Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, launched the Implementation Manual of Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions on World No Tobacco Day 2024 in New Delhi, in collaboration with SEEDS. Aligned with this year’s theme, “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,” the manual aims to help schools implement ToFEI guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Shri Sanjay Kumar emphasized creating tobacco-free zones in educational institutions to protect children from addiction.

Notes:
The Centre for Science and Environment urges developed nations to meet climate finance commitments ahead of the 29th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP). The 60th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) in Bonn, Germany, from June 3-13, 2024, will gather UNFCCC signatories, including national delegates and civil society. With around 6,000 participants, SB60 marks a pivotal moment between CoP28 and CoP29, setting the stage for future climate negotiations.

Notes:
The James Webb Space Telescope set a new record by detecting the galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0, observed as it was 290 million years after the Big Bang. This surpasses the previous record of 325 million years. The galaxy’s unexpected brightness suggests rapid star formation or more luminous early stars. Webb’s observation of significant oxygen indicates the galaxy’s advanced maturity despite its young age.

Notes:
The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has launched “Bank Clinic” to aid bank customers with grievance redressal. This advisory platform guides customers on remedies per RBI guidelines, serving as an additional channel alongside the Banking Ombudsman process. It aims to support customers amid rapid technological expansion and evolving RBI guidelines on retail banking.

Notes:
A recent study warns that the January 15, 2022, eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai Volcano may lead to unusual weather patterns throughout the decade. Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine stratovolcano in the Tongan archipelago in the Southern Pacific Ocean. It’s part of the Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc, resulting from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate. Eruptions from this highly active area have occurred regularly over the past few decades.

Notes:
Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra recently documented the first photograph of a spot-bellied eagle-owl, Ketupa nipalensis. This large bird of prey inhabits diverse environments like forests and savannas across India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Recognizable by its rich brown coloration and striking white-spotted pattern, it’s a nocturnal apex predator feeding on various prey. Classified as Least Concern by IUCN, it comes protection under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Notes:
An international study announced the discovery of living shallow-marine stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Stromatolites, sedimentary formations, are primarily created by photosynthetic microorganisms like cyanobacteria. Their surface layer hosts active microbes, while the underlying build-up resembles lithified remnants of past microbial communities. Stromatolites played a vital role in the Great Oxygenation Event, altering Earth’s atmosphere. The world’s largest living stromatolite system is found in Hamelin Pool.

Notes:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting now mandates a Self-Declaration Certificate (SDC) for all new advertisements. Following a Supreme Court directive, ads on TV, print media, or the internet require a valid SDC. Advertisers must submit SDCs via the Broadcast Seva Portal for TV/radio ads and the Press Council of India’s portal for print/digital ads. The SDC ensures ads are truthful and comply with regulatory guidelines.

Notes:
The UNCTAD report “A World of Debt: A Growing Burden to Global Prosperity” highlights a record global public debt of $97 trillion in 2023. Key findings include the rise of African countries with debt-to-GDP ratios above 60% from 6 to 27 between 2013 and 2023, developing nations’ net interest payments reaching $847 billion, and 3.3 billion people living where interest exceeds education and health spending. Developing countries’ public debt rose to $29 trillion, driven by “cascading crises” and uneven economic performance.

Notes:
UNESCO’s 2024 State of Ocean Report highlights climate change and human activities impacting global oceans. Initiated by IOC-UNESCO during the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, it supports the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Key findings include significant warming of the upper 2,000 meters, increased ocean acidification, consistent sea level rise since 1993, and the urgent need for better monitoring systems. The report emphasizes the uncertain impacts of marine carbon dioxide removal technologies.