Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2021

Notes:
As per a new genetic research, the Cannabis is said to have originated in the present northwest China, where local strains are most like the original strain of cannabis cultivated more than 12,000 years ago.
The study shows that cannabis was possibly first domesticated in early Neolithic times in the region of China near its borders with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The study also added 82 genomes to the 28 that were already sequenced.

Notes:
Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company and Snehakunja Trust are the two Indian institution among the 10 awardees of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) Equator Prize 2021.
This is a biennial award to recognize community efforts for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited is a 1,700-member cooperative, run by indigenous people from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Snehakunja Trust has protected wetland and coastal ecosystems in the Western Ghats and the Karnataka coast.

Notes:
British formula one champion Lewis Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix racing for the 8th time and has set a record in this regard. He is presently racing for Mercedes. This victory is 99th in the list of wins registered by Hamilton. His team mate Valtteri Bottas finished third in the event.
During the event, Lewis Hamilton collided with Max Verstappen in the first lap and received a 10 second penalty.

Notes:
July 18 is celebrated as Nelson Mandela International Day marking his birth date. He is known and remembered all over the world for his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation.
He became the first Black President of South Africa and was awarded the Noble Prize for Peace in the year 1993. The South African anti-apartheid revolutionary served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

Notes:
Bashar al-Assad has won the recent election held in Syria and has sworn in as the President of the country for the 4th time. He has been serving as the 19th president of Syria since 17 July 2000. He would serve as the President for a seven-year term.
He has won the recent elections with more than 95% votes favouring him, while his opponents claim the election to be illegitimate.

Notes:
China has recently fire tested its reusable suborbital space vehicle, which is a part of its mission to develop a reusable space transportation system.
The vehicle is reportedly launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and has landed safely in an airport 800 kilometers away. No other details of the spacecraft have been shared by the country.

Notes:
Ariel Henry was recently appointed as the new Prime Minister of Haiti, amid political turmoil caused by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
Ariel Henry, a neurosurgeon and former cabinet minister was chosen as Prime Minister by the President, days before he was assassinated at his home. Ariel Henry will lead the nation until a new President is chosen in an election scheduled in September.

Notes:
The official motto of the Olympic games 2021 has bene updated from “Faster, Higher, Stronger” to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. This was done to reflect the solidarity towards COVID 19 pandemic. The Latin version of the new motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter.”
“Faster, Higher, Stronger” had been the motto of the Olympics since 1894.

Notes:
The Government of India has sought an approval from the Parliament of India, for additional spending of Rs.23,675 crore for the financial year 2021-22. Of this, Rs.17,000 crore would be for additional expenditure to be made by the Union Health Ministry.
The bill for approval of additional expenditure was tabled in the Parliament by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Notes:
The United States President’s “nuclear football” or the Presidential Emergency Satchel is said to contain the codes needed for a nuclear strike. One such briefcase nearly came within range of rioters storming the US Capitol on January 6, this year.
The Pentagon’s watchdog said that it would evaluate the safety protocols surrounding the issue and find if it were “lost, stolen or compromised.” Any nuclear strike order would be confirmed and processed only by the Military.