Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
South Korea plans a Mars landing by 2045, investing 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) in space exploration. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced this at the launch of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), which aims to boost South Korea into the top five space powers. KASA will support the aerospace industry, with the first lunar lander planned for 2032. South Korea also plans at least three more space launches by 2027.

Notes:
A study in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) do not align with the core habitats of diadromous fish, which migrate between saltwater and freshwater. Examples include the allis shad and European eel. Diadromous fish are categorized as anadromous, catadromous, amphidromous, or potamodromous based on their migration patterns. These species face threats from human activities such as pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Notes:
The WHO and STOP released the “Hooking the Next Generation: How the Tobacco Industry Captures Young Customers” report on World No Tobacco Day, May 31. Key findings include that 37 million children aged 13-15 use tobacco globally, and 85% of 15-30-year-olds were exposed to e-cigarette ads. E-cigarettes produce nicotine-laden aerosol, an addictive substance.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Zupee, India’s leading skill-based Ludo platform, partners with Gurugram Cyber Police for the 11th Cyber Security Summer Internship Program, ‘Cyber Warriors.’ The month-long internship, inaugurated by Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, Vikas Kumar Arora, includes 1,100 interns selected from 15,000 applicants worldwide. Guided by Cyber Security Expert Dr. Rakshit Tandon, candidates receive immersive cyber security training. Some will work directly with Gurugram Cyber Police, tackling real-world challenges to promote cyber safety.

Notes:
India participated in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. The WSIS+20 Forum commemorates 20 years since the WSIS, held in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005), and is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD. Its aim is to address information and communication technology issues through a multi-stakeholder approach, fostering a people-centric, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society.

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 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) lost contact with Akatsuki, launched in 2010 as Japan’s first successful mission to another planet. Akatsuki, in an equatorial orbit around Venus, aimed to study its toxic atmosphere and volcanic surface, weather patterns, lightning, and super-rotation caused by strong winds. It complemented ESA’s Venus Express, operational until 2014, using ultraviolet and infrared cameras to globally map clouds and atmospheric structures.

Notes:
Tanzania’s conservation efforts face scrutiny as reports emerge of human rights abuses by Ruaha National park rangers. Such incidents highlight escalating conflicts between conservation authorities and local communities. Tanzania’s focus on conservation and tourism development, backed by international funding, has led to land disputes and disruptions to indigenous livelihoods. The World Bank’s withdrawal of $150 million from Tanzania’s REGROW project underscores concerns over human rights violations. Ruaha National Park is situated west of Iringa town in south-central Tanzania. Spanning an elevation of 2,500 to 5,200 feet (750 to 1,900 m), it covers 5,000 square miles (12,950 square km). Initially, it was part of the Rungwa Game Reserve.

Notes:
The 12th Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from June 3–5, 2024. The assembly included over 700 partners and FAO members. The GSP is a globally recognized mechanism that promotes sustainable soil management and has implemented programs around the world. The assembly is a key platform for GSP partners and FAO members to exchange knowledge and expertise and make important decisions about the global soil agenda.