Berlin Summit
Why in news?
- Berlin Summit host Chancellor Angela Merkel said that they have a very disparate situation in Libya, where ensuring that a ceasefire is immediately respected is simply not easy to guarantee.
Key facts
- World leaders committed to ending all foreign meddling in Libya’s war and to uphold a weapons embargo at a Berlin summit. This was part of a broader plan to end the spiralling conflict.
- The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France were among global chiefs signing up to the plan to stop interfering in the war. This includes through weapons, troops or financing.
- But the talks failed to deliver serious dialogue between the warring parties — strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli’s UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj. It also failed to get both sides to sign up to a permanent truce.
- Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Tigersharks
Why in news?
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted its first squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft carrying the BrahMos missiles at its Thanjavur base in Tamil Nadu.
Key facts
- The newly reinstated 222-squadron, also known as the Tigersharks, would serve as a lethal weapons platform capable of carrying both aerial and maritime roles in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Thanjavur is strategically located in the southern peninsula. From there, the Tigersharks can dominate the seas and provide very close and integrated support to the Indian Navy. It can also provide support to the land forces.
- The Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft integrated with the supersonic cruise missiles BrahMos is the strongest maritime combination that India has, in terms of weapon capability.
National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme
Why in news?
- The 12th National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme was inaugurated in Puducherry under which tribal youths will be visiting many places to know about the language, customs, culture, arts, dressing patterns, food pattern and other aspects of Puducherry.
About:
- Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) organizes Tribal Youth Exchange Programme with the support of Ministry of Home Affairs,
Govt. of India. - To provide an opportunity to the tribal youth to understand the cultural ethos, language, lifestyles of the people depicting Socio –economic & Cultural Development & Development process unity in diversity aspect of our national life.
- The first programme was held in 2006.
Irrawaddy dolphins
Why in news?
- During the Dolphin Census in Chilika lake, direct sighting of 146 Irrawaddy dolphins has been reported.
- The Census is being carried out using Hydrophone monitoring technique. A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound.
Irrawaddy dolphins:
- Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (China).
- They are ‘Endangered’ as per the IUCN Red List.
- The total population of these aquatic mammals in the world is estimated to be less than 7,500.
- More than 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins have been reported from Bangladesh.
- Dolphin distribution in Chilika is considered to be the highest single lagoon population.
K-4 missile
Why in news?
- India on Sunday successfully test-fired the 3,500-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile, K-4, official sources confirmed.
- The test was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organsiation (DRDO) from a submerged pontoon off the Visakhapatnam coast around noon.
Key facts
- The test was conducted from a submerged pontoon and has met the desired parameters.
- A pontoon simulates the situation of a launch from a submarine.
- The missile has been tested several times earlier as part of developmental trials to validate different parameters.
- The missile ejecting from a submerged platform to the surface [sea] is the toughest part.
- The Circular Error Probability determines the accuracy of a missile. The lower the CEP, the more accurate the missile is.