Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

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 Union Cabinet approved the development of the Greenfield Major Port at Vadhavan, Maharashtra. To be constructed via a Special Purpose Vehicle by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board, this all-weather deep draft port supports the PM Gati Shakti program. Located in Palghar District and built through PPP on a landlord model, it will have a 20-meter draft, 23.2 million TEUs capacity, and boost EXIM trade via IMEC and INSTC.

Notes:
The theme for Yoga Day 2024 is ‘Yoga for Self and Society’, emphasizing its holistic benefits for health and well-being. Established by the United Nations in 2014, at the suggestion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice. This day highlights yoga’s transformative power and its role in promoting balance and harmony in individuals and communities worldwide.

Notes:
The Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Dairying, along with the World Bank, conducted a two-day simulation in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to enhance preparedness for Avian Influenza outbreaks. Participants from various sectors practiced outbreak detection, rapid response strategies, and inter-agency coordination. Prompted by recent avian flu cases in Kerala and global spillovers, the exercise simulated crisis scenarios to improve management strategies, aiming to mitigate impacts on both animal and human health.

Notes:
Despite extensive cleanup efforts, Paris’ Seine River remains too polluted for swimming events in the upcoming Olympic Games. The Seine, France’s second-longest river at 775 kilometers, has a drainage basin of 79,000 square kilometers, mainly in northern France. Originating in Burgundy, it flows through Paris for 13 kilometers before emptying into the English Channel. Major tributaries like the Marne join it near Paris.

Notes:
A Pakistani delegation recently arrived in Jammu to discuss the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with India. Signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan, and brokered by the World Bank, the treaty regulates the distribution of the Indus River system’s waters. India received waters from the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, while Pakistan received waters from the Chenab, Indus, and Jhelum rivers. The Permanent Indus Commission oversees the treaty’s implementation.

Notes:
United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated globally on June 23rd to highlight the importance of public service and honor the dedication of public servants. The day aims to celebrate the value of public service to communities, showcase its contribution to development, honor the work of public servants, and inspire young people to consider careers in the public sector.

Notes:
Local residents in Dehradun rallied to save 2,000 Sal trees in Khalanga Reserve Forest, prompting the state government to relocate a planned drinking water plant due to public outcry. Environmental activists and locals protested against the felling of trees for the Song Dam drinking water project. Social media campaigns and symbolic acts like tying Raksha-Sutras to trees were employed. The project aims to supply drinking water to 60 wards in Dehradun, costing an estimated Rs. 3,000 crores.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is testing eSakshya, a mobile app developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It aids police in recording crime scenes and uploading evidence to a cloud-based platform. Each recording can be up to four minutes long, with multiple files per First Information Report (FIR). The app aims to ensure digital evidence integrity, crucial for new criminal laws to prevent potential legal loopholes.

Notes:
Mark Rutte, Netherlands Prime Minister, has been appointed as the next Secretary General of NATO. Approved by NATO’s 32 member countries on June 26 in Brussels, he will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, 2024. Rutte’s nomination came after overcoming opposition from Hungary and Turkey, and the withdrawal of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He became the sole candidate and was elected to lead the Western military alliance after serving as Dutch Prime Minister since 2010.