Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 1st June 2024

 

National News 

1. NASA's Magellan Mission detects the volcanic activity running on the planet Venus 

• NASA's arithmetic data of Magellan Mission has confirmed the second time the direct geological evidence of the recent volcanic activity on the planet Venus. Italian scientists have detected the changes in the surface. 
• Analysis of data from Magellan's radar shows that two volcanoes were torn in the early 1990s. These Eastla Regio were the western part of volcanic Sif Mons and Niabe Planitia, home to many volcanic characteristics. 
• Analyzed under the leadership of David Sulkeni of D'Onunjio University in Pescara, Italy. The study is based on the discovery of 2023 which provided the first direct evidence of the recent volcanic eruption on Venus. 
• Changes were identified in a vent associated with volcanic mats, in which the melted rock filled with the vent's crater appeared to fall down from its slopes. 
• From 1990 to 1992, NASA's Magellan Mission managed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California maps 98% of the surface of Venus. This mission provided the most detailed pictures of the planet Venus so far using synthetic aperture radar to penetrate the thick clouds of the planet. 

Venus 

• These findings highlight the importance of upcoming missions such as Nasa's Veritas (Venus Emissity, Radio Science, Insar, Topography and Spectroscopy). The Veritas launched in the early decade will use advanced synthetic aperture radar to create a 3D map and track volcanic activity, which will provide high resolution and more comprehensive data than the magic. 
• Before starting the journey of Venus, NASA's Magellan spacecraft was released into the Earth's orbit by the Space Shuttle Atlantis of Atlantis. In this picture taken on 4 May 1989, the Magellan was the first planetary spacecraft to be launched from the shuttle. 

2. Reliance, Tata Group and Serum Institute included Time magazine among the 100 most influential companies in the world 

• Three major trading groups of India, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Tata Group and Serum Institute have been included in the world's 100 'most influential companies' by the famous Time magazine. 
• Time praised Reliance Company and called it 'Jagarnot of India'. This year's time is the fourth annual version of the list of 100 most influential companies. 
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is placed in the "Titans" category of the list of time. This is the second time RIL has been included in the Time 100 list, making it the only Indian company to recognize it twice. 
• This recognition was received after Reliance's subsidiary Jio platforms were included in the list of first time 100 most influential companies of 2021. 
• In addition, the Tata group is listed in the "Titans" category, and the serum institute, which is placed in the "Pioneers" category for its leading role in vaccine construction and distribution. 
• Time magazine has praised Reliance Industries led by Mukesh Ambani for its undertakings in other areas including energy, retail and telecommunications. 
• Publication highlighted the merger deal of $ 8.5 billion of Reliance with Disney's India Business. 
• The Tata group established in 1868 is known for its vast portfolio spread in various fields including steel, software, clocks, sabasi cables, chemicals, salt, grains, airconditioner, fashion and hotels. 
• Under the leadership of N Chandrasekaran, the group has made a change by investing in technical manufacturing, AI and semiconductor chips. Tata's recent partnerships, such as assembling the iPhone and announcing India's first major semiconductor manufacturing facility, have attracted global attention. 

3. Djibouti started using GM mosquito to fight malaria 

• Genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes were released to fight malaria in Djibouti of East Africa. Oxitech Limited, Djibouti government and association mutualis, was released by a nongovernmental organization as part of a pilot project in Ambuli, a suburb in the city. 
• This is the first time that the genetic mosquito has been released genetically in East Africa and the second time on the African continent. Burkina Faso in West Africa left for the first time genetically modified mosquitoes in Bana village in Africa. 
• The release is part of the 'Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Program' launched two years ago. In 2012, when Anophalyse Staffaency was first found in Africa, 27 cases of malaria were reported in Djibouti. By 2020, the number of malaria cases in the country had crossed 73,000. 
• This highly aggressive mosquito came to Africa from South Asia and Arabian Peninsula. It has been reported in Ethiopia and Sudan in 2016, Somalia in 2019 and Nigeria in 2020. 

GM mosquito 

• These are aimed at reducing the population of wild Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry viruses such as chikungunya, dengue, Zika and yellow fever. 
• Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes are produced on a large scale in the laboratory for two types of genes: Self-limiting genes that prevent female mosquitoes from surviving to adulthood. Fluorescent marker gene that glows in the presence of a particular type of red light. This enables researchers to identify GM mosquitoes in the wild. 
• Male mosquitoes have a protein (tTAV-OX5034 protein) that prevents the female offspring from surviving when mated with female OX5034 mosquitoes (wild female mosquitoes).Female offspring die before becoming adults. 

International News

4. Xi calls for conference to discuss crisis in West Asia 

• Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Thursday for a peace conference to end the war between Israel and Hamas, as he addressed Arab leaders at a forum aimed at bolstering ties with the region. 
• Mr. Xi is this week hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and several other Arab leaders. 
• Itself an oil producer, China has also long imported crude from West Asia, where it has sought to expand its influence in recent years. 
• It has positioned itself as a more neutral actor on the Israel-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United States, advocating for a two-state solution while also maintaining good ties with Israel. 
• China has pointed to West Asia as a key node in its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a central pillar of Mr. Xi's bid to expand his country's clout overseas. 
• Addressing delegates, Mr. Xi on Thursday expressed support for a "broad-based" peace conference to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict. 
• "The West Asia is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it," Mr. Xi said. 
• "War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever," he added. 
• Speaking after Mr. Xi, Egypt's Sisi urged the international community to ensure Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are not displaced from their war-ravaged territory. Egypt shares a border with Gaza and signed a historic peace deal with Israel in 1978. 
• Analysts say China is seeking to leverage the war in Gaza to boost its standing in the region, framing its efforts to end that conflict against perceived U.S. inaction. 

5. U.S. and UK Joint forces of Yemen attacked Houthi positions in Yemen for the 5th time 

• From January 2024 till now in the UK. and US UK forces have attacked Houthi targets in Yemen in a fifth joint operation. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed the strikes were carried out in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 
• The MoD said intelligence had confirmed two locations near Hudaydah were involved in antishipping attacks, with the buildings identified as drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long range drones. 
• A cluster of Houthi facilities has also been identified at Ghulayfiqah further south on the Yemeni coast. RAF Typhoon FGR4s struck targeted buildings at three locations, using Paveway IV guided bombs. 
• This is the fifth time US and UK forces have carried out a joint operation against the Houthis since 12 January. The Houthis have carried out more than 50 attacks on shipping since November, seizing one ship and sinking another, according to the US Maritime Administration. The threat has led to a decline in shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

Israel takes control of 'Philadelphia Corridor' 

• Israel announced that its forces have gained control of a strip of land running along the Gaza Strip's southern border, indicating it has accomplished one of the goals of the country's war against Hamas, but it will not be able to control the enclave. Signals more separation for Palestinians. 
• An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said that about 20 tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza have been found within the territory. 
• The Philadelphia Corridor is a buffer zone, only 100 meters (330 feet) wide in some parts, that runs along the Gaza side of the 13 km (8 mile) border with Egypt. It stretches about eight miles from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. 
• The new border, which divided the city of Rafah, was established under the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty. 
• Gaza lies to the north-east, while Egypt lies to the south-west. Egyptian border guards have been patrolling the land under an agreement reached with Israel in 2005, when Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza. 
• The Israelis use the code name Philadelphi for the strip, while Egyptian officials call it Salah alDin. 

State News 

6. Start-up Agnikul launches world's first rocket with fully 3D-printed engine 

• The Chennai-headquartered space start-up Agnikula Cosmos Private Ltd. launched the world's first rocket Agniban Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) with a single-piece 3D-printed engine from Sriharikota at 7.15 a.m. on Thursday. 
• Agniban SOrTeD is India's first launch from a private launchpad, called "Dhanush', established by Agnikul. It is also India's first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch and the world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine designed and built indigenously. According to the start-up, the key purpose of this mission is to serve as a test flight, to demonstrate in house and home grown technologies, gather crucial flight data and ensure optimal functioning of systems for Agnikul's orbital launch vehicle, the 'Agniban'. "Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos for the successful launch of the Agniban SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. 
• A major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) posted on X, following the launch. The IIT-Madras incubated start-up had originally planned the launch for April 7 but had to postpone it 129 seconds before the lift-off due to some technical glitches. 

7. Sikkim High Court becomes the first High Court in the country to launch menstrual leave policy for women employees 

• According to a report in Bar & Bench, the Sikkim High Court Registry has launched a menstrual leave policy for women employees. Sikkim HC has become India's first high court to introduce menstrual leave policy. 
• Women employees can avail "2-3 days of menstrual leave" every month. It is necessary to get a recommendation from the High Court's medical officer to avail menstrual leave. 
• There will be no deduction from the leave account of female employees when they take menstrual leave. This leave will not count towards the employee's overall leave account. India's smallest high court, the Sikkim HC, consists of three judges and a registry staff of nine officials, including a woman officer. 
• In February 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition requesting menstrual leave for female students and employees in India. 
• The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud advised the petitioner to submit a formal request to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 
• Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani opposed the menstrual leave policy, saying that menstruation is a natural part of life and should not be considered a hindrance requiring special leave provisions. 
• In Indonesia, as per the provisions of the Labor Act No. 13, 2003, women are given the right to take two days of menstrual leave every month. 
• Similarly in South Korea, in Taiwan and by the year 2023, only one European country, Spain, had implemented a national menstrual leave policy. 
• In the African country Zambia, women have the legal right to take one day off every month under the menstrual leave policy, which is called "Mother's Day". 

8. International Steel Conclave hand in Ranchi, Jharkhand 

• MEcon Limited, In Association with Sail, Under the Aegis of Ministry of Steel, Government of India has Organized A Two-DAY International Conference on Steel (ICONS-2024) Khand on 30th and 31st May 2024. 
• The objective of this conference is to bring toge to the most talented minds and leading stakers of the steel Industry Including Technology Providers, Steel Professors, Steel Professor Partnerships, Discover Innovative Solutions and Drive Forward The Future of the Steel Industry. 
• Carefully became one of the biggest challenges for project planning and timely execution for steel projects being set up in India. He stressed the need to find innovative ways to keep steel projects healthy and to perform our projects on time to keep their long -term stability. 
• CMD-Mecon talked about the National Steel Policy (NSP)-2017 and further explained that to reach 300 MT of steel capacity as per policy target-about 138-139 metric tonnes in the next 7-8 years in the next 7-8 years The capacity is estimated to be added, including a huge investment of US $ 120–130 billion from the Indian steel industry. 
• About 15-20% of Steel Plant Equipment is Likely to Be Imported From Foreign Countries. Given the Current Situation, Where Import Material and Value Increase As About US $ 400-500 Million Are also likely to be sourced from abroad. 

9. Kerala govt. includes Al in Class 7 textbook 

• Close on the heels of conducting artificial intelligence (AI) training for secondary school teachers during the summer holidays, Kerala has made another significant stride in embracing this rapidly evolving technology by in- cluding AI in the school syllabus. 
• Al has been integrated into the information and communications technology (ICT) textbook of Class 7 in the new academic year. One of the activities in the 'Computer Vision' chapter will involve students creating their own Al programme that can recognise human facial expressions. 
• Over 80,000 secondary school teachers in the State are undergoing Al training from May 2. 

10. 'DRDO Industry Academy Excellence Center' in IIT Kanpur inaugurated 

• The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has established the DRDO-Industries-Academia Center (DIA COE) in its premises for interdisciplinary research in the next generation defense technologies in collaboration with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). 
• This is in line with the Dia Coe Establed by Drdo in Premier Academic Institutes of the Country Through which it is building an ecosystem to facilitate technology Enced faculty and talented scholars with the efforts of various scientists from drdo laboratories. 
• The new center will lead focused research in initial identified research and development areas, include building devices and systems based on thin files for strategic applications, advaneous nanomater Ials Design and Development, Developing Technologies for Applications Ranging from Identifying HighEnergy Materials and Bio - Ngineering hazardous agents to wound healing. 
• Mr. Sanjay Tandon, IIT serves as Director of Dia Coe at Kanpur, who oversees its strategic initiative and collaborative efforts. DRDO will fund the projects. 
• The journey for the establishment of Dia Coe at IIT Kanpur began in 2022 through a Memorandum (MOU) signed in Gandhinagar during the Def-Ecpo-2022 in Gandhinagar. 
• DIA COE at IIT Kanpur was inaugurated jointly by Dr. Sameer V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defense Research and Development and Chairman of DRDO and Prof. Manindra Aggarwal, Director of IIT Kanpur. 
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and was declared an institution of national importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. 

11. NIMHANS was awarded by World Health Organization with Nelson Mandela Award for the year 2024 

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has been awarded the Nelson Mandela Award to the Institute of National Mental Health and Neurology (NIMhans), Bangalore.
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandavia congratulated Nimhans on being awarded the award. He said that this is "recognition of India's efforts in inclusive healthcare." 
• The award is a proof of the dedication and outstanding contribution of Nimhans to promote mental health and welfare. Nimhans has been at the forefront of mental health and neurological fields. 
• Nimhans is celebrating 50 years of its formation and the 70th anniversary of its predecessor, All India Mental Health Institute (AIIMH). Mental health units are being assisted in almost all the districts of the country through the National Health Mission. 
• India's National Tele Mental Health Helpline, Tele Manas, which was launched on 10 October 2022, has also recently acquired a milestone to handle 10 lakh calls. 
• The Mandela Award was established on 6 June 2014 and resolution 64/13 (10 November 2009) nominates Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July, which has been celebrated by the United Nations since 2010. 
• Following the recommendations of the Mental Health Advisory Committee of the Indian Medical Hygiene Council headed by Sir A.L. Mudaliar in 1945 and the Bhore Committee in 1946, the Government of India approved the establishment of the All India Institute of Mental Health on 1 April 1954. 
• On 6 August 1954, the then Union Health Minister Rajkumari Amrit Kaur inaugurated AIIMH and on 15 September 1954, Dr. MV Govindaswamy was appointed as Director. The central government declared it 'Deemed University' in 1994. In 2012, Nimhans was given the status of 'Institute of National Importance'. 

Awards News

12. Indian peacekeeper gets U.N. award on gender advocacy 

• Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper deployed in Congo, was awarded the U.N. Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023 for her work supporting conflict-affected communities. The award was presented to her by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday. 
• Major Sen served in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of the engagement platoon for the Indian rapid deployment battalion. She led a team of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers. 
• Mr. Guterres described her service as "a true credit to the UN as a whole". Major Sen said that the award was special as it gives recognition to the hard work put in by the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of DRC.