1) 2+2 dialogue: India and the UK held their first 2+2 dialogue.
- It is a format of meeting on the foreign and defense aspects by India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
- It involves discussion either at the level of senior officials or ministers.
- It enables the partners to better understand and appreciate each other’s strategic concerns and sensitivities while building a strategic relationship.
- India has already established 2+2 dialogues with the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia.
2) Indian rupee valuation: The Indian Rupee depreciated against the US dollar to a record new low of ₹83.27 to a US dollar.
- Rising Crude Oil Prices and Weakness in other Asian Currencies are attributed to be the reason for current trend.
- Other reasons for depreciation: trade imbalances, budget deficits, inflation, global fuel prices, economic crises, etc.
- Effects of weak rupee: It will increase the cost of imports, inflation, increase in liabilities for companies with overseas debts, valuation loss of forex reserves, etc.
3) Tilapia parvovirus: India’s first tilapia parvovirus was reported in Tamil Nadu.
- It is affecting farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species, and causing a huge mortality rate.
- Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s.
- Capable of surviving in low-oxygen levels in water, the fish has turned invasive across the country.
- Tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) is a single-stranded DNA virus.
- The discovery of TiPV in India is the third known occurrence after China (2019) and Thailand (2021).
- Currently no vaccine is available against TiPV.
4) Ayushman Bhav Campaign: Initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Objective: To extend comprehensive healthcare coverage to every village and town.
- It has 3 components:
- Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0: To provide Ayushman cards to remaining eligible beneficiaries enrolled under the PM-JAY scheme.
- Ayushman Melas: To facilitate the creation of Health IDs and issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards.
- Ayushman Sabhas: To raise awareness about vital health schemes and disease conditions.
- NGOs, SHGs, PRIs, Youth groups, Primary cooperative societies, Indian Medical Association and companies using CSR funds, will be part of the campaign.
Places in News:
1) Ecuador (Capital : Quito)
- Daniel Noboa, 35, was elected Ecuador’s youngest president.
- Political Boundaries
- Ecuador is a republic in northwestern South America.
- Bordered by Columbia and Peru.
- Pacific Ocean located on west side.
- Geographical Features
- Situated on Equator from which its name derives.
- Cotopaxi in the Andes Mountains is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
- Significant oil reserves and is one of South America’s top oil producers.
- Highest Peak : Chimborazo
- Major rivers : Napo, Pastaza, etc.
