Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
A PLA study claims China’s Fire Dragon 480 missile can sink a US Ticonderoga-class cruiser in the Red Sea. The 750-mm tactical ballistic missile, made by Norinco Group, features precision-guidance sensors and a high-speed launch platform. With a warhead over 400 kg and impact velocity over 500 meters per second, it can destroy a 10,000-ton cruiser with two hits. Adopted in 2019, it has a range exceeding 500 km.

Notes:
Anthropic has launched its latest AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, part of the upcoming Claude 3.5 series. This large language model excels in visual reasoning, outperforming previous models like Claude 3 Opus. Claude 3.5 Sonnet is noted for its speed, visual data analysis, and accurate transcription of imperfect images. It sets new benchmarks in coding proficiency, reasoning, and knowledge, and excels in writing high-quality, relatable content.

Notes:
Indian botanists discovered two new plant species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh. Dendrophthoe longensis, an aerial stem-parasitic plant, was found on mango trees in the evergreen forests of the Andamans. Petrocosmea arunachalense, a small, white, and hairy herb with purple blotches, was discovered in a cave in Arunachal Pradesh. It is only the second known Petrocosmea species in India.

Notes:
A fire at Pariej lake in Gujarat’s Kheda district caused the tragic death of a juvenile mugger crocodile and numerous turtles, both protected species under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The incident occurred during desilting and dredging activities, highlighting the need for better wildlife protection measures and inter-departmental coordination in development projects affecting sensitive habitats like Pariej lake, which is a crucial wetland and the largest waterbody in Kheda.

Notes:
NITI Aayog’s Great Nicobar Development plan aims to promote the holistic development of Greater Nicobar. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for infrastructure development. Opposition arises due to ecological impact, wildlife concerns, tribal rights violations, health risks for the Shompen tribe, seismic risks, and local concerns. The project threatens 130 sq km of forest land, critical habitats, and the ancestral lands of the Great Nicobarese.

Notes:
Russia has approved a draft logistics agreement with India, advancing military cooperation under the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS). This agreement aims to streamline logistics support for joint military operations, providing facilities for troops, warships, and aircraft during peacetime and wartime missions. It enhances India’s maritime influence, supports Arctic research collaboration, and helps balance logistics agreements with Quad countries, countering regional influences from the US and China.

Notes:
A five-member Pakistan delegation and World Bank experts toured the Ratle power project, a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 2006, Pakistan has raised technical objections, seeking international arbitration, which India rejected. Under the Indus Water Treaty, India has rights over the run-of-the-river waters in Jammu and Kashmir and full rights over Punjab’s rivers. India asserts its compliance with the treaty.

Notes:
The Indian Army swiftly constructed a 150-foot foot suspension bridge in North Sikkim within 48 hours to restore connectivity to border villages affected by heavy rains and landslides. This initiative aimed to aid locals following the tragic loss of six lives earlier this month. Suspension bridges feature roadways suspended from cables anchored securely, providing crucial infrastructure amidst challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.

Notes:
Kapil Dev, renowned Indian cricketer and avid amateur golfer, has been elected as the new president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). He succeeds H Srinivasan, withdrawing his candidacy. Kapil Dev, captain of India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning team, served as vice president and member of PGTI’s governing body. Known as the “Haryana Hurricane,” he played a key role in promoting professional golf in India since PGTI’s inception in 2006, organizing tournaments nationwide.

Notes:
South African scientists launched the “Rhisotope” project, injecting radioactive material into live rhino horns to combat poaching. The aim is to make the horns detectable at borders and toxic for consumption. Involving 20 rhinos, the process includes drilling, inserting radioisotopes, and adding microdots and chips. This innovative method, lasting five years, is more cost-effective than frequent dehorning, addressing high poaching rates driven by demand in Asia for traditional medicine.