Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2021

Notes:
Scientists from NASA and some universities are undertaking a $15 million, five-year study on adjacent areas of Louisiana. They are using high-tech airborne systems along with boats.
The team aims to create computer models that can be used with satellite data. This will let countries around the world know which parts of their deltas can be shored up.

Notes:
Poland’s lower house of parliament passed a draft ‘Holocaust property bill’, which introduced several limitations on claims for the recovery of property lost in World War 2.
The legislation could affect up to 90 percent of property compensation requests from Holocaust survivors and their descendants. Israel has summoned Poland’s ambassador to express its disappointment over the bill.

Notes:
As per a recent notification by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the basic customs duty on crude palm oil has been cut to 10 per cent and refined palm oil to 37.5 per cent.
This tax cut could make palm oil more attractive than rival soyoil and sunflower oil, which will boost imports and bring down the edible oil prices. This lower tax rate will apply from June 30 to September 30.

Notes:
Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 has been launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN body.
India has entered the top-10 list for the first time. It has moved up 37 places to be placed in the 10th best country in the world on key cyber-safety parameters. The US topped the index, followed by the UK and Saudi Arabia at the second position, and Estonia at third in the index.

Notes:
China’s Communist Party has marked the 100th year of its inception recently. This was celebrated in a huge way at the country’s Tiananmen Square. To mark this event, a 100-gun salute was made.
Speaking at the occasion, the China’s leader Xi Jinping addressed that the party was the only force capable of ensuring the country’s rise.

Notes:
Indian Navy’s athlete MP Jabir qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 400m hurdles on July 1, 2021 after he clocked 49.78s to win gold at the recently concluded Inter-State Athletics Championships in Patiala. Jabir qualified through the World ranking quota where there are 14 spots available.

Notes:
The Chengdu J-20 was developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability.

Notes:
Sustainable Development Report was prepared and released by experts from UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN). This year, Finland was ranked highest in the index. As per Government, Finland has topped the index based on its achievements with respect to the goals related to poverty reduction, health, education etc.

Notes:
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued a moratorium on federal executions while it reviews policies and procedures. U.S. President Joe Biden had said on his campaign website that he would legislate the end of capital punishment at the federal level and incentivize states to follow suit.

Notes:
The Project BOLD (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought) is a project of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) that seeks to create bamboo-based green patches in arid and semi-arid land zones. It was launched on July 4, 2021 from tribal village Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan. It is unique and first of its kind scientific exercise serving the combined national objectives of reducing desertification and providing livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural industry support. It has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo Festival” to celebrate 75 years of independence “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. KVIC is set to replicate the Project at Village Dholera in Ahmedabad district in Gujarat and Leh-Ladakh region by August this year. Total 15,000 bamboo saplings will be planted before August, 2021.