The United States has successfully tested the hypersonic missile technology on October 20, 2021.

Highlights

• Hypersonic Missile Technology is a new weapons system which is already being deployed by Russia and China.
• The test was conducted at a NASA facility in Wallops, Virginia.
• It is a significant step in development of a Navy-designed common hypersonic missile.
• This test by US demonstrated advanced hypersonic technologies, prototype systems and capabilities in a realistic operating environment.
• Hypersonic missiles such as traditional ballistic missiles can fly at five times the speed of sound that is, Mach 5.
• These missiles are more manoeuvrable as compared to their ballistic counterparts.

China’s Hypersonic Missile

China had conducted a test of Hypersonic Missile with nuclear capacity in August 2021. China’s hypersonic missile completed a circuit of Earth before landing. However, it missed its target. According to China, it was a routine test for a spacecraft rather than a missile. China launched hypersonic medium-range missile called “DF-17” in the year 2019. This hypersonic missile can travel about 2000 kilometres and can carry nuclear warheads.

Russia’s Hypersonic Missile

Russia also launched a hypersonic missile called the Zircon, recently. It was launched from a submarine. It also has Avangard Missiles in service since late 2019. The Avangard can travel at a speed up to Mach 27.

The 52nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is going to held in Goa from November 20 to November 28, 2021 in which Hungarian filmmaker Istvan Szabo and Hollywood icon Martin Scorsese will be honoured with “Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Istvan Szabo

• Istvan Szabo is the most notable Hungarian filmmakers. He has been known outside the Hungarian-speaking world since 1960s.
• He achieved his greatest international success with movie called Mephisto (1981). For this, he was awarded with an Oscar in the best foreign language film category.

Martin Scorsese

He is one of the greatest and most influential directors in film history. He established filmmaking history in nine films made with Robert De Niro, such as biographical sports drama Raging Bull (1980) and psychological thriller Taxi Driver (1976). He has also been known for his collaborations with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Scorsese directed Leonardo in five films namely, Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

52nd International Film Festival of India

52nd International film Festival of India is scheduled to organise from November 20 to November 28, 2021 in Goa. It will be held in hybrid form like its 51st edition. In the year 2021, to mark the birth centenary of Satyajit Rai, Directorate of Film Festivals will pay tribute to him by means of a ‘Special Retrospective’. An award named “Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinema, will be given on the occasion to recognise auteur’s legacy.

Satyajit Ray

He was an Indian film director, documentary filmmaker, scriptwriter, essayist, author, illustrator, lyricist, magazine editor, calligrapher, and music composer. He is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

Fourth general assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held virtually between October 18 to October 21, 2021.

Highlights

• Assembly was presided by Union Minister of power, new & renewable energy, R.K. Singh and President of ISA Assembly.
• 108 countries participated in the ISA Assembly, including 34 observer & prospective countries and 74 Member Countries.
• It was also participated by 23 Partner Organizations and 33 Special Invitee Organisations.
• During the meeting countries discussed that how MSME clusters can replace diesel gensets with hydrogen.
• Discussion was focused on how ISA’s waste management programme will be significant for the growing volume of waste & toxic materials, high cost of waste treatment and lack of waste specific legislation.
• They also discussed an update on One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative. This concept of a single global grid for solar was proposed at First Assembly of the ISA in 2018.

Two New programme

During the assembly, countries launched two new programmes namely- Management of Solar PV panels & battery usage waste and Solar Hydrogen programme.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) called ABHYAS on October 22, 2021.

Key Points

• ABHYAS high-speed expendable aerial target will be used to evaluate several missile systems,
• It was tested from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha.

Who developed ABHYAS?

ABHYAS has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO, headquartered in Bengaluru.

About ABHYAS

The flight test of ABHYAS was carried out as a part of developmental flight trials. To produce them, an expression of interest has already been floated for the Indian industries. This indigenous target aircraft will meet the requirements of High-speed Expendable Aerial Targets (HEAT) after its development. It is being developed for the Indian Armed Forces.

China passed its New Education Law on October 23, 2021 with the aim of cutting the “twin pressures” of homework and off-site tutoring in the core subjects.

Background

This law is new, in series of China’s assertive paternal hand in the year 2021. China took several assertive moves ranging from:

1. Tackling addiction of youngsters to online games,
2. Deemed a form of spiritual opium
3. Clamp down on blind worship of internet celebrities.

On October 18, 2021, Parliament of China noted that, it will consider legislation for punishing parents if their young children exhibit “bad behaviour” or “commit crimes”.

About the new law

The new law has made the local governments responsible to ensure that the twin pressures on children are reduced. It also asks parents to arrange the time of their children to account for reasonable rest and exercise in order to reduce pressure and avoid overuse of the internet. New law also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for some major subjects on weekend and holidays.

External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar and British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss held talks on Infrastructure and Defence on October 22, 2021.

Key Points

• The talk was focused on infrastructure investment, defence cooperation and security cooperation.
• Liz Truss is also expected to announce a series of technological and infrastructure tie-ups with India for boosting the Indian as well as British economies. These tie-ups will also help the developing countries to grow in sustainable and clean manner.
• Both the ministers also reviewed the “Roadmap 2030” which was launched during India-UK Virtual Summit on May 4, 2021.

India-UK defence deal

Both the countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. They also stressed on the need of safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.

Significance of the move

Closer ties in the areas like tech and infrastructure will help in creating jobs and brining growth in both the countries. It will also boost developing world economies and help both the countries in promoting their values on global stage.

To commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Indian Navy is conducting an Offshore Sailing Regatta under the aegis of Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA).

Key Points

• Offshore Sailing Regatta is being conducted from Kochi to Goa.
• In the event, Six Indian Naval Sailing Vessels namely, Tarini, Mhadei, Neelkanth, Bulbul, Kadal Pura and Hariyal will participate.
• The race is scheduled to start from 24th October and will run for a tentative duration of five days.
• Sailing vessels would cover an approximate distance of 360 nautical miles between Kochi to Goa.

The expedition is being conducted with the sim of fostering the spirit of adventure and ocean sailing for participating crew.

Each of the six Indian Naval Sailing Vessels, comprising of four 40 footers and two 56 footers, will be manned by six naval personnel who will be drawn from three Commands of Navy, IHQ MoD (Navy) and the ANC. Apart from the sailing vessels, Ocean Yachts from Yachting Association of India will also take part in the event.

The event is being organised by HQSNC and Ocean Sailing Node of Indian Navy, which is located at INS Mandovi in Goa.

India has handed over 34.9 km long cross-border rail link to Nepal government, that connects Jayanagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal.

Key Points

The ceremony took place on October 22, 2021 in the presence of Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay M. Kwatra and Nepal minister for physical Infrastructure & transport Renu Kumari Yadav.

About Jaynagar-Kurtha Section of rail link

The Jaynagar – Kurtha section of rail link is the part of 68.7 km Jaynagar – Bijalpura- Bardidas rail link. It was built under the grant assistance programme of Indian government. Under the grant assistance of India, gauge conversion of 34.9 km narrow gauge has been completed. The project has completed at a cost of Rs 619 crore. It has five stations in the section namely, Jayanagar, Khajuri, Inarwa, Baidehi and Kurtha near Janakpur in Nepal. The highest fare will likely be Rs 70 for general class and Rs 300 for AC for the entire journey. The train will run at 115 km per hour and the distance will be covered in 23 minutes.

Significance of the rail link

This operationalised cross-border rail link is likely to enhance trade and commerce activities. It will also enhance people to people linkage between both the countries.

Jainagar or Jaynagar

It is a town and a notified area in the Madhubani district of Bihar. As per 2011 census, Jainagar had a population of 1,77,556. Males account for 53% of the population while females account for 47%. The town has an average literacy rate of 58%.

Indian state of Karnataka is celebrating “Kittur Rani Chennamma Jayanthi” on October 23, 2021.

Highlights

• On the occasion, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai garlanded the statue of Queen in Hubbali in Dharwad district.
• A sum of 50 crore rupees will be sanctioned in the year 2021 for the Kittur Development Authority.

Kittur Chennamma

Kittur Chennamma was born on October 23, 1778. She belonged to the Lingayat community. She married Raja Mallasarja from the Desai family when she was 15. She was Indian Queen of Kittur which was a princely state in Karnataka. She led an armed rebellion in the year 1824, against the British East India Company (BEIC). She rebelled in confrontation of the doctrine of lapse in a bid to maintain Indian control over the region. In the fight, she defeated the British. However, she was dead in the imprisonment of second rebellion by BEIC. She was one of the first female rulers who rebel against British rule. She became a folk hero in Karnataka. She also became a symbol of independence movement in India.

Kittur is a taluka in Belagavi district of Karnataka. It was the part of Bailhongal taluka. On October 23, 2012 it was declared as an independent taluka by the Chief Minister of Karnataka. It is 177th Taluk of the State.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has opened the “Saudi Green Initiative forum” on October 23, 2021.

Key Facts

• The forum was launched in Riyadh, along with the announcement of Saudi Arabia’s new “green” objectives.
• The forum will discuss the environmental efforts made by Saudi Arabia with guests including international personalities and high-profile government leaders.
• In this forum, Saudi Arabia also announced the roadmap of Saudi Arabia for protecting environment and confronting climate change.
• It is an annual forum, which will serve as a platform for the launch new environmental initiatives of the country.
• It will also monitor the impact of previously announced environmental initiatives.

Bangladesh has planned to present its “climate prosperity plan” at the upcoming United Nations climate talks in Glasgow.

Key Points

• Climate prosperity plan will be presented with the aim of mitigating the effects of global warming on economic development.
• This plan will also visualise boosting the renewable energy.
• It will make agriculture more resistant to climate shocks.
• The plan also seeks to find solutions in nature to challenges created by global warming, like restoring mangroves for protecting coasts from cyclones.
• The South Asian nation, Bangladesh, will also encourage other vulnerable countries as well in drafting their own plans.

About COP26

26^th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) has been scheduled from October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. In the conference, representatives from more than 200 countries will gather and discuss new targets to cut or curb the growth of emissions which contribute to climate change.