Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
The Global Freight Summit 2024 started in Dubai on November 18, hosted by DP World. More than 5,000 leaders from 155 countries are attending the three-day event. The theme is “Acting today to reach the opportunities of tomorrow.” Discussions focus on AI, blockchain, sustainable shipping, and resilient trade routes. Indian firms like Wipro, Tech Mahindra, and SRM Tech are participating.

Notes:
India’s GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite was launched by SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket. It was developed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), under ISRO’s Department of Space. GSAT-N2 operates in the Ka-band and supports high-throughput communication with a capacity of 48 Gbps. It offers data and internet services to remote areas and in-flight connectivity across India. The satellite features 32 user beams: 8 for the Northeast and 24 for the rest of India. It weighs 4,700 kg, has a mission life of 14 years, and supports India’s Smart Cities Mission.

Notes:
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu urged all FAO Members and partners to join the newly launched Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The initiative was officially launched by Brazil at the G20 Leader’s Summit. It aims to accelerate progress toward eradicating poverty and hunger by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2. The alliance also focuses on reducing inequalities as part of SDG 10. It is an ambitious platform, created under Brazil’s G20 presidency, to drive urgent action towards these global goals.

Notes:
IIT Bombay scientists developed AroTrack, a portable and economical device for detecting water pollutants like phenol and benzene. AroTrack addresses increasing water pollution from industrialization, urbanization, and unregulated effluent discharge. It uses bacterial proteins from polluted environments to identify aromatic pollutants through ATP hydrolysis. A chemical reaction in the protein solution causes a color change, which the device detects. The compact device is slightly smaller than a small projector and highly robust. AroTrack is considered a potential game-changer for sustainable water pollution monitoring and management.

Notes:
The 2023 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development was awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad. Ali Abu Awwad is a Palestinian peace activist promoting peaceful conflict resolution in the Middle East. Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine-born classical pianist, uses music to foster harmony in West Asia. The prize, established in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, includes ₹25 lakh and a citation. It honors individuals or institutions for exemplary contributions to humanity and the planet. In 2022, it was awarded to the Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notes:
The Australian government has introduced a bill that aims to ban social media access for children under 16 years of age. This legislation requires platforms like TikTok and Facebook to implement age verification measures. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the need for social media companies to take responsibility for user safety, citing concerns about the mental health impacts on children. This reform is seen as one of the strictest globally regarding social media access for minors.

Notes:
India’s first Constitution Museum was inaugurated on November 23, 2024, at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat, Haryana. The museum was launched by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the National Convention on the Constitution of India. It celebrates the 75-year journey of the Indian Constitution and pays tribute to its architects. The museum features sections dedicated to the Constitution’s parts, their significance, and the historical debates behind its creation. The initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the Constitution and serve as a key educational destination.

Notes:
A new frog species named Raorchestes asakgrensis was discovered in Meghalaya. It is named after the Eman Asakgre Community Reserve in Garo Hills to honor local conservation efforts. The frog is arboreal, found at 174 meters elevation, with a pointed snout and visible tympanum. Males measure 20.49 mm in snout-vent length, and females are slightly larger at 22.8 mm. Males call from shrubs at dusk, perched 1.5 meters or higher, with peak calling activity after the first monsoon rains.

Notes:
Researchers spotted a large adult antlion, Palpares contrarius, resembling a dragonfly, for the first time in Tamil Nadu on the Madras Christian College campus. Antlions belong to the order Neuroptera and family Myrmeliontidae, with predatory larvae that trap ants in sandy pits. Found worldwide, mainly in dry, sandy areas, they are hard to spot during the day but visible at night near lights. Adults resemble damselflies but have softer bodies, lacy wings, and long clubbed antennae. Antlions are harmless, weak fliers, and beneficial by feeding on insects like ants.

Notes:
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed on 24 November to honor the ninth Sikh Guru’s sacrifice. Born as Teyag Mal, he was named Teg Bahadur by his father, Guru Hargobind Sahib, due to his battlefield skills. He was known as “Hind ki Chadar” or the ‘Shield of India.’ Guru Tegh Bahadur founded Anandpur Sahib and contributed over 100 hymns to the Granth Sahib. He played a diplomatic role in avoiding war between Raja Bishan Singh and Raja Paranpal. Arrested by Aurangzeb in 1665, he was beheaded in 1675, and his martyrdom is remembered on 24 November.