Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
Scientists are exploring hydrothermal vents on Svalbard’s Knipovich Ridge, a 500-km-long ridge in the Arctic Ocean. Svalbard, discovered in 1596 by Willem Barentsz, is an Arctic archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty. It lies between the North Pole and Norway, covering 61,022 sq.km with a majority glaciated. Featuring Spitsbergen as its largest island, Svalbard experiences Arctic conditions, including midnight sun and polar night due to its location in the Arctic Circle.

Notes:
A tourist from Haryana drowned in the Parvati River near Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh, while taking photos. The Parvati River, a major tributary of the Beas River, rises from the Man Talai Glacier at 5200 meters. It flows 150 km through the Parvati Valley, passing Malana and Manikaran, collecting water from glacial streams and monsoons. It merges with the Beas River at Bhuntar. The river also has geothermal springs.

Notes:
Due to continued rain in Kerala, the health department cautioned against amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare, usually fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba thrives in warm, shallow waters and enters the brain through the nose. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and vomiting, progressing to stiff neck, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Symptoms typically appear within five days of infection.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship Tabar recently visited Alexandria, Egypt, highlighting India’s commitment to bilateral relations. INS Tabar, a Talwar-class stealth frigate commissioned in 2004 in Russia, embodies the motto “Guts and Glory.” This visit underscores India’s strategic maritime engagement, emphasizing regional cooperation and naval capabilities.

Notes:
After several decades, the locally extinct Indian gaur has been spotted in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh. Known as the largest and tallest wild cattle, the gaur (Bos gaurus) is native to South and Southeast Asia. They inhabit evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests with open grasslands, preferring hilly terrains below 1,500-1,800 meters with large, undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.

Notes:
Kerala has developed an inclusive sports manual to nurture the talents of differently abled children in sports. The programme encourages participation from individuals with various disabilities alongside those without. It marks a pioneering effort in India, aiming to support parents in facilitating sports activities for their children, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities in sports participation.

Notes:
In Bengaluru, the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) has developed an innovative anti-insecticide fabric. This fabric utilizes nucleophilic small molecules that covalently bond to neutralize organophosphate-based pesticides upon contact, even after 150 washes. It aims to protect farmers from chronic pesticide toxicity by detoxifying pesticides through nucleophile-mediated hydrolysis. Nucleophiles are attracted to electron-deficient areas in molecules, enabling effective pesticide neutralization and enhancing agricultural safety.

Notes:
The Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS) commenced at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with Chief Guest Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma inaugurating. Key attendees included AIPMA and CPMA leaders. Verma highlighted the need for collaborative efforts and government initiatives like the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. Smt. Mercy Epao emphasized MSME’s support. The conference aims to address plastic waste management, with India’s industry projected to reach $6.9 billion by 2033.

Notes:
Sir Keir Starmer has been appointed as the UK’s 58th Prime Minister by King Charles III on 5 July 2024. His Labour Party won a landslide victory, securing 412 out of 650 House of Commons seats. He replaces Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, whose party won only 119 seats. Starmer will reside at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister.

Notes:
Recent volatility in the Stablecoin market, including the collapse of TerraUSD, has raised concerns about their stability and reliability. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like fiat currency or commodities (e.g., gold) to maintain a stable price. They offer an alternative to the high volatility of popular cryptocurrencies, making them potentially more suitable for everyday transactions.