1.CONFLICT IN SUDAN

Recently, atleast 80 people killed in strike by Sudan paramilitary forces.

History

This attack occurred despite recent U.S.-sponsored talks aimed at ending the 16-month-long war.
Sudan is a country located in northeastern Africa.
It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest.
Its capital is Khartoum, situated at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers.
In modern times, it has experienced significant political and social upheaval, including civil wars and the secession of South Sudan in 2011.
The country is currently under a transitional government following a military coup.

Main Causes of the Conflict in Sudan:

Power Struggle: The primary cause is the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The leaders of these groups are vying for control of the country.
Historical Tensions: Sudan has a history of political instability, marked by numerous coups and civil wars since its independence in 1956. The overthrow of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 led to a fragile transitional government, which was later disrupted by a military coup in 2021.
Economic Factors: Sudan’s economy has been in crisis for years, exacerbated by corruption, mismanagement, and international sanctions. The competition over control of economic resources, particularly gold mines, has fuelled tensions between rival factions.
Ethnic and Regional Divisions: Ethnic and regional divisions have also played a significant role. The RSF has its origins in the Janjaweed militia, which was involved in the Darfur conflict and accused of committing atrocities against non-Arab populations.
External Influences: External actors and regional dynamics have further complicated the situation. Neighbouring countries and international powers have various interests in Sudan, influencing the conflict through support for different factions.
Failed Peace Processes: Despite multiple attempts at peace talks and ceasefires, the lack of a comprehensive and inclusive peace process has hindered efforts to resolve the conflict.

2. Depreciation and appreciation

About depreciation :

Currency depreciation is a fall in the value of a currency in a floating exchange rate system.
Rupee depreciation means that the rupee has become less valuable with respect to the dollar.
It also means that the rupee is now weaker than what it used to be earlier.

Factors affecting depreciation :

Wear and Tear due to Use or Passage of Time:

It is the deterioration that is followed by a decrease in the value of an asset, resulting from its use in business operations to earn revenue.
Some orders of means lose their value after the agreement directing their use in business comes to an end after the expiry of the predetermined period.
Obsolescence

It is another factor driving the depreciation of fixed assets.
It means being “out-of-date”.
An actual asset that is becoming outdated on account of the availability of a better type of asset is referred to as obsolescence.
Abnormal factors that are responsible for the drop in the use of the asset like accidents due to the earthquake, fire, cataracts, etc., Accidental loss is endless but not continuing.

About appreciation :

It is an increase in the value of one currency in relation to another currency in a floating exchange rate system.
Currencies appreciate against each other for a variety of reasons, including government policy, interest rates, trade balances and business cycles.
Currency appreciation discourages a country’s export activity as its products and services become costlier to buy.

Factors affecting appreciation :

Appreciation is directly linked to demand.
If the value of the currency appreciates (or goes up), demand for the currency also rises.

3.Man Made Fibre

Textile Minister holds first meeting of the newly constituted Textile Advisory Group for Manmade Fibre (MMF).

About Man-made fibres (MMF):

Man-made fibres (MMF) are fibres made by man.
MMF can be organic or inorganic.
Organic MMF can be made from natural materials like wood, or are made from synthetic polymers.

Classification of Man-made Fibres

Synthetic Fibres:

Synthetic fibres are synthesis from chemical processes.
Examples of synthetic fibres are nylon, acrylic, polyester etc.

Regenerated Fibres:

These are semi-synthetic fibres that are made from the raw materials having long chain polymer structures.
Modified and are partially degraded during the chemical processes.
Made from cellulose polymers that are naturally occurring in cotton, wood, hemp, flax etc.
Cellulose is first converted into a pure form of viscous mass and is then converted into fibres by extrusion through spinnerets.
The first man-made regenerated fibres are rayon and acetate.

Advantages of MMF: High strength, Retains their original shape, Elastic, Soft, Low cost, Colours can be easily incorporated into man-made fibres, They are lightweight materials and easy manufacturing.

Disadvantages of MMF:

Man-made fibres do not absorb moisture and traps heat in our body.
Some man-made fibres cause skin allergies due to their dermatological actions.
Man-made fibre fails to absorb the perspiration

4.LITHIUM

Lithium is the lightest metal found on earth.
It belongs to the Alkali metal family.
Its density is almost half of that of water.

Uses of Lithium :

The body of planes and fighter jets is made from lithium.
The batteries in mobile phones and smartwatches are made from lithium.
Button cells in clocks are made from lithium too.
Lithium is considered a strategic element because of its use in batteries used in Electric Vehicles (EVs).
It is also used to make alloys with aluminum and magnesium.

Medicinal Uses

Lithium element is used in medication for the treatment of bipolar disorder
It is also used as an antidepressant.

About Lithium reserves in India :

The discovery of lithium has been made in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India.
This is the first major lithium reserve that has been found in India.
Previously, a survey led by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research showed the presence of lithium resources in the Marlagalla area of Karnataka’s Mandya district.

Global Lithium Reserves:

Three nations of South America: Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina have rich resources of lithium.
They are collectively referred to as the ‘Lithium Triangle’.
China controls 77% of global lithium-ion battery manufacturing currently.