Today's Current Affairs 9th April 2024

INTERNATIONAL

China Surpasses India as Largest Importer of Russian Crude

• China has surpassed India as the primary importer of Russian crude oil via sea routes, with China importing 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) in March compared to India’s 1.36 million bpd.
• In March, China imported 1.82 million bpd of Russian crude by sea, exceeding India’s 1.36 million bpd. 

111-Year-Old John Alfred Tinniswood Becomes World’s New Oldest Man

• Guinness World Records (GWR) has shared a video of the world’s oldest living man, 111-year-old John Alfred Tinniswood, from England. 

NATIONAL

Tri-Service Planning Conference: Parivartan Chintan

• The inaugural Tri-Service Planning Conference, dubbed ‘Parivartan Chintan,’ convened in New Delhi on April 8, 2024, orchestrated by the Ministry of Defence.
• Chief of the Indian Army, General Manoj Pande; Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhary of the Indian Air Force; and Admiral R. Hari Kumar of the Indian Navy were among the representatives. 

India Secures Second Overseas Port: Sittwe Agreement Approved by MEA

• In a strategic move to bolster its maritime presence and enhance regional connectivity, India has gained operational control over the Sittwe Port in Myanmar, following approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The agreement allows India Ports Global (IPGL), a company fully owned by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to manage the entire port on the Kaladan River, marking India’s second overseas port acquisition after Chabahar in Iran. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) Launches India’s First Privately-Built Sub-Metre Resolution Surveillance Satellite

• Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), in collaboration with Satellogic, has successfully launched India’s inaugural private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A.
• The collaboration between TASL and Satellogic resulted in the successful launch of TSAT-1A from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, aboard Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 7. 

Indian Army Enhances Air Defence with Igla-S MANPADS

• The Indian Army has bolstered its Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities with the acquisition of Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) from Russia. 

OBITUARY

Legendary Cinematographer Gangu Ramsay Passes Away at 83

• Gangu Ramsay, the second-eldest son of FU Ramsay, passed away in Mumbai. He was 83 years old.
• Gangu Ramsay was a renowned cinematographer and filmmaker who was part of the iconic Ramsay Brothers banner. 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Centre Appoints Manoj Panda as New Finance Commission Member

• Manoj Panda, renowned economist and former director of the Institute of Economic Growth, has been appointed as a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission by the Centre. 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Aleksei Navalny and Yulia Navalnaya Honoured with Freedom Prize

• The late Russian dissident Aleksei Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, will receive the Freedom Prize of the Media from a leading German forum, the Ludwig Erhard Summit.
• The Freedom Prize has been awarded to other prominent figures, including Russian politician Garry Kasparov in 2023 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the past.