Daily Current Affairs 3 & 4 December for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
‘Hump WWII’ Museum Opens In Arunachal With US Aircraft
A unique museum showcasing remnants of an aircraft that crashed in Arunachal Pradesh during World War II will be inaugurated in the northeastern state by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti.
- The Hump WWII Museum stands as a tribute to the aviators who navigated the perilous air route between north-eastern Assam and Yunnan in China, nicknamed ‘The Hump.’
- The air route earned its moniker due to the formidable challenges faced by Allied pilots flying from airfields in Assam to those in Yunnan.The Hump air route traverses through Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet, Myanmar and Yunnan (China).
India Achieves Remarkable Environmental Milestone: Emission Intensity Falls 33% Ahead of Schedule
India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33 per cent between 2005 and 2019, achieving the target 11 years in advance, according to a government report.
- The report also said India’s GDP grew at a cumulative annual growth rate of 7 per cent but its emissions rose by only 4 per cent per year during this period, suggesting that the country has been successful in decoupling its economic growth from planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India’s Concerns Lead to Non-Signing of COP28 Health & Climate Declaration
India has refused to sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health. The report also states the India cited the lack of practicality in curbing greenhouse gases use for cooling in the health sector, as the reason. India has said that it would not be possible to fulfil the same within a short term.
- The primary point of contention arises from India’s apprehensions about the practicality and achievability of reducing greenhouse gas emissions for cooling within its healthcare infrastructure.
- The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by 124 countries, underscores the imperative for urgent and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It outlines various measures to achieve health benefits through climate action, such as just transitions, lower air pollution, active mobility, and shifts to sustainable healthy diets.
World Malaria Report 2023: Malaria Cases Surge To 249 Million In 2022, 16 Million Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
The 2023 World Malaria Report, recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), sheds light on the alarming malaria situation in India and globally.
- The 2023 World Malaria Report reveals a global surge with an estimated 249 million cases in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.Covid-19 disruptions, drug resistance, humanitarian crises, and climate change pose threats to the global malaria response.
- Twenty-nine countries accounted for 95% of malaria cases globally.Four countries, Nigeria (27%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), and Mozambique (4%), accounted for almost half of all malaria cases globally.
- India and Indonesia accounted for about 94% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region.Africa bears the highest malaria burden, accounting for 94% of cases and 95% of global malaria deaths in 2022.The WHO South-East Asia Region, including India, managed to contain malaria over the last two decades, with a 77% reduction in cases and deaths since 2000.
US: Ohio reports ‘white lung syndrome’ outbreak.
Following a recent outbreak of pneumonia in several regions of China, Ohio has become the first state in the US to report an increased number of cases of the illness called ‘white lung syndrome.’ The outbreak in Ohio has particularly affected children, leading to an alarmingly high number of hospitalisations, local media reports said.
- This comes as the global health body WHO continues to monitor the sudden surge in respiratory infections among children in China with countries including India, remaining vigilant.
- Earlier, Denmark’s Statens Serum Institute (SSI) reported that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have seen a significant spike over the past five weeks. Netherlands, another European nation, also reported an alarming rise in pneumonia cases.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
IT major Infosys inks pact with Shell for sustainable data centres
IT major Infosys said it has partnered with energy company Shell to accelerate the adoption of immersion cooling services for data centres.
- Infosys and Shell will bring together their capabilities in digital and energy, respectively, along with an ecosystem of partners to create an integrated offering for green data centres.
- Infosys claims to have turned carbon-neutral in 2020, 30 years ahead of the timeline set by the Paris Agreement.
SPORTS
Vaishali Rameshbabu Becomes Grandmaster, Creating History with Brother Praggnanandhaa
Vaishali Rameshbabu became only the third female grandmaster from India after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli after she crossed the 2500 FIDE ratings to earn the grandmaster title at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain.
- The 22-year-old has defeated Turkish FM Tamer Tarik Selbes (2238) in the second round to surpass rating and has started the tournament with two consecutive wins.
- With this achievement, Vaishali and her younger brother, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, have become the first-ever Grandmaster siblings pair in history. They also become the first-ever brother-sister duo to make the Candidates.
APPOINTMENTS
Kanchan Devi Becomes First Woman Director General Of ICFRE
Kanchan Devi, 1991-batch Indian Forest Service Officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Forestry Research Education (ICFRE).
- This marks a historic milestone, with Kanchan becoming the first woman officer to ascend to this esteemed position within the premier council operating under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISRO Unveils XPoSat: India’s Pioneering X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), aiming to investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources.
- According to ISRO, while space-based X-Ray astronomy has been established in India, focusing predominantly on imaging, time-domain studies, and spectroscopy, the upcoming XPoSat mission marks a major value addition.
- This research, supplementing traditional time and frequency domain studies, introduces a novel dimension to X-Ray astronomy, generating anticipation and excitement within the scientific community.
Gajraj System: AI-Based Elephant Protection on Indian Railways
The Indian Railways has initiated a pioneering step towards wildlife conservation by deploying the “Gajraj system,” an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solution designed to prevent elephant fatalities on railway tracks.
- This surveillance system is being implemented along a 700-kilometer stretch in forest areas to alert locomotive pilots of elephants’ presence on the tracks, thereby mitigating the risk of collisions.