Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
The 3rd edition of the Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” was held recently.
Themed “Sustainability and Circularity,” the summit was organized jointly by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Notes:
West Bengal, which is home to about 40% of mangrove forests in India, announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State, on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
This platform will bring continuity to the efforts of State government in mangrove management. The Cell has an annual action plan for the plantation of mangroves and it will look at maintenance and coordinate with NGOs.

Notes:
The Italian parliament has given its approval to a contentious bill that makes it a criminal offense for citizens to travel abroad to pursue surrogacy arrangements.
This law, which has faced significant opposition, is specifically aimed at discouraging Italians from participating in surrogacy arrangements, and it carries the possibility of substantial fines exceeding USD 1 million and potential prison sentences of up to two years for those found guilty.

Notes:
For the first time, India is hosting the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Greater Noida. It was inaugurated recently by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs.
The international event will see the participation of more than 30 Indian weightlifters, including many Khelo India Athletes.

Notes:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the USA and the U.S. Military have collaborated for a project named Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). The project aims to launch a nuclear-powered satellite to Earth’s orbit in late 2025 or early 2026.
The spacecraft for the project is developed by Lockheed Martin. The project involves an in-space test of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NPT) technology, marking a significant technical advancement.

Notes:
The Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Mela is a scheme pertaining to the state of Uttar Pradesh, was started in the year 2020. It has benefited over 12 crore patients in the state.
The Union Health Ministry has planned to adopt Uttar Pradesh’s successful healthcare model, including the concept of Jan Arogya Mela, which provide medical attention to attendees and refer critical patients to specialized hospitals.

Notes:
The Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border has complicated the volatile situation in Manipur due to migration of tribal Kuki-Chin people from Myanmar.
The border between India and Myanmar runs for 1,643 km in the four states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. The FMR allows tribes living along the border to travel up to 16 km inside the other country without a visa.

Notes:
A stapled visa is an unstamped paper attached to a passport page using a pin or staples, which can be easily torn off or removed as desired.
China has adopted a policy of granting stapled visas to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. While China considers these visas as valid documents, the Government of India has consistently rejected this stance.

Notes:
The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) released BARI Chinabadam-12 (ICGV 07219), an improved groundnut variety in Bangladesh.
The variety is available for cultivation for the upcoming season post rains. It has resistance to foliar fungal diseases and matures four days earlier than its counterpart.

Notes:
Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek began her 70th straight week as the World No. 1 in the latest WTA Rankings.
Four-time Major winner Swiatek increased the gap between herself and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka by winning her maiden WTA 250 title in Warsaw, her home tournament.