Current Affairs - March 23, 2025 Current Affairs

The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2025 was hosted in New Delhi, India’s capital. The Raisina Dialogue is a prestigious geopolitics and geo-economics conference, launched in 2016. It serves as a platform to bring together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss pressing global issues. New Delhi, being the host city, is central to India’s diplomatic and strategic discussions, and the conference addresses vital topics such as trade, security, and digital sovereignty, with prominent global participation.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams spent an unexpectedly long 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their return was facilitated by SpaceX's Crew Dragon, highlighting the challenges of prolonged space travel and the importance of reliable spacecraft technology. The extended stay posed technological and health challenges, emphasizing the need for continued advancements in space exploration.

The Reserve Bank of India recently conducted the 6th round of the Remittances Survey for the year 2023-24. This survey shows a significant change in the sources of remittances, with advanced economies like the US and the UK now contributing more compared to Gulf nations. It also highlights factors such as improved job opportunities in these countries and a decline in demand for low-skilled labour in Gulf countries, leading to a shift in migration patterns and remittance sources.

The Serbian government has denied claims that police used sonic weapons to control anti-government protests. Sonic weapons, including Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD), are used for crowd control by emitting concentrated, amplified sound over long distances. These weapons can cause hearing damage and other health issues, with the LRAD producing sounds as high as 160 decibels. Serbia, located in Eastern Europe, has been at the centre of political controversies, particularly concerning its stance on Kosovo's independence, which it does not recognize.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a thorough investigation into the repeated tail strike incidents involving IndiGo aircraft. This decision was made due to the frequency and criticality of these incidents, including a recent one on March 8, 2025, when an IndiGo A321 Neo suffered a tail strike while landing in Chennai. The investigation focuses on factors such as training procedures, aircrew profiling, and potential procedural lapses that may be contributing to these incidents.

The new species of killifish, Nothobranchius sylvaticus, was discovered in Kenya’s Gongoni Forest, which is 7.09 million years old. This species is notable as the first known forest-dwelling killifish that is endemic to the region. Killifish are resilient and adaptable, capable of surviving in extreme environments. Their discovery adds to the rich biodiversity of Kenya, a country already known for its diverse wildlife and habitats, including major lakes like Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria.

Researchers from China and Japan have reported experimental evidence that Niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) exhibits the properties of a Bose metal. This discovery is significant in quantum physics as Bose metals exhibit unique conductive properties, existing between an insulator and a superconductor. These findings open potential applications in quantum computing, advanced electronics, and superconductivity research. The collaboration between China and Japan in this research highlights the global efforts in exploring unconventional quantum states and advancing technology in these fields.

World Meteorological Day 2025 will be observed on March 23, 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This date is significant because it honours the WMO's founding on March 23, 1950, and is celebrated annually to highlight the importance of meteorological services globally. The 2025 theme emphasizes the importance of early warning systems in mitigating extreme weather and climate events.

The Immigration and Nationality Act, passed in 1952, plays a significant role in U.S. immigration law. It allows the deportation of non-citizens for supporting designated terrorist organizations. This act has influenced legal precedents regarding non-citizens' rights, especially in matters concerning national security and public policy. It also has been a subject of debate, as certain provisions, such as Section 212(a)(3)(C), allow deportation based on actions that adversely affect foreign policy, which has been criticized as vague and subject to misuse.

The United States is seeking agricultural market access from India as part of trade negotiations, particularly in opening India’s farm sector to American produce. One of the main points of contention is the difference in government support for farmers in both countries. While the US provides substantial financial support to its farmers through various federal programs, India's support is more focused on subsidies for inputs like fertilizers and irrigation, as well as Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement. These differing support systems have created challenges in balancing market access for both nations.