Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Shigeru Ishiba was appointed as the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan by Emperor Naruhito after approval by the lower house of the Japanese Parliament. Ishiba, aged 67, replaces Fumio Kishida, who resigned due to political scandals. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan almost continuously since 1955, elected Ishiba as its leader on 27 October 2024.

Notes:
The forest department held its first ‘Cyclothon’ to celebrate World Wildlife Week 2024 at the Kawal Tiger Reserve’s buffer zone. Kawal Tiger Reserve is in north-eastern Telangana, along the Godavari River. It covers an area of 2,015 sq. km in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges. The government declared it a Tiger Reserve in 2012. The reserve features diverse habitats, including forests, grasslands, rivers, and water bodies. It is part of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, connecting to Tadoba-Andhari in Maharashtra and Indravati in Chhattisgarh.

Notes:
The body of an eight-year-old tiger was recently found near Amangarh Tiger Reserve. Amangarh Tiger Reserve is located in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh. It covers approximately 9,500 hectares, which is about 95 square kilometers. The reserve is next to the Corbett Tiger Reserve and acts as an important corridor for Asiatic elephants, tigers, and other wildlife. Originally part of Jim Corbett National Park, Amangarh remained in Uttar Pradesh after Uttarakhand was formed from it.

Notes:
The Marburg virus, part of the filovirus family, is one of the deadliest pathogens, with case fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%. The recent outbreak in Rwanda has already resulted in 12 deaths among 46 infections, predominantly affecting medical workers. Marburg spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials. Initial symptoms include high fever and severe headache, progressing to hemorrhagic symptoms. Currently, there are no approved vaccines, but experimental treatments are being sought, highlighting the urgent need for effective healthcare responses in affected regions.

Notes:
The Union cabinet, led by PM Modi, approved the continuation of fortified rice distribution under all government schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), from July 2024 to December 2028. The initiative is fully funded by the Centre, providing a unified mechanism for implementation. India faces high malnutrition levels, especially among women and children, with widespread deficiencies in iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows high anaemia rates, with every second woman anaemic and every third child stunted. Rice, a staple food in India, is ideal for fortification to address malnutrition and improve health.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences approved the installation of an X-band radar in Kerala’s Wayanad district after recent floods and landslides. An X-band radar emits radiation in the 8-12 GHz frequency range, producing high-resolution images due to its shorter wavelengths. While higher frequencies lead to faster attenuation, the radar’s applications include monitoring particle movements, such as soil, to provide landslide warnings. The radar will also conduct high temporal sampling, allowing it to quickly detect particle movements. X-band radars are often used to study cloud development and light precipitation.

Notes:
A new weapon known as “dragon drones” is being used in the Russia-Ukraine war. These drones release thermite, a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide originally developed for welding railroad tracks. When ignited, thermite causes a self-sustaining reaction that is difficult to extinguish. It can burn through various materials, including clothing, trees, and military vehicles, and causes severe burns and bone damage to humans. Dragon drones combine thermite with precision technology, making them highly effective and dangerous. While the use of thermite in war is legal, targeting civilians with incendiary weapons is prohibited under international law.

Notes:
Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari and Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river-linking projects. These projects aim to address water scarcity in North Maharashtra and Marathwada regions. The total cost of the projects is ₹15,710 crore. The Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari project received ₹13,497 crore in funding, providing 160.97 MLD of water and irrigating 33,110 hectares. The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari project was approved with ₹2,213 crore, supplying 100 MLD of water and irrigating 12,998 hectares. These initiatives aim to significantly improve irrigation and water availability, especially in Sinnar taluka, Nashik district.

Notes:
The SARAS Ajeevika Mela is being organized by the Ministry of Rural Development and NIRDPR from 13th to 29th October 2024 in Gurugram. Over 900 rural women artisans from around 30 states are participating. The fair showcases diverse products, including Tussar sarees, Bagh prints, Patola sarees, Katha sarees, and Rajasthani prints. Products include wooden crafts from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, dry fruits and handloom items from Jammu and Kashmir, and Palash and natural food from Jharkhand, representing rural culture across India.

Notes:
NASA launched the Europa Clipper spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, and its potential to sustain life. The spacecraft will travel 3 billion kilometers in a nearly 10-year mission. Europa is believed to have a deep ocean, possibly 120 km beneath its icy surface. In 2013, Hubble detected geysers on Europa, suggesting thermal vents that could support life. The mission aims to study these vents for signs of life. Europa Clipper is NASA’s largest spacecraft, powered by solar panels, with a budget of $5.2 billion.