23 November 2023

• International Relations: The Philippines shifted toward India and Japan for development and security cooperation, driven by escalating South China Sea tensions with China.
• Science: Tantalum, a rare metal with atomic number 73, was discovered for the first time in India's Sutlej River by an IIT Ropar team.
• Space: NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) studies interactions between terrestrial weather and space weather at 85-87 km altitude.
• Security: Houthi rebels from Yemen hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, claiming Israeli ownership.
• Defence: China activated its new Near-Space Command, a fifth military force operating at altitudes of 23 to 100 km with hypersonic missiles and spy balloons.

GS area: International Relations

The Philippines increasingly sought India and Japan as development and security partners amid escalating South China Sea tensions with China.

• India-Philippines trade: approximately USD 3 billion in 2022. India is the Philippines' 15th largest trading partner.
• India-Japan relations: elevated to "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" in 2014. Bilateral trade over USD 20 billion in 2022. Japan was India's 4th largest FDI source in FY2020.
• India largest recipient of Japanese ODA: Official Development Assistance. Japan's major India projects include the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, Delhi Metro and various North East India projects.
• Philippines-China tension: the Philippines won a 2016 Arbitral Award under UNCLOS against China's Nine-Dash Line claims. China rejected the ruling.
• South China Sea: China claims about 90 per cent of the South China Sea through the Nine-Dash Line, contested by Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Static linkage: International Relations (India-Japan, India-Philippines, Indo-Pacific).

GS area: Science and Technology (Natural Resources)

Researchers from IIT Ropar discovered tantalum in India's Sutlej River for the first time. Tantalum is a rare metal with atomic number 73.

• Properties: rare, hard, corrosion-resistant metal. High melting point.
• First discovered: in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekenberg.
• Applications: electronic capacitors (the primary use, in smartphones and computers), equipment for chemical plants and nuclear reactors, aircraft parts, and medical implants (dental implants, surgical tools, bone plates).
• Global supply: Democratic Republic of Congo is the world's largest producer. Rwanda and Australia are significant suppliers.
• India's position: India imports almost entirely. Domestic reserves exist in Bihar, Rajasthan and Karnataka but are not yet commercially exploited.
• Critical mineral: tantalum is on India's critical minerals list given its importance to electronics manufacturing and defence.

Static linkage: Science and Technology (Natural Resources, Economy).

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment studies interactions between terrestrial weather and space weather. It focuses on Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW) in the mesopause region at 85-87 km above Earth.

• Instrument: Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (ATMT), using near-infrared sensors.
• Why it matters: weather systems generate gravity waves that propagate upward and affect the ionosphere and thermosphere. Disruptions in the upper atmosphere affect GPS signals, satellite communications and radio transmissions.
• Satellites dependent on accurate upper-atmosphere models: GPS, weather satellites, communication satellites and reconnaissance satellites.

Static linkage: Science and Technology (Space, Weather).

GS area: International Relations (West Asia, Maritime Security)

Houthi rebels from Yemen hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, claiming it had Israeli ownership. The seizure raised concerns about maritime security in the Red Sea and its impact on global shipping.

• Houthi profile: Shiite Muslim insurgent group based in Yemen. Founded by Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi. Follow the Zaidism branch of Shia Islam. Backed by Iran.
• Red Sea significance: the Red Sea connects the Suez Canal to the Arabian Sea. About 12 per cent of global trade and significant amounts of Gulf oil transit this route.
• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait: the narrow strait between Yemen and Djibouti/Eritrea. Ships transiting the Suez Canal from the south must pass through it. Houthi control of Yemen's western coast means potential interdiction capability.
• India's exposure: Indian seafarers work on many vessels transiting this route. Indian trade with Europe depends on Suez Canal access.

Static linkage: International Relations (West Asia), Geography (Maritime Routes).

GS area: International Relations (Defence, Science and Technology)

China activated its Near-Space Command as the People's Liberation Army's fifth military force, alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force.

• Operating altitude: 23 to 100 km (approximately 75,000 to 100,000 feet above Earth's surface), the area between aviation and space.
• Equipment: hypersonic missiles (operating above Mach 5), high-altitude spy balloons, automated drones, solar-powered unmanned platforms.
• Strategic significance: the near-space zone is largely undefended. Traditional air defences reach around 30 km. Satellites orbit at 200 km and above. The 23-100 km zone is a surveillance and weapons platform gap.
• Hypersonic context: China claims the DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle and DF-27 as operational. Hypersonic weapons are difficult to intercept with current missile defence systems.

Static linkage: International Relations (India-China, Defence, Science and Technology).

GS area: Social Justice (Governance, Sports)

The ICC prohibited male-to-female transgender players from international women's cricket. The policy cites the need to "protect integrity, safety, fairness and inclusion" in women's cricket.

• Affected person: Danielle McGahey was the first transgender player in international cricket, playing for Cook Islands.
• Policy review timeline: 2 years.
• Comparison: World Athletics requires testosterone below 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months. FINA (swimming), UCI (cycling) and World Rugby banned trans women from women's events.
• The fairness-inclusion tension: sports governing bodies are navigating the tension between inclusion of transgender individuals and the competitive fairness of women's categories.

Static linkage: Social Justice (Gender, Sports Governance).

• Operation Karuna in Myanmar: India's humanitarian mission to Cyclone Mocha-affected Rakhine State in Myanmar, where the cyclone also destroyed Rohingya refugee camps near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. India's ability to reach out to Myanmar through military humanitarian operations demonstrates the operational reach of the Indian armed forces.
• 2nd CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave: the Nordic-Baltic group of eight nations (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden as Nordic; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as Baltic) held the second edition of their business conclave with India, focusing on trade, technology and innovation.