Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2024

Notes:
Saudi Arabia is launching the “Dream of the Desert” train service in late 2025. The 800-mile trip will start in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital city, and travel northwest toward the border with Jordan. The route will pass through long stretches of scenic deserts and UNESCO World Heritage archeological sites.

Notes:
OpenAI has introduced Sora, a cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model capable of transforming text prompts into high-quality videos up to a minute in length. GenAI utilizes machine learning to produce content by learning patterns from training data. Sora maintains visual excellence and follows user prompts, showcasing the potential of AI in creative content generation.

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 Nagi Bird Festival is associated with the state of Bihar. The Bihar government’s Forest and Environment department hosts the three-day festival in Jamui, the district’s Nagi bird sanctuary. The festival’s primary objective is to educate people on migratory birds and their habitats, and to promote bird conservation.

Notes:
‘Anuvadini’ is an AI-driven multilingual translation app designed in-house, enabling rapid conversion of English content into various languages via machine learning, supplemented by expert reviews. In the last two years, it has translated numerous textbooks for Ekumbh, an online platform. The initiative also offers 12 regional language choices for national entrance exams, showcasing substantial progress in the realm of AI-based language translation.

Notes:
Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, known as the banana city, is hosting its annual Banana Festival in collaboration with the district administration. The two-day event, under the One-District One-Product programme, highlights Burhanpur’s agricultural strength with 23,650 hectares of banana cultivation involving 18,325 farmers. The region yields an impressive 16 lakh metric tonnes of bananas, contributing to a significant sales turnover of 1,700 crore rupees. The festival aims to attract investment by showcasing Burhanpur’s agricultural prowess to companies, experts, and scientists nationwide.

Notes:
The Odisha government has launched the ‘Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy 2024′ to enhance sanitation services, emphasizing a circular economy, community partnership, and disaster resilience. Issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, it aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, reflecting the state’s commitment to improving citizens’ access to sanitation infrastructure. The policy is part of Odisha’s broader Swachh Odisha, Sustha Odisha movement, focusing on urban sanitation initiatives to enhance infrastructure and service delivery.

Notes:
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:
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has named Indian cricketer Shubman Gill as the state icon for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Gill will participate in various election campaigns to raise voter awareness and increase turnout in the state. Punjabi singer Tarsem Jassar has also been selected as a “state icon” and will conduct similar campaigns.

Notes:
Prasuma, an Indian frozen food brand, became the first and only Indian food brand to win an International Taste Award in February 2024. The judging criteria for the award focuses on parameters like first impression, vision, olfaction, taste, and texture.