ऑस्ट्रेलिया और यूके ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया के जिलॉन्ग में द्विपक्षीय परमाणु ऊर्जा संचालित पनडुब्बी साझेदारी और सहयोग संधि (जिलॉन्ग संधि) पर हस्ताक्षर किए, जिससे AUKUS रक्षा समझौते के प्रति उनकी प्रतिबद्धता सुदृढ़ हुई।
जिलॉन्ग संधि के बारे में
जिलॉन्ग संधि एक ऐतिहासिक समझौता है जो यूके और ऑस्ट्रेलिया को AUKUS स्तंभ I के अंतर्गत 50 वर्षों के द्विपक्षीय रक्षा सहयोग के लिए प्रतिबद्ध करता है।
यह संधि उनकी SSN-AUKUS पनडुब्बियों के डिज़ाइन, निर्माण, संचालन, रखरखाव और निपटान पर व्यापक सहयोग को सक्षम बनाएगी।
PM Modi will inaugurate the newly extended runway and terminal building at Thoothukudi airport.
About
Thoothukudi, also known as Tuticorin, is a significant port and industrial city in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India.
It is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
Thoothukudi is known as the “Pearl City” due to its historical pearl fishing activities. It’s a crucial seaport, often referred to as the “Sea Gateway of Tamil Nadu”.
The port was officially renamed V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in 2011.
The Committee on Estimates (2024–25) presented its Sixth Report to Parliament, highlighting India’s urgent need for systemic transformation in agriculture amid rising vulnerabilities due to climate change.
Agricultural Vulnerabilities in India
Climate Change Impacts: According to the report, crop yields are projected to decline by 4.5% to 9% in the medium term.
310 districts are vulnerable, with 109 categorized as ‘very high risk’ and 201 as ‘highly vulnerable’ by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Soil Degradation: Nearly 30% of India’s total land suffers from soil degradation due to intensive chemical-based practices.
Overuse of urea and pesticides, alongside declining organic matter, has led to nutrient imbalance, affecting soil fertility and ecosystem services.
ISRO will launch three more navigation satellites, NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05, by 2026 to bolster the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Significance
The first batch launched in the previous decades has been successful in establishing the Personal Navigation Device (PND) services in the country.
The NVS series is the second generation of these satellites that are progressively being deployed to further strengthen the PND ecosystem in the nation.
Many applications based on NavIC spanning from strategic uses, tracking of shipping vessels, time synchronization, train tracking and safety of alert life dissemination are accomplished.
The Indian government is finalising a green steel procurement policy, potentially mandating that 25% of public steel purchases be low-emission “green steel.”
What is Green Steel?
It refers to steel produced using low-carbon technologies, primarily by replacing coal-based blast furnaces with hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) processes or electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy.
It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most carbon-intensive industries globally.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has circulated Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP), 2025, for public consultation.
Significance of the Policy
NTP 2025 aims to boost telecom sector investment to ₹1 lakh crore annually, doubling telecom product exports and fostering innovation in emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum communications.
The policy targets 100% 4G population coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030, alongside expanding fiberization of telecom towers and deploying one million public Wi-Fi hotspots.
NTP 2025 proposes simplification of regulations, cost reductions, and measures to improve business environment and digital inclusion, fostering a robust ecosystem for telecom players and consumers alike.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the blocking of websites and apps of at least 25 OTT platforms for allegedly providing obscene and vulgar content.
Factors causing rise in Obscenity
Rapid Growth of Digital Platforms: The proliferation of OTTs, social media, and video-sharing sites has enabled easy access and dissemination of objectionable content.
Lack of Pre-Screening on OTT Platforms: Unlike films, OTT content is not subject to prior certification, allowing creators to bypass traditional censorship.
Inadequate Content Regulation Mechanisms: Weak enforcement in self-regulatory frameworks result in unchecked publication of obscene material.
Anonymity and Encryption: Users often exploit encrypted apps and anonymous browsing tools to share and consume explicit content, escaping legal scrutiny.
Prime Minister Modi paid a state visit to Maldives.
Challenges:
Change in Power: Changes in government create uncertainty and complicate long-term cooperation projects.
Chinese Influence: China’s growing economic presence in the Maldives, evidenced by investments in infrastructure projects and debt-trap diplomacy, is perceived as a challenge to India’s strategic interests in the region.
Non-traditional threats: Piracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking remain concerns in the region, requiring continuous collaboration and intelligence sharing between India and the Maldives.
Extremism and radicalization: The Maldives’ vulnerability to religious extremism and radicalization poses a security threat that necessitates joint efforts in countering such ideologies.
