Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Four sandstone replicas of the Konark wheel were installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and Amrit Udyan.
This installation promotes India’s rich cultural heritage to visitors. The Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represents Odisha’s temple architecture and is designed as a giant chariot for the Sun god. The Konark wheel symbolizes India’s cultural legacy and architectural excellence.

Notes:
Researchers reported a 4% increase in the North Atlantic right whale population since 2020, following a 25% decline from 2010 to 2020. These migratory whales spend winters in warmer waters and migrate to the poles in late summer. They inhabit temperate and subpolar waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Right whales are often found near bays and peninsulas in shallow, coastal waters, mainly along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. They feed by skimming plankton at or just below the water’s surface. Conservation status: IUCN lists North Atlantic right whales as critically endangered.

Notes:
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has formed a team to investigate the death of ten elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh government has also set up a five-member committee, led by APCCF (Wildlife), to conduct an inquiry. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district. It was designated as a national park in 1968 and became a tiger reserve in 1993.

Notes:
Astronomers discovered a rare triple black hole system named V404 Cygni, altering our understanding of black hole formation. It is located about 8,000 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus. The first star orbits the black hole closely every 6.5 days, while the second is much farther, at 100 times Pluto’s distance from the Sun. This system suggests a “direct collapse” formation, where the black hole forms quietly without a supernova explosion. Thousands of simulations confirmed that this formation spared the distant star from being ejected.

Notes:
Australian cricketer Matthew Wade retired from international cricket after a 13-year career with 225 appearances for Australia. He played in three T20 World Cups, crucially helping Australia win its first T20 title in 2021 with a memorable semi-final performance against Pakistan. In Tests, Wade scored 1,613 runs with four centuries, including a top score of 117 in the 2019 Ashes. He played 97 ODIs, amassing 1,867 runs, and 92 T20Is with 1,202 runs. Wade will continue in domestic and franchise cricket and join Australia’s coaching staff for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.

Notes:
Ningol Chakkouba, a key festival in Manipur, was celebrated with enthusiasm. Traditionally held on the second lunar day of Hiyangei month, its origins trace back to King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba’s rule. “Ningol” means “married woman,” and “Chakouba” means “feast invitation,” where married daughters are invited by their parents for a family feast. The festival strengthens bonds among brothers, sisters, and parents. Initially celebrated by the Meitei community, it is now observed by many other communities as well.

Notes:
India’s Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation are hosting the first Asian Buddhist Summit on November 5-6, 2024, in New Delhi. The theme is “Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia,” with India’s President as Chief Guest. The summit gathers Sangha leaders, scholars, and practitioners from across Asia to discuss Buddhism’s role in addressing current challenges. Buddhism has deeply influenced Asia’s spiritual and cultural unity. Buddha Dhamma is integral to India’s national identity and plays a role in its foreign policy, strengthening ties across Asia through shared values and diplomacy.

Notes:
Alexander Zverev won the Rolex Paris Masters title 2024, defeating Ugo Humbert in the final. This victory marked Zverev’s seventh ATP Masters 1000 title and his first title in Paris, showcasing his comeback after a severe ankle injury. He dominated the match, winning 6-2, 6-2, and never faced a break point. The Paris Masters is an annual men’s tennis tournament held in Paris, France.

Notes:
India’s Tanushree Pandey won a silver medal at the World Soft Tennis Championship in Jingshan, China. She narrowly lost the Under-21 Women’s Singles final to Chiang Min Yu of Chinese Taipei, with a score of 3-4. In the semifinal, Tanushree won a close match against her Japanese opponent, 4-3. She also defeated a Chinese player in the quarterfinal with the same scoreline of 4-3.

Notes:
The report, titled ‘Hunger Hotspots’ for the period between November 2024 and May 2025, was published recently. The new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) indicates that acute food insecurity is expected to worsen in 22 countries over the next six months. Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali are on the highest alert. Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, and Niger are newly added hunger hotspots. Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe remain on the list. Climate issues like La Niña may increase floods in Southern Africa and cause drought in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.