Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
The fifth ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting in Jakarta from July 29 to August 1, 2024, aimed to enhance economic cooperation between ASEAN and India by reviewing the 2009 AITIGA. ASEAN is a key trade partner for India, with significant trade volumes and a notable trade deficit. The meeting focused on improving the trade agreement and fostering deeper economic collaboration.

Notes:
A pall of gloom fell over Kumaradevam gram panchayat in East Godavari district after the death of a century-old Indian siris tree. The Indian Siris, or Albizia lebbeck, is a tropical deciduous tree native to India and Southeast Asia, growing up to 20 meters with an umbrella-shaped canopy. It fixes nitrogen, enriches soil, and helps with soil conservation and erosion control, producing fragrant white flowers.

Notes:
The Western Ghats, crucial for biodiversity, still lack official ecologically sensitive area notifications from the Union environment ministry, 14 years after the 2011 Gadgil Committee Report. The 2011 Gadgil Committee Report, or Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) Report, was commissioned by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests. It recommends measures for the sustainable development and ecological preservation of the Western Ghats, a region noted for its rich biodiversity and environmental importance.

Notes:
The 10-day Shri Baba Buddha Amarnath pilgrimage in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, started on August 8 and will end on August 19, coinciding with Sawan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. The first batch of pilgrims left Jammu amid tight security. Around 700 pilgrims from Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh are participating. The temple is 290 km from Jammu, 4600 feet above sea level, and surrounded by Loran Valley. Visiting Baba Buddha Amarnath is considered essential before the Baba Amarnath yatra in Anantnag.

Notes:
A state of emergency was declared in Kursk, Russia, after a Ukrainian incursion. Kursk is a city in southwestern Russia, near the Ukrainian border, located along the Seym River, 450 km south of Moscow. It’s known for its fertile soil and moderately continental climate. Kursk is one of Russia’s oldest cities, first mentioned in 1032, and was rebuilt in 1586 as a military outpost. It was the site of the largest tank battle in WWII, the Battle of Kursk, in 1943. Today, Kursk is known for its industries, including machine building, food processing, and a nuclear power station.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government inaugurated the ‘Kakori Train Action’ Centenary Festival in Lucknow to mark 100 years of the Kakori Train Action and educate youths and students. In August 1925, the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) conducted the Kakori Train Action, a major train robbery near Lucknow. The train, carrying taxes collected from Indians for the British government, was led by Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan. The revolutionaries, including Rajendra Lahiri, stopped the train and looted around ₹8000, which they saw as their right against colonial exploitation.

Notes:
India is introducing a new treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB, the BPaL regimen, which shows promising results in countries like Pakistan, South Africa, and Ukraine. The BPaL regimen consists of three drugs: bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid. It shortens the treatment duration from 18-24 months to just 6 months. Unlike older regimens that involved multiple drugs and injectables, BPaL is an all-oral regimen, making it easier for patients to follow. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended BPaL for treating most forms of drug-resistant TB.

Notes:
Researchers identified Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar) on Brahmayoni Hill in Gaya, Bihar, known for its diabetes treatment potential. Gurmar, used in the anti-diabetic drug BGR-34 by CSIR, reduces blood sugar by blocking intestinal sugar absorption. It contains gymnemic acid, flavonoids, and saponins, which regulate lipid metabolism and lower cholesterol. The study emphasizes the importance of Gurmar in managing diabetes, alongside other medicinal plants. Researchers call for more in-depth studies on Gurmar and advocate for local cultivation to ensure its sustainability and prevent extinction.

Notes:
China conducted its largest unmanned cargo aircraft flight, designed for civilian use, with a 2-ton payload capacity. The twin-engine aircraft’s inaugural flight lasted about 20 minutes in Sichuan province. China aims to expand its low-altitude economy, targeting a 2-trillion-yuan industry by 2030. The aircraft, developed by Tengden, has a wingspan of 16.1 meters and is slightly larger than the Cessna 172.

Notes:
The Manipur government plans to hold peace talks with representatives from the Thadou, Paite, and Hmar communities. These communities are involved in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zomi people that began in May 2023. The Thadou, Paite, and Hmar are indigenous tribes of Manipur, India, and have historically lived in the region.