Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2023

Notes:
Saudi Arabia and Canada to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, bringing an end to a dispute from 2018.
The rift between the two countries began when Canada’s embassy in Riyadh published a tweet in Arabic, calling for the immediate release of women’s rights activists who were detained in Saudi Arabia.

Notes:
A Submarine mud volcano is an underwater geological structure that was formed after the constant expulsion of gas or fluids like methane from the seabed.
Scientists have recently spotted a submarine mud volcano close to Norway’s Bear Island in Barents Sea. Bear Island is the southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago.

Notes:
The report titled “Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling” was released recently by Greenpeace Philippines. According to this report, recycling can increase the toxicity of plastics.
The report was released ahead of the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop a Global Plastics Treaty, being held at Paris, France.

Notes:
The Lipizzans are horses that are descendants of long stallion lines crossing Spanish, Arabic and Berber horses.
Lipizzans are famous for their “airs above the ground” classical dressage jumps. The tradition of Lipizzan breeding was recently included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The name derives from Lipica where the horses are found in Slovenia.

Notes:
The Delhi High Court has recently set up a five-member committee to implement the rare diseases policy formulated by the Indian government.
It will ensure seamless coordination between the medical community, the providers of therapies for rare diseases and Governmental agencies.

Notes:
Iraq presented an ambitious plan to turn itself into a regional transportation hub by developing its road and rail infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East.
Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the ‘Route of Development’ would span the length of the country, stretching 1,200 km  from the northern border with Turkiye to the Gulf in the south.

Notes:
The armed forces are planning to set up additional joint logistics nodes across the country to boost integration in their logistical needs and streamline their supply chains.
While the last joint logistics node was operationalised in Mumbai in April 2021, the nodes in Guwahati and Tri-Services, Port Blair were operationalised in January 2021. The Joint Operations Division under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff has been responsible for establishing the nodes.

Notes:
The WHO member countries have recently accepted a draft resolution on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health during the 76th WHA.
It urged the healthcare sector to develop a regulatory framework, national human bio-monitoring and surveillance programmes to track chemicals that impact human health.

Notes:
Canada has introduced a new category-based selection system for its economic immigration management program, Express Entry.
This year, priority will be given to candidates with a high proficiency in French or work experience in fields such as healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, and agriculture/agri-food.

Notes:
Mahakal Lok corridor, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2022, is part of the redevelopment project around the Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain.
Six out of seven idols of ‘Saptarishis’ installed at the Mahakal Lok corridor have collapsed due to gusty winds. Madhya Pradesh’s Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of the damage that gusty winds caused to six statues installed as part of the Mahakal Lok Corridor Project.