Current Affairs Quiz - January 2022

Notes:
India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for her contribution across all formats in 2021. She was short-listed for ‘the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy’
The Indian T20 Vice-Captain is only the second India woman player to bag an ICC award after veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who was named the ICC Player of the Year in 2007. England captain Root was named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2021 and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021.

Notes:
Russia has supplied the first batch of 70,000 rifles, as a part of the AK-203 Deal to manufacture the AK 203 assault rifles in India.
The first batch is likely to be used by the air force, while the rifles to be manufactured at the Amethi factory will be delivered to the army. The manufacturing will be done by Indo Russian Rifles Private Limitedm, Joint Venture between Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd (erstwhile OFB) and Russian Rosoboronexport.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia and Thailand have ended a 30-year dispute over a scandal involving stolen jewels and a series of murders. Saudi Arabian Airlines has announced to restart direct flights to Thailand.
The resumption of full diplomatic ties came during a visit to Riyadh by Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. Gems stolen from Saudi had a rare 50 carat blue diamond, which was never recovered. The dispute has cost a huge dip in trade and led to job losses for Thai Migrant workers.

Notes:
Scientists from IIT Kharagpur have developed a portable, inexpensive device for detecting oral cancer. The estimated cost per device is within USD500.
The new technology enables a clinician in a community health centre detect potential vulnerable cases early enough, during the first examination.

Notes:
In new research, a team of scientists at Tufts University demonstrated long-term regrowth of limbs in an African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).
They achieved this restoration of an amputated hindlimb after a 24-hour exposure to a five-drug cocktail delivered by a silicone wearable bioreactor. The researchers are exploring ways to extend this to human beings

Notes:
‘International Customs Day’ is observed every year on January 26, across the world with the United Nations as the host. It recognises the role of customs officials and agencies in ensuring flow of goods across the world borders.
The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) announced the observance of ICD in 1953. CCC was renamed as World Customs Organization (WCO) in 1994. The theme of 2022 is ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’.

Notes:
The Lok Sabha secretariat has launched a new app, Digital Sansad, which enables people to follow the proceedings in Parliament.
It also contains the live telecast of Sansad proceedings. Citizens can access general information on MPs, on budget speeches since 1947, House discussions from 12th Lok Sabha to 17th Lok Sabha.The app will also help members of parliament access services such as checking personal updates.

Notes:
France’s Justice Ministry has been hit by cyber-attack from a group known as LockBit 2.0. The group locked the ministry’s files and asking for ransom from the Government.
The country has launched investigation on the attack. As per government sources, no criminal records have been affected.

Notes:
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) is a public pharmaceutical research institution under India’s Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya launched NIPER Research Portal, to disseminate the information about all seven NIPERs and their research activities.

Notes:
Xiomara Castro has been sworn in as the first female president of Honduras. It is a Central American country with Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south.
12 years ago, She led a massive protest movement in response to the ousting of her husband, Former President Manuel Mel Zelaya, in a military-backed coup. Honduras ha the highest rate of femicide in Latin America and repressive laws related to reproductive rights.