Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The Global Food Policy Report 2024 by IFPRI reveals that 38% of Indians consume unhealthy foods, while only 28% eat all five recommended food groups. Malnutrition in India rose from 15.4% in 2011 to 16.6% in 2021. Adult overweight prevalence increased from 12.9% in 2006 to 16.4% in 2016. Processed food consumption is growing, with packaged foods’ share in household budgets nearly doubling to 12%.

Notes:
Over 400 delegates convened in Livingstone, Zambia, for the first Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area summit. The summit aims to assess progress since KAZA-TFCA’s inception, review the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, and reinforce the 2011 KAZA Treaty. The theme focuses on using KAZA’s natural and cultural resources for socio-economic development. KAZA-TFCA spans 520,000 square kilometers across five southern African countries.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new dinosaur species, Musankwa Sanyatiensis, on Lake Kariba’s shoreline in Zimbabwe. This is the fourth dinosaur species found in Zimbabwe and the first named from the Mid-Zambezi Basin in 50 years. Dating back to the Late Triassic period, 210 million years ago, this 390 kg sauropodomorph was a long-necked, bipedal dinosaur related to those in South Africa and Argentina.

Notes:
World Milk Day, observed annually on June 1, emphasizes dairy’s role in global nutrition. Established in 2001 by the FAO, it celebrates milk as a vital food source and the dairy sector. Milk consumption dates back to the Neolithic age, evolving into a significant part of many cultures and religious traditions. However, modern challenges such as industrialized distribution and consumer preferences impact its consumption, highlighting the need for continued advocacy.

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In 2023-24, India received the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore, amounting to $11.77 billion despite a 31.55% decline, according to government data. Overall, FDI into India contracted by about 3.5% due to global economic uncertainties. However, Singapore remained the top source of FDI for India during this period.

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Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram, developed non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs). VLPs resemble viruses but lack genetic material, making them non-infectious. They effectively create vaccines for diseases like HPV, hepatitis B, and malaria by triggering an immune response without causing symptoms. VLPs, sized 20-200 nm, enter lymph nodes to activate the immune system, offering immunity against the actual virus.

Notes:
China’s space agency announced the successful landing of the uncrewed Chang’e-6 spacecraft on the moon’s far side on June 2, 2024. Landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, it marks the first human sampling and return mission from this region. Launched 53 days earlier from Hainan, the mission includes an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. The lander, equipped with advanced sensors, will collect lunar samples using drilling and robotic arm methods within two days.

Notes:
Tanvi Sharma, a promising Indian badminton player, secured victory in the Bonn International tournament by defeating Wang Pei Yu of Chinese Taipei in straight sets. The contest lasted just over half an hour, with Tanvi claiming a 21-19 22-20 win. Ranked 181st globally, the 15-year-old from Punjab showcased her skill, notably overcoming a deficit in the final set.

Notes:
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) reintroduced 20 vultures into Maharashtra’s Tadoba and Pench tiger reserves. More white-rumped, slender-billed, and long-billed vultures will be released in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Reintroducing vultures in tiger habitats supports their sustenance by recycling prey remains and completing vital carbon and nitrogen cycles. Founded in 1883, BNHS is a leading Indian NGO in conservation and biodiversity research.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is addressing the significant challenge of sickle cell disease in India, which affects over 20 million people. A major issue is the lack of hydroxyurea formulations suitable for paediatric patients, complicating precise dosing for children. Hydroxyurea, effective in treating sickle cell disease and thalassemia, currently lacks appropriate paediatric versions. To resolve this, ICMR is seeking collaboration for developing and commercializing low-dose paediatric hydroxyurea formulations, aiming to improve treatment protocols for young patients.