

Operation Rising Lion: Israel's Pre-emptive Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites

In the News: Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale series of air and covert strikes against Iran. Over 100 high-value targets—including uranium enrichment facilities, missile sites, military installations, and residences of senior commanders—were hit across Iran. The operation aimed to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear weaponization capabilities and eliminate key military figures.

Key Points:

• Operation Launch: The operation began in the early hours of June 13, 2025, with approximately 200 Israeli aircraft striking around 100 targets—primarily nuclear and missile facilities—augmented by covert Mossad and drone actions inside Iran.
• Objective: To "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival."
• Targeted Sites & Methods: Major targets included the Natanz uranium enrichment complex, missile manufacturing plants, and residences of senior IRGC commanders. The IDF, supported by Mossad, used saboteur drones and commandos for coordinated sabotage deep inside Iran.
• High-Profile Casualties: Iranian military leadership was severely impacted, with reported deaths including IRGC Chief Hossein Salami, Armed Forces Chief Mohammad Bagheri, other top commanders, and at least six nuclear scientists (such as Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi).
• Israeli Justification: PM Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the strikes were essential to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, noting Iran had enough weapons-grade uranium for nine bombs and was advancing weaponization. He pledged operations would persist "as many days as it takes."
• S. Position: While the U.S. officially disclaimed involvement, President Trump lauded the operation as "excellent" and referenced a deadline given to Iran. U.S. officials emphasized protection of American assets and forces in the region.
• Iranian Retaliation: Iran responded with over 100 drones launched at Israel; many were intercepted. Tehran denounced the strikes as a "declaration of war," with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei threatening "severe punishment." Media blackout and restricted internet access followed within Iran.
• Broader Regional Fallout: Air travel disruptions occurred as Israel closed diplomatic missions and re-routed flights region-wide. Neighbouring countries like Iraq and Jordan reported drone incursions. International calls for de-escalation intensified.
• IAEA & Diplomatic Timing: The IAEA verified damage at Natanz but found no radioactive release. Notably, the strikes coincided with a rescheduled U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiation session in Oman. Iran was already under increased IAEA scrutiny for treaty violations.

India–US Air Force Special Forces Conclude First Joint Exercise ‘Tiger Claw’

In the News: From May 26 to June 10, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) conducted Exercise Tiger Claw—their first-ever independent joint Special Forces drill. It culminated at the Garud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC) in Chandinagar, Uttar Pradesh, and involved operations across North India.

Key Points:

• Exercise Launch & Duration: Initiated on May 26, 2025, and concluded on June 10, 2025. Held primarily at the GRTC with additional joint drills across multiple locations in North India.
• Participating Forces: India: IAF's elite Garud Commandos, established in February 2004. USA: USAF Special Forces units.
• Objectives: Strengthen interoperability and tactical coordination in Special Operations. Share best practices in planning, mission execution, airfield seizure, hostage rescue, and behind-enemy-lines strategies. Expand the bilateral defence partnership between the two air forces.
• Training Activities: Combat simulations including joint mission planning and field coordination. Exercises focused on airfield seizure and hostage rescue missions. Tactical drills reflecting precision, timing, and high-risk operations.
• Venue Significance: GRTC, located at IAF Station Chandinagar, Baghat, serves as the central training hub for Garud commandos. Its terrain and facilities provided an optimal environment for specialized joint drills.
• Strategic Importance: First-ever IAF–USAF Special Forces collaboration, distinct from past joint air exercises like Cope India, Tarang Shakti, and Red Flag. Reinforces India–US military synergy, particularly within the Indo‑Pacific security
• AFSOD Context: Part of India's move toward tri-services integration under the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD). Tiger Claw supports standardizing procedures and readiness across Army Parachute Regiment, Navy MARCOS, and Air Force Garud units.

⁠Global Carbon Pricing Trends 2025

In the News: On June 10, 2025, the World Bank released its State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 report, revealing that over 80 carbon pricing instruments—including carbon taxes and Emissions Trading Systems (ETS)—are now active globally. Together they cover nearly 28% of global greenhouse gas emissions and generated more than $100 billion in public revenue in 2024.

Key Points:

• Global Expansion: 80 instruments in operation as of mid‑2025 (43 carbon taxes, 37 ETS), up from just 5 in 2005. Jurisdictions with such instruments now represent two‑thirds of global GDP.
• Emission Coverage: Roughly 28% of global GHG emissions are now subject to pricing—an increase of ~4 percentage points since 2023. However, only ~6% are priced at levels deemed effective (US $40–100/t CO₂) to drive meaningful emissions.
• Revenue Mobilization: Carbon pricing generated US $103 billion in 2024 (67% from ETS, 33% from taxes), marginally below the record $106 billion in 2023. EU ETS remains the top contributor (41%), followed by Germany (14%), and Canada (9%).
• Sectoral Balance: Power and industrial sector emissions have the highest coverage (>50%), while agriculture, waste, transport, and informal sectors remain largely unpriced.
• Emerging Economy Leadership: Middle-income nations like India, Brazil, and Türkiye are actively expanding their carbon pricing frameworks. India’s forthcoming ETS, launched in 2024, is an intensity-based benchmark system—expected to begin trading energy‑efficiency certificates by 2025 and evolve into a full ETS by 2026.
• Quality of Carbon Credits: Nature‑based credits, especially afforestation projects, dominated voluntary carbon markets in 2024, raising around $14 billion. Concerns remain over quality and price volatility.
• Challenges & Gaps: Pricing levels mostly remain below effective thresholds. Coverage remains uneven across sectors and regions. Monitoring and verification need strengthening—emerging solutions like blockchain and satellite tracking are being explored. Voluntary markets suffer from trust issues; standardization efforts (e.g. ISO 14068) underway

Axiom‑4 Mission: The leak that led to mission delay & how launch windows are decided

In the News: On June 11–12, 2025, the Axiom‑4 mission — a private astronaut flight organized by Axiom Space and SpaceX, carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski, Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson — has been indefinitely delayed. The launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center was first scrubbed due to a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak in the Falcon 9 booster and further postponed following the discovery of an air‑leak in the ISS’s Russian Zvezda service module.

Key Points:

• LOX Leak in Falcon 9 Booster: During pre-launch fueling tests after a static-fire, engineers detected a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 booster (which had flown previous missions, including Starlink). The leak was traced back to incomplete repairs from refurbishment, prompting a stand-down from the June 11 launch to conduct repairs.
• ISS Air-Leak in Zvezda Module: Shortly after resolving the rocket issue, a pressure anomaly was identified in the Zvezda service module aboard the ISS. Russian cosmonauts performed inspections, sealed leaks, and the segment was holding pressure, but NASA and Roscosmos decided to delay the launch indefinitely to monitor and evaluate further risks.
• Crew & Mission Profile: Crew: Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
• Significance: Shukla will be the first astronaut from India’s ISRO-trained corps to visit the ISS, marking crucial steps toward India’s 2027 Gaganyaan program. Poland and Hungary also launch their first government-sponsored ISS missions in over 40 years.
• Launch Window Planning: Launch windows for ISS missions are determined by orbital mechanics: the alignment of the launch site (Kennedy Space Center) and the station’s flight path. This requires precise timing to ensure rendezvous capability, safe ascent trajectories, weather constraints, and mission readiness. Even small delays can shift windows by minutes to days. 

Wimbledon 2025 Sets New Prize Money Record at $73 Million

In the News: On June 12–13, 2025, the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced that Wimbledon 2025 will feature a record £53.5 million prize pool (roughly $72.6–73 million), marking a 7% increase over 2024 and doubling the total from a decade.

Key Points:

• Prize Pool Expansion: Total prize fund increased to £53.5 million (~$73 million), up 7% year-on-year and 100% compared to 2015.
• Singles Champions: Men’s and women’s singles winners each receive £3 million (~$4.07 million)—an 11.1% rise from last year, making it the highest payout in Grand Slam history.
• Early-Round Boosts: First-round losers get nearly $90,000 (about £66,000), a 10% increase, while prize money climbed across all categories—including doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair events
• Balanced Rewards: The AELTC emphasized equitable distribution to support lower-ranked and early-round players, alongside top achievers, and cited consultations with player representatives.
• Technological & Scheduling Changes: First-time adoption of electronic line-call technology, replacing traditional line judges (who will serve as match assistants). Singles finals rescheduled: women’s final on July 12 and men’s on July 13, both starting at 11 a.m. ET, two hours later than before.
• Context & Commentary: The AELTC noted that while prize hikes address formal demands, broader reforms—such as easing the strenuous calendar and injury pressures—require structural changes. Record highs also extend to doubles and wheelchair tennis, and discussions about facility expansion and fan experience enhancements are underway