Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
India has been placed in the “regular follow-up category” by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after its plenary meeting in Singapore from June 26-28, 2024. The meeting evaluated 17 countries on anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing, and anti-proliferation compliance. India, Russia, France, Italy, and the UK were kept in the regular follow-up, while one country was grey-listed. The FATF commended India’s efforts but urged quicker prosecution in such cases.

Notes:
A tourist from Haryana drowned in the Parvati River near Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh, while taking photos. The Parvati River, a major tributary of the Beas River, rises from the Man Talai Glacier at 5200 meters. It flows 150 km through the Parvati Valley, passing Malana and Manikaran, collecting water from glacial streams and monsoons. It merges with the Beas River at Bhuntar. The river also has geothermal springs.

Notes:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the state’s inaugural Witness Protection Scheme to bolster the justice delivery system. The scheme, aligned with Section 398 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, aims to safeguard witnesses facing threats during investigations and trials. Witnesses can apply for protection under the scheme through a prescribed form before a competent authority, ensuring fair trials and security against intimidation.

Notes:
Italy recently reported its first case of Oropouche fever, caused by the Oropouche Virus (OROV), an emerging mosquito-borne disease. OROV, part of the orthobunyavirus family, has an incubation period of 4 to 8 days and was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Severe cases can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. Transmission occurs through infected midges or mosquitoes, with no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.

Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the eSankhyiki portal to provide real-time data for planners, policy-makers, and researchers. It aims to streamline data management and sharing, offering access to key datasets like National Accounts Statistics and Consumer Price Index. The portal’s Data Catalogue Module houses over 2291 datasets with detailed metadata and visualizations, enhancing data accessibility and re-usability for informed decision-making and public use.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship Tabar recently visited Alexandria, Egypt, highlighting India’s commitment to bilateral relations. INS Tabar, a Talwar-class stealth frigate commissioned in 2004 in Russia, embodies the motto “Guts and Glory.” This visit underscores India’s strategic maritime engagement, emphasizing regional cooperation and naval capabilities.

Notes:
A recent study potentially documents the first case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals. Down syndrome occurs when a person has an extra chromosome or a part of a chromosome, specifically an extra copy of chromosome 21, called trisomy 21. This genetic condition impacts mental and physical development, causing various challenges. Although individuals with Down syndrome share similarities, their abilities vary. The condition typically arises randomly during early fetal development and is not inherited.

Notes:
Researchers in France discovered zinc’s crucial role in legume crop health. Zinc, a silvery blue-grey metal, is the fourth most widely used globally after steel, aluminum, and copper. In India, Rajasthan holds the largest lead-zinc ore reserves. Australia leads in global zinc reserves, followed by China and Russia. Zinc is essential for galvanizing steel due to its corrosion resistance and is used in die-castings and zinc oxide production for paints and rubber.

Notes:
The District Panchayat of Kottayam (Kerala) has formed a technical committee to tackle the water hyacinth problem. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a fast-growing aquatic plant from Brazil that spreads through seeds and vegetative reproduction. It forms dense mats on water surfaces, blocking sunlight and reducing oxygen levels, which disrupts fisheries, transportation, and recreation. It’s often called the “terror of Bengal” due to its invasive nature.

Notes:
The 24th SCO Heads of State Meeting was held on July 4, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan. Hosted by President Tokayev, the summit admitted Belarus as the 10th full member. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the meeting, represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, who reiterated Modi’s stance against terrorism. Key leaders, including Putin, Xi Jinping, and Erdogan, attended, emphasizing the priority of combating terrorism and radicalization.