Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. India is the third country in the South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone. Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis and affects the eyes. It spreads through contact with secretions from the eyes, eyelids, nose, or throat of infected individuals. If untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness. It primarily affects communities in poor environmental conditions, with 150 million people worldwide at risk, including 6 million who are blind.

Notes:
Russia recently claimed a Kinzhal missile strike on Ukraine. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is a Russian hypersonic, air-launched ballistic missile, operational since December 2017. It can travel at speeds up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/h) and penetrate targets more effectively than slower missiles. The Kinzhal has a range of 1,500-2,000 km and carries a 480 kg nuclear or conventional payload. Launched from MiG-31 jets at 18 km altitude, it can also be deployed from other aircraft like Tu-160M and Su-34. The missile can maneuver during flight to evade air defenses and hit both static and mobile targets, including aircraft carriers.

Notes:
Taiwan’s navy claims China’s military is using an “anaconda strategy” against the island. The strategy is inspired by Union General Winfield Scott’s Civil War plan to suffocate the enemy like an anaconda. China aims to economically and militarily isolate Taiwan, using military movements, psychological tactics, and cyber warfare. The goal is to pressure Taiwan into surrendering without a direct invasion.

Notes:
India’s men’s team won the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships after losing 3-0 to Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals. This is India’s third consecutive bronze in the men’s team event, following 2021 and 2023. India has won a total of seven bronze medals at the Asian Table Tennis Championships. Indian players faced tough competition against higher-ranked opponents.

Notes:
According to recent reports, the Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore) has developed a device utilizing photoacoustic technology for early detection of breast cancer at an affordable cost. The device uses Photoacoustic Spectral Response (PASR) technology, which combines optical and acoustic signals to detect abnormal tissue changes. t aims to enable early breast cancer detection, particularly in rural and remote areas, due to its affordability.

Notes:
Two foreign climbers, Michelle Theresa Dvorak (USA) and Fay Jane Manners (UK), were rescued from 6,015 meters near Chaukhamba III peak in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Chaukhamba is part of the Gangotri Group in the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand. It is located west of Badrinath, near the head of the Gangotri Glacier.

Notes:
The Ministry of Education launched the registration portal for the fifth phase of Yuva Sangam under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Yuva Sangam aims to strengthen connections between youth from different states and union territories. Participants aged 18 to 30 can register on the portal. The registration deadline is the 21st of this month. During the Yuva Sangam tours, participants will receive exposure in five areas: Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Tradition), Pragati (Progress), Paraspar Sampark (Interconnection), and Prodyogiki (Technology) over 5-7 days.

Notes:
Footrot disease is affecting the sheep and goats of Gaddi shepherds in Himachal Pradesh. It is a highly contagious disease affecting the tissue between the toes of ruminants. Footrot is a common cause of lameness in cattle and sheep, leading to significant economic losses. The disease is caused by the Dichelobacter nodosus bacteria along with other bacteria. It spreads through infected feet contaminating the environment and enters through skin injuries. Footrot is seasonal, with the highest occurrence during wet seasons. Controlling footrot in an infected herd is challenging.

Notes:
World Migratory Bird Day is a global campaign to promote international cooperation for the conservation of migratory birds. In 2024, it is celebrated on 11 May and 12 October, reflecting bird migrations in different hemispheres.
The 2024 theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” The theme emphasizes the importance of insects for migratory birds and the need to protect both. The day raises awareness about the role insects play in supporting bird survival and urges action for their protection.

Notes:
Paleontologists discovered a new sauropod dinosaur species, Ardetosaurus viator, in northern Wyoming, USA. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. Ardetosaurus viator belonged to the Diplodocidae family, known for extremely long necks and tails. Sauropods were the largest land animals, existing for 135 million years across various continents except Antarctica. Their success came from unique adaptations like size, an air sac system, specialized feeding, and laying eggs. Diplodocids have been found in North and South America, Europe, and Africa.