INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US Supreme Court Clears Way for Tahawwur Rana’s Extradition to India
• The US Supreme Court has rejected the plea of Tahawwur Rana, paving the way for his extradition to India for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
• Rana's emergency application, filed on February 27 through Justice Elena Kagan, aimed to halt extradition proceedings, citing the risk of torture due to his Pakistani-Muslim background.
• Despite being listed for a conference on April 4, 2025, the application was ultimately denied without intervention.
• Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is accused of aiding his associate David Headley in conducting surveillance for the 26/11 attacks, which killed over 174 people in Mumbai.
• He was previously convicted in the US for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group responsible for the attacks.
• His extradition had been approved by President Donald Trump earlier this year, following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The legal basis for his extradition is the 1997 India-US Extradition Treaty, allowing both nations to transfer individuals facing serious criminal charges.
Brazil Proposes Global Climate Council Ahead of COP30
• Brazil has put forward a proposal to establish a Global Climate Council to enhance the pace and impact of international climate initiatives.
• The proposed council would function as a new global body under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Designed to accelerate the implementation of decisions taken during COP summits, the council aims to transform commitments into timely actions.
• Brazil envisions this body as a mechanism to streamline coordination among nations, improving the effectiveness and urgency of collective climate responses.
• The proposal comes in the lead-up to COP30, the next United Nations Climate Conference, set to take place in Belem, northern Brazil, in November 2025.
• Through this initiative, Brazil is signaling its intention to lead on global climate governance and bring more structure to climate diplomacy.
SPORTS
ISSF World Cup 2025
• Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the 2025 ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, marking a stellar performance on the international stage.
• This victory marks Patil’s second individual ISSF World Cup gold, having previously secured the top podium spot at the 2023 Cairo edition.
• A former world champion, Patil continues to showcase consistency and elite marksmanship in global competitions.
• Marcelo Julian Gutierrez claimed the bronze with a score of 230.1, delivering a strong performance for the host nation.
• India and China are currently tied at the top of the medal standings, each securing two golds, one silver, and one bronze so far in the tournament.
• The USA holds third place in the medal tally, also earning two gold medals.
• Despite reaching the final, Arjun Babuta fell short of a podium finish, while fellow Indian shooter Kiran Ankush Jadhav placed sixth.
• Patil’s win contributed to India’s fourth medal at the season-opening ISSF World Cup, underlining a solid start for the Indian shooting contingent.
STATE NEWS
Inauguration of First Himalayan High-Altitude Climate Centre in Udhampur
• On April 8, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric & Climate Centre at Nathatop in Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Positioned at a height of 2,250 metres above sea level, the centre is strategically located to take advantage of its clean air and low pollution levels—ideal for studying atmospheric behavior in free tropospheric conditions.
• This pioneering climate centre is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department, and the Central University of Jammu.
• Its core purpose is to deliver precise weather forecasts and facilitate advanced research on the region’s distinct high-altitude climate patterns.
• The facility is expected to significantly strengthen climate surveillance and atmospheric studies across the Himalayan region.
• During the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh also launched the Indo-Swiss research initiative ICE-CRUNCH, a collaborative project involving scientists from India and ETH Zurich.
• ICE-CRUNCH focuses on investigating the characteristics of ice nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei in the northwestern Himalayas, contributing valuable insights into cloud formation and climate processes.
DEFENCE
DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out release trials of the long-range glide bomb Gaurav from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet between April 8 and 10.
• These trials validated the bomb’s operational capability across multiple mounting stations and various warhead configurations, including live testing on a land-based island target.
• Gaurav demonstrated impressive accuracy at distances reaching up to 100 kilometers, showcasing its precision strike capabilities.
• Weighing in at 1,000 kilograms, the glide bomb has been indigenously designed and developed by key DRDO labs—Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), and the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha.
• The successful integration of this advanced weapon system enhances the long-range strike potential of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The development effort was backed by industry partners such as Adani Defence Systems & Technologies, Bharat Forge, and a network of MSMEs, promoting a strong ecosystem of public-private collaboration.
• This achievement reinforces the spirit of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, emphasizing self-reliance in cutting-edge defense technologies and indigenous production capabilities.
