Today's Current Affairs 6th January 2023

INTERNATIONAL

India identifies copper and lithium mines in Argentina

• The Indian government has proclaimed that they have identified two lithium mines and one copper mine in Argentina and they are moving forward to acquiring it or taking long term lease. The government of India said that they had sent a team of geologists to Argentina to assess and find potential lithium deposits in the month of November 2022. They have been able to identify a possible source of lithium and copper deposits in the south American country.
• Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (Kabil) will have ownership or leasing rights to the mines. A joint venture between the National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Hindustan Copper (HCL), and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. It was established in 2019 to ensure the market in India had access to strategic minerals.

Europe's melted snow due to 'winter heatwave' seen from space

• New satellite imagery reveals the effect of Europe’s ‘winter heatwave’ in the thick of the continent’s winter skiing season. An image posted by the European Union’s Copernicus Programme shows a distinct lack of snow surrounding the Swiss town of Altdorf, which is close to skiing resorts. In Altdorf, the temperature reached 66.5°F (19.2°C) on New Year’s Day and did not fall below 60.9°F (16.1°C) during the night, breaking a previous record set in 1864. Warsaw in Poland also hit 66°F (18.9°C), smashing its own January record by over 9°F (5°C).
• The new satellite image was captured by Sentinel 2, one of the Earth observation satellites that makes up the Copernicus Programme. According to the programme, 2023 has started with ‘a historic heatwave‘ affecting Europe, with many countries observing the warmest temperature on record for January 1, potentially due to human-caused climate change.

 NATIONAL

Experiencing History!: World’s first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum in Kerala  

• Kerala Chief Minister(CM) Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the Palm leaf Manuscript Museum with modern audio-visual technology at the renovated Central Archives, Fort area in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Museum, promoted as “World’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum” was set up by the Archives Department in association with the Kerala Museum of History and Heritage at a cost of Rs 3 crore.
• The museum is a repository of curious nuggets of administrative, socio-cultural and economic facets of the Travancore kingdom which lasted for 650 years till the end of the 19th century. It had been the Central Vernacular Records Office since 1887 before becoming a museum.

Ghaziabad-Pt becomes longest fully ABS section of Indian Railways says Indian Railways

• Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section (762 KM) becomes the longest fully automatic block signalling section of Indian Railways. In order to increase line capacity to run more trains on existing High Density Routes of Indian Railways, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) is a cost effective solution. Indian Railways has been rolling out Automatic Block signalling on a mission mode. ABS has been commissioned on 268 Rkm during 2022-23. As on 31.12.2022, ABS has been provided on 3706 Route km over IR. With implementation of Automatic Signalling, increase in capacity will accrue resulting in more train services becoming possible.
• Electronic Interlocking are being adopted on a large scale to derive benefits of digital technologies in train operation and to enhance safety. Electronic Interlocking systems have been provided at 347 stations during 2022-23. So far 2888 stations have been provided with Electronic Interlocking up to 31.12.2022 covering 45.5% of IR. Recently, with the commissioning of Automatic signalling system in Sath Naraini- Rundhi- Faizullapur Station section of Prayagraj Division, 762 KM long Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section has been fully automated and has also become the longest automatic block signalling section of Indian Railways.

 SPORTS

Jaydev Unadkat's historic first-over Ranji Trophy hat-trick wrecks Delhi

• Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat made a slice of Ranji Trophy history, becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the opening over. The left-arm pacer destroyed Delhi by adding two more in the next over in a career-best eight-wicket haul in the Elite Group B match in Rajkot. Unadkat’s hat-trick victims included opener Dhruv Shorey, Vaibhav Rawal and young Delhi captain Yash Dhull, all of whom departed for duck. Unadkat’s finishing with career-best figures of 8/39 in his 12 overs. Delhi, who lost 7 wickets for just 10 runs, didn’t face ignominy of lowest first-class score of 6 by a team called ‘The B’s’ against England in an official match held in 1810.
• No one had managed a first-over hat-trick in the 89-year history of the premier domestic competition. The previous record of the fastest Ranji hat-trick belonged to Karnataka pacer Vinay Kumar, who achieved the feat in the 2017-18 quarter-final against Mumbai. Kumar’s effort was spread across the first and third overs of the match. Unadkat, playing in his 98th first-class match was playing in his first Ranji game of the season, having recently made his Test return in Bangladesh following a 12-year wait.

Belinda Clark becomes first women cricketer to have a statue cast, sculpture unveiled at Sydney Cricket Ground

• Australia’s Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to have a statue cast in her honour, a bronze sculpture of the trailblazing former captain unveiled outside Sydney Cricket Ground. Clark played 15 tests and over 100 limited overs matches between 1991-2005, and became the first cricketer to score a double-hundred in one-day internationals when she made an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997.
• The 52-year-old’s statue stands alongside Richie Benaud, Fred Spofforth, Stan McCabe and Steve Waugh as cricketers honoured with sculptures in the SCG precinct. at the ground. Her bronze cast now stands alongside former captain Richard Benaud and Steve Waugh. The 52-year-old Clark who has held several roles in Australian Cricket board was excited on this honour. Known for scoring the first double century in ODI cricket, Clark played 15 Tests and over 100 l imited-over matches between 1991-2005. His historic double hundred came against Denmark in 1997 with an unbeaten knock of 229.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

NABI, Mohali, gets genome editing and training centre

• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab.The Minister also, at the same time, inaugurated a 4-day International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security 2023.
• “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” (NGETC) is a one-roof state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to the regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods, including CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome modification. It will also empower young researchers by providing them with training and guidance about its know-how and application in crops. In the current climatic scenario, improving crops for better nutrition and tolerance to the changing environmental condition is a significant challenge. Genome editing could be a promising technology that Indian research could adapt to offer the desired tailor-made traits in crops. NABI has shown ability and can expand the genome editing tools to vast arrays of crops, including Banana, Rice, Wheat, Tomato, Maize and Millets.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day of War Orphans 2023: 6th January

• The World Day of War Orphans is observed on January 6 every year with an aim to raise awareness about children orphaned in wars. These children are subjected to hardships that are more than just physical neglect after losing their caregivers. It is an important event to note that the aftermaths of war are not just harsh on a single part of the society.
• Most significant reason the day is marked is to highlight the debilitating aftereffects of war. The focus is especially shifted to orphans and their plight. Children who have no direct part in the war, often end up suffering the most. The day is marked to understand the full impact of how destructive wars can be and the weight of loss it brings along. The day is also commemorated to give a platform to the war orphans and let them know their voices are heard.

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

First G-20 meeting to take place in Puducherry on Jan 31, says LG Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan

• Puducherry Lieutenant governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the first G-20 meeting will be held in Puducherry on 31st January. The G20 logo for the meeting was released by Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan at a function held at Beach Road Gandhi Tidal. Dr. Tamisai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving all the states the opportunity to host the G-20 meetings. He released stickers, posters and badges and also inaugurated a selfie booth in the presence of Chief Minister Rengasamy.
• These programs will be organised in different parts of the country in different segments. Kolkata will host the first meeting on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.
• Since India is holding the presidency of the group, it is also setting an agenda for the wellbeing of the world at large. Needless to say whilst G20 priorities are in the process of being firmed up and a lot of them would come up as the talks go on, India is showing a path with focus on inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth.

Cabinet Committee approves over Rs 2,500-cr scheme for upgrading infra of DD, AIR

• In a bid to upgrade Prasar Bharati’s broadcast infrastructure and network, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a scheme worth more than Rs 2,500 crore for Doordarshan and All India Radio. Under the scheme, eight lakh DD Free Dish DTH set top boxes (STBs) will also be distributed to people living in remote, tribal, LWE, border areas and ‘aspirational’ districts.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced the Central Sector ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)’ scheme with an outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26, which was approved by the CCEA.
• The BIND scheme is the vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organization.
• The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE (Left Wing Extremism), border and strategic areas and provide high quality content to the viewers.