Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Japan is grappling with a major health crisis from the spread of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS). Caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, STSS triggers severe inflammation leading to potential organ damage. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and nausea, progressing rapidly to organ failure without prompt treatment. Timely medical intervention with antibiotics, fluids, and sometimes surgery is essential to mitigate the syndrome’s impact and prevent life-threatening complications.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh is fast-tracking the Ghatampur and Obra C thermal power projects to meet rising energy demands. The combined capital expenditure exceeds Rs 32,000 crore, with the Ghatampur project (1,980 MW) costing Rs 19,006 crore and led by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power. Scheduled for completion in 2024-25, Ghatampur will supply 75% of its electricity to the state. Obra C (1,320 MW) faced cost overruns, partly covered by state borrowings and share capital contributions.

Notes:
Vinod Ganatra, a prominent children’s filmmaker from India, has been honored with South Africa’s prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his contributions to cinema. He is the first Indian to receive this accolade, presented at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival. Ganatra’s career spans over four decades, producing numerous documentaries and youth programs, and winning 36 national and international awards, including the ‘Liv Ullmann Peace Prize’ and ‘DadaSaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award.’

Notes:
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage. Despite its inclusive reputation, Thailand faced decades of challenges passing this law due to conservative societal and governmental values. The bill grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners of any gender. It awaits formal endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and will become effective within 120 days.

Notes:
Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 in Finland with a throw of 85.97m on June 18. This was his third event of the season, after missing the Ostrava Golden Spike meet due to injury. Chopra’s performance reaffirms his top form as he prepares for the Paris Olympics next month.

Notes:
The ancient site on Greece’s Delos island, a key sanctuary of the Greek and Roman world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, faces destruction within decades due to rising sea levels and geological changes. Settled since the 3rd millennium B.C., Delos is vulnerable to increasing temperatures and humidity, which damage cultural heritage materials. Located in the Aegean Sea, the area is primarily Greek, with Turkey holding Imbros and Tenedos islands.

Notes:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT Delhi) to enhance road safety using AI-based solutions to improve road sign availability on national highways. The project will cover approximately 25,000 km. IIIT Delhi will conduct surveys to collect imagery and data on road sign conditions along selected highway stretches.

Notes:
Researchers at the University of Houston discovered a significant seasonal energy imbalance on Saturn using data from the Cassini probe. This finding challenges existing models of gas giants’ climate and planetary evolution. Saturn’s large orbital eccentricity, varying nearly 20%, causes substantial seasonal variations in solar energy absorption, unlike Earth. This discovery by Xinyue Wang highlights the influence of internal heat on Saturn’s climate and reshapes understanding of planetary and atmospheric sciences in our solar system.

Notes:
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was awarded the 2024 Blue Planet Prize for its role as the global authority on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and nature’s contributions to people. Established in 1992, this prestigious award by Japan’s Asahi Glass Foundation recognizes scientific contributions towards solving global environmental challenges. IPBES shares the honor with Robert Costanza from University College London for his work in ecological economics, each receiving USD 500,000 for their achievements.

Notes:
Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death, per the 2024 State of Global Air (SoGA) report by the Health Effects Institute and UNICEF. It causes non-communicable diseases like heart disease and lung cancer, with 8.1 million deaths in 2021. India and China accounted for 54% of the global air pollution disease burden. In 2021, air pollution caused 1,69,400 child deaths in India and 2,37,000 COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) deaths.