Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2023

Notes:
In response to a sharp increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome cases, Peru has announced a national emergency.
This condition causes the immune system to mistakenly target nerves, potentially resulting in paralysis. Guillain–Barré syndrome is rare, found in 1 or 2 cases per 100,000 people every year.

Notes:
As per the World Meteorological Organization, the week at beginning of July was the hottest week on record for the planet as a whole,
The year 2023 had already seen the hottest June on record as per the WMO, which is primarily driven by climate change and the early stages of an El Niño weather pattern.

Notes:
In the coming months, the initial trial runs of buses powered by hydrogen are expected to commence in Delhi, with other states to follow suit.
In this trial, the hydrogen-powered buses operate similarly to electric buses, as hydrogen reacts with a ‘fuel cell’ battery to generate electricity without generating any carbon emissions.

Notes:
Emma Reyes, who is known as “godmother” of Latin American was a realism painter and writer from Bogota, Colombia. Her birth anniversary was observed recently on 9^th July.
She was orphaned at a young age, and she spent much of her childhood in orphanages. Despite these challenges, she realized her dream of becoming successful painter and sculptor.

Notes:
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has made an announcement of his departure from the political arena.
After assuming power in a coup as the army chief in 2014, he has held Thailand’s highest position and governed the country since then.

Notes:
INS Sunayna recently took part in Op Southern Readiness 2023 organized by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Seychelles.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen relationships between multiple nations and promote cooperation through the CMF exercise. The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa.

Notes:
The Kaas Plateau, situated in the Western Ghats and recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2012, derived its name from the Kaasa tree (Elaeocarpus glandulosus), also known as Kaas Pathar in Marathi, belonging to the rudraksha family.
A recent research conducted on sediment samples from a seasonal lake located in the Kaas Plateau of the Satara district in Maharashtra, India, has revealed a significant change in the Indian Summer Monsoons.

Notes:
‘Block 20’, previously referred to as Block 8, is a substantial land-based exploration block located in Iraq’s Western Desert, covering an area of 10,500 square kilometers.
Centre is looking at resuming operations of state-run ONGC Videsh Ltd’s (OVL) hydrocarbon exploration block in Iraq, which has been under force majeure since 2003.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has granted approval for amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act,1957.
These amendments will enable the commercial mining of several minerals, including lithium, as well as beryllium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, and zirconium. Consequently, the ban on commercial mining of these six critical minerals will be lifted.

Notes:
Assam has initiated the ‘Gajah Kotha’ campaign to address the growing issue of human-elephant conflict (HEC) by involving more than 1,200 individuals in promoting coexistence.
The campaign focuses on villages in eastern Assam affected by HEC, aiming to educate residents about the behavior, ecology, and cultural significance of elephants in the region while emphasizing the importance of their conservation efforts.