{"id":87119,"date":"2026-10-21T18:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=87119"},"modified":"2026-10-21T18:27:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:57:59","slug":"news-in-brief-21-10-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-10-2026\/news-in-brief-21-10-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Brief 21-10-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Electrical Interconnection Between India and Saudi Arabia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR, GS3\/Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Saudi Arabia reviewed progress on their proposed electrical interconnection initiative and discussed opportunities to expand power-sector cooperation during a virtual bilateral meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The India-Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection is a proposed bilateral project to link the power grids of both nations via a long-distance undersea<strong> high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Initial Agreement: <\/strong>A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in <strong>2023<\/strong> in Riyadh, covering electrical interconnections, green hydrogen, and supply chains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It involves a planned <strong>1,700 km undersea high-voltage power link <\/strong>valued at roughly \u20b947,000 crore ($5.5 billion).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The project aims to enable<strong> 2 GW <\/strong>of power exchange, emergency support, and renewable energy integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddindia.co.in\/2026\/10\/india-saudi-arabia-review-proposed-power-interconnection-explore-wider-cooperation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>China Merchants Withdraws from Colombo Port Project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR; GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China&#8217;s state-owned China Merchants Port Holdings has withdrawn from a proposed $392 million logistics hub project at<strong> Sri Lanka&#8217;s Colombo Port.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Project<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Th<strong>e South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub (SACLH) <\/strong>was announced in 2023, with China Merchants set to hold a <strong>70% stake in the joint venture<\/strong>. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and local construction company Access Engineering were each to hold 15%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The partners have agreed to terminate the project, citing changes in external circumstances, implementation timelines and commercial considerations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, the withdrawal does not indicate a broader exit from Sri Lanka&#8217;s maritime sector. China Merchants continues to operate the <strong>Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT)<\/strong> and is involved in the management of <strong>Hambantota Port<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Position<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Existing presence:<\/strong> India already has a strong presence through its investment in the Colombo West International Terminal. The Adani led terminal is a 35 year concession with John Keells and SLPA as partners.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Neighbourhood First and SAGAR\/MAHASAGAR: <\/strong>India\u2019s approach stresses development partnership, connectivity and shared security rather than debt dependent leverage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crisis support: <\/strong>India extended around $4 billion in assistance in 2022 and backed Sri Lanka\u2019s IMF programme, which built goodwill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Domestic port capacity:<\/strong> Vizhinjam and planned mega ports such as Great Nicobar aim to reduce reliance on foreign transshipment hubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/china-pulls-out-of-key-investment-in-sri-lanka-port-logistics-venture\/article71602799.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Space Radiation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society under the <strong>SNIFFLES programme <\/strong>found that low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Starlink, OneWeb and China\u2019s Guowang emit radio signals that interfere with<strong> radio astronomy<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Space Radiation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is high energy particles, mostly atomic nuclei without their electrons, that travel at close to the speed of light.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Types<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Particles trapped in the Earth\u2019s magnetic field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Particles shot into space during solar flares (solar particle events)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Galactic cosmic rays, which are high-energy protons and heavy ions from outside our solar system.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All of these kinds of space radiation represent ionizing radiation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Latest Research&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A OneWeb signal at 1,613.19 MHz could interfere with observations of hydroxyl (OH) ions, while some emissions were up to 100 billion times brighter than typical astronomical sources, potentially overwhelming telescopes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The study recommends applying existing international radio-emission regulations to satellites and continuously monitoring emissions by satellite operators, designers and space agencies, particularly as direct-to-cell services\u00a0 expand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/satellite-radiation-blocking-the-view\/article71599497.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Aditya-L1 Mission offers New Insights\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scientists have generated <strong>Doppler velocity images<\/strong> of activities taking place<strong> <\/strong>in the <strong>solar corona<\/strong> using data from<strong> India\u2019s maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The positive and negative Doppler velocities indicate<strong> solar plasma moving away from and towards the direction of the observer.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Doppler velocities measure the <strong>speed and direction of moving objects by calculating the frequency shift<\/strong> of waves that reflect off them (known as the Doppler effect).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These images are expected to provide information on the <strong>propagation of the coronal mass ejections along the Sun-Earth direction,<\/strong> which were unavailable till date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Aditya-L1&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aditya-L1<\/strong> was launched in <strong>2023 <\/strong>and is the <strong>first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is placed at <strong>Lagrangian point L1<\/strong> for observing and understanding the chromospheric and coronal dynamics of the Sun.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>L1 <\/strong>is a location in space where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium. This allows an object placed there to remain relatively stable.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>There are five Lagrange points,<\/strong> three are unstable and two are stable. The unstable Lagrange points are labeled L1, L2 and L3. The stable Lagrange points are labeled L4 and L5.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"0c0e0c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"896\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131-1024x896.png\" alt=\"About Aditya-L1\u00a0\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-87120\" style=\"--dominant-color: #0c0e0c; aspect-ratio:1.1429032489421216;width:477px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131-1024x896.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131-300x263.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131-768x672.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131-1536x1344.png 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-131.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Advantages of placing Aditya-L1 around L1 point as compared to Low Earth Orbit (LEO):\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It provides a smooth Sun-spacecraft velocity change throughout the orbit, appropriate for helioseismology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is outside of the magnetosphere of Earth, thus suitable for the &#8220;in situ&#8221; sampling of the solar wind and particles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It allows unobstructed, continuous observation of the Sun, and view of earth for enabling continuous communication to ground stations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It is equipped with seven payloads<\/strong> (instruments) on board with four of them carrying out remote sensing of the Sun and three of them carrying in-situ observation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Seven Payloads of Aditya L-1.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)<\/strong> will study the Corona, imaging and spectroscopy, and Coronal mass ejections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)<\/strong> will focus upon the Photosphere and Chromosphere imaging- narrow and broadband. It will also measure the solar irradiance variations.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)<\/strong> and <strong>High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)<\/strong> will study the soft and hard X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray energy range.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)<\/strong> and <strong>Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)<\/strong> will analyze the electrons and protons in the Solar wind or particles. It will also study the energetic ions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers<\/strong> will study the interplanetary magnetic field at L1 point.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/indias-first-solar-mission-aditya-l1-generates-doppler-velocity-images-of-the-solar-corona\/article71603276.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India and Saudi Arabia reviewed progress on their proposed electrical interconnection initiative and discussed opportunities to expand power-sector cooperation during a virtual bilateral meeting. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The India-Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection is a proposed bilateral project to link the power grids of both nations via a long-distance undersea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Initial Agreement: A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 2023 in Riyadh, covering electrical interconnections, green hydrogen, and supply chains. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-10-2026\/news-in-brief-21-10-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87119"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87123,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87119\/revisions\/87123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}