• Report was released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

• Key Findings: 
  • Services exports from India rose by 14% in 2023, while goods export declined by 6%.
  • International trade is expected to rebound in 2024.
  • Logistical challenges such as shipping disruptions in Red Sea, Black Sea etc. can raise costs and disrupt supply chains.

• UNCTAD: Established in 1964 as permanent intergovernmental body, it is main authority of UN General Assembly in sphere of trade and development.

• Public knowledge about Hepatitis B is dismal in India, according to study.
• Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of liver caused by a virus. 

• Main hepatitis viruses are:
  • Hepatitis A: Effective vaccine available; Outbreaks related to contaminated food or to person-to-person transmission.
  • Hepatitis B: Effective vaccine available; is a leading cause of liver cancer. 
  • Hepatitis C: It is spread when a person who is not immune comes in contact with body fluids from an infected person. There's no vaccine to prevent it.

• Launched by Indian navy in December 2023, it completed 100 days.

• It operates across three key areas: Gulf of Aden and adjoining regions, Arabian Sea, and off East Coast of Somalia.

• Objective: safeguarding India’s maritime interests, countering maritime threats, thwarting resurgence of piracy and significantly denting narcotics trade in Indian Ocean Region.

• POEM-3, successfully concluded its mission by re-entering Earth's atmosphere and disintegrating.

• Achievement: It virtually left no debris in orbit, demonstrating a commitment to minimizing space clutter.

• About POEM-3:  
  • It used spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C58 rocket that launched XPoSat.

• POEM initiative utilizes fourth stage of PSLV as platform to conduct scientific experiments in orbit converting it into a functioning laboratory for space-based research.

• International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved the name 'Statio Shiv Shakti' for the landing site of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander.
• Name was included in Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, which documents planetary names approved by IAU.
  • Planetary nomenclature uniquely identifies a feature on surface of a planet or satellite.

• IAU was founded in 1919 with its Secretariat in Paris, France. 
  • Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects.
  • 92 member countries including India. 
  • It serves as international authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and surface features on them.

• Vietnam faces crop losses as saltwater seeps into the Mekong Delta region, known as “Vietnam’s rice bowl”.
  • The Mekong delta, one of the largest and most fertile deltas in Asia, is situated in Cambodia and Vietnam.

• Mekong River is longest river in Southeast Asia.
  • Origin: Tibetan Plateau.
  • It passes through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. 
  • It forms part of international border between Myanmar and Laos, and Laos and Thailand. 
  • It drains into South China Sea.
  • Cities on its banks include Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane.

• Border Road Organisation has connected strategically important road from Manali (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil–Leh Highway.
• Road is not only shorter, but crosses only one pass—Shinku La (16,558 feet).
  • Shinku La Pass connects Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh with Zanskar Valley in Kargil, Ladakh.
• This will result in road having all weather connectivity to Ladakh region.

• The faith of Bahá’í community is not recognised by the Iran’s Constitution.
• Bahá’í faith is a relatively young monotheistic religion with spiritual roots dating back to early 19^th century in Iran.
  • Founder of Bahá’í faith is Bahá’u’lláh.
  • Holy shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and Holy shrine of the Báb (Haifa), as the most holy places of the Bahá’í faith, are located in Israel.
  • Bahai core beliefs are “the unity of religion”, “the unity of God”, and “the unity of humanity”.
  • New Delhi's Lotus Temple is a Baháʼí House of Worship.

Mauritania (Capital: Nouakchott)

• India and Mauritania held their first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Nouakchott.

• Political features: 
  • Located in Northwest Africa, on the Atlantic coast.
  • Bordering Countries/Territories: Western Sahara territory (most of which is occupied by Morocco), Algeria, Mali, and Senegal.
  • Bordering water bodies: Atlantic Ocean

• Geographical Features: 
  • Much of Mauritania encompasses part of the Sahara Desert.
  • Major river: Senegal River (forms its border with Senegal).
  • Topography include Inselbergs (isolated steep sided rock hills or small mountains), of which the highest is Mount Ijill.
  • Vegetation includes regions of Savanna and Sahel.