Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
Due to rising temperatures, apple cultivation has become viable in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, at elevations up to 3,400 meters. Farmers are shifting from barley and potatoes to apples, which are economically significant. In 2023-24, Spiti Valley produced apples worth Rs 34 crore. Apples, a temperate fruit, originated in the Middle East over 4000 years ago. China is the largest apple producer globally.

Notes:
The 2nd India-Australia-Indonesia Trilateral Maritime Security Workshop was held from May 15-17, 2024, at INS Dronacharya, Kochi, India. The theme was ‘Indian Ocean Region: Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Regional Maritime Security’. Chaired by senior naval officials from the three countries, discussions focused on maritime security challenges, Information Exchange mechanisms, Maritime Domain Awareness, and enhancing interoperability among the navies. The workshop aimed at fostering cooperation to address present-day maritime threats in the Indian Ocean Region.

Notes:
International Museum Day is celebrated annually on May 18 to highlight museums’ societal roles. Established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977, the first theme was introduced in 1992. The 2024 theme is “Museums for Education and Research.” Originating from a 1951 meeting for the “Crusade for Museums,” it invites global museum participation each year.

Notes:
Parkinson’s disease researchers target Synuclein alpha (SNCA) proteins to combat neurodegeneration. SNCA, abundant in neurons, particularly dopaminergic ones, exhibits diverse folding patterns unlike typical proteins. Misfolded SNCA disrupts cell function, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. SNCA aggregates in cells either compromise cell structure or aid in protein degradation. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to therapies targeting SNCA to mitigate Parkinson’s and related conditions.

Notes:
A red panda was recently sighted in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. This herbivore species uses its bushy tail for balance and warmth. It’s shy, arboreal, and an ecological indicator. Resembling a house cat, it inhabits mountainous forests across Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, with half its habitat in the Eastern Himalayas. Threatened by habitat loss, it’s classified as Endangered by IUCN, listed on CITES Appendix I, and protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Notes:
A snake stone carving from the megalithic period was unearthed in Puthukkai village, Kerala’s Kasaragod district. Megaliths are massive stone structures used for burials or memorials, prevalent from the Neolithic to Iron Age. They mark significant cultural transitions, spanning the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. This discovery sheds light on ancient rituals and the historical landscape of Kerala, enriching our understanding of prehistoric civilizations.

Notes:
The United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test in Nevada, the third under President Biden. This experiment aims to gather crucial data on nuclear warheads’ safety and effectiveness without using nuclear explosions. Despite a 1992 moratorium on explosive nuclear tests, subcritical testing continues. The previous subcritical test occurred in September 2021.

Notes:
Alexander Zverev won his second Italian Open singles title, while world no. 1 Iga Swiatek claimed her third Italian Open title. Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to win her 21st career title. This marks Swiatek’s third Italian Open victory in the last four years; she did not qualify for the final last year.

Notes:
At the 33rd Arab League Summit in Manama, leaders emphasized the rapprochement process a year after Syria’s reinstatement. UN chief urged for Gaza ceasefire and regional unity. The League of Arab States, established in 1945 in Cairo, aims to strengthen relations, coordinate policies, and promote cooperation among its 22 member states. India holds observer status.

Notes:
A girl from Malappuram, Kerala, recently died from a Naegleria fowleri infection. This amoeba, found in soil and warm freshwater, causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) if it reaches the brain through the nose. Known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” Naegleria fowleri infections are rare but almost always fatal, destroying brain tissue once infection occurs.