CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 December, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 December, 2024

1. OVER 77% OF EARTH’S LAND BECOMES DRIER IN LAST 30 YEARS, WARNS UN REPORT –

• A recent report by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reveals a troubling shift in the global climate: over 77% of Earth’s land has experienced drier conditions over the past 30 years compared to the previous three decades.
• This has led to a dramatic expansion of global drylands by about 4.3 million square kilometers, covering more than 40% of Earth’s surface.
• If greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed, the situation could worsen, with another 3% of humid areas transforming into drylands by the century’s end.
• The human impact is severe, with the number of people living in these drylands doubling to 2.3 billion and projections indicating 5 billion by 2100 under worst-case scenarios.

2. AMUL EXTENDS JAYEN MEHTA’S MD TENURE BY 5 YEARS –

• Amul’s Managing Director, Jayen Mehta, has had his tenure extended until 2029-2030. Mehta, who has been with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) since 1991, has played a key role in shaping the AMUL brand through various positions in the marketing department.
• His extended leadership marks a crucial phase for the dairy giant as it continues to thrive under his direction. This move follows his interim appointment as MD in January 2023, succeeding R.S. Sodhi, who had led AMUL for over a decade.

3. GOOGLE PARTNERS WITH NCERT TO LAUNCH YOUTUBE CHANNELS IN 29 INDIAN LANGUAGES –

• Google has expanded its educational initiatives in India through a strategic partnership with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• This collaboration aims to make quality education more accessible by launching YouTube channels in 29 Indian languages, including Indian Sign Language, for students in grades 1-12.
• In addition, Google has partnered with NPTEL to offer credentialed courses on YouTube, providing certification opportunities for learners. This move builds on Google’s long-standing commitment to promoting accessible education through digital tools, AI, and partnerships with Indian organizations.

4. INDIA-RUSSIA DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP SET TO SIGN $4B RADAR SYSTEM –

• India is on the verge of finalizing a significant USD 4 billion defence agreement with Russia to acquire an advanced long-range early warning radar system.
• This cutting-edge system, part of Russia’s Voronezh radar series, promises to transform India’s missile detection and air defence capabilities, enhancing national security and fostering defence manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative.

5. ADITYA L1 AND PROBA-3 TO UNITE FOR SOLAR RESEARCH IN 2025 –

• India’s Aditya L1 and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 missions are set to revolutionize solar research with joint observations starting in 2025. Aditya L1, operational since January 2024 from the Lagrange point (L1) 1.5 million km from Earth, launched in September 2023.
• Meanwhile, Proba-3, launched on December 5, 2024, is the first mission involving two satellites flying in formation to simulate a solar eclipse, facilitating detailed studies of the Sun’s corona.