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Daily Current Capsules - 13th JULY 2019

Defence
Indian Army orders for Israeli anti-tank Spike missiles

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about spike missile) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations + GS III security challenges and border management)
What's the NEWS
  • Indian Army has placed an order for Israeli anti-tank Spike missile. This missile is known for its ability like it can pierce even bunkers. Another major advantage of this missile is that it can hit targets at a range of four kilometers.
Know! the major features of Spike Missile
  • Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has manufactured Israeli Spike missiles. Missile is known for its ability to pierce bunkers.
  • Spike missile can be placed in both mountains and plains; it has an ability to target anything from four kilometers.
  • Spike missiles have automatic self-guidance system. It also possess imaging infrared system.
  • This missile is designed in a way to target and decimate heavily armored vehicles along with enemy military tanks.
Know! the emergency Powers given to Army
  • Just after the Pulwama attack, center government has approved the emergency powers to the all three armed forces to buy whatever emergency equipment is required to safeguard the borders.
  • As per these emergency powers armed forces can buy the equipment of their choice within three months at the cost of up to Rs 300 crore.
  • The Air Force has also shown interest in the acquisition of certain missiles from the international market which would help it in meeting requirements, in case of hostilities on borders.
International Relations
France passes legislation taxing digital giants

Relevance IN - Prelims (about GAFA tax) + Mains ( GS III economic developments)
What's the NEWS
  • France became the first major economy to impose a tax on digital giants, with its Parliament passing the legislation in defiance of a probe ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump that could trigger reprisal tariffs.
Know! about the new legislation
  • The new law aims at plugging a taxation gap that has seen some internet heavyweights paying next to nothing in countries where they make huge profits.
  • The legislation - dubbed the GAFA tax (an acronym for Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon) - was passed by a simple show of hands in the Senate Upper House after previously being passed by the National Assembly Lower Chamber.
  • At present, companies pay nearly no tax in countries where they have large sales such as France
  • The tax would be applied only to companies with global revenues in excess of €500 million and revenue of at least €25 million)
Space Awareness
In world first, Japan's Hayabusa2 probe collects samples from distant asteroid(Ryugu)after second successful touchdown

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Japan's Hayabusa2 and about Ryugu asteroid) + Mains ( GS III space awareness)
What's the NEWS
  • The Hayabusa2 probe made a "perfect" touchdown on a distant asteroid and collected samples from beneath the surface in an unprecedented mission that could shed light on the origins of the solar system.
  • Know! more about the second landing
  • Hayabusa2 touched down on its targeted area measuring 7 meters in width, located 20 meters from the artificial crater's center.
  • The probe extended a tube to the surface and fired a small metallic projectile from it, successfully capturing the subsurface debris as it floated up.
  • The brief landing was the second time Hayabusa2 has touched down on the asteroid, which is about 300 million kilometers from Earth.
  • The complex multiyear mission has also involved sending rovers and robots down to the surface.
Know! more about Ryugu and Hayabusa2
  • Ryugu's surface has weathered due to the impact of solar winds but the subsurface samples are believed to have materials that can be traced to when the solar system was born some 4.6 billion years ago.
  • These dark-colored samples may possibly contain organic materials and water, according to JAXA.
  • Hayabusa2's first touchdown was in February, when it landed briefly on Ryugu and fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection, before blasting back to its holding position.
  • The second touchdown required special preparations because any problems could mean the loss of the precious materials already gathered during its first landing.
Know! more about Hayabusa2
  • It is equipped with solar panels to keep it powered, Hayabusa2 is the successor to JAXA's first asteroid explorer, Hayabusa, which is Japanese for falcon.
  • That probe returned with dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped asteroid in 2010, despite various setbacks during its epic seven-year odyssey. It was hailed as a scientific triumph.
  • Hayabusa2's photos of Ryugu, which means "dragon palace" in Japanese and refers to a castle at the bottom of the ocean in an ancient Japanese tale, show the asteroid has a rough surface full of boulders.
  • The Hayabusa2 mission was launched in December 2014, and has a price tag of around ¥30 billion. The probe is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020.
  • But its has already made history, including with the creation of the crater on Ryugu's surface.
  • In 2005, NASA's Deep Impact project succeeded in creating an artificial crater on a comet but only for observation purposes.
  • Hayabusa2 mission is a complex multiyear which has also involved sending rovers and robots down to the surface. It is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020.
Prelims Factoids
Operation Thirst: 1,371 arrested for selling unauthorized drinking water in Indian Railways

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about operation Thirst)
What's the NEWS
  • As many as 1,371 people were arrested and over 69,294 bottles were seized by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under 'Operation Thirst, an all India drive to crackdown the selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW)
Know! more about the operation
  • The operation was launched in all major railway stations across the country to curb the menace of unauthorized PDW in the premises of railway stations.
  • "During the operation, which was carried out on 8 and 9 July, a total fine amount of Rs 6,80,855 has been realised from these offenders.
  • Four pantry car managers involved in the selling of spurious mineral water was also arrested
  • Stalls on platforms were also found selling of Packaged Drinking Water bottles of brands which are not authorized by the Indian Railways
  • The bottles were seized under the sections of 144 and 153 of the Railway Act. Further investigation in this regard is underway.
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