Today's Current Affairs - 9th November 2022

INTERNATIONAL

Iran Revolutionary Guard launches satellite-carrying rocket

• Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a new satellite-carrying rocket, seeking to demonstrate the hard-line force’s prowess even as anti-government protests rage across the country.
• The Ghaem 100, Iran’s first three-stage launch vehicle, will be able to place satellites weighing 80 kg (180 pounds) in an orbit 500 km (300 miles) from the earth’s surface, IRNA said.
• Amirali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Guard’s aerospace division, which developed the Ghaem-100, said the rocket would be used to launch Iran’s Nahid satellite for the Telecommunications Ministry.
• Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East. The country says its satellite program, like its nuclear activities, is aimed at scientific research and other civilian applications. Over the past decade, Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space. The program, however, has had several failed satellite launches in recent years, blamed on technical issues.
• Iran successfully launched its first military satellite in April 2020, drawing a sharp rebuke from Washington.

Netherlands emerged as the top buyer of Indian petro-products amid Russia-Ukraine War

• The Netherlands has emerged as the top destination for India’s petroleum product exports such as petrol and diesel in the first half of the current fiscal year. This change comes in the wake of the Ukraine war, with India continuing to buy discounted crude oil from sanctions-hit Russia.
• This bump in exports has also resulted in the Netherlands becoming the third biggest market for India’s overall exports, thereby replacing China. China is now displaced to the 4th position, accounting for just 3.3% of total outbound shipments.
• India is a key Asian refining hub, with an installed capacity of nearly 250 million tonnes per annum across 23 refineries. South Africa and Brazil also ramped up refined petroleum product purchases including those of ATF from India in H1, making it to the top 10 petroleum product export markets for Indian refiners.

 NATIONAL

Testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems for Indian Navy launched by DRDO

• Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) launched the Hull Module of the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization & Evaluation (SPACE) facility at Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) Kochi. It is a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems developed for use by the Indian navy onboard various platforms which include ships, submarines, and helicopters.
• The SPACE facility is based on the concept design and requirements projected by NPOL and has been constructed by M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Chennai.
• It will be mainly utilized for evaluating Sonar systems, allowing for quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers.
• The SPACE is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world. The uniqueness of this facility lies in the specially designed submersible platform, which can be lowered up to depths of 100 meters using a series of synchronously operated winches.

 SPORTS

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Charlotte Edwards, Abdul Qadir inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the latest legends who join the prestigious list of cricketing greats that make up the ICC Hall of Fame. Following a voting process that included existing Hall of Famers, media representatives plus senior executives from the Federation of International Cricketers (FICA) and the ICC, West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, England Women’s team legend Charlotte Edwards and Pakistan legend Abdul Qadir become inductees number 107, 108 and 109 respectively.
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul is one of the most instantly recognisable figures in the history of West Indies cricket. With an unorthodox batting technique, he made his debut at 19 and quickly began to excel against opposition bowlers.
• Over the course of a 20-year international career, Charlotte Edwards became one of the most significant players in the history of women’s cricket. Starting her international journey as a 16-year-old, she soon announced herself by striking a world-record unbeaten 173 against Ireland in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Pune.
• Qadir passed away in 2019 at the age of 63, but his influence of the game in Pakistan and the wider world is still felt strongly today. Often labelled the saviour of leg-spin bowling during the 1970s and 80s, Qadir was renowned for outfoxing some of the greatest batters in the game with his dynamic action and majestic variation.

Bhagat, Ramadass bag gold at BWF Para Badminton World Championships

• Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass won gold medals in singles at the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Tokyo. The reigning Paralympic gold medallist Bhagat beat compatriot Nitesh Kumar 21-19, 21-19 in 53 minutes in an all-Indian SL3 final.
• This is Bhagat’s fourth World Championships gold in singles and sixth overall in the marquee event.
• Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar went down 21-14, 18-21, 13-21 to Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani-Ukun Rukaendi in the SL3-SL4 men’s doubles final.
• Manisha Ramadass beat Japan’s Mamiko Toyoda 21-15, 21-15 in half an hour in the SU5 final.
• Bhagat has won a total of six gold, two silver, and three bronze medals in singles and doubles in the six championships he has played.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sworn in as 50th Chief Justice of India

• Senior-most Supreme Court judge and Chief Justice of India-designate Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud is all set to become the 50th head of the Indian judiciary when President Draupadi Murmu would administer the oath of office to him at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Justice Chandrachud, born on November 11, 1959, was elevated to the top court on May 13, 2016.
• He has been part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts of the top court including on matters relating to the Ayodhya land dispute, the right to privacy and adultery. Justice Chandrachud was also part of the benches which delivered path-breaking judgements on decriminalising same-sex relations after it partially struck down Section 377 of the IPC, the validity of the Aadhaar scheme and the Sabarimala issue.
• Recently, he was among the two judges of the apex court Collegium which had objected to the method of “circulation” adopted for eliciting the views of its members on the appointment of judges to the top court.
• After completing his BA with Honours in Economics from St Stephen’s College, New Delhi, Justice Chandrachud did his LLB from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, and obtained an LLM degree and a Doctorate in Juridical Sciences (SJD) from Harvard Law School, USA.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

National Legal Services Day 2022: History, Significance, Theme, Objectives, Purpose & More

• National Legal Services Day is marked every year on 9th November to celebrate the commencement of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force on this very day in 1995. This day was established with a mandate to offer support and help to weaker sections of society including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, women, disabled persons, natural calamities victims, and human trafficking victims.
• National Legal Services Day is crucial in raising public knowledge about various provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act as well as litigants’ rights. The Day is commemorated to educate citizens about the various aspects of the Legal Services Authorities Act and litigants’ rights. Each jurisdiction arranges legal help camps, Lok adalats, and legal aid programmes on this day.

Uttarakhand Foundation Day 9th November 2022: History, significance & More

• Uttarakhand Foundation Day is observed on November 9 every year. Also known as Uttrakhand Divas, it is celebrated to mark the establishment of the 27th state of India. Uttarakhand did not come into existence with India’s independence. It is one of the newer states that was created under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.
• The state of Uttarakhand has very rich natural resources which include glaciers, rivers, dense forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. It also houses the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples also known as the Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The capital of the state is Dehradun and the winter capital is Gairsain.
• When Uttarakhand Kranti Dal was formed, with the aim of achieving statehood, a widespread movement to achieve statehood swept the region in 90s. It kept on for years. Subsequently, the state of Uttarakhand was formed, initially as Uttaranchal. The then-president, K. R. Narayanan, approved the bill on August 28, 2000, which later turned into an act. Finally, on January 1, 2007, Uttaranchal was officially renamed Uttarakhand.

 BOOKS & AUTHOR

Book “Winning the Inner Battle” authored by Australian All-rounder Cricketer Shane Watson

• A new book titled “Winning the Inner Battle Bringing the best version of you to cricket” is authored by Shane Watson. This book will give you all of the information that you will ever need to deeply understand how to bring the best version of yourself every time your best performance is needed.
• Shane Watson is one of Australian cricket’s finest all-rounders, representing his country 298 times. Shane Watson’s new book, Winning The Inner Battle, which explores the mental side of the game through his own experiences of revitalising his career after he had considered retirement in 2015.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Bureau of Energy Efficiency signs MoU with SIDBI to finance green MSMEs

• The government body for energy efficiency Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for MSMEs.
• The MoU will aim to promote energy efficiency financing for MSMEs and explore the internet of things (IoT)-based solutions, greening MSMEs, capacity building of various stakeholders, etc., BEE said.
• To encourage MSME units to undertake energy saving investments in plant and machinery to reduce energy consumption, enhance energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and improve the profitability of the units in the long run.
• SIDBI announced partnerships with multiple stakeholders to help MSMEs become more energy efficient in their operations to support India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 targets. SIDBI had signed MoUs with German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for operating a Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) that provides credit guarantees to loans from commercial banks or non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

SBI commits to finance 1000 entrepreneurs in Nagaland through partnership with Business Association

• The State Bank of India (SBI) in collaboration with the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has decided to help 1000 entrepreneurs with financing.
• An MoU has been signed between the two parties to facilitate ease of doing business and finance MSMEs of Naga entrepreneurs in the state, reported Eastern Mirror.
• The NIIE trade fair culminated positive impact with huge promise and commitment to finance 1000 entrepreneurs through the iconic signing of an MOU between SBI and BAN, which will bring hope and huge respite to the genuine entrepreneurs of the state.
• BAN will facilitate the identification, and preparation of MSME through project screening, documentation, and submission to SBI.