Current Affairs One - Liner : 17th July 2024

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Skill India Mission on July 15, 2024. This initiative, launched by the Prime Minister in 2015, aims to equip youth with essential skills for better livelihoods.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 has been approved by the Karnataka Cabinet. According to this bill, industries, factories, and other establishments are required to appoint local candidates in 50% of management positions and 75% in non-management positions.
On July 16, 2024, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government reorganized the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog). The revised composition now includes four full-time members and 15 Union Ministers. These ministers serve as either ex-officio members or special invitees.

In 2023, India’s child immunization program fell short, missing vital vaccines for 1.6 million children. The DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus) and measles shots were not administered to over 350,000 kids despite the Union Health Ministry’s efforts. This setback comes after gains made in 2022 over 2021.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame secured his fourth term in office on July 15, 2024. He has been in power for 24 years and has consistently dominated elections, winning with over 90% of the vote. In the most recent election, he obtained a staggering 99%.
The Philippines has been selected to host the board of the Loss and Damage Fund. This is a significant development as the fund aims to help vulnerable countries recover from the impacts of climate change.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s growth projection for fiscal year 2024-25 to 7%, reflecting improved consumption prospects, particularly in rural areas. For the following financial year, the IMF maintains a growth projection of 6.5%.

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched on July 9, 2024, marking a significant return to space for the continent. This powerful rocket, designed to be more cost-effective and flexible than its predecessors, is a crucial step in maintaining Europe's independent space launch capabilities.
The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, co-developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, has been rolled out in Ivory Coast. This vaccine is a significant milestone in malaria control because it meets the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target of 75% efficacy at preventing the disease.

On July 12, 2024, Union Minister for the Development of the North East Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, launched the North East Region Agri Commodity E-Connect (NERACE) app. This app is designed to benefit farmers in the region and help position the Northeast as a hub of high-value horticultural products in the international market.

Thomas Müller announced his retirement from international football on July 15, 2024. After an illustrious career spanning 14 years and 131 caps, Müller bid farewell to the German national team. His contributions, including winning the 2014 World Cup.

Justices Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan were elevated as judges of the Supreme Court on July 16, 2024. Justice Singh’s elevation marks the first representation from Manipur in the Supreme Court. With their appointment, the Supreme Court has regained its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
Manoj Saunik, a retired IAS officer from the 1987 batch, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). The official order regarding his appointment was issued two months before the end of Ajoy Mehta’s term, which concludes on September 20, 2024.
Mr. Sumant Sinha, Chairman and CEO of ReNew, has been named Co-Chair of the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders on July 15, 2024. This alliance is the largest CEO-led climate initiative globally and a flagship project of the World Economic Forum.

Renowned author Tim Walker has released a novel titled “The Prisoner of Bhopal” to mark the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. This poignant work serves not only as a tribute to the victims but also as a powerful reminder of the catastrophic event that shook the world on the night of December 2-3, 1984.

Questions:

1 Who is the author of the novel "The Prisoner of Bhopal"?

2 Who launched the North East Region Agri Commodity E-Connect (NERACE) on July 12, 2024?