Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 31st August 2024) | Current Affairs: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - CLAT PDF Download

£2.7 Million Grants Announced for Type 1 Diabetes Research

Sri Lanka Grants Visa-Free Access to 35 Countries

Sri Lanka's New Visa Policy

The Sri Lankan government has announced a new policy that allows citizens from 35 countries to visit Sri Lanka without needing a visa. This policy will take effect on October 1, 2024, and is part of the country's efforts to boost tourism and strengthen ties with other nations.

Key Objectives:

• Increase in Tourists: The main aim is to bring in more visitors from different countries.
• Simplified Travel: The new policy makes it easier for people to travel to Sri Lanka by eliminating the visa requirement.
• Economic Boost: By attracting more tourists, Sri Lanka hopes to enhance its economy, as tourism significantly contributes to the nation's income.

Details of the Policy:

Duration: Travelers from the 35 countries can stay in Sri Lanka without a visa for up to six months.

Eligible Countries: The countries included are:

• India
• United Kingdom
• China
• United States
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Spain
• Australia
• Denmark
• Poland
• Kazakhstan
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Nepal
• Indonesia
• Russia
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Japan
• France
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Italy
• Switzerland
• Austria
• Israel
• Belarus
• Iran
• Sweden
• South Korea
• Qatar
• Oman
• Bahrain
• New Zealand

Controversies Addressed:

• Previously, high fees for on-arrival visas were an issue, which were managed by a foreign company. This new policy aims to resolve those problems and make Sri Lanka a more appealing destination for tourists.

Current Visitor Policies:

• Before this new policy, several countries like India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia already had free tourist visas. This set a precedent for expanding the visa-free policy to more nations.
• This new policy is expected to greatly enhance Sri Lanka's tourism sector by making it easier for visitors from key markets to come, which will help boost the economy.

Facts About Sri Lanka:

• Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia with a rich history and unique customs.
• It is home to the world’s oldest known tree, the Sri Maha Bodhi, which is over 2,300 years old.
• The island is famous for its Stilt Fishing.
• Sri Lanka is well-known for Ceylon tea, which gained fame during the British colonial period.
• The country has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the impressive Sigiriya rock fortress.
• Sri Lanka is rich in wildlife, with the leopard as a national symbol, and many species that are unique to the island.
• The main languages spoken are Sinhalese, Tamil, and English.

India Surpasses China As Top Importer of Russian  Oil

India, Ukraine Sign Agreements to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

India and Ukraine Strengthen Ties

Agreements Signed: India and Ukraine have made significant progress in their relationship by signing four key agreements to improve cooperation in important areas like:

• Defence
• Trade
• Medicine
• Green Energy
• Education

Bilateral Talks:

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held important discussions.
• They expressed a desire to upgrade their relationship from a general partnership to a more strategic alliance.
• While discussing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, they emphasized the need to strengthen ties between their countries.

Defence Cooperation:

• The leaders agreed to enhance collaboration in defence.
• They plan to create joint ventures to manufacture military equipment in India, which will strengthen their strategic partnership.
• Trade between India and Ukraine has decreased since the war in 2022. To tackle this, they tasked the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission with boosting trade back to pre-conflict levels.

Sectoral Agreements:

The four signed agreements cover several important sectors such as: 

• Agriculture
• Food Industry
• Medicine
• Culture
• Humanitarian Assistance

Both countries aim to improve cooperation in these areas, focusing on trade, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
Modi and Zelenskyy agreed to promote more business interactions and explore joint projects.
They will work on reducing trade barriers to make it easier for businesses to operate in each other's countries.
Future collaborations in education were discussed, including: 

• Mutual recognition of educational qualifications
• Possibility of opening branches of higher education institutions in both countries.

Global Security and Terrorism:

• India and Ukraine condemned terrorism strongly.
• They reaffirmed their commitment to work together against extremism while following international laws.
• Both leaders called for reforms in the United Nations Security Council to enhance its effectiveness.
• Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India, indicating a strong commitment to further develop this important relationship.
• Going forward, both countries plan to focus on strengthening their collaboration across various sectors to promote mutual growth and security.

India, and Indonesia Condemn Cross-Border Terrorism From Pakistan

India and Indonesia Address Cross-Border Terrorism

India and Indonesia have recently expressed concerns about the use of terrorist groups to conduct attacks across national borders, particularly focusing on Pakistan's support for groups that target Jammu and Kashmir. This topic was a key point of discussion during the sixth meeting of the India-Indonesia joint working group on counter-terrorism held in Jakarta.

What is Cross-Border Terrorism?

Cross-border terrorism refers to incidents where terrorist groups operating in one country launch attacks in another country. This kind of terrorism poses a threat to regional security and necessitates collaborative international efforts to address the issue effectively.

Joint Working Group Meeting

During the sixth meeting of the India-Indonesia joint working group on counter-terrorism in Jakarta, representatives focused on strategies to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. The discussions included:

• Condemnation: Both nations condemned terrorism in every form.
• International Cooperation: There was a call for improved collaboration on a global scale.

Focus Areas

Key topics covered during the meeting included:

• The use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism.
• Emerging technologies and their exploitation by terrorists.
• Links between terror financing and organized crime.

Use of Technology by Terrorists

Concerns were raised about how terrorists are leveraging new technologies. This includes:

• The misuse of the internet for conducting terrorist activities.
• Methods to fund their operations using online platforms.

India and Indonesia recognized the need to share information about terrorism threats and agreed to enhance their cooperation in regional and global forums, such as the United Nations and the ASEAN Regional Forum, to bolster counter-terrorism measures.

Delegations

The Indian delegation was led by K D Dewal, the Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The Indonesian delegation was headed by Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, the Deputy for International Cooperation at the National Counter Terrorism Agency.

New Study Urges Better Protection for Sunda Clouded Leopards

Sunda Clouded Leopard Conservation in Borneo

• The population of the Sunda clouded leopard in Borneo has fallen to about 3,800 individuals.
• This decrease is mainly due to habitat loss from human activities, especially deforestation.
• A recent study, published on August 21, 2024, in npj Biodiversity, led by Ewan Macdonald from Oxford University, found that many protected areas are in less important locations, like high mountains, instead of critical habitats where leopards are most at risk.

Importance of Borneo’s Forests:

• The forests in Borneo are vital for combating climate change because they store carbon.
• Ongoing forest destruction threatens leopard habitats and decreases the forests' ability to store carbon.

Conservation Strategies:

The study explored two main strategies to protect the Sunda clouded leopards:

• Pro-active Protection: This strategy focuses on areas that are currently at high risk.
• Expedient Protection: This involves safeguarding areas that are already secure.

Researchers used predictive models to consider future scenarios, looking at possible forest loss and changes in leopard populations.

Data and Methodology:

• Researchers applied the resistant kernel approach to locate key leopard habitats by analyzing their movement patterns and environmental needs.
• They also used MARXAN software to assess different conservation plans and identify the best areas for protection.

Impact of Current Practices:

• The study indicated that improving protections in high-risk areas could increase leopard habitats by 53% and save an extra 82 million tonnes of carbon.
• This change is crucial since many land-use practices currently provide more financial rewards than forest conservation.

Policy Recommendations

The study recommends:

• Implementing programs like REDD to give financial support for forest conservation.
• Enforcing stricter rules to punish deforestation activities.

It is essential for governments, conservationists, and local communities to work together to protect Borneo’s wildlife and forests.
The decisions made today will have lasting impacts on both the leopards and the global environment.

About Sunda Clouded Leopard

• The Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) is found in Borneo and Sumatra.
• This leopard differs from the mainland clouded leopard due to its darker coat and larger size.
• They are excellent climbers and often hunt in trees.
• These leopards are mostly solitary and active at night.
• Their diet consists of deer, birds, and monkeys.
• Sunda clouded leopards can leap up to six times their body length.
• They are classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and poaching.
• Genetic studies suggest they may be two distinct species.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Begins Climb to Jezero Crater Rim

NASA's Perseverance Rover Mission Update

On August 27, 2024, NASA's Perseverance rover began an important new phase of its mission on Mars by starting its climb to the top of Jezero Crater. After over three years exploring the crater's floor, the rover is now on its way to reach the crater's rim. This part of the mission is exciting because the rock samples it collects could help scientists learn more about Mars' climate history and whether life ever existed on the planet.

Mission Overview

• Perseverance landed on Mars in 2021 and has been active ever since.
• The rover has gathered 22 rock core samples from the base of Jezero Crater.
• This crater used to be filled with water, making it a great spot to look for signs of ancient life.
• The current mission involves climbing 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the rim of the crater.
• At the rim, Perseverance will collect and analyze more rock samples.

Scientific Goals

• The rocks being collected may provide important clues about what Mars was like billions of years ago.
• Scientists aim to understand how Mars' environment has changed over time.
• Researchers hope to discover whether Mars could have supported life in the past.

Bringing the Samples Back to Earth

• NASA is developing plans to bring these rock samples back to Earth.
• Studying the samples in detail could give valuable information about how planets like Mars form and evolve.

Challenges of the Climb

• The journey to the top of the crater is challenging due to rough terrain.
• The landscape includes rocky areas and steep slopes, some reaching up to 23 degrees.
• Despite these difficulties, Perseverance has already traveled about 29 kilometers on Mars.
• This proves that the rover is tough and capable of handling challenging conditions.

What is Eastern equine encephalitis?

Increased Monitoring for EEE

What is EEE?

Eastern equine encephalitis is a severe viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes. Although it is uncommon, it can have serious consequences. According to the CDC, there are only a few cases each year, with about 30% of those infected resulting in death.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually develop between 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They can be categorized into two groups:

• Febrile Illness: Symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, and joint pain, which typically improve within two weeks.
• Neurological Disease: This can cause serious conditions like meningitis or encephalitis, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, seizures, and behavioral changes. Death can occur within ten days, and survivors may experience long-lasting health effects.

Transmission and Prevention

The virus does not spread from person to person. It primarily occurs in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of the United States, especially near swampy areas. To reduce the risk of infection:

• Stay indoors during dusk and dawn.
• Wear protective clothing.
• Use insect repellent.

Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for EEE. Care focuses on providing support to affected individuals. Public health initiatives aim to decrease mosquito populations and prevent bites.

About Eastern Equine Encephalitis

EEE is an uncommon but severe mosquito-borne disease that affects birds, horses, and humans. It has a high mortality rate of around 30% among those infected, making it one of the deadliest mosquito-related diseases in the United States. Symptoms can resemble those of other viral infections. There is no specific antiviral treatment available; supportive care is utilized instead. EEE is most frequently seen in the eastern U.S. and Gulf Coast, with increased cases occurring in late summer and early fall.

Assam Assembly Passes Bill Regulating Muslim Marriages and Divorces

Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024

• The Assam Legislative Assembly has passed a new law called the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024.
• This law aims to tackle serious issues like child marriage, marriages without mutual consent, and polygamy.
• It replaces an old law from 1935, introducing new rules to protect vulnerable people, especially women and children.

Repeal of the 1935 Act

• The previous law, known as the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935, allowed harmful practices.
• It permitted child marriages and did not require mutual consent from both parties.
• The government decided to repeal this outdated law because it supported practices that are no longer acceptable.
• The main issues with the old law were found in Sections 8 and 10.

Implementation of the New Law

The new Bill sets clear rules for a marriage to be legally registered: 

• Age Requirements: The woman must be at least 18 years old, and the man must be at least 21 years old.
• Consent: Both individuals must agree to the marriage freely, without any pressure.
• Residency Requirement: At least one of the people getting married must have lived in the district for at least 30 days before the marriage can be registered.

Registration Process

• Couples must inform the Marriage and Divorce Registrar about their marriage intention at least 30 days before the wedding.
• This waiting period allows time for any concerns or objections to be raised.
• If there are objections, the Registrar will investigate to ensure everything is legal.
• If a registering officer discovers that a marriage involves underage individuals, they must report it to the Child Marriage Protection Officer.
• This step is crucial to prevent child marriages and protect minors.
• The new law also holds registering officers accountable; if they break the rules, they could face imprisonment and fines.

Relation to Muslim Personal Law

• The new law works alongside current Muslim personal laws, but it has caused some tension.
• One area of conflict is the definition of valid marriages, especially for minors.
• The Supreme Court is expected to review how this new law interacts with the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which bans child marriages throughout India.

Debate in the Assembly

• During the Assembly discussions, opinions differed. 
• Some members suggested that instead of completely replacing the old law, it could have been improved.
• However, supporters of the new Bill argued that it increases accountability and reduces the risk of child marriages previously facilitated by kazis (Muslim registrars).