Daily Current Capsules - 13 th JULY 2019 Defence Indian Army orders for Israeli anti-tank Spike missiles Relevance IN – Prelims ( about spike missile) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations + GS III security challenges and border management) What’s the NEWS Indian Army has placed an order for Israeli anti-tank Spike missile. This missile is known for its ability like it can pierce even bunkers. Another major advantage of this missile is that it can hit targets at a range of four kilometers.
Transcript
Daily Current Capsules - 13th JULY
2019
Defence
Indian Army orders for Israeli anti-tank Spike missiles
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about spike missile) + Mains ( GS II bilateral
relations + GS III security challenges and border management)
What’s the NEWS
Indian Army has placed an order for Israeli anti-tank Spike missile. This
missile is known for its ability like it can pierce even bunkers. Another
major advantage of this missile is that it can hit targets at a range of four
kilometers.
Know! the major features of Spike Missile
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has manufactured Israeli Spike
missiles. Missile is known for its ability to pierce bunkers.
Spike missile can be placed in both mountains and plains; it has an
ability to target anything from four kilometers.
Spike missiles have automatic self-guidance system. It also possess
imaging infrared system.
This missile is designed in a way to target and decimate heavily armored
vehicles along with enemy military tanks.
Know! the emergency Powers given to Army
Just after the Pulwama attack, center government has approved the
emergency powers to the all three armed forces to buy whatever
emergency equipment is required to safeguard the borders.
As per these emergency powers armed forces can buy the equipment of
their choice within three months at the cost of up to Rs 300 crore.
The Air Force has also shown interest in the acquisition of certain
missiles from the international market which would help it in meeting
requirements, in case of hostilities on borders.
International Relations
France passes legislation taxing digital giants
Relevance IN – Prelims (about GAFA tax) + Mains ( GS III economic
developments)
What’s the NEWS
France became the first major economy to impose a tax on digital giants,
with its Parliament passing the legislation in defiance of a probe ordered
by U.S. President Donald Trump that could trigger reprisal tariffs.
Know! about the new legislation
The new law aims at plugging a taxation gap that has seen some internet
heavyweights paying next to nothing in countries where they make huge
profits.
The legislation — dubbed the GAFA tax (an acronym for Google,
Apple, Facebook and Amazon) — was passed by a simple show of
hands in the Senate Upper House after previously being passed by the
National Assembly Lower Chamber.
At present, companies pay nearly no tax in countries where they have
large sales such as France
The tax would be applied only to companies with global revenues in
excess of €500 million and revenue of at least €25 million)
Space Awareness
In world first, Japan's Hayabusa2 probe collects samples from distant asteroid(Ryugu)after second successful touchdown
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about Japan’s Hayabusa2 and about Ryugu asteroid)
+ Mains ( GS III space awareness)
What’s the NEWS
The Hayabusa2 probe made a “perfect” touchdown on a distant asteroid
and collected samples from beneath the surface in an unprecedented
mission that could shed light on the origins of the solar system.
Know! more about the second landing
Hayabusa2 touched down on its targeted area measuring 7 meters in
width, located 20 meters from the artificial crater’s center.
The probe extended a tube to the surface and fired a small metallic
projectile from it, successfully capturing the subsurface debris as it
floated up.
The brief landing was the second time Hayabusa2 has touched down on
the asteroid, which is about 300 million kilometers from Earth.
The complex multiyear mission has also involved sending rovers and
robots down to the surface.
Know! more about Ryugu and Hayabusa2
Ryugu’s surface has weathered due to the impact of solar winds but the
subsurface samples are believed to have materials that can be traced to
when the solar system was born some 4.6 billion years ago.
These dark-colored samples may possibly contain organic materials and
water, according to JAXA.
Hayabusa2’s first touchdown was in February, when it landed briefly on
Ryugu and fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection,
before blasting back to its holding position.
The second touchdown required special preparations because any
problems could mean the loss of the precious materials already gathered
during its first landing.
Know! more about Hayabusa2
It is equipped with solar panels to keep it powered, Hayabusa2 is the
successor to JAXA’s first asteroid explorer, Hayabusa, which is Japanese
for falcon.
That probe returned with dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped
asteroid in 2010, despite various setbacks during its epic seven-year
odyssey. It was hailed as a scientific triumph.
Hayabusa2’s photos of Ryugu, which means “dragon palace” in Japanese
and refers to a castle at the bottom of the ocean in an ancient Japanese
tale, show the asteroid has a rough surface full of boulders.
The Hayabusa2 mission was launched in December 2014, and has a price
tag of around ¥30 billion. The probe is scheduled to return to Earth with
its samples in 2020.
But its has already made history, including with the creation of the crater
on Ryugu’s surface.
In 2005, NASA’s Deep Impact project succeeded in creating an artificial
crater on a comet but only for observation purposes.
Hayabusa2 mission is a complex multiyear which has also involved
sending rovers and robots down to the surface. It is scheduled to return to
Earth with its samples in 2020.
Prelims Factoids
Operation Thirst: 1,371 arrested for selling unauthorized drinking water in Indian Railways
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about operation Thirst)
What’s the NEWS
As many as 1,371 people were arrested and over 69,294 bottles were
seized by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under 'Operation Thirst, an
all India drive to crackdown the selling of unauthorised Packaged
Drinking Water (PDW)
Know! more about the operation
The operation was launched in all major railway stations across the
country to curb the menace of unauthorized PDW in the premises of
railway stations.
"During the operation, which was carried out on 8 and 9 July, a total fine
amount of Rs 6,80,855 has been realised from these offenders.
Four pantry car managers involved in the selling of spurious mineral
water was also arrested
Stalls on platforms were also found selling of Packaged Drinking Water
bottles of brands which are not authorized by the Indian Railways
The bottles were seized under the sections of 144 and 153 of the Railway
Act. Further investigation in this regard is underway.
