Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2024

Notes:
Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on 31 July 2024. He was attacked after attending the swearing-in of Iran’s new president, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas, a militant Palestinian group, aims to destroy Israel and establish an Islamic Palestinian state.

Notes:
India hosts ‘Tarang Shakti,’ largest international air exercise, in two phases: August in Tamil Nadu and September in Rajasthan. The event aims to strengthen strategic relations, inviting 51 countries with 30 participating. Phase one in Tamil Nadu features France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Phase two in Rajasthan includes Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the USA. This exercise enhances collaboration and operational skills.

Notes:
A study found that Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi slowed disease progression over three years. Leqembi is an IV antibody therapy that removes beta-amyloid from the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common dementia, starting with mild memory loss and potentially leading to severe communication and response issues. Symptoms typically appear after age 60, with the risk increasing with age.

Notes:
Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the ‘State Museum Conclave on the upcoming Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum’ in New Delhi. The event aims to gather insights from stakeholders to develop a world-class museum. Minister highlighted India’s growing global interest and the need to showcase its heritage. The Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum, part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, will be the world’s largest museum.

Notes:
Lieutenant General Sadhna Saxena Nair became the first woman to lead the Indian Army’s Medical Services on August 1, 2024. A third-generation armed forces member, she graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College and joined the Army Medical Corps in 1985. She previously served as Director General of Hospital Services and has received numerous honors, including the Vishisht Seva Medal and commendations from top Air Force officials.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Cooperation informed Rajya Sabha about Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), established under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Promoted by IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NDDB, and NCDC, it has an initial capital of Rs. 250 Cr and an authorized capital of Rs. 500 Cr. BBSSL focuses on producing, procuring, and distributing quality seeds to improve crop yield and promote indigenous seeds, with the Ministry of Cooperation as the nodal agency.

Notes:
The Central government’s Rs 72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project plans to build an airport, an international container terminal, and a township. However, it faces legal challenges from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Calcutta High Court due to inadequate impact assessments on Shompen and Nicobarese tribes and improper permissions. The Shompens are hunter-gatherers, and the project could affect the Nicobarese people’s ancestral lands.

Notes:
In a new study, scientists used AI to convert glioblastoma cancer cells into dendritic cells, which help the immune system target and kill cancer. Glioblastoma is a fast-growing brain or spinal cord cancer caused by DNA mutations, originating from astrocytes that support nerve cells. It makes its own blood supply, invades healthy tissue, and is more common in older adults, accounting for nearly half of adult brain tumors.

Notes:
The Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) has launched a global platform to address key issues facing the Thadou community, particularly in Manipur. The Thadou are indigenous people in northeastern India, mainly in Manipur, and also found in Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Myanmar. They practice jhum agriculture, live in forest settlements, and predominantly follow Christianity. The Thadou language is part of the Tibeto-Burman family.

Notes:
The Indian government has approved eight new national high-speed road corridor projects costing Rs 50,655 crore. These projects will construct 936 km of roads, including 8-lane, 6-lane, and 4-lane roads. They aim to enhance connectivity, support economic growth, and generate 4.42 crore mandays of employment. Key projects include corridors in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Assam, with various lengths and costs associated.