Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The 6th Meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism took place in New Delhi on 29 May 2024. Key discussions involved regional terrorist threats, state-sponsored terrorism, and the misuse of technology by terrorists. Both nations emphasized enhancing cooperation through information exchange, capacity building, and multilateral cooperation. The next meeting will be in Tokyo at a mutually convenient date.

Notes:
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a safer process for producing recombinant proteins (RPs), which are proteins modified by recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. Traditionally, RPs like insulin and monoclonal antibodies are produced using organisms such as yeast Pichia pastoris, which uses hazardous methanol. The new method employs mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) as a safer alternative. E. coli is also used for RP production due to its efficient growth and high yield.

Notes:
A study in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) do not align with the core habitats of diadromous fish, which migrate between saltwater and freshwater. Examples include the allis shad and European eel. Diadromous fish are categorized as anadromous, catadromous, amphidromous, or potamodromous based on their migration patterns. These species face threats from human activities such as pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Notes:
According to the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), India’s GDP grew by 8.2% in FY 2023-24, surpassing the Reserve Bank of India’s estimate of 7.6%. This marks the ninth time since 1960-61 that GDP growth exceeded 8%. The high growth rate was driven by a strong performance in Q4 (January-March 2024), with a 7.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Notes:
The Adani group has ventured into the port business in Tanzania, securing a 30-year lease for Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam Port. This deal, signed with Tanzania Ports Authority, expands Adani’s global footprint. Meanwhile, Indian Ports Global Ltd secured a 10-year deal to manage Iran’s Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar Port. Dar es Salaam Port, Tanzania’s main port, handles 83% of the country’s container volume, with Container Terminal 2 boasting a capacity of 1 million TEUs.

Notes:
Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, a UN peacekeeper serving in Congo, was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the UN’s International Day of Peacekeepers. The medal, established in 1997, honors peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives under the UN’s authority. Named after Dag Hammarskjöld, it’s awarded annually to nations losing peacekeepers. The ceremony takes place at the UN headquarters. Singh’s recognition highlights the dedication of peacekeepers worldwide.

Notes:
The 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia-Pacific’s premier defense summit, concluded on 2 June 2024 in Singapore. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel from 31 May to 2 June, it gathered over 100 delegates worldwide. Organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Singapore government, the summit addresses Asia-Pacific security challenges, fostering discussions among defense ministers, officials, and NGOs. The dialogue aims to create a utopian environment for regional security solutions.

Notes:
China’s space agency announced the successful landing of the uncrewed Chang’e-6 spacecraft on the moon’s far side on June 2, 2024. Landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, it marks the first human sampling and return mission from this region. Launched 53 days earlier from Hainan, the mission includes an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. The lander, equipped with advanced sensors, will collect lunar samples using drilling and robotic arm methods within two days.

Notes:
New research reveals Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a fork fern species, boasts the largest genome known. A genome encompasses an organism’s complete genetic information. This fern contains 160 billion base pairs, surpassing the human genome by over 50 times. Belonging to an ancient plant group predating dinosaurs, it’s exclusive to New Caledonia and nearby Pacific islands, thriving in rainforest canopies.

Notes:
The UNCTAD report “A World of Debt: A Growing Burden to Global Prosperity” highlights a record global public debt of 97 trillion in 2023. Key findings include the rise of African countries with debt-to-GDP ratios above 60% from 6 to 27 between 2013 and 2023, developing nations’ net interest payments reaching 847 billion, and 3.3 billion people living where interest exceeds education and health spending. Developing countries’ public debt rose to $29 trillion, driven by “cascading crises” and uneven economic performance.