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News for the Day (31st July, 2024)
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Current Affairs
WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES OF 2024
Why in the News?
TIME magazine has highlighted three Indian destinations in its list of World’s Greatest Places of 2024. They are Museum of Solutions (MuSo), Manam Chocolate and NAAR.
About Museum of Solutions(MuSo)
- Location: Mumbai
- It is a not-for-profit initiative designed as a world-class, experiential children’s museum to champion the art of finding solutions.
- Its initiatives draw inspiration and direction from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
About Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDGs are officially known as Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- It was established by the United Nations in 2015 to address urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges.
- Aim: To end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
- There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 169 associated targets and 304 indicators.
About Manam Chocolate
- Location: Hyderabad
- The works with farmers and fermenters in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district to promote Indian craft chocolates globally.
- Manam has been recognized by the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting and the U.K.’s Academy of Chocolate.
About NAAR
- Location: Himachal Pradesh
- The restaurant offers an exclusive take on Himalayan cuisine with dishes highlighting regional ingredients such as Himachali yak cheese and Naga bamboo shoot pickles.
- It’s recognized for its unique location and culinary offerings.
About Time Magazine
- It is an American news magazine based in New York City.
- It was first published in New York City on 3rd March 1923.
- It was published weekly for nearly a century but from March 2020, it transitioned to every other week.
- Publisher: Time Inc., Warner Bros. Discovery, WarnerMedia, Meredith Corporation
- Editor-in-chief: Sam Jacobs
QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE (QUAD)
Why in the News?
Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States of America gathered in Tokyo, Japan.
About the Meeting
- It announced a plan to roll out Open Radio Access Networks in island nation Palau.
- It reiterated the Quad's strong opposition to any "unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," in context of East and South China Seas.
- It condemned North Korea’s destabilizing launches using ballistic missile technology and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
S. Jaishankar (India), Kamikawa Yoko (Japan), Penny Wong (Australia), Antony Blinken (USA)
QUAD
- Formation: 2007
- It is the grouping of four democracies - India, Australia, the US, and Japan.
- It was proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the support of then U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
- Aim: To ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
- The idea was to create a democratic coalition that could address the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
- It is often dubbed as an "Asian" or "mini" North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- In 2021, the leaders met virtually for the first time in March, followed by their first in-person meeting in September.
- India will be holding the Quad 2024 summit later this year.
- Initiatives
- Malabar exercise
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
- Covid-19 Global Action Plan
- QUAD fellowship
Quad countries on Map
ISMAIL HANIYEH
Why in the News?
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, Iran. He was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.
About Hamas
- Hamas was created in 1987 as an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood seeking to fulfill its agenda through violent jihad.
- It gained popularity as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation and Fatah.
- The United States has designated Hamas a terror organization since 1997.
- Many other countries, including Israel and most of Europe, see it the same way.
Ideology
- They believe that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded.
- They reject any alternative to the complete liberation of Palestine.
About Ismail Haniye
- He was a Palestinian politician who is widely considered to be the chief political leader of Hamas.
- He joined Hamas in 1987 when the militant group was founded amid the outbreak of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israeli occupation which lasted until 1993.
- He was the current chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau.
Ismail Haniyeh
| Note: Capital of Israel: Jerusalem Currency of Israel: Israeli Shekel P.M. of Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu President of Israel: Isaac Herzog |
E-SeHAT TELE-CONSULTANCY
Why in the News?
The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has launched the Electronic Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation (E-SeHAT) module.
About E-SeHAT
- The module aims to provide health care services through safe and structured video based clinical consultations.
- It would enable ECHS beneficiaries to obtain online Tele-consultation for medical treatment from their homes without visiting the ECHS Polyclinic.
About ECHS
- Launched: April 2003
- It is a flagship Scheme of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Ministry of Defence.
- Headquarter: The Central Organisation ECHS is located in Delhi in the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army).
- Aim: To provide quality healthcare for Ex-servicemen (Army, Navy and Air Force) pensioners and their dependents.
- Under the scheme allopathic and AYUSH medicare is provided through a network of ECHS Polyclinics, AYUSH hospitals spread across the country.
- Services: ECHS Polyclinics are designed to provide OutPatient Care which includes consultation, essential investigation and provision of medicines.
- Specialized consultations, investigations and In Patient Care (Hospitalization) is provided through spare capacity available in Service hospitals/Government Hospitals/civil hospitals empaneled with ECHS.
- Funding: The Scheme is financed by the Government of India.
WORLD RANGER DAY 2024
- It is annually observed on 31st July to honor the brave people who work hard to protect animals and nature.
- It was first observed in 2007.
- The theme for the day 2024 is “30 by 30” which is based on the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15).
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General Knowledge
MARÍA CORINA MACHADO
- She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on 7 October 1967.
- Maduro is a prominent Venezuelan politician and opposition leader known for her steadfast opposition to the Chávez and Maduro regimes.
- She is referred to as the "Iron Lady of Venezuela”.
- Political Party: Vente Venezuela (2012–present)
- She co-founded Súmate, a civil association dedicated to promoting electoral transparency and civil rights in Venezuela.
- She was elected to the National Assembly in 2010.
MARÍA CORINA MACHADO
Venezuela
- Location: Northern coast of South America
- Borders: Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east.
- It has a northern coastline along the Caribbean Sea.
- Capital: Caracas
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Bolívar
- Government: Federal Presidential Republic
- President: Nicolás Maduro
- History
- Christopher Columbus arrived in Venezuela in 1498.
- The area was colonized by Spain, becoming part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
- It declared independence from Spain on July 5, 1811.
- Regions: Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, extensive plains (llanos), and the Orinoco River Delta.
Location of Venezuela along with its National Flag