Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
A project by IIIT-Delhi won joint second prize in the Trinity Challenge’s second competition for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Trinity Challenge (TTC) is a charity fostering data-driven solutions to global health threats, partnering with over 40 organizations. Launched in response to COVID-19, TTC funds public challenges to enhance pandemic preparedness, awarding £5.7 million for innovative health solutions.

Notes:
The IUCN has upgraded the conservation status of the Iberian lynx from Endangered to Vulnerable, indicating a significant population increase. This medium-sized wild cat is native to the Iberian Peninsula in Portugal and Spain. It has long legs, a short tail, tufted ears, and a small head. The solitary, nocturnal hunter relies heavily on European rabbits, facing threats like poaching and habitat loss. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.

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 Hemis Festival, celebrating Tibetan Buddhism, occurs annually in Ladakh, India. In 2024, it celebrated on June 16th and 17th. Known as Hemis Tsechu, it commemorates Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary. The two-day event fills Hemis Monastery, Ladakh’s largest Buddhist monastery, with vibrant colors, music, and spiritual energy, making it a significant cultural celebration.

Notes:
For the first time, 11 candidates from the 2024 Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections requested verification of the “burnt memory” of EVMs and VVPATs. This option, provided by the Supreme Court in April, requires candidates to cover verification costs, refundable if tampering is found. “Burnt memory” refers to the permanent storage in these devices, containing votes, machine configuration, and printed vote records for integrity verification.

Notes:
Recently, a Long March 2-C rocket launched the French-Chinese satellite SVOM from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center. SVOM, weighing 930 kilograms, aims to detect and study gamma-ray bursts from an orbit over 600 kilometers above Earth. Equipped with instruments from both nations, it has a designed life of five years but could operate up to 20 years. Gamma-ray bursts, originating from stellar explosions, offer insights into cosmic evolution by studying the light’s journey through space.

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:
Julian Assange is heading to a courtroom in Saipan, capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, to plead guilty to a single charge and return to Australia. Saipan, located in the Western Pacific Ocean, is a US commonwealth with a history of Spanish, German, and Japanese colonization. Tourism, especially from Korea and China, drives its economy. It’s unique for allowing visa-free entry to Chinese citizens.

Notes:
The annual conference on MND ‘Awareness, Care, and Management’ at Nimhans, Bengaluru, highlighted the importance of symptomatic and supportive treatments. Motor Neuron Diseases (MNDs) are progressive neurological disorders affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, slurred speech, and paralysis, typically after age 50. Causes are mostly unknown, though some cases are genetic. MND affects more males than females.

Notes:
The Dubai Art Centre hosted the “Hunar” exhibition, showcasing India’s rich folk and tribal art heritage. Organized by Videsha Pandey, the exhibition features diverse works including a Ramayana painting, Aipan art from Uttarakhand, Madhubani art from Bihar, Warli art from Maharashtra, and Muria art from Chhattisgarh. The exhibition aims to highlight India’s cultural diversity and underrepresented art forms, offering visitors an immersive experience of India’s artistic traditions.