12 July 2024 Daily Current Affairs for Judiciary, APO & JLO Exams are as follows:
1) South Korea to Start Production of Anti-Aircraft Laser Weapon
South Korea will begin production of a laser weapon designed to strike down enemy drones for deployment this year, in a push to become the first country to operate such a weapon. Last month, the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a deal worth about 100 billion won ($72 million) with South Korean defence company Hanwha Aerospace for its production amid efforts to acquire advanced weapons systems. The laser weapon is capable of defending against small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and multi-copters at close range by firing a laser generated using fiber optics. It can fire a laser beam for about 10 to 20 seconds, raising a targeted area’s temperature to over 700 C and disabling internal components, such as an engine or a battery. The weapon system can operate as long as electricity is supplied, and a single firing is estimated to cost only about 2,000 won, noting the laser is not visible and does not produce any sound. If the system is deployed as planned late this year, South Korea will become the first known country in the world to have its military operate such a laser weapon.
Read more about Hanwha Aerospace
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2) Belgian King Philippe Appoints Bart De Wever to Form Government
Belgium’s King Philippe appointed Bart De Wever, president of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), to form the federal government. De Wever, who was received at the Royal Palace, submitted his final report as “preformateur” to the King. He has accepted the mission as “formateur” and will conduct negotiations with various political parties to form a new federal government, reporting back to the King on July 24. De Wever, while serving as preformateur, received the endorsement of four political parties ready to enter into coalition negotiations. In all, five political parties currently form the basis of a future federal government, pending the outcome of negotiations to be led by De Wever. Negotiations among the coalition parties will cover diverse issues, including socio-economic recovery, investment in healthcare, boosting the purchasing power of low-income earners, and activation of jobseekers.
More on Belgian Government Formation
3) Bangladesh Becomes Fifth Member of Colombo Security Conclave
India, Mauritius, Maldives, and Sri Lanka welcomed Bangladesh as the fifth Member State of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). The announcement was made at the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting of the regional grouping, which was hosted by Mauritius. Previously, Bangladesh, like Seychelles, was an Observer State in the CSC — a grouping of the Indian Ocean countries in South Asia. The Member States agreed that the 7th NSA-level meeting of the CSC will be held in India later this year.
What is Colombo Security Conclave? The Colombo Security Conclave was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member and Bangladesh & Seychelles participating as observer countries. The Conclave underlines regional cooperation and shared security objectives concerning all littoral nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It aims to make maritime security, marine pollution response, and maritime search & rescue priorities for the region.
More about Colombo Security Conclave
4) Muslim Woman Entitled To Maintenance From Husband After Divorce: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court said that a Muslim woman is entitled to maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih dismissed a petition in the case, in which the man filed a plea against the direction to pay interim maintenance to his divorced wife under Section 125 CrPC. The bench also ruled that if, during the pendency of the application, the woman gets divorced, then she can take recourse to the Protection of Rights on Marriage Act, 2019. The bench said that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986 would not prevail over the secular law. The bench stated that the remedy under the 2019 Act is in addition to the remedy under Section 125 CrPC. The top court clarified that the law for seeking maintenance would be valid for all women and not just married women.
As per the latest pronouncement of the Supreme Court, under which section of the Code of Criminal Procedure is a Muslim woman entitled to receive maintenance from her husband? Section 125
Read more about the Supreme Court ruling
5) UNESCO Designates 11 New Biosphere Reserves
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently made a significant announcement, approving the designation of 11 new Biosphere Reserves across 11 countries. This expansion brings the total number of sites in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to an impressive 759, spanning 136 countries worldwide. A Biosphere Reserve is an international designation granted by UNESCO for areas that represent significant natural and cultural landscapes. These reserves can encompass large terrestrial, coastal, or marine ecosystems, or a combination thereof. The fundamental goal of Biosphere Reserves is to achieve a delicate balance between economic and social development, the preservation of cultural values, and the conservation of nature.
The latest additions to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve list showcase a diverse range of ecosystems and cultural landscapes across the globe. These new sites include:
- Kempen-Broek Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Darién Norte Chocoano Biosphere Reserve (Colombia)
- Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve (Dominican Republic)
- Niumi Biosphere Reserve (Gambia)
- Colli Euganei Biosphere Reserve (Italy)
- Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Italy, Slovenia)
- Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve (Mongolia)
- Apayaos Biosphere Reserve (Philippines)
- Changnyeong Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea)
- Val d’Aran Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
- Irati Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
Read more about UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
6) Prakash Padukone to be Indian Badminton Contingent’s Mentor for Paris Olympics 2024
Indian sporting legend Prakash Padukone will be part of the country’s Badminton contingent for the Paris Olympics 2024. Pullela Gopichand, RMV Gurusaidutt, Agus Santosa, Vimal Kumar, and Mathias Boe will be the coaches travelling to Paris, while Prakash Padukone will go as a mentor. Zeinia Samar and Kiran Challagundla will be the two physiotherapists in the team. Padukone, the first Indian to win the All England Championship, retired in 1991 even as badminton was introduced in the Olympics at the 1992 Barcelona Games. While Lakshya Sen is a product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), Sindhu had announced Padukone as her mentor ahead of the Paris Games after shifting her base to Bengaluru from Hyderabad. She is preparing for her third Olympics. While Gopichand is India’s national chief coach, Gurusaidutt has been training HS Prannoy, and Boe is the coach of men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and women’s doubles combination of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto. Former India coach Vimal Kumar is currently training Lakshya, while Agus has been training Sindhu in Bengaluru. Kiran has been a long-time physio of the Indian badminton team but Zeinia has joined Sindhu’s camp after her decision to move to Bengaluru in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal. The badminton events at Paris will begin on July 27 and will run till August 5.
7) Australia’s Biggest International Air Combat Exercise Pitch Black Starts
Exercise Pitch Black — Australia’s biggest international air combat training activity — begins at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases in Darwin and Tindal. With approximately 140 aircraft and over 4000 personnel from 20 nations participating, this year’s iteration of Exercise Pitch Black is the largest participation in its 43-year history. Held every two years, the exercise focuses on large-force employment missions involving large numbers of international aircraft. The last edition of the exercise held in 2022 saw the participation of an Indian Air Force contingent that included four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. For the first time, aircraft and personnel from the Philippines, Spain, Italy, and Papua New Guinea and embedded personnel from Fiji and Brunei will participate in the exercise. In addition, aircraft from France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, United States; and embedded personnel from Canada and New Zealand will also participate. Training with partner nations throughout Exercise Pitch Black demonstrates the commitment to the shared value of sustaining peace and stability across the region. It traditionally consists of a ‘red team’ and a ‘blue team’ based at separate locations, with one attacking the other. As inferred from the name of the exercise, it will take place in low light conditions.
Name Australia’s biggest international air combat training activity in which India’s Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets will be seen in action? Exercise Pitch Black 24
8) CJI Chandrachud Inaugurates Multi Facilitation Centre In Supreme Court
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud inaugurated a new filing counter in Supreme Court in New Delhi. This is a multi facilitation centre which has been set up under the Apex Court’s access to justice mission. The new centre will offer lawyers centralized access to all documents related to their cases to streamline workflow. The multi facilitation centre will enhance the quality of service that Supreme Court renders to the citizens of India. Earlier, CJI Chandrachud welcomed Brazilian judge Justice Antonio Benjamin, during the opening of the new filing centre and termed him a great friend of India. Justice Benjamin, who is set to become the chief justice of the Brazilian Supreme Court in July, is on a visit to India.
