Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Astronauts on the International Space Station experience 45 minutes of daylight followed by 45 minutes of darkness in each orbit. This is significantly different from the typical 12-hour day-night cycle on Earth. Thus, the crew at International Space Station witnesses 16 New Year countdowns in a row.

Notes:
China’s President Xi Jinping, in a New Year speech, declared that China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is its “sacred territory.” While Xi did not mention military threats in his speech, China has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Xi emphasized the importance of reunification and called for a common sense of purpose among “compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.” This underscores China’s territorial claim over Taiwan.

Notes:
South Africa has approached the International Court of Justice urging it to declare that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in light of its bombing campaign in Gaza. South Africa has been historically sympathetic to Palestine due to its own experience under apartheid. However, many African nations have softened their stand on Israel over the years.

Notes:
Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on the first day of 2024 for the largest number of people, exceeding 50,000, performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 different venues. This feat was recognized as a significant cultural achievement and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the special significance of the number 108 in Indian culture. The event, which culminated in a state-wide competition, saw a major gathering at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, overseen by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Notes:
Students can enroll in APAAR, the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, through the Digilocker portal. During the registration process, students are required to provide basic details such as their name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph. This online enrollment process facilitates ease of access and simplifies the procedure for students across India, allowing them to seamlessly monitor their academic journey and take advantage of the various benefits offered by the APAAR system. The integration of APAAR with the Academic Bank Credit (ABC) account further enhances the digital management of academic credits, reducing reliance on physical documents and improving academic tracking.

Notes:
NATO announced signing of a $5.5 billion contract by member countries in Europe to purchase up to 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles to bolster security in view of the threat from Russia. The deal comes as Moscow has unleashed barrages of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. Patriot systems supplied by nations like the US and Germany have been used by Kyiv to shoot down Russia’s attacks in the 11-month war.

Notes:
State-owned ONGC won seven out of the ten areas awarded for exploration and production in the latest 8th round of Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bidding. A Reliance-BP joint venture managed to win one block out of the total ten.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of India has submitted nominations for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention for three cities: Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and Udaipur in Rajasthan. These nominations, the first of their kind for Indian cities, aim to recognize the efforts made by these cities in conserving and protecting their urban and peri-urban wetlands. The wetlands in and around these cities, including Sirpur Lake in Indore, Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal, and several lakes around Udaipur, play crucial roles in providing various ecological and socio-economic benefits.

Notes:
Guyana, a country in South America, has recently gained significant prominence in the oil and gas sector, becoming the world’s newest oil producer. This development is highlighted by its recent cooperation with India in the hydrocarbon sector. The discovery of substantial oil reserves and the subsequent increase in production have placed Guyana at the forefront of global energy discussions. The country’s strategic partnership with India, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in areas like crude oil sourcing and exploration, marks a significant step in its emerging role as a key player in the global oil and gas industry.

Notes:
Petr Fiala, serving as the Guest of Honour at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, is the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. His presence at this significant event in Gandhinagar underscores the strengthening ties and cooperation between the Czech Republic and India. The Summit, known for attracting global leaders and investors, is an important platform for international economic and trade discussions. Fiala’s participation, along with other global leaders, highlights the Czech Republic’s active engagement in global economic dialogues and its partnership with India in various sectors.