Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 31, 2024

Notes:
Lakshya Sen secured bronze medal at the inaugural King Cup International Badminton Open 2024. He defeated French player Alex Lanier in straight games to win approximately ₹36 lakh. Sen narrowly lost the semifinal 19-21, 19-21 to China’s Hu Zhe’an, the reigning world junior champion. In the third-place playoff, Sen started strong, leading 6-1, and regained control after Lanier tied at 10-10. Sen dominated the second game, building a 15-8 lead and sealing victory with a nine-point match advantage. His strong finish highlighted his resilience, experience, and continued rise on the international badminton stage.

Notes:
Assam introduced Anti-Depredation Squads near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located in east of Guwahati, Assam. It was established in 1998 and spans 48.81 sq km. It is part of the Brahmaputra floodplains and includes Rajamayong and Pobitora Reserve Forests. The sanctuary is surrounded by small hills like Kasasila, Hatimuria, Boha, Kardia, Govardan, and Panbari. Pobitora has the highest density of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in India. It contributed to the Indian Rhinoceros Vision 2020 by translocating eight rhinos to Manas National Park.

Notes:
India will host the first-ever World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in February 2025. WAVES will cover the entire Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry, bringing together global leaders and innovators. It aims to unite industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to discuss challenges, promote trade, and shape the sector’s future. The summit will showcase India’s advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and cinema. WAVES-India aims to position India as a global M&E powerhouse by fostering creativity, innovation and investments. It focuses on building skilled workforce capacity and embracing technological advancements to strengthen India’s creative economy.

Notes:
Norovirus outbreaks in the United States (U.S.) have risen sharply, with 91 cases in early December, up from 69 in late November. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus causing gastroenteritis, also known as the “stomach flu” or “winter vomiting bug.” It affects people of all ages and spreads quickly through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or close contact. Noroviruses cause 90% of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks and nearly 50% of cases worldwide. People can get infected multiple times due to the variety of norovirus strains. Preventive measures focus on hygiene and proper food handling to limit its spread.

Notes:
Kaamya Karthikeyan, 17, became the youngest female to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents, completing the Seven Summits Challenge. She reached Mount Vinson in Antarctica on December 24, 2024, at 17:20 Chilean Standard Time with her father, Cdr S Karthikeyan. Previously, she scaled Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Elbrus (Europe), Mt Kosciuszko (Australia), Mt Aconcagua (South America), Mt Denali (North America), and Mt Everest (Asia). A Class 12 student at Navy Children School, Mumbai, Kaamya’s achievements have been praised by the Indian Navy and Prime Minister Modi. Her journey inspires young adventurers worldwide.