Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2023

Notes:
Australia’s state of Victoria not to host 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected exceeding expenditures.
The state head announced that the prices could blow out to more than A7 billion (4.8 billion) from a budgeted A$2.6 billion if they went ahead.

Notes:
The Central government has amended the All-India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Amendment Rules, 2023.
With this, the Centre has the authority to take action against IAS, IPS, and IFoS pensioners by withholding or withdrawing their pension, even without the involvement of the state government, if they are found guilty of grave misconduct or convicted of a serious crime.

Notes:
The Department of Pharmaceuticals’ Research & Development (R&D) scheme, titled “Promotion of Research and Development and Innovation in the pharma-medtech sector,” will soon be sent for approval by the Union Cabinet.
The proposal has been reviewed in the Empowered Technical Group (ETG) meeting and is currently awaiting approval from Minister of Chemical and Fertilizer.

Notes:
July 21 marks the celebration of Belgian National Day, also known as the National Day of Belgium.
On this day, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a German aristocrat residing in the United Kingdom, ascended to become Belgium’s inaugural monarch, marking the commencement of the modern Kingdom of Belgium.

Notes:
The James Webb Orbital Observatory Project identified carbon-rich dust particles, potentially composed of graphite or diamond-like materials, in the early universe.
This discovery challenges current scientific models. This observation suggests the possibility of a unique type of carbon-based molecule, potentially comprising tiny particles resembling graphite or diamond, which could have originated from the earliest stars or supernovae.

Notes:
The Rajasthan Honour of Dead Body Bill, 2023 was passed recently by the state assembly.
The bill aims to forbid protests by relatives of deceased individuals who sit with the bodies on roads or public spaces and demand compensation or jobs. The Bill states that such acts will become an offence, punishable with imprisonment of up to five years.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Jal Shakti commenced a two-day National Conference on Rural Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Partners’ Forum (RWPF).
The conference’s theme is ‘Accelerating Progress towards a Swachh Sujal Bharat’. It was organised in New Delhi.

Notes:
According to a recent study, different species of flies have evolved a specific peptide called diptericin B to regulate acetobacter.
This peptide acts as a potent weapon targeting the specific bacterium, effectively eliminating it. Flies rely on this defense mechanism as acetobacter is prevalent in decaying fruit, making them highly vulnerable without it.

Notes:
A highly uncommon terrestrial orchid species known as Cymbidium lancifolium was found in the Chopta valley of the Chamoli district, situated in the Western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
Before this discovery, the presence of this species had been documented solely in the northeastern regions of India and Bhutan.

Notes:
Established in 2021, the European Peace Facility (EPF) is designed to provide funding for endeavors aimed at preventing conflicts, promoting peace, and bolstering international security.
The facility is utilized to partially reimburse EU countries for the expenses incurred in supplying weapons, ammunition, and other military assistance to countries beyond the bloc.