Current affairs 25 June 2024

India's 1st pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification launched.

• The Ministry of Coal, via Eastern Coalfields Limited, initiated India's first pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara, Jharkhand.
• This project aims to convert coal into valuable gases like methane and hydrogen, useful for industrial applications, enhancing the coal sector's efficiency and sustainability.
• Ministry of Coal: G. Kishan Reddy

World's Oldest Termite Mounds found in South Africa.

• Radiocarbon dating reveals that Namaqualand's termite mounds, called heuweltjies, are the world's oldest inhabited termite mounds, dating back between 34,000 and 13,000 years.
• These mounds play a crucial role in storing carbon. Termites transport organic material deep into the soil, creating long-term carbon sinks and influencing the carbon cycle.

UP to establish World’s First Asian King Vulture Breeding Centre.

• Uttar Pradesh will establish the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Maharajganj, dedicated to the critically endangered Asian king vultures, listed in the IUCN's red list since 2007.
• The centre will address habitat loss and the dangers posed by diclofenac in domestic animals.
• The centre aims to ensure the good health of growing vultures and provide them with a pair.

Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024 released.

• The report forecasts that India will see a net loss of 4300 millionaires in 2024, down from 5100 in 2023, due to global wealth migration trends influenced by geopolitical tensions & economic uncertainty.
• The UAE remains a top destination for Indian millionaires, expected to attract 6,700 wealthy migrants in 2024, driven by its zero income tax policy, golden visa programs, strategic location.

Indian Army opened Khalubar War Memorial in Ladakh.

• Indian Army has opened the Khalubar War Memorial in Ladakh, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• It is located in Aryan Valley, the memorial honors the bravery of soldiers, including Captain Manoj Pandey, who recaptured the area during the Kargil War.
• The opening ceremony included a Trek to Battle Site led by Brig OP Yadav (Retd).