Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
TAK-003, developed by Japan’s Takeda, is a live-attenuated dengue vaccine containing weakened strains of all four virus serotypes. It’s WHO prequalified, the second dengue vaccine after CYD-TDV. Recommended for children aged 6-16 in high-burden, high-transmission areas, it aims to combat dengue.

Notes:
In 2023, global internal displacement rose to 75.9 million from 71.1 million the year before, as per the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2024 (GRID-2024) by the Geneva-based IDMC. The report cites 7.7 million displaced by disasters, a quarter due to earthquakes, and 68.3 million by conflict. Sudan, Syria, DRC, Colombia, and Yemen house nearly half of IDPs. Sudan alone records 9.1 million IDPs, with new displacements concentrated in Sudan, Palestinian territories, and DRC.

Notes:
Kanwar Lake, once a migratory bird haven, faces survival challenges. Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake, also known as Kabartal jheel, resides in Bihar. Formed by the meandering Gandak river, it covers much of northern Bihar’s Indo-Gangetic plains. Vital along the Central Asian Flyway, it hosts 58 migratory waterbirds and over 50 fish species. Threats loom from water management activities like drainage and damming, imperiling its rich biodiversity.

Notes:
The 12th Joint Working Group (JWG) of Indian and Mongolian defence ministers met in Ulaanbaatar on May 16-17, 2024, as part of their annual meetings. Indian delegation led by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary of Defence, and Mongolian delegation by Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj. Discussions included bilateral cooperation, Indian Armed Forces capabilities, and potential collaboration in defence manufacturing. Both sides expressed satisfaction with ongoing cooperation and pledged to enhance it further.

Notes:
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal won the SCBA presidency for the fourth term, securing 1,066 votes. He succeeds Adish C. Aggarwala. Pradeep Rai was the runner-up. Vikrant Yadav was elected secretary. Sibal previously served as president in 2001 and had two stints in the late 1990s. Jairam Ramesh hailed it as a win for liberal, secular, democratic, and progressive forces. Other contenders were Priya Hingorani, Tripurari Ray, and Neeraj Srivastava.

Notes:
Renewing the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) could foster broad U.S.-India trade talks. GSP, initiated in 1971 by UNCTAD, offers preferential tariff treatment to developing countries. It requires adherence to origin rules. GSP is unilateral, so reciprocation isn’t necessary. Major grantors include the EU, Japan, and the US. GSP renewal might boost bilateral trade ties by providing avenues for negotiations between the US and India.

Notes:
Alexander Zverev won his second Italian Open singles title, while world no. 1 Iga Swiatek claimed her third Italian Open title. Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to win her 21st career title. This marks Swiatek’s third Italian Open victory in the last four years; she did not qualify for the final last year.

Notes:
Pig Butchering Scams, also known as “sha zhu pan” scams, are rising globally, notably in India. Scammers create fake online personas to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. They build trust over time, dubbed “fattening the pig,” before stealing money. Initially contacting targets through social media or dating apps, scammers deceive victims into cryptocurrency trading via fake apps. Withdrawal attempts are met with excuses or hefty fees, making fund retrieval challenging due to blockchain transactions’ nature.

Notes:
Public Wi-Fi hotspots under the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme are nearing 200,000 in India. Launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunications, PM-WANI aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet in rural and remote areas. The scheme establishes a public Wi-Fi network using Wi-Fi Access Points set up by Public Data Offices (PDOs), which operate on an open-architecture system, enabling multiple service providers to offer internet services.

Notes:
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) report, “Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists,” warns of the silent demise of rangelands, which cover half of Earth’s land surface. These vital grasslands, including prairies, shrublands, and tundras, are degraded by conversion to cropland, urban expansion, overgrazing, and policies promoting overexploitation, driven by rising demands for food, fiber, and fuel.