Daily Current Affairs 7 June 2024

1. Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams becomes first woman to pilot new spacecraft

• Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has made history by becoming the first woman to pilot a brand-new spacecraft on its maiden crewed test flight.
• Aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, Williams launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, alongside NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore.
• This achievement marks her third space flight and demonstrates her instrumental role in designing the spacecraft over the past decade.
• The mission aims to test the Starliner’s space-worthiness and readiness for long-duration missions.

Headquarters of NASA – Washington, D.C., USA

Current Administrator of NASA – Bill Nelson

2. India, US, Japan, South Korea & EU launch biopharmaceutical alliance

• The Biopharmaceutical Alliance was launched by South Korea, India, the United States, Japan, and the European Union (EU) to build a resilient supply chain in the biopharmaceutical sector.
• The inaugural meeting, held during the Bio International Convention 2024 in San Diego, emphasized the importance of a reliable and sustainable supply chain.
• The participating countries will coordinate bio policies, regulations, and research and development support measures.
• This alliance aims to address drug supply shortages experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The President of the European Council is Charles Michel
The President of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen
The President of the European Parliament is Roberta Metsola

3. Indian Toy industry makes strong push into UAE market

• The Toy Association of India (TAI) has led a delegation to the UAE, comprising manufacturers, importers, exporters, retailers, and toy testing lab designers.
• This diverse group aims to promote the Indian toy industry at both the manufacturing and export levels.
• Following a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020, local manufacturing surged, reducing imports by over 50% and increasing exports by 240% in the last three years. Indian manufacturers now offer high-quality toys that meet international standards.
• The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) grants Indian toys zero-duty access to the UAE market, further boosting their competitiveness.

The current President of the UAE is Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The official currency of the UAE is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED).
The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi.

4. India’s Sarabjot Singh clinched gold in Men’s 10m Air Pistol event at ISSF World Cup

• Sarabjot Singh, the 22-year-old Indian shooter, secured gold in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Munich, Germany.
• His impressive score of 242.7 in the final outshone competitors. Shuaihang Bu of China took the silver with a score of 242.5, while Germany’s Robin Walter settled for bronze with 220.0 points.
• This marks Sarabjot’s second individual ISSF World Cup gold medal, following his victory in Bhopal last year. He also clinched the air pistol mixed team gold in Baku in 2023.

About ISSF World Cup
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup was introduced in 1986.
It aims to provide a homogeneous system for qualification to the Olympic shooting competitions.
For the best shooters, there has been a World Cup Final since 1988.
The inaugural ISSF World Cup took place in Havana, Cuba in March 1987.
Today, four Rifle and Pistol World Cups and four Shotgun World Cups are designated by the ISSF Executive Committee every year.
The latest ISSF World Cup in 2024 took place in Munich, Germany.

5. India, Qatar hold first meeting of joint task force on investment in New Delhi

• The inaugural meeting of the Joint Task Force on Investment (JTFI) between India and Qatar took place in New Delhi.
• Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging collective potential for growth across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, energy, technology, and innovation.
• This collaboration underscores the robust economic relationship rooted in shared values and a vision for inclusive development.

6. Lok Sabha Secretariat developed Prerana Sthal in parliament house complex

• The Lok Sabha Secretariat has undertaken a significant initiative by developing the Prerana Sthal within the Parliament House Complex.
• This project involves respectfully relocating statues of prominent leaders and freedom fighters, including Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• The purpose is to enhance the complex’s landscaping and create a space where visitors can easily view and draw inspiration from these iconic figures.
• The move has drawn both support and criticism, with some praising the effort to honor national heroes and others expressing concern about altering the historical context of the old Parliament Building.

7. 6th Edition of Indian Navy – Royal Navy of Oman Staff Talks held

• The 6th Edition of Indian Navy – Royal Navy of Oman Staff Talks took place, reinforcing bilateral naval cooperation.
• Discussions covered maritime security, joint exercises, and information sharing.
• Both navies aim to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional stability.
• The talks reflect the strategic partnership between India and Oman, fostering maritime ties in the Indian Ocean region.

8. TRAI issues Consultation Paper on “Revision of National Numbering Plan”

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a Consultation Paper on the “Revision of National Numbering Plan” on June 6, 2024.
• The paper aims to assess factors affecting the allocation and utilization of Telecommunication Identifiers (TIs), which are crucial for efficient communication and network management.
• It proposes potential modifications to enhance allocation policies and utilization procedures, ensuring an adequate reservoir of TI resources.
• This initiative is in response to the rapid growth in the number of connections and the expansion of services, which have put the availability of numbering resources at risk.

9. King Charles III currency notes introduced in UK

• The Bank of England has introduced new currency notes featuring the portrait of King Charles III.
• These notes, which include denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50, were issued on June 5, 2024.
• They will co-circulate alongside the existing banknotes featuring Queen Elizabeth II.
• The old notes remain legal tender, and there’s no need to exchange them for the new ones.
• However, a temporary exchange service is available for those interested in obtaining the new notes.
• This change aims to meet the demand for banknotes and replace worn ones.

10. Kuwait’s Emir Names Sheikh Sabah as new crown prince

• Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, has named Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah as the new crown prince. The announcement was made on 1 June 2024.
• Sheikh Sabah, 71, has previously served as the prime minister and foreign minister of Kuwait.
• This decision comes nearly six months after Sheikh Meshal took the throne.
• The appointment of the new crown prince follows a period of political dysfunction in Kuwait, which led to the dissolution of parliament for up to four years.

11. First human dies from H5N2 Bird Flu in Mexico

• A 59-year-old man in Mexico has become the first human to die from the H5N2 bird flu.
• The World Health Organization confirmed this as the first laboratory-confirmed human case of the H5N2 subtype.
• The man, who had multiple underlying medical conditions, developed symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort.
• Despite no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, he contracted the virus.