Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 06 Jul 2023
- 4 min read
Four New Countries Consulted to Join OPEC
Recently, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General announced that discussions are underway with four new countries, namely Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Mexico, to join the organization.
OPEC, which was established in 1960 with founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, now consists of 13 member states. OPEC produces around 30% of the world's crude oil, with its members accounting for approximately 60% of the global petroleum trade. In 2016, OPEC expanded its alliance by including 10 major oil-producing countries, forming OPEC+.
OPEC+ includes the 13 OPEC member countries along with Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan. The objective is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies, stabilize oil markets, ensure a steady supply of petroleum to consumers, provide a reliable income for producers, and deliver a fair return on investment in the petroleum industry. The headquarters of OPEC is in Vienna, Austria.
Read more: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
India Tops Global Charts for Childhood Diabetes and Deaths
A new study published in the journal JAMA Network has revealed that India witnessed the highest number of childhood diabetes cases and deaths globally in 2019. The study highlighted that India also had the highest disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), representing the loss of one year of full health, according to the World Health Organization. Global childhood diabetes cases increased by 39.4% since 1990, with 227,580 cases and 5,390 deaths reported in 2019.
The rise in type 2 diabetes in children is linked to global childhood obesity, unhealthy lifestyles, and parental history of the condition. Childhood diabetes is a condition where a child’s body cannot produce or use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar from the blood into the cells for energy. There are two main types of childhood diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Read more: Type 1 Diabetes, New Injection for Type 2 Diabetes
JIMEX 23
The seventh edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) is set to take place from 5th to 10th July 2023 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
JIMEX 23 brings together units from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Indian Navy. The exercise will involve the participation of various naval assets such as guided missile destroyers, corvettes, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
Read more: Japan-India Maritime Exercise, Maritime security
DGCA India and EASA Collaborate for Unmanned Aviation Advancement
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have solidified their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Innovative Air Mobility.
The MoU encompasses licensing of personnel, training, air traffic management, infrastructure, and the establishment of Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) standards and services.
Read more: Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
