Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2024

Notes:
Ecuador declared a national emergency for 60 days due to forest fires, water shortages, and severe drought. The country is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years. The drought has caused losses of 40,000 hectares of crops and over 44,000 farm animals. The emergency aims to address the crisis and provide relief to affected areas.

Notes:
India hosts the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) conference from November 25-30, 2024, marking the first time this event occurs in its 130-year history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025’ at this conference, which expects around 3,000 delegates, including 1,000 from abroad. The event aims to showcase India’s cooperative movement, which comprises 25% of global cooperatives, with 800,000 cooperatives operating in the country. The theme is ‘Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All’, promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.

Notes:
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Defence Minister, and Hamas officials for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC is the only permanent international criminal tribunal, established by the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute defines the ICC’s jurisdiction, structures, and functions, coming into force on 1 July 2002. The ICC investigates and tries individuals accused of grave crimes like genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.

Notes:
A recent fish kill in Ashtamudi Lake highlights issues like sewage contamination, plastic pollution, encroachments, and uncontrolled weed growth. Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar wetland in Kerala’s Kollam district, is the state’s second-largest lake. Its name means “Eight Braids” in Malayalam, reflecting its palm-shaped topography with eight channels. The lake connects to the sea via the Neendakara estuary and is primarily fed by the Kallada River. Historically significant, it was a major port in the 14th century, as noted by explorer Ibn Battuta. The region hosts diverse mangroves, including endangered species Syzygium travancoricum and Calamus rotang.

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:
Chikkamagaluru health officials are on alert to prevent Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also called Monkey Fever. KFD is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease first reported in Karnataka’s Kyasanur Forest in 1957. The disease is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus, part of the tick-borne encephalitis complex. It spreads through tick bites or contact with infected animals, especially monkeys, but not between humans. Symptoms include high fever, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes neurological or haemorrhagic issues. With a 5–10% fatality rate, there is no cure; supportive care is vital. A vaccine is available in affected regions.

Notes:
The Reang community, also known as Bru, demands a holiday in Tripura on Hojagiri Day, celebrating their traditional dance. Reangs are the second-largest tribal community in Tripura and the state’s only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They are found in Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam, with a population of around 188,080. The Reangs trace their origins to Shan State in Myanmar and migrated to Tripura in different waves.

Notes:
The third edition of Nayi Chetna 3.0 – Pahal Badlaav Ki was launched to combat gender-based violence. It is organized by DAY-NRLM under the Ministry of Rural Development, it runs from 25th November to 23rd December 2024 across India. The campaign is led by the Self-Help Group network and aims to raise awareness and promote grassroots action. It embodies a people’s movement with the slogan “Ek Saath, Ek Awaaz, Hinsa Ke Khilaaf” (United Voice Against Violence). The initiative involves collaboration across nine key Ministries and Departments.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the “One Nation One Subscription” scheme for nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journals. It will be administered through a digital, user-friendly process for government higher education institutions and central R&D labs. The scheme supports research and innovation, complementing the ANRF initiative. Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) will coordinate the national subscription, providing access to journals through a unified portal. The scheme covers all government-managed higher education and R&D institutions. Rs. 6,000 crore is allocated for the scheme from 2025 to 2027. It enhances the government’s education initiatives and access to quality higher education.

Notes:
Paleontologists recently discovered a new species of pterosaur, Nipponopterus mifunensis, from Japan’s Late Cretaceous period. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that thrived throughout the Mesozoic Era. They were the first vertebrates to fly, using strong forelegs to launch into the air. Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs but are archosaurs, sharing a group with birds and crocodiles. The largest flying vertebrate, Quetzalcoatlus, was a pterosaur. They went extinct about 65.5 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Birds, descendants of dinosaurs, replaced pterosaurs as dominant flyers.