3rd July, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Maitree Exercise 2024, Strengthening India-Thailand Military Cooperation

• July 1, 2024, marks the beginning of an important event in India-Thailand relations. The Maitree Exercise, a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, kicks off at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province, Thailand. This two-week exercise, running until July 15, 2024, is a significant step in strengthening military ties between the two nations.
• Started in 2006
• Conducted regularly between Indian and Thai armies
• Last held in September 2019 in Meghalaya, India

The Maitree Exercise aims to:

• Boost military cooperation between India and Thailand
• Improve skills in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations
• Enhance joint planning and tactical drills
• Promote physical fitness among troops

INTERNATIONAL
Sri Lanka: Additional Funds Under Indian Grant Allocated Towards Construction Of Transit Houses At Madhu Shrine

• In Sri Lanka, additional funds under an Indian grant have been allocated towards the construction of transit houses at Madhu Shrine in Mannar for the benefit of pilgrims visiting the shrine.
• The Low Cost Transit Housing Construction Project at the Shrine will be undertaken under an additional grant of 100 million Sri Lankan rupees for the project, taking the total commitment under the project to 400 million rupees.
• India has provided additional funds to nine ongoing grant projects to expeditiously complete them, while also minimising the impact of the significant rise in the cost of construction materials on the original scope of the projects.
• The Low-Cost Transit Housing Construction Project at Madhu Shrine, Mannar, is among the said nine projects. The project is currently underway, and the transit houses, which will total 96, are at various stages of construction.

Nepal’s Two Largest Parties Agree To Share Power Equation To Form New Govt Under K P Sharma Oli

• The two largest parties in the Federal Parliament- NC and the CPN (UML) agreed to share the power equation, aiming to form a new government under the leadership of UML Chair KP Sharma Oli.
• Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ called on President Ramchandra Paudel. The Prime Minister and the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair visited the Head-of-the-State at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas. On the occasion, matters relating to the country’s latest political developments were discussed.   
• Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has decided not to resign from his post.
• The pact, finalized between NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairman KP Oli, outlines the ministerial division, provincial leadership roles and a rotation for the prime ministerial position.
• Under the agreement that is expected to be finalized today, UML Chairman Oli will lead the government initially for the first half of the remaining term of the current parliament.
• The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is not participating in the new ruling alliance led by the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML). The RSP party secretariat meeting held today decided to exit from the present government, but not participate in the new coalition.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Approves Construction Of 934 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks In Jaffna District By India

• Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the construction of 934 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks in Jaffna district by Government of India.
• An MoU between the two countries was signed in January 2017 to construct 3000 rainwater harvesting tanks to provide clean drinking water in the Jaffna district.
• In  October 2022, 1831 PVC rainwater tanks were installed and the remaining funds under the project will now be utilised to construct the 934 tanks approved yesterday.
• Considering the grave problem of quality of drinking water in entire Jaffna Peninsula, India had agreed  to construct 3,000 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks in the District of Jaffna. The project that was signed in 2017 was finalised at a cost of 300 million Sri Lankan Rupees. As there are no perennial rivers or streams flowing through Jaffna Peninsula, Groundwater had been over exploited and contaminated.

Also Read: May 7th Current Affairs: Top 11 Current Affairs Quiz Questions on Rabindranath Tagore

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ECONOMY
Core Sector Growth Slows to 6.3% in May 2024

• In May 2024, growth in India’s core sector industries decelerated to 6.3% from 6.7% in April, driven by varied performance across sectors.
• Coal and electricity saw accelerated growth due to increased demand during a heat wave, while sectors like cement and fertilizers contracted.
• Factors such as reduced capex, adequate fertiliser stocks, and lower diesel demand influenced sectoral output. The overall impact of these dynamics reflects on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), expected to print between 4-5% for May 2024.
• Coal and Electricity: Growth accelerated (10.2% and 12.8% respectively) due to heightened power demand.
• Crude Oil and Refinery Products: Witnessed low growth (negative for crude oil) amid decreased diesel demand.
• Natural Gas, Steel, Cement: Saw varied performance with deceleration in output growth rates.
• Fertilizers: Contracted (-1.7%) due to ample stocks for the kharif season.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hurricane Beryl Intensifies Into Catastrophic Storm; Makes Landfall On Carriacou Island In Grenada

• Hurricane Beryl has intensified into a potentially catastrophic storm today, July 2. According to the United States’s National Hurricane Center (NHC), it has damaged houses and made landfall on the island of Carriacou in Grenada. Nearby islands, including Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, also experienced catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surges. However, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries while communication is largely down across the region.
• The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Longevity Revolution 2024: Pioneering Advances in Regenerative Medicine

• The International Association of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (IASRM) and the Anti-Ageing Foundation (India) hosted the 9th Annual World Congress – Longevity Revolution 2024 in New Delhi. The event featured advances in regenerative medicine, workshops, keynotes from renowned scientists, and discussions on aging, aesthetics, and health.
• The International Association of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (IASRM) alongside the Anti-Ageing Foundation, hosted the 9th Annual World Congress – Longevity Revolution 2024, celebrating advancements in regenerative medicine and anti-aging therapies.
• The International Association of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (IASRM ) is an independent, non-profit organization that aims to support and raise advancement in stem cell science and its applications to human health.

HEALTH
Number Of HFMD Infections Exceed Warning Level In Japan For First Time In Nearly Five Years

• In Japan, the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) infections has exceeded the warning level nationwide in Japan for the first time in nearly five years.
• The country’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) reported that marking the 13th consecutive week of increase, the figure exceeded the warning-level threshold of five patients per medical institution.
• The disease had not been surpassed the warning-level threshold since August 2019. Regionally, the central Japanese prefecture of Mie reported the highest number of cases with an average of over 16 patients per clinic, followed by Hyogo prefecture at over 11.
• HFMD, a viral infection causing blister-like rashes on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, primarily affects children under the age of four. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, feeling unwell, skin rashes and sore throat. Mouth sores and ulcers on the tongue, gums and the inside of the cheeks can also indicate HFMD infection.
• Given that HFMD peaks in summer, Japan’s health ministry is urging the public to practice thorough handwashing to prevent the spread of the disease.

Published date : 04 Jul 2024 10:22AM