Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2024

Notes:
The Uttarakhand Forest department has set up 42 ecological laboratories to study climate change effects on forests.
These labs will track changes like early flowering in rhododendrons and Brahmakamal and monitor how high temperatures impact litchis. The labs, also known as ‘living laboratories,’ are spread across diverse ecosystems, from Terai to alpine meadows. Uttarakhand, with its 46 forest types, is significant for global climate change research.

Notes:
Swati Vijay Kulkarni has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Algeria, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Kulkarni, a 1995 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, is currently an Additional Secretary in the MEA.
She will assume her new role in Algeria soon. Diplomatic relations between India and Algeria began in July 1962 and have been friendly, with both nations supporting each other on various issues. High-level visits and the Joint Commission Mechanism (JCM), established in 1981, facilitate bilateral cooperation between the countries.

Notes:
Nadi Utsav 2024 was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi. The 5th edition of the festival focuses on the theme ‘Rivers in Reverse: Making of a Lifeline’, highlighting river ecosystems and their cultural importance. The first day featured various activities, including a photo exhibition of the Kansabati River, a unique boat display, and paintings by school students centered around rivers. The three-day event runs from 10 AM to 8 PM at IGNCA with free public entry.

Notes:
The President of the French Space Agency (CNES) recently discussed various topics, including 60 years of French-India space cooperation and upcoming missions like Gaganyaan and TRISHNA. The TRISHNA mission is a collaboration ISRO and CNES. Its main objectives are to provide high-resolution observations of Earth’s surface temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle dynamics. The mission will assess urban heat islands, detect thermal anomalies from volcanic activity, and monitor snow-melt runoff and glacier dynamics. Additionally, it will gather data on aerosol optical depth, atmospheric water vapor, and cloud cover.

Notes:
Indian weightlifter Dhanush Loganathan won a bronze medal in the men’s 55kg event at the IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships 2024 in Leon, Spain. The 17-year-old lifted a total of 231kg, with 107kg in the snatch and 124kg in the clean and jerk.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will expand the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) to 20 more airports in India. It is an initiative of Ministry of Home Affairs. It aims to speed up immigration clearance for Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals with OCI cards. The program, first launched at Delhi’s IGI Airport, facilitates faster and secure international travel. Similar to the U.S. Global Entry Program, it offers quick clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The FTI-TTP is managed through an online portal by the Bureau of Immigration, the nodal agency for implementation.

Notes:
The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) has launched India’s first comprehensive cancer multi-omics data portal. This platform offers open access to data from Indian cancer patients to improve cancer research and treatment. It includes DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients, linked with clinical outcomes. Currently, the portal has data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand to over 500 patients next year. The data is freely available under India’s PRIDE guidelines, promoting ethical sharing. ICGA is a national initiative supported by a public-private-philanthropic partnership with over 50 experts contributing.

Notes:
Azerbaijan has proposed a new climate fund to be financed through voluntary contributions from fossil-fuel producing countries and companies. This initiative was introduced during the climate change conference COP29, aimed at addressing the financial needs of developing nations in combating climate change. While the proposal is well-intentioned, there are concerns about its potential effectiveness, given the challenges in securing adequate funding. The fund’s establishment reflects ongoing struggles in climate finance negotiations, especially regarding the commitment of developed countries to mobilize sufficient resources for climate action.

Notes:
CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI) researchers found that nanozymes protect collagen and resist enzymatic degradation. Nanozymes are artificial enzymes made from materials like metals, metal oxides, or carbon. They are more stable, cost-effective, durable, and easier to mass-produce than biological enzymes. Nanozymes work well in various conditions of temperature and pH. They are used in treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, infections, wounds, and diseases linked to Reactive Oxygen Species.

Notes:
Indian Navy hosted the fifth Goa Maritime Symposium at the Naval War College in Goa. This symposium promotes collaboration and understanding among India and key maritime nations in the Indian Ocean Region. The theme for 2024 is “Common Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region,” focusing on issues like illegal fishing and maritime crimes. Representatives from 12 Indian Ocean countries, including Bangladesh, Maldives, and Thailand, participated, along with observers from Kenya and Tanzania. The Goa Maritime Symposium was started by the Indian Navy in 2016 and is held every two years.