CURRENT AFFAIRS 27 August, 2024
- WORLD WATER WEEK 2024: 25-29 AUGUST –
- The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is organising the next World Water Week on 25-29 August 2024. World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues, held every year since 1991.
- The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has announced that World Water Week 2024 will center around the theme “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future”.
- This powerful theme encapsulates the urgent need for global cooperation in addressing water-related challenges that transcend national boundaries.
- WHO IS PAVEL DUROV, CEO OF TELEGRAM, ARRESTED IN FRANCE –
- Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport in Paris. His arrest is connected to an ongoing investigation in France. Authorities are looking into accusations that Telegram, due to its privacy features and lack of moderation, has allowed various illegal activities to occur on its platform.
- These activities include crimes like drug trafficking and cyberstalking, and the French government is concerned that Telegram isn’t doing enough to stop them or help law enforcement.
- Pavel Durov was born in the Soviet Union and later studied at St. Petersburg University. He is well-known for creating the social media platform VKontakte (VK), which became very popular in Russia.
- However, when the Russian government asked him to hand over user data, he refused. This led him to leave Russia and, in 2013, he founded Telegram. His main focus with Telegram has always been on protecting user privacy and providing strong security features.
- UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME –
- Guaranteed Pension: 50% of last drawn pay as lifelong monthly pension.
- Family Pension: 60% of employee’s pension provided to the family after death.
- Minimum Pension: ₹10,000 per month for employees with 10+ years of service.
- Dearness Relief: Periodic hikes in line with inflation trends.
- Contributions: Employees contribute 10% of their salary; government contributes 18.5%.
- THE FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (FSSAI) HAS RECENTLY ISSUED A DIRECTIVE TO FOOD BUSINESSES TO REMOVE CLAIMS RELATED TO ‘A1’ AND ‘A2’ TYPES OF MILK FROM THEIR PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS –
- Overview of Classification of Dairy Products As ‘A1’ and ‘A2’- Several FBOs (Food Business Operators) are selling milk and milk products in the name of A1 and A2.
- Recognition of Classification: FSSAI regulations do not officially recognise this distinction, leading to the current mandate to eliminate these claims.
- Differentiation: Based on the structural differences in beta-casein protein.
- Beta-Casein: It is one of the major proteins found in milk, and it comes in two main variants: A1 and A2.
- Historically, cows produced only A2 beta-casein. However, due to genetic mutations, some cows began to produce A1 beta-casein as well.
- Key Difference: It lies in the amino acid structure.
- A1 beta-casein has a histidine amino acid at position 67. While A2 beta-casein has proline at the same position.
- INDIA LAUNCHED ITS FIRST REUSABLE HYBRID ROCKET ‘RHUMI- 1’, DEVELOPED BY THE TAMIL NADU-BASED START-UP SPACE ZONE INDIA WITH MARTIN GROUP, FROM THIRUVIDANDHAI IN CHENNAI. –
- Hybrid Rocket Engine: The RHUMI Rocket is equipped with a generic-fuel-based hybrid motor.
- Hybrid systems improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
- Adjustable Launch Angle: The rocket’s launch angle can be precisely adjusted between 0 to 120 degrees.
- Parachute System: It is equipped with an electrically triggered parachute deployer.
- Environmentally Friendly: RHUMI is 100% pyrotechnic-free and 0% TNT.
- Application: The rocket’s applications extend beyond space exploration, impacting fields such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.