Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) is taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from October 29-31. This conference brings African nations into the global discussion on climate change and its health impacts, where Africa faces high burdens of climate-sensitive diseases. More than 400 participants, including government officials, health and climate experts, and researchers, attended the conference. It focuses on sharing innovations, best practices, and solutions to build climate resilience in health.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the Deepam 2.0 scheme in Edupuram, Srikakulam district, as part of the “Super Six Promises” initiative. The scheme aims to provide free gas cylinders to eligible families to enhance their quality of life. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve living conditions and promote clean cooking energy in households, thereby enhancing health and safety. The scheme also includes financial support for women, aiming to reduce their financial burdens and reliance on traditional cooking methods, ultimately fostering women’s empowerment in the state.

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Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has been declared Botswana’s sixth president by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane. Botswana’s electoral law requires a party to win at least 31 of 61 National Assembly seats to secure victory. UDC has gained 34 seats, while the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secured only four seats. Outgoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat as preliminary results confirmed the BDP lost its parliamentary majority after almost 60 years in power. The BDP has governed Botswana, a diamond-rich nation, since its independence in 1966.

Notes:
The fifth Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 conducted in Ambala, Haryana. VINBAX-2024 aims to strengthen the joint military capabilities of India and Vietnam. For the first time, the exercise includes Bi-Service participation, with personnel from both countries’ Army and Air Force. India’s contingent consists of 47 members, mainly from a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers, alongside personnel from other services.

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At least 10 people died in eastern Indonesia after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, prompting nearby village evacuations. It is located on Flores Island, Indonesia. The volcano is in East Nusa Tenggara province. Mount Lewotobi is part of a twin-volcano system, with Lewotobi Laki-laki (male) erupting, while Lewotobi Perempuan (female) remains inactive. Both are stratovolcanoes, formed by repeated layers of lava, making them common globally. Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic eruptions as it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area prone to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis due to active tectonic plates.

Notes:
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Abhay Prabhavana Museum in Pune, India’s largest museum dedicated to Jain philosophy and heritage. Set on 50 acres along the Indrayani river, it features 30 galleries showcasing the essence of Jain philosophy through interactive exhibits, artworks, and advanced technology. The museum aims to attract over 2,000 visitors daily and will include a separate children’s section to simplify complex concepts, making it a global cultural landmark.

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The Tumaini Festival in Malawi, founded in 2014, is an annual cultural event held within the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It is unique as the only festival held in a refugee camp and is organized entirely by refugees. The festival promotes community, solidarity, and cultural exchange between refugees and locals. It attracts thousands of attendees and features music, dance, theater, and visual arts from global performers. Tumaini Festival received the Cultures of Resistance Award in 2024, highlighting its impact and significance.

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The US Army is conducting a test launch of the Minuteman III hypersonic nuclear missile after Election Day voting closes. The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) used by the United States (US). It became operational in the 1970s and is the sole land-based component of the US nuclear triad. Designed by Boeing, it was originally meant for ten years of service but has been modernized. The missile was the first to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The US currently has about 440 Minuteman III missiles in its arsenal, with a replacement planned for 2029.

Notes:
India will launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission from Sriharikota next month. Proba-3 is ESA’s first mission focused on precision formation flying. It will demonstrate two satellites creating an artificial eclipse to study the Sun’s faint corona. The mission includes a Coronagraph satellite and an Occulter satellite flying 150 meters apart. The Occulter will block the Sun’s light, allowing the Coronagraph to image the corona. The mission aims to understand solar mass ejections and track solar energy changes impacting Earth’s climate.

Notes:
Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, known as ‘Bihar Kokila,’ passed away at 72 on 5 November 2024. She was suffering from multiple myeloma and died at AIIMS, New Delhi, on the first day of Chhath Puja. Sinha was celebrated for her Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magadhi songs, especially for Chhath Puja and Vivah Geet, which resonated widely in Bihar. She received the Padma Bhushan (2018), Padma Shri (1991), and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.