DNA 15 JULY

Centre briefs MPs on China standoff 

• The government told an allparty meeting of MPs it had called on Friday that China was trying to extend its control further down the Doklam trijunction in an effort to gain a strategic advantage over “Chicken’s Neck” in Siliguri, West Bengal, which connects India to the rest of the Northeast
• The government assured the parliamentarians that there would no flexing of muscles and a solution would be reached through dialogue

The Red dot in the map shows the chicken's Neck Area

Indian astronomers discover supercluster of galaxies, name it ‘Saraswati’

A group of Indian astronomers have discovered a massive supercluster of galaxies, and have named it Saraswati.

The supercluster is about 4 billion light years away and spreads over a “great wall” about 600 million light years across. 

This makes it one of the largest superclusters to be discovered and also the furthest. 

The first supercluster of galaxies, the Shapley Supercluster, was discovered in 1989, and the second, the Sloan Great Wall in 2003. 

The Milky Way galaxy is part of the Laniakea Supercluster, which was discovered in 2014. 

It is the first time that we have seen a supercluster that is so far away. Even the Shapley is about 8-10 times closer

Clumpy universe 

The structure of the universe is not a homogeneous distribution of matter. It is clumpy with galaxies forming clusters and these in turn forming superclusters. 

There are thin “filaments” that connect galaxies, forming a cosmic web, and there are large voids in between

The current belief is that infant galaxies form in these filaments and then drift to the intersections of the filaments where they grow. 

The Saraswati supercluster could challenge this premise, because it had formed so early and building such a big structure far back might have been difficult

Dark matter and dark energy are invoked to explain the structure of the universe. 

Dark matter, being massive, binds together the universe while dark energy, exciting the surrounding space, drives it apart; the balance of the two effects helps in maintaining the universe in its present form. 

Malabar drills aim at giving regional security, says Japan

• The trilateral Naval exercise, Malabar 2017, involving India, the U.S. and Japan, is strategically very important and meant to maintain the rule of law and maritime security in the region:Japanese Ambassdor to India
• “This is very significant politically and [of] very symbolic value that the three countries are working together to safeguard the rule of law and maritime security in this region
• The Ambassador said his country’s relations with India had a solid base, “for safeguarding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region” adding that there could be more exchanges involving ground and air forces and an exchange of personnel in various areas

Cooperation in Africa:AsiaAfrica Growth Corridor project

• Asked whether the AsiaAfrica Growth Corridor project — envisaging an India-Japan collaboration in Africa — was to counter China’s Belt and Road project, the Ambassador said it was not aimed at any specific initiative
• Asia-Africa Growth Corridor was for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to make this region more inter-connected and prosperous
• Concrete plans On whether India and Japan would take up specific pilot projects in Africa, the Ambassador said there was a “good win-win situation”
• “We think that India has vast experience, network in eastern part of Africa. We have good technology and financing to support African development,” he said.
• Japan has been working with Indian officials and businessmen for “a concrete development plan” in Africa.

Asia Pacific Group meet on money laundering in Colombo 

• The APG meeting is scheduled to be held from July 17 to 21.
• Representatives of 41 countries, including India, are expected to participate
• Among the participating member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Maldives, United States, Australia, Canada, China and Pakistan
• It would also be attended by representatives of the Philippines

Important issues:

1. Several countries have expressed concerns over the developing situation in Philippine and extended support to the Philippine government.   
2. The Indian agencies have taken strong measures and registered several terror financing cases in the recent past
3. The Indian agencies have taken strong measures and registered several terror financing cases in the recent past
4. Following allegations of its failure in controlling the funding of terror outfits, the International Cooperation Review Group of FATF had requested the APG to furnish a follow-up report on Pakistan.

EU, India set up fund for investments

• The European Union (EU) and India on Friday announced the establishment of an Investment Facilitation Mechanism (IFM) for EU investments in India.
• The mechanism will allow for a close coordination between the European Union and the Government of India with an aim to promote and facilitate EU investment in India
• The IFM has been established with the key objectives of paving the way for identifying and solving problems faced by EU companies and investors with regard to their operations in India
• Invest India, the Indian government's official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, will also be part of the IFM.
• It will create a single-window entry point for EU companies that need assistance for their investments at the central or state level.
• The EU is the largest foreign investor in India and this initiative helps ensuring a more robust, effective and predictable business environment for the EU investors."
• Trade and Investment are key elements of the EU-India Strategic Partnership launched in 2004.
• There are currently more than 6,000 EU companies present in India, providing direct and indirect employment to over 6 million people.