Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
NASA and Japan’s space agency, JAXA, are planning to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, in 2024. The satellite is designed to reduce space debris and is made of biodegradable magnolia wood, known as Hoonoki in Japanese. The satellite is being developed by scientists at Kyoto University. First tests have been performed in space-simulating laboratories, and wood samples found no signs of damage, decomposition, or mass changes. The initiative aims to make spaceflight operations more sustainable and pave the way for a more sustainable future in orbit.

Notes:
The Sominsai festival, deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, recently marked its millennium-long legacy’s final celebration. This ancient tradition, occurring on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, showcased fervent nude wrestling matches among hundreds of men over wooden talismans. The festival, a captivating spectacle of tradition and spirituality, has left an indelible mark on Japan’s cultural landscape.

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A child-friendly police station has been inaugurated in Maharashtra’s Dhule district at Azadnagar Police Station. Conceived by District Collector Abhinav Goyal and Women and Child Development Officer Rajendra Birari, the initiative aims to create a safe and enjoyable space for children. A room on the ground floor is adorned with child-friendly pictures. District SP Shrikant Dhiware praised the effort, stressing the collective responsibility of the juvenile justice system to ensure children’s safety and well-being. He urged incorporating child-friendly practices for a fear-free environment.

Notes:
Russia recently conducted a Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite (DA-ASAT) test, destroying the Tselina-D SIGINT satellite (Kosmos-1408). The U.S. criticized the test due to the significant debris it generated in low Earth orbit, posing a threat to the International Space Station. Russia has possessed ASAT capabilities since 1968. Anti-satellite weapons are designed to disable operational satellites, and China, India, Russia, and the United States have demonstrated successful ASAT capabilities.

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The “Aarogya-Doctors on Wheels” initiative has been introduced in Udhampur, J&K, featuring an AI-driven Tele Clinic to offer healthcare in remote areas. Patients can describe their ailments in their native language, and the AI doctor comprehends and responds in the same language. This free telemedicine service addresses challenges of accessibility, availability, and affordability, bringing healthcare solutions to underserved regions.

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Astronomers announced the discovery of J0529-4351, the brightest and fastest-growing quasar to date. This quasar harbors a supermassive black hole 17 billion times the Sun’s mass. Quasars are active galactic nuclei (AGNs), fueled by supermassive black holes at a galaxy’s center. Not all AGNs are quasars, which form in regions of high matter density. Quasars are exceptionally luminous and powerful cosmic phenomena, arising from active galaxies with intense matter consumption, leading to the formation of spiraling accretion disks.

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France leads the Henley Passport Index 2024 with visa-free access to 194 countries. European nations like Germany, Italy, and Spain, benefiting from EU influence, also rank high. India, now at 85th place, improved visa-free access to 62 countries but dropped one position. Maldives, India’s maritime neighbor, stands at 58th place with visa-free access to 96 countries, highlighting its global travel flexibility.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami introduced ‘Himalayan Basket’ at his residence, a venture initiated in 2018 by Sumit and Sneha Thapliyal. This initiative involves purchasing agricultural products such as milk, turmeric, and mint, processing them into various products, and supplying them internationally.

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Kathmandu recently hosted the multinational military exercise ‘Shanti Prayas IV,’ becoming a hub for global peacekeeping efforts. The event involved army representatives from 19 nations engaged in UN Peacekeeping missions, emphasizing collaborative dedication to global peace and security. Co-hosted by the Nepali Army and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the exercise highlighted the robust military cooperation between Nepal and the United States.

Notes:
In February 2024, India contributed $1 million to the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation. India has been a regular contributor to the fund since its inception, contributing a total of $15.1 million. The IBSA Fund’s projects aim to help partner countries in the Global South achieve their national priorities and other internationally agreed development goals.