Current Affairs One - Liner : 12th June 2024

The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India, is set to become a new habitat for cheetahs. This initiative follows the successful introduction of cheetahs at Kuno National Park in the same state. The preparations for this ambitious project were completed on June 11, 2024, and the official announcement was made the following day.

IISc researchers have developed a sustainable method to remove heavy metals from groundwater. The process uses a biodegradable adsorbent to capture arsenic, separates it using a membrane system, and then converts the toxic inorganic arsenic to a less toxic organic form using microbes from cow dung.
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). This initiative is themed around celebrating the impacts of quantum science on technology, culture, and our understanding of the natural world.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has permitted Indian universities to conduct admissions twice yearly, starting from the 2024-25 academic session. This is not mandatory but provides flexibility to colleges to increase student intake and offer new programmes. It benefits students who might miss the July/August session due to various reasons.
The Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is set to become the fifth tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary spans 452 square kilometers and has shown promising signs of tiger population growth. This decision was announced during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.

On June 10, 2024, the Bank of India acquired a 6.125% stake in CCIL IFSC. This acquisition is part of the bank’s strategic move to support the growth of GIFT City IFSC. The bank’s IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City had surpassed the target of USD 1 billion as of March 2024.

SpaceX’s Starship completed its first full flight on June 6, 2024. The rocket launched from Boca Chica, Texas, reached an altitude of nearly 211 kilometers, and landed safely. This marked a significant milestone in space exploration.

The International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) 2024, to be held on June 6, aims to raise awareness about the risks at level crossings. The theme for this year is “Beware of trains. Life can change in a split second”, emphasizing the safety of vulnerable people.
The UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, observed on 10 June, promotes dialogue, mutual respect, and global solidarity among different civilizations. The theme is “equal dialogue and mutual respect”. The day aims to enhance understanding, prevent discrimination, and strengthen solidarity, celebrating diversity and committing to respect differences and protect human dignity.

Abhijit Kishore, COO of Vodafone Idea, and Rahul Vatts, CRO of Bharti Airtel, were appointed as the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) respectively on June 11, 2024.
Chandrababu Naidu, leader of the Telugu Desam Party, has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for his fourth term—Neerabh Kumar Prasad Appointed as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh.
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed the next Army Staff Chief. The announcement was made on June 12, 2024. He will take over from the current Army Chief, General Manoj Pande, on June 30, 2024.

Amol Kale, the Honorary President of the Mumbai Cricket Association, passed away due to a cardiac arrest on June 9, 2024. He was in New York at the time.
On 11th June 2024, Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others, including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, were killed in a plane crash. The plane crashed in Chikangawa Forest while they were traveling to Mzuzu for a funeral.

Questions:

1 Who was appointed as the Chairperson of the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) on June 11, 2024?

2 When is the UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations observed?