< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

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In News: Chinese Party Delegation Visits Solomon Islands

GS- II >> International Relations >> South-East Asia and Pacific Ocean

Context: Recently, China had signed a policing pact with the Solomon Islands as both countries upgraded their ties to a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’.

• Earlier, Solomon Islands signs a MOU on policing cooperation with China which could allow a Chinese military and naval presence in the islands.
• In response to this, the US reopens an embassy on the Solomons after a 30-year absence.

About Solomon Islands:

• Solomon Islands, country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
• It consists of a double chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls in Melanesia.
• Once a British protectorate, Solomon Islands achieved independence as a republic in 1978.

Source: https://theprint.in

The Lewis Model in Economic Development

GS- III >> Economy >> Economic growth

• William Arthur Lewis formulated the Lewis Model, which proposed that in underdeveloped countries characterized by an excess of low-wage agricultural labor, economic advancement can be achieved through industrialization.
• The model proposes that economic growth can occur if the wages in the industrial sector slightly surpass the subsistence wages prevalent in agriculture, facilitating the transition of surplus labor from agriculture to industry and thereby fostering overall development.

Why does this model work in China but not in India?

• The Lewis Model worked well in China because it helped the country use a large number of rural workers to become a major manufacturing hub, often called the “world’s factory.”
• However, in India, things are trickier. The model isn’t as effective because the way industries are growing involves more machines and advanced technologies like robots and artificial intelligence. This makes it hard for a lot of people from agriculture to find jobs in these industries.
• Because of these challenges, India is looking at new ways to create jobs, especially around farming. They’re focusing on things like adding value to farm products and developing businesses related to farming. They’re also exploring areas like biofuels, bio-based products, and sustainable farming practices as ways to create jobs, giving people more options beyond traditional farming jobs.

Source: https://indianexpress.com

In News: Haemoglobin isn’t used only in bloods, Scientists find in major Discovery

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Biology

• Scientists discovered that chondrocytes, cells responsible for making cartilage, produce haemoglobin and rely on it for their survival.
• These hemoglobin-containing structures were named ‘hemoglobin bodies’ or ‘Hedy.’
• When the gene responsible for producing hemoglobin was removed in genetically modified mice, the chondrocytes in their cartilage tissue died, indicating that hemoglobin was essential for their survival.
• Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen to different parts of the body. Researchers found that haemoglobin in chondrocytes likely stores and supplies oxygen to these cells when needed.
• The study suggests that haemoglobin in chondrocytes helps them thrive in low-oxygen conditions, such as in developing growth plates.
• Cartilage in regions outside the growth plate, like ribs or the spine of mice, also contained haemoglobin, although its exact role there is still uncertain.
• This discovery has potential implications for understanding joint diseases and the role of haemoglobin in various cell functions.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Global Declaration For River Dolphins

GS- III >> Environment >> Boidiversity

Context: In a big step to safeguard the six remaining types of river dolphins worldwide, 11 countries from Asia and South America have agreed on a special Global Declaration for River Dolphins.

Why it’s important: River dolphins are crucial predators in some of the world’s largest rivers, and they tell us a lot about the health of these rivers.

• This new effort is happening because, over the past few decades, the number of river dolphins has gone down a lot—by 73% since the 1980s.
• This drop is because of various problems like harmful fishing practices, pollution, loss of their homes, and even the effects of climate change.

What the declaration wants to do: The goal of this declaration is to stop the decline in the number of river dolphins and strengthen the ones that are most at risk. This will happen through countries working together on solutions.

Surviving species of river dolphins:

Ganges River Dolphin	Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems in India and Bangladesh	Endangered
Irrawaddy Dolphin	Coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, rivers including Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo), Mekong, and Chilka Lake (India)	Endangered
Indus River Dolphin	Pakistan and River Beas (a tributary of the Indus River in Punjab)	Endangered
Amazon River Dolphin	Freshwater rivers in South America	Endangered
Tucuxi Dolphin	Amazon River system in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru	Endangered
Yangtze Finless Porpoise	Yangtze River (the longest river in Asia)	Critically Endangered

Sources: https://wwf.panda.org/