Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The Conference on Maritime Decarbonization in India, co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports and the Asian Development Bank, concluded in New Delhi. It emphasized the importance of green shipping and sustainable port operations. It aimed to align India’s maritime sector with global climate goals, discussing initiatives like the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines and the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This reflects India’s commitment to transforming its maritime industry for a sustainable future.

Notes:
World Space Week is celebrated from October 4 to 10, 2024. Each year, it follows a theme set by the United Nations General Assembly. The theme for 2024 is “Space and Climate Change.” This theme highlights the role of space science and technology in addressing extreme weather and climate change. It aims to educate and inspire people about how space exploration can improve our understanding and management of Earth’s climate. It focuses on the partnership between space technology and climate science for a better future.

Notes:
Union Health Minister JP Nadda was elected Chairperson of the 77th session of WHO’s Regional Committee for Southeast Asia. The committee shapes WHO’s health policies in the region. The three-day session began in New Delhi and includes health ministers from Southeast Asian nations like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and others. The focus is on improving public health systems and addressing key epidemiological and demographic challenges.

Notes:
Odisha has reported the presence of rare melanistic leopards, known as black panthers, in three forest divisions based on the All Odisha Leopard Estimation-2024. This species is particularly vulnerable to poaching, and the state is taking measures to protect them. The survey revealed a total of 696 leopards in Odisha, an increase from previous estimates, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts in the region, especially in the Similipal Tiger Reserve, which also houses unique Royal Bengal tigers.

Notes:
The 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit are being hosted by Lao PDR, the current ASEAN Chair. India is celebrating a decade of its Act East Policy, with ASEAN relations as a key focus. The ASEAN-India Summit will assess the progress of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss future cooperation. The East Asia Summit fosters strategic trust and allows leaders to discuss important regional issues. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings during the summits.

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:
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their groundbreaking work in machine learning with artificial neural networks. Machine Learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) focused on creating systems that learn from data. ML enables systems to adapt and improve as they gain more experience. Algorithms in ML identify relationships and patterns in data, making predictions and classifying information.

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Navy received Nirdeshak, the second of four Survey Vessel ships, built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata. Nirdeshak features over 80% indigenous content, reflecting the commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ These are the largest survey vessels in India, designed for comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels. The ship will also gather oceanographic and geophysical data for both defense and civil applications.

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.