• Aarti Holla-Maini, a satellite industry expert of Indian origin, has been selected by United Nations Secretary-General as the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS (UNOOSA)

• It is the UN office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
• It forms part of the United Nations Office at Vienna and serves as the Secretariat for the UN General Assembly’s only committee dealing exclusively with those issues: the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
• UNOOSA implements the United Nations Programme on Space Applications (PSA).
• UNOOSA is also responsible for implementing the Secretary-General’s responsibilities under international space law and maintaining the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space.
• It also prepares and distributes documents, reports, studies and publications on various aspects of space science and technology applications and international space law.
• It works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all countries, particularly developing countries.
• UNOOSA is also the current secretariat of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG).

• PM recently greeted people on the occasion of Kharchi Puja.

ABOUT KHARCHI PUJA

• Kharchi Puja, also called the Festival of 14 Gods, is celebrated in Tripura.
  • The 14 Gods are worshipped by the Royal priest, ‘Chantai.
• It is performed during the months of July-August on the eighth day of the new moon.
• Kharchi is derived from two Tripuri words–‘khar’ or kharta meaning sin and ‘chi’ or si meaning cleaning.
• Festival is centred around worship of Chaturdasa Devata, ancestral deity of the Tripuri people.
• It lasts for seven days, and it takes place at old Agartala in the Fourteen Gods temple known as the ‘Chaturdasha Devata’ temple premises.
• The Kharchi Puja deities do not have a full body; they have only heads which are worshipped.
• On the day of the puja, the fourteen Gods are taken from the temple to the river Saidra by the Chantai members and given bathe with the holy river water, then carried back to the temple.

• Indian telco Bharti Airtel and Google’s parent Alphabet project are planning to use lasers to bring Internet services to remote parts of India.
• Taara, a project from Alphabet’s X moonshot labs, aims to bring high-speed Internet access to rural and remote areas of India.
• Taara has already connected internet services in 13 countries, including Australia, Kenya, and Fiji.
• It uses a technology component from X’s failed Loon project, which tried to deliver Internet connectivity via high-altitude balloons.
• Project Taara utilises Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) technology where free space acts as a communication channel between transceivers that are in line-of-sight.
  • It uses beams of light to deliver high-speed, high-capacity connectivity over long distances.
  • It can transmit data at high speeds of up to 20 Gbps bidirectional through up to 20 km distances.
• FSOC refers to outdoor optical wireless communication (OWC ), whereas short distance (largely indoors) OWC is called light Fidelity (LiFi).
• LiFi uses light within Visible Light Spectrum to Invisible light spectrum to transmit data.
• Benefits of FSOC- cost-effective and quickly deployable, can transmit data at high speeds.
• Challenges faced: signal reliability is compromised by conditions like fog and haze, or interruptions like birds flying in front of the signal; requires better mirror controls and motion detection capabilities etc.

• World Competitiveness Index was recently released by International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
  • The institute is co-headquartered in Switzerland and Singapore.

ABOUT THE WORLD COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

• The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) was first published in 1989.
• It is a comprehensive annual report and worldwide reference point on the competitiveness of countries.
• It analyses and ranks countries according to how they manage their competencies to achieve long-term value creation.
• It is based on 336 competitiveness criteria and four factors, namely Economic performance, Government efficiency, Business efficiency, and

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

• Top three nations– Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland
• India was ranked 40^th among the countries.
• Specifically, the top three measures that helped India in its score are exchange rate stability, compensation levels, and improvements in pollution control.

• Department of Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has introduced the NOC Approval for New Drug and Inoculation System (NANDI) portal to expedite regulatory process for approval of animal drugs and vaccines.
• DAHD has developed the NANDI portal through C-DAC in coordination with Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• It will streamline the regulatory approval process for veterinary products.
• It is intended to increase the awareness about livestock diseases and also to increase the usage of veterinary drugs.
• It is to be streamlined with CDSCOs SUGAM portal.
• It will bring about growth and innovation by enabling quick and easy coordination between various Government departments and institutes.
• With the launch of NANDI ,DAHD continues to stride towards achieving the interventions laid out as part of its Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI).

ABOUT SUGAM PORTAL

• SUGAM is an e-Governance system to discharge various functions performed by CDSCO under Drugs and Cosmetics Acts, 1940.
• It is an online web portal where applicants can apply for NOCs, licenses, registration certificates, permissions & approvals.
• It provides an online interface for applicants to track their applications, respond to queries and download the permissions issued by CDSCO.

• International Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day or World MSME Day is observed every year on 27^th June all over the world to highlight the significance of MSMEs and how they play a crucial role in being the backbone of the country’s economy.
• The theme of this year’s celebration is “Building a Stronger Future Together.”
• The theme for MSME Day 2023 in India is “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100.”

• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26^th June every year.
• The United Nations General Assembly in 1987, decided to observe June 26 as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
• Theme for 2023: People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.
• The aim of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy; providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to p unishment; prioritising prevention; and leading with compassion.

• A new species of jumping spider named ‘Hasarius Mumbai’ was recently discovered from the rocks close to the streams at the Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) conservation education centre in Goregaon East.

ABOUT HASARIUS MUMBAI

• It is a newly discovered species of jumping spider.
• These are spiders who, instead of trapping their prey in a web, stalk and hunt them by pouncing.
• It has multiple eyes that give a 360-degree view of its surroundings and a bulbous body covered in hair.
• In India, there are only two other Hasarius species which have been documented, namely Adansoni, which is found across the country, including in urban areas, and kjellerupi, which was documented from the Nicobar Islands.

• Officers of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 6,850 live red-eared sliders, a species of turtle, from two male passengers at the Tiruchi international airport.

ABOUT RED-EARED SLIDERS TURTLE (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)

• It is known for its distinct red stripes behind each ear.
• The red-eared slider is native to South-Eastern USA and Mexico.
• It is a semi-aquatic turtle from fresh and brackish water ecosystems.
• It spends the majority of its time either in the water foraging or basking on rocks and logs.
• The species is considered as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive non-native species.
• In the wild, red sliders can live from 20 to 50 years.
• These are fed mainly on plants and small animals, such as crickets and fish etc.
• IUCN red list status : Least Concern

• Amid declining merchandise exports due to demand slowdown in the west, India is placing renewed focus on striking a trade deal with Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

ABOUT SACU

• The resource rich Southern African Customs Union (SACU), is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
• It is one of the largest suppliers of raw primary or semi-processed commodities.
• HQ: Windhoek (Namibia)
• It is the world’s oldest customs union which was established in 1910.
• The Economic structure of the Union links the Member states by a single tariff and no customs duties between them.
• Also there is a common external tariff that applies to nonmembers of SACU.