Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Krishna M Ella, co-founder of Bharat Biotech, now heads the Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association (IVMA) for 2024-2026. He succeeds Adar C Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII). Ella aims to enhance collaboration among vaccine manufacturers, researchers, and policymakers to expedite vaccine development and bolster production. IVMA also prioritizes enabling access to affordable vaccines in developing nations. SII, under Poonawalla, pioneered the Covishield vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
The United States has rejected nearly one-third of shipments from Mahashian Di Hatti Pvt Ltd (MDH) since October 2023 due to salmonella contamination. Salmonella, a bacteria found in animals’ intestines and feces, causes gastrointestinal illness. It spreads to humans through contact with contaminated items or animals. Salmonella can survive for weeks in dry environments and months in water. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with severe cases requiring medical attention.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful test of the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system on May 1, 2024, from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha coast. The test validated advanced mechanisms like symmetric separation and velocity control. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chief Dr Samir V Kamat praised the SMART team. SMART is a next-gen lightweight torpedo delivery system boosting Indian Navy’s anti-submarine capabilities, featuring a supersonic missile carrier with a 643 km range and a 20 km lightweight torpedo.

Notes:
Daryapur arachnologist unveils Peucetia chhaparajnirvin, a new green lynx spider species. Found in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, it’s named after the locale. Typically dwelling on Vachellia nilotica leaves, its green hue aids camouflage for ambushing prey. With swift legs, it hunts nocturnally, feasting on small insects. Lynx spiders, known for their active hunting style sans webs, belong to the family Oxyopidae in the order Araneida.

Notes:
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approves renovation of Kankesanthurai Port, funded entirely by India. The port, located in the Northern Province, spans about 16 acres and is 104 km from Karaikal Port in Puducherry, India. The decision underscores efforts to enhance connectivity and infrastructure in the region. Additionally, a direct passenger ship service links Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai, covering 111 km in around three and a half hours.

Notes:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces its largest Mpox outbreak, with a new strain detected in a mining town, posing higher transmission risks. Since January, over 4,500 suspected cases and nearly 300 deaths have been reported, tripling from last year. The WHO highlights the severity, prompting Congo to declare a nationwide health emergency. Cases have also surfaced in the neighboring Republic of Congo.

Notes:
India’s World Press Freedom Index score declined from 36.62 to 31.28 in 2024, per Reporters Without Borders. This annual report assesses journalism freedoms across 180 nations. India’s rank improved from 161 to 159 due to others’ decline. However, India lags behind Turkey, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Despite a slight improvement in security, scores fell across other indicators, signaling challenges to press independence.

Notes:
The ICC has banned West Indies cricketer Devon Thomas for five years due to breaching anti-corruption codes of SLC, ECB, and CPL. The ban was imposed by the ICC as the designated Anti-Corruption Official. Thomas accepted the charges, leading to the sanction without a tribunal hearing. The ban includes a suspension of the last 18 months. Thomas admitted to violating several provisions of the codes.

Notes:
The Koothandavar festival in Koovagam, Tamil Nadu, unfolds a narrative of marriage and widowhood within a day during the Tamil month of Chithirai. Lasting 18 days, it honors Lord Aravan’s sacrifice from the Tamil Mahabharata. Transgender individuals marry Aravan on the 17th day, symbolizing devotion. On the final day, Aravan is ritually sacrificed, and his widowed spouses mourn, echoing Lord Krishna’s lament for Aravan’s plight. This unique celebration draws global attention to transgender identity.

Notes:
An Atlas V rocket is poised to launch Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule on its third test flight, marking the first with astronauts aboard. Starliner is a spacecraft designed to ferry astronauts to space, consisting of a crew capsule and service module. With innovative features like wireless internet and tablet interfaces, it’s reusable up to 10 times, fitting atop Atlas V rockets operated by United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin venture.