INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UN Security Council has demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
• For the first time, the UN Security Council has demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
• On 25 March, an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages demanded by the United Nations Security Council.
• After the United States abstained from the vote, the remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution, which was proposed by the 10 elected members of the body.
• Washington had previously been against a ceasefire in the nearly six-month-old war in the Gaza Strip.
• It used its veto power to protect US ally Israel as it retaliated against Hamas for an October 7 attack that Israel says killed 1,200 people.
• But amid growing global pressure for a ceasefire in the war, which has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, the US abstained from the vote on March 25.
• This allowed the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks.
• The Security Council resolution "emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen the protection of civilians throughout the Gaza Strip and increase the flow of humanitarian assistance."
NATIONAL NEWS
India, Brazil hold first '2+2' defence and foreign ministerial dialogue
• India and Brazil convened their first-ever '2+2' Defence and Foreign Ministerial Dialogue, marking a milestone in their strategic partnership.
• The dialogue aims to enhance collaboration in key areas including energy, technology, and counter-terrorism, underscoring the significance of cooperation in these domains.
• Led by officials from both nations, the dialogue involved participation from defence and foreign ministers, alongside their counterparts, addressing strategic and security concerns to strengthen bilateral ties.
DEFENCE
IMT TRILAT exercise
• INS Tir and INS Sujatha will participate in the upcoming second edition of the India – Mozambique – Tanzania (IMT) Trilateral (Trilat) exercise. It is a joint maritime exercise taking place from 21-29 Mar 24.
• The first exercise of IMT Trilat took place on October 22, in which INS Tarkash had participation with the navies of Tanzania and Mozambique.
• The current version of the exercise is planned in two phases.
• As part of the harbour phase scheduled from 21-24 Mar 24, naval ships Tir and Sujata will engage with respective navies at the ports of Zanzibar in Tanzania and Maputo in Mozambique.
• This phase will begin with a planning conference followed by joint harbour training activities such as damage control, firefighting, visit board search and seizure procedures, medical lectures, disaster evacuation and diving operations.
• The sea phase of the exercise will take place on 24-27 Mar 24, covering practical aspects of counter threats, visit board search and seizure procedures, boat operations, maneuvers and firing exercises.
Zero orbital debris mission accomplished by ISRO's POEM-3 mission.
• On March 25, ISRO said it achieved another milestone as the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) met its fiery end via re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
• On March 21, 2024, this milestone was achieved and the PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission has left practically zero debris in orbit.
• PSLV-C58 mission was completed on January 1, 2024.
• After completing the primary mission of placing all the satellites in their desired orbits, the terminal stage of PSLV was changed to a 3-axis stabilized platform, POEM-3.
• The stage was de-orbited from 650 km to 350 km, facilitating its early re-entry, and decommissioned to remove residual propellants to reduce any accidental break-up risk.
• With a total of 9 different experimental payloads, POEM-3 was configured to conduct technology demonstration and scientific experiments on newly developed indigenous systems.
