Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
The United Nations reported a record 120 million people were forcibly displaced globally from early 2023 to May 2024, as per the UNHCR’s Global Trends report. By the end of 2023, 117.3 million individuals had fled due to persecution, conflict, and violence. Conflict continues to be a major factor in displacement, affecting countries like Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine, Congo, Somalia, Haiti, Syria, and Armenia.

Notes:
The 2024 Kavli Prize winners were announced, honoring contributions in astrophysics, neuroscience, and nanoscience. David Charbonneau and Sara Seager received the astrophysics prize for exoplanet discoveries. In nanoscience, Robert Langer, Armand Paul Alivisatos, and Chad Mirkin were awarded for biomedical breakthroughs. In neuroscience, Nancy Kanwisher, Winrich Freiwald, and Doris Tsao were recognized for their pioneering work on facial recognition and brain mapping. The prizes, established in 2008, commemorate Fred Kavli.

Notes:
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first export of MD 2 pineapples, also known as “Golden Ripe” or “Super Sweet,” to the UAE. The shipment included 8.7 metric tons (650 boxes) of pineapples. Developed by Del Monte in the 1980s, MD 2 pineapples are primarily grown in Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Thailand, with Indian production in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.

Notes:
The two-day Summit on Peace in Ukraine at Switzerland’s Bürgenstock resort concluded with hopes of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Out of 100 delegations, 80 countries and four organizations supported the final joint communiqué. The Swiss Peace Summit, focused on facilitating dialogue and negotiations to end the conflict that started in February 2022, gathered international representatives to discuss and promote peace initiatives.

Notes:
On June 17th, the world observes the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, raising awareness about land degradation’s severe impacts. This year’s theme, “United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future,” highlights the vital importance of collective land stewardship to protect the environment and support communities globally.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh has finalized preparations to reintroduce cheetahs in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, making it India’s second cheetah habitat after Kuno National Park. The sanctuary spans 368.62 sq km across Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, bordered by Rajasthan. Initial efforts saw 8 Namibian cheetahs released in Kuno National Park in September 2022, followed by 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023, marking significant strides in India’s cheetah conservation efforts.

Notes:
The 2nd India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) meeting was held on June 17, 2024, in New Delhi. Co-chaired by Indian NSA Ajit Doval and US NSA Jake Sullivan, this event marked Sullivan’s first visit to India post the third swearing-in of the Modi government. The iCET aims to enhance cooperation in space, semiconductors, telecom, AI, quantum tech, biotechnology, and clean energy.

Notes:
India dissociated from the final document of a Peace Summit in Switzerland, emphasizing peace proposals acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine. The summit, held on June 15-16, 2024, addressed the ongoing Ukraine war’s impact. Key points included nuclear safety at Ukraine’s plants, global food security, and humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges and the return of displaced Ukrainians. Attendees reaffirmed commitments to international law and UN resolutions.

Notes:
Former Odisha Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, aged 95, passed away on June 15. He was a senior Congress leader from Maharashtra, served three terms in the Rajya Sabha, and practiced as a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court. Bhandare’s tenure as Governor of Odisha spanned from August 2007 to March 2013. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and former CM Naveen Patnaik expressed deep sorrow at his demise.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Nalanda University campus near the ancient ruins in Rajgir, Bihar. Founded by Kumargupta in the 5th century, Nalanda was a renowned monastic university for 600 years, flourishing under Harshavardhan and the Pala monarchs. It attracted students from across Asia, teaching subjects like Buddhism, medicine, and astronomy. Destroyed in 1193 by Bakhtiyar Khilji, it was rediscovered in 1812 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.