Current Context : Global Food Policy Report 2024: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition was released by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

RELEVANT FACTS ABOUT REPORT :

• At least 38 per cent of the Indian population ate unhealthy foods, while only 28 per cent ate all five recommended food groups, which include at least one starchy staple food, one vegetable, one fruit, one pulse, nut or seed and one animal-source food.
• As a result of poor diet, 6% Indians suffer from malnutrition.
• More than half of children under the age of five and two-thirds of adult women were affected by micronutrient deficiencies.
• More than two billion people, many of them in Africa and South Asia cannot afford a healthy diet.

ABOUT IFPRI

• Established in 1975
• It is a research center of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers.

Current Context : Inaugural edition of Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Summit is being held in Zambia.

ABOUT KAZA TFCA

• The Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) is a 520,000-square kilometer wildlife sanctuary straddling five southern African nations that share common borders along the Okavango and Zambezi River basins.
• Established in
• Okavango Delta (world’s largest inland delta) and Victoria falls (a World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world) lie within the region.

Current Context : India has become chair of regional grouping Colombo Process for the first time since its inception in 2003.

Aim : to promote safe, orderly, and legal migration among its member states.

• Colombo Process is a regional consultative forum comprising 12 member states of Asia.
• It is a Regional Consultative Process of migrant worker origin countries from South and SE Asia.
• It serves as a forum for exchange of best practices on overseas employment.

Current Context : The Indian Air Force (IAF) took part  in Red Flag 24 Exercise, at  the United States Air Force’s Eielson AF Base in Alaska.

Aim : To focusing on honing the skills and tactics required in aerial combat scenarios.

• IAF deployed Rafale fighter jets for the Red Flag 24 exercise.
• Approximately 3100 service members are expected to fly, maintain, and support more than 100 aircraft during the exercise.
• It is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise aimed at integrating aircrew in a multinational environment.
• It is designed to replicate a realistic and challenging environment, bringing together aircrew and equipment from different nations and services.

Current Context : Adani Ports signs 30-year concession agreement to operate container terminal at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania.

• An agreement was signed between the Tanzania Ports Authority and Adani International Ports.

ABOUT PORT :

• Dar es Salaam Port is a pivotal gateway port in East Africa, renowned for its well-connected network of roadways and railways.
• It will help Adani Ports’ strategic vision to expand its footprint in key regions with high growth potential.

ABOUT ADANI PORTS AND SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE LIMITED :

• The Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is part of the Adani Group.
• The company develops and operates ports and terminals.
• It is the largest operator of ports in India, handling around 27 percent of the country’s total port volume.

Current Context : The Eurasian or common whimbrel, a long-distance migratory bird tagged with a Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter was captured on camera for the first time in Chhattisgarh.

About

• Eurasian or common whimbrel is also known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America.
• Is a native of large family
• Scientific Name: Numenius Phaeopus.
• It found across five continents: North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Current Context : Japan Launches World’s First Wooden Satellite crafted from magnolia wood to combat space debris.

• Aim : to reduce space debris by burning up completely upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
• It is a collaborative effort between Kyoto University and the logging company Sumitomo Forestry.
• LignoSat is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in September.

ABOUT LIGNOSAT

• “ligno” is the Latin word for wood and “satellite”, is the result of approximately four years of collaborative research.
• Objective : is to leverage the eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness of wood in space exploration.
• Material used : Magnolia wood is chosen for its durability and adaptability.
• LignoSat, a 10-centimetre cube, comprises 4- to 5.5-millimeter-thick magnolia wood panels, complemented by a frame partially crafted from aluminum.
• It is equipped with solar panels attached to select sides and it weighs approximately 1 kilogram.

Current Context : Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine.

ABOUT AGNIBAAN

• Agnibaan is a SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) that has a plug-and-play configuration.
• The plug-and-play configuration means that the rocket can be expanded or shrunk depending on the satellite that is to be taken to space.
• The rocket uses liquid propellant-liquid oxygen or kerosene.
• It is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to be highly customizable.
• It has a capable of carrying a 300kg payload to a 700km orbit.
• Agnikul became the second Indian private company to launch its rocket in space.
• The first private company to launch a rocket was the Hyderabad startup Skyroot Aerospace.

Current Context : Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh was honored posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal.

• He was served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

INDIA AND UN

• India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.
• It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

ABOUT AWARD

• It was established in 1997 and it is the highest honour awarded to UN peacekeepers.
• It is a posthumous award given to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service with a peacekeeping operation
• It is named after the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold.

Current Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day meditation break at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

ABOUT VIVEKANAND MEMORIAL

• From very ancient times, the rock has been regarded as sacred place.
• In Puranic tradition, it has been known as “Sripada Parai: meaning the rock, that has been blessed by the touch of Shripada feet of the Goddess.
• On the rock, is a projection similar in form to a human fort and a little brownish in complexion, which has traditionally, been revered as a symbol of
• According to legend, it was on this rock that Goddess Kanniyakumari did Tapas.
• The rock is surrounded by the Laccadive Sea where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea form a confluence.