Current Affairs Quiz- November, 2019

Notes:
In New Delhi, the first-ever National Agrochemicals Congress (NAC) was conducted by Society of Pesticide Science India at IARI, Pusa under the theme “Country’s Status on various fronts of Agro chemicals”. The 4-day long Congress is conducted in view of the role chemical pesticides still continue to play in pest management as more and more target specific and environment friendly products are being introduced. 

Notes:
The first-ever joint naval exercise titled “Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea)” has started between Qatar & India in Doha. The exercise would strengthen cooperation and increase interoperability between the two navies.

Notes:
Elon Musk-run SpaceX has recently launched 60 “Starlink” satellites into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida that will bring cheaper  and reliable space-based internet access to the world. The “Starlink” satellites will be deployed at an altitude of 280 km to beam broadband Internet services. These satellites are part of the 2nd batch of SpaceXs broadband Internet mega constellation. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth-orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable.  The Starlink network is one of several ongoing efforts to start beaming data signals from space, and also the most ambitious.

Notes:
The United States has recently declared that Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land “West Bank “ donot violate international laws. The US declaration marks the rejection of a 2016 UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that settlements on the West Bank are a “flagrant violation” of international law and the US legal position on the issue since 1978. It is also a rejection of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which outlaws transfers of population by an occupying power, and a new rift with US allies in Europe and in the Islamic world.

Notes:
On the occasion of World Fisheries Day (WFD-2019), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister  Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched  a welfare scheme – YSR Matsyakara Bharosa – for fishermen. Under this scheme, 1,32,332 fishermen in the 21-60 age group will get an enhanced monetary relief of Rs 10,000 each during the marine ban and lean period every year between April and June. Also, the subsidy on diesel has been increased from Rs 6.03 to Rs 9 per litre, applicable to the mechanised (3000 Ltrs) and motorized boats (300 Ltrs) for 10 months every year.

Notes:
The World Fisheries Day (WFD) is observed every year on 21st of November across the world by the fisherfolk community to ensure sustainable stocks of fisheries and healthy oceans ecosystems. Fisheries is an important sector in India that provides employment to millions of people apart from contributing to the food security of the country. India has over 8,000 km of coastline, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 2 million sq km, and extensive freshwater resources.

Notes:
The World Television Day (WTD) is observed every year on 21st of November across the world to acknowledge the role of broadcast media. The day also marks the commitment of governments, news organisations and individuals to deliver unbiased information in times when veracity of content on social media is questionable.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to legalize the cultivation of cannabis in the state for medical and industrial purpose.  It is clear that the farmers can only sell their produce to the government and not to private buyers. The government will allow the farming of hemp (a type of marijuana) for medical purposes like in the treatment of cancer. Hemp with a Tetra-Hydro-Cannabinol (THC) content of 0.3 to 1.5% can be used for industrial purposes like in the manufacturing of fiber.

Notes:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) hosted the first-ever Counter Terrorism Table Top Exercise (CTTE) for the Quad countries at its headquarters in Delhi on November 21-22, 2019. The Quad countries include the United States (US), India, Australia, and Japan. According to the NIA, the exercise was to assess and validate Counter Terrorism  (CT) response mechanisms in the light of emerging terrorist threats. It also aims to provide opportunities to share the best practices and to explore areas for enhanced cooperation amongst participating countries.

Notes:
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD of Biocon, has been conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for her outstanding achievement in healthcare and contribution to the society at large. She was also recognised for her philanthropic efforts and providing better healthcare to people in India and globally through cost-effective life-saving therapies and increasing access to healthcare at the grassroots. Bill Gates gave away this award to Mazumdar-Shaw in New Delhi on Nov 17 at an event to mark the celebration of 108th Foundation Day of ICMR.