SSB PATRIKA

Thursday Students
3 Oct 2024 Version

India’s First Newspaper Specifically Made For Defence Aspirants

Current Affairs SSB Group Discussions Lecturette topics Vocabulary TAT + PPDT Stories

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India calls for restraint as attacks escalate in
West Asia
India is “deeply concerned” about the escalating situation in the
West Asian region after Iran fired hundreds of missiles that hit
targets in and around capital Tel Aviv. A statement from the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged that the conflict should
not take a wider regional shape. “We are deeply concerned at the
escalation of security situation in West Asia and reiterate our call
for restraint by all concerned and protection of civilians. It is
important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional
dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through
dialogue and diplomacy,” the MEA said.
The official response came hours after Iran launched around 200 missiles at Israel that hit targets in Tel
Aviv and other areas. India also advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. In an
advisory, the MEA also urged Indian nationals residing in Iran to remain vigilant and stay in contact with
the Indian Embassy in Tehran. According to official data, over 4,000 Indian nationals are residing in Iran.
Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will turn a year old on October 7, 2024 and Tuesday’s missile
attacks by Iran has broadened the conflict.

2 women Navy officers begin voyage around

the world
Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. and Lieutenant
Commander Roopa A. of the Indian Navy on Wednesday
embarked from Goa on a challenging expedition to
circumnavigate the globe, covering 23,000 nautical
miles over 240 days. The second edition of the Navika
Sagar Parikrama was flagged of from Ocean Sailing
Node, INS Mandovi, by Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K.
Tripathi. The two women officer set sail on the INSV
Tarini. The voyage will take the two women officers
across four continents through three oceans and three
challenging capes.
“I am pleased to note that Navika Sagar Parikrama will contribute towards progressing national scientific
research in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography for study on marine microplastics
and ferrous content across the seas; Wildlife Institute of India for exploration on Mega Faunas or large sea
mammals; Sagar Defence for their drones that promise us spectacular visuals of the voyage; and Defence
Food Research Laboratory towards providing customised precooked Indian meals so that our valiant
warriors always feel at home,” Admiral Tripathi told the gathering. He also released a special chart
commemorating the expedition on the occasion

Biden says U.S. would not support Israeli strike

on Iran nuclear sites
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he would not support any
Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites in response to its missile attack. “We’ll
discuss with the Israelis what they’re going to do, but all G-7 nations agree
that they have a right to respond but they should respond proportionally,” Mr.
Biden said

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 SSB PATRIKA
Thursday Students
3 Oct 2024 Version

India’s First Newspaper Specifically Made For Defence Aspirants

Current Affairs SSB Group Discussions Lecturette topics Vocabulary TAT + PPDT Stories

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Bhutan foray by Anil Ambani’s Reliance
The partnership will focus on green energy,
specifically on solar, hydropower initiatives
The Reliance group led by Anil Ambani said it is entering into
a partnership agreement with Druk Holding and
Investments Ltd. (DHI), the commercial and investment arm
of the Royal Government of Bhutan, to undertake various
projects in the renewable (RE) and green energy landscape
of Bhutan. “The partnership between Reliance group and
Druk Holding will focus on green energy generation,
specifically solar and hydropower initiatives, while exploring
innovative green technologies,” it said in a statement on
Wednesday It said it will collaborate with government-
owned companies in Bhutan to implement infrastructure
projects that support Bhutan’s net-zero goals.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday between Harmanjit Singh Nagi, president (corporate
development) of Reliance Power Ltd. and Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO, DHI. The group has established Reliance
Enterprises exclusively to promote investments in Bhutan’s RE and green-energy sector.

China seeks to prevent any ‘deterioration’

in West Asia
China urged world powers on Wednesday to prevent the
situation in the West Asia from “further deteriorating” following
the latest escalation in the region. “The Chinese side calls on
the international community, especially major influential
powers, to truly play a constructive role and prevent the
situation from further deteriorating,” a Foreign Ministry
spokesperson said in a statement. “The Chinese side is deeply
concerned about the turmoil in the West Asia,” the online
statement said. Israel has vowed to make Iran “pay” for firing a
barrage of missiles at its territory and warned on Wednesday it
would launch an even bigger attack if it is targeted.
Iran launched its second direct attack on Israel in history on Tuesday, firing what it said were 200 missiles,
including hypersonic weapons, that sent Israeli civilians into shelters. Israel, which put the number of
missiles at 180, bombarded Lebanese strongholds of Iran ally Hezbollah, with heavy strikes on south Beirut
early on Wednesday. China said it “opposes any act that violates Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and
territorial integrity and opposes the intensified- cation of conicts”. Hezbollah began low-intensity strikes on
Israeli troops a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged the October 7 attack

Gold cools, oil surges amid escalating tensions in

West Asia
Gold eased on Wednesday, taking a breather after rallying in the last
session on an escalation in the conflict in West Asia, but oil prices rose
again. Spot gold prices were down 0.5% at $2,650.89 per ounce by 11:46
GMT, after a jump of more than 1% on Tuesday after Iran launched missile
strikes across Israel. After hitting $76 earlier, the price for a barrel of Brent
crude was sitting at $74.49, up 1.3% from the day before. While Israel is not
a major producer of oil, Iran is, and a worry is that a broadening war could
affect other neighboring countries that are also integral to the flow of
crude. U.S. stocks were drifting Wednesday, and Treasury yields are rising
following an encouraging update on the U.S. job market’s strength.

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 SSB PATRIKA
Thursday Students
3 Oct 2024 Version

India’s First Newspaper Specifically Made For Defence Aspirants

Current Affairs SSB Group Discussions Lecturette topics Vocabulary TAT + PPDT Stories

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Modi says toilet coverage reached 100% after launch of
Swachh Bharat Mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday
said that more than 12 crore toilets have been
built and the scope of toilet coverage reached
100% from previously less than 40% in the
country since the launch of the Swachh Bharat
Mission (SBM) 10 years ago. Addressing an event
to mark the completion of 10 years of the SBM,
Mr. Modi said that more than 60% of India’s
population was compelled to defecate in the
open due to a lack of toilets until 10 years ago.

It was against human dignity and disrespectful towards the country’s poor, Dalits, tribals, and backward
communities as well as detrimental to the health and safety of women, the Prime Minister said. Praising the
efforts of safaimitras (sanitation workers), celebrities, and non governmental organisations in transforming the
SBM into a huge public movement, he underlined the change in thinking brought about by the Swachh Bharat
Mission and gave the example of people involved in cleaning work who were looked down upon earlier. “When
the cleaners got respect, they too felt proud of their role in changing the country,” he said. Mr. Modi called upon
State governments to intensify their efforts by implementing cleanliness initiatives at the district, block, village,
and local levels and highlighted that projects worth about ₹10,000 crore related to cleanliness had been started
under it. The SBM or Clean India Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, to eliminate open defecation and
improve solid waste management.
Dharavi redevelopment project, Adani become a
rallying point for Opposition in Maharashtra
Ahead of the Assembly election in Maharashtra, industrialist
Gautam Adani and the Dharavi redevelopment project in
Asia’s largest slum cluster have become a rallying point for
the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). While the Congress has
consistently called the project a ‘Modani enterprise’, the Shiv
Sena (UBT) has held street protests and press events on the
issue. The MVA allies have projected some recent decisions
of the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government as ‘favouring’
the Adani Group and furthering the ‘Modani’ agenda. In mid-
September, the group secured a long-term contract to
supply 6,600 MW of bundled renewable and thermal power
to Maharashtra after its bid of ₹4.08 per unit outcompeted
rivals.
On September 30, the Cabinet approved the utilisation of 255 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai for housing for
slum rehabilitation project-affected residents of Dharavi. Earlier in September, the Centre had approved the
transfer of the salt pan land to Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between Adani
Realty Group and the Maharashtra government

Good opportunity for Railways to invest in

Bengal: Vaishnaw
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that there is a ₹60,000-
crore investment opportunity by Railways in West Bengal. He said 61 projects are
currently pending due to issues related to the hand over of land, emphasising that the
completion of these projects requires the State government to rise above politics.

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 SSB PATRIKA
Thursday Students
3 Oct 2024 Version

India’s First Newspaper Specifically Made For Defence Aspirants

Current Affairs SSB Group Discussions Lecturette topics Vocabulary TAT + PPDT Stories

EDITOR OF THE DAY

China-Vietnam red diplomacy

Vietnamese President To Lam’s recent visit to China aims to revive red connections and Mao Zedong-Ho Chi Minh
comradeship to strategically infuse political trust in the bilateral relationship. For a Beijing that is frustrated with the Western
alliance salvo, the communist breeze from the South China Sea felt like a soothing balm. The visit comes against the
backdrop of the U.S. and the Philippines wooing Vietnam to pressure and corner China in the South China Sea. President Lam,
after assuming the role of general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), strategically chose China as his first
foreign visit destination, starting in Guangzhou, the birthplace of the CPV. Unlike the Vietnam-U.S. relationship, where CPV
actions are scrutinised for human rights violations and the American establishment’s condescending attitudes toward the
Vietnam political system, the Vietnam-China comradeship is mutually appreciative and supportive, barring territorial
contestations.

‘Shared future’ Vietnam and China also issued a joint statement, renewing their efforts to “strengthen the comprehensive
strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries” and envisage building “a Vietnam-China community with a
shared future”, given the overly antagonistic outer world. The statement also underscored Xi Jinping’s emphasis on giving
Vietnam a priority in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy and supporting Vietnam in upholding CPV leadership. Mr. Lam also
had a “working session” with the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing to learn from Chinese
Communist Party experiences in combating corruption and economic development. He also addressed the meeting and
appreciated the CPC’s theoretical innovations and cadre training as integral to the Chinese governance model. Mr. Lam was
accompanied by six out of 15 members of the politburo of CPV. This rejects the current National Party Congress, CPV
leadership aspirations in replicating CPC successes in strengthening the legitimacy at home to get re-elected at the 14th
Party Congress, scheduled for 2026. This is also concordant with the CPV leadership’s ambition to build Vietnam into a
socialist-oriented, high-income, developed country by 2045. The joint statement emphasised the need for theoretical
exchanges, experience sharing, and close cooperation between the CPV and CPC to advance socialism, highlighting their
compatibility and cooperation. These alignments are being constructed to promote Chinese experiences as successful
models for CPV and align with the socialist cause. Interestingly, during the Mao era, China agreed to transfer Bach Long Vi
Island to Vietnam in 1957 because Beijing considered Hanoi a “comrade and brother”, as Julia Lovell argues. But this
bonhomie was rather short-lived with the China-Vietnam 1979 war. This system compatibility, therefore, does not
necessarily exhibit the convergence of their worldviews or strategic interests.
Expanding partnerships During the visit, Vietnam and China signed 14 agreements, ranging from connectivity and
infrastructure to healthcare, customs media, etc., to further consolidate and expand strategic partnerships. In
2023, the bilateral trade between China and Vietnam was valued at $171.9 billion. China remained Vietnam’s largest
import market in the first seven months of 2024, up 34.9% from the previous year, with an estimated turnover of
$79.2 billion. China was also Vietnam’s second-largest export market in the same period,
While China-Vietnam exchanges are often hindered by inherent irritants, the relationship between
India and Vietnam is free of any obstacles and characterised by shared ambitions for a prosperous
and multi-polar Asia. “Act East” policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to accelerate
engagement with the region. By further deepening cultural and sustainable economic ties, Vietnam
will be a driving force and natural partner, for India in the Southeast to uphold a shared vision for
regional stability and global order.

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