Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2023

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Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Tel Aviv University, Israel, have developed an aerogel adsorbent that can remove trace pollutants from wastewater.
The aerogel is made of graphene-modified silica and can remove small particles and microorganisms from wastewater.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched ‘Meendum Manjappai’ scheme to reduce the use of plastic bags, replacing them with cloth bags in 2021.
Recently, the Tamil Nadu state environment department has opened a ‘Meendum Manjappai’ kiosk worth 25 lakh at Besant Nagar beach, Chennai, to create awareness on plastic pollution and to enforce the ban on single-use plastic. It has a cloth bag vending slot and a plastic bottle-crushing machine.

Notes:
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) aims to connect the seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea. It also includes Inland Water Transport between Sittwe to River Kaladan.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that a cross-border road, part of the ambitious Kaladan Project, which connects South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district with Myanmar’s Sittwe port, is on track to be completed by November of this year.

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The Indian Army’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), known as ‘Prachand,’ has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting live firing exercises with 70mm rockets.
These exercises were conducted in both day and night conditions at a firing range located near Likabali in Assam, showcasing the LCH’s capabilities and versatility.

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Recently, the Israeli military announced that it had intercepted a missile fired from the Red Sea region, amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East due to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza with the help of ‘Arrow’ aerial defence system.
This announcement came after Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels fired drones towards Israel in retaliation for its war against Hamas.

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Lionel Messi won the eighth Ballon d’Or of his career, while Spain’s World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati took the women’s prize.
36-year-old Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009. He is now three count ahead of his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Norway’s Erling Haaland and French footballer Kylian Mbappé were placed second and third in the list.

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Morocco, a North African country, borders the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. According to the 2022 Morocco Country Climate and Development Report, it is projected that by 2050, renewable energy sources could account for more than 85% of the country’s electricity generation.
This represents a significant increase from the 20% reported in 2021. As a result of this transition, it is estimated that there could be a net increase of at least 28,000 jobs annually.

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The India-US 2+2 meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in November 2023. The meeting will be held amid global turbulence and it will address differences over Canada’s allegations against India.
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin will be visiting India next week for the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the two visiting US Cabinet ministers.

Notes:
The Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous organization under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, held the International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in New Delhi.
This event was organized by the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards and hosted by QCI in partnership with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).

Notes:
Astronomers used NASA’s retired Kepler space telescope data to find an intriguing seven-planet system, Kepler-385, where all planets are bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.
Such planets are uncommon in the universe, and Kepler-385 is one of the few systems known to have more than six confirmed planets or planet candidates.