Daily Current Affairs- 16th March 2025

Daily Current Affairs 16th March 2025

Fourth Conference of Global intelligence and Security Chiefs hosted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

In the News: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is hosting the fourth conference of global intelligence and security chiefs in New Delhi on March 16, 2025.

Conference Highlights:

• Participants: Over 20 countries are represented, including:
  • United States: Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
  • Canada: Intelligence Chief, Daniel Rogers.
  • United Kingdom: MI6 Chief, Richard Moore.
  • Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, and Saudi Arabia also have senior intelligence officials in attendance.
• Agenda:
  • Enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms to combat terrorism & transnational crimes.
  • Addressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Discussing the implications of global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East tensions.
  • Strategies to counter cyber threats and crimes in the digital space.
• Bilateral Meetings:
  • NSA Doval is scheduled to hold one-on-one discussions with counterparts, including a meeting with S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

U.S. strikes Yemen

In the News: The United States has launched a series of airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, resulting in significant casualties and escalating regional tensions.

Key Details:

• Casualties: At least 31 individuals were killed, with over 100 injured, including
• S. Objectives:
  • To deter Houthi attacks on U.S. and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
  • To send a strong warning to Iran regarding its support for the Houthis.
• Houthi Response: The Houthis have vowed retaliation, threatening to escalate attacks in the region.
• Iran's Stance: Iran condemned the U.S. strikes as violations of international law and warned of potential consequences.
• International Concerns: The United Nations has called for restraint, citing serious humanitarian risks in Yemen.  

Germany's Major Parties Agree to Increase State Borrowing for Defense and Infrastructure

In the News: Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, victorious in last month's election, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have reached an in-principle agreement with the Greens Party to significantly increase state borrowing.

Key Details:

• Objective: The agreement aims to bolster defense capabilities and stimulate economic growth through substantial investments in infrastructure.
• Financial Plan:
  • Proposal to establish a €500 billion fund dedicated to infrastructure development.
  • Allocation of €100 billion to the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF: Klima- und Transformationsfonds), addressing environmental initiatives—a key demand of the Greens.
  • Fiscal Policy Adjustment: The agreement includes plans to relax Germany's "debt brake," a constitutional limit on public spending, to facilitate increased borrowing for these initiatives.
• Legislative Process:
  • The parliamentary budget committee has approved the borrowing plans.
  • A two-thirds majority in the Bundestag is required to pass the legislation, with the vote scheduled for March 18.
• Political Context:
  • Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU, is poised to become Germany's next Chancellor.

 Trump, Putin to discuss Ukraine ceasefire this week

In the News: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to discuss a proposed Ukraine ceasefire in a call this week.

Key Details:

Ceasefire Proposal:

• The U.S. has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted the proposal.
• Russia has yet to commit, with President Putin expressing reservations.

Diplomatic Efforts:

• Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy, recently met with Putin in Moscow, expressing optimism about the upcoming presidential discussions.
• European and Commonwealth nations are preparing to support Ukraine in achieving the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for credible military backing and monitoring.

Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approved

In the News: The Indian government has approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission, as announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan on March 16, 2025.

Mission Overview:

• Objective: Chandrayaan-5 aims to deploy a 250 kg lunar rover to conduct detailed studies of the Moon's surface, a significant increase from the 25 kg rover used in previous missions.
• International Collaboration: ISRO plans to collaborate with Japan for this mission, highlighting international cooperation in space exploration.
• Chandrayaan Program Progression: Following the success of Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a soft landing on the Moon's south pole in August 2023, Chandrayaan-5 represents the next step in India's lunar exploration efforts.
• Chandrayaan-4 Mission: Scheduled for launch in 2027, Chandrayaan-4 aims to bring samples collected from the Moon back to Earth, further advancing lunar research capabilities.  

Sunita Williams' Homecoming Mission: NASA-SpaceX Crew Enters Space Station

In the News: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are set to return to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), following the successful docking of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission.

Key Details:

• Extended Mission Duration:
  • Williams and Wilmore launched to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner for a mission initially planned to last eight days.
  • Technical issues with the Starliner, including thruster problems and helium leaks, rendered it unfit for the return journey, resulting in their prolonged stay.
• Crew-10 Mission Arrival:
  • On March 16, 2025, SpaceX's Crew-10 mission, carrying astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov, successfully docked with the ISS to replace the Crew-9 members.
  • The new crew will undertake scientific research and maintenance tasks aboard the station.
• Upcoming Return to Earth:
  • Williams and Wilmore, along with Crew-9 members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, are scheduled to depart the ISS and return to Earth on March 19, 2025, aboard the Crew Dragon capsule.
• Impact on Boeing's Space Program:
  • The Starliner's technical failures have highlighted challenges within Boeing's space division, leading to significant financial losses and raising concerns about the company's role in future space missions.

 Airtel and Jio bring Elon Musk’s Starlink to India

In the News: India's leading telecom operators, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, have partnered with Elon Musk's SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite internet services in India, pending regulatory approvals.

Key Details:

• Partnership Announcements:
  • Bharti Airtel announced its collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink's high-speed satellite internet to India.
  • Shortly after, Reliance Jio declared a similar agreement, aiming to distribute Starlink services through its extensive retail network.
• Service Objectives:
  • Enhance internet connectivity in remote and underserved regions of India.
  • Provide high-speed internet access to businesses, educational institutions, and healthcare centers.
• Regulatory Landscape:

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) plans to recommend a five-year period for satellite broadband spectrum licenses, opposing Starlink's request for a 20-year permit.