Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
Amoria is a genus of marine gastropods (snails and slugs). These predatory creatures are found in onshore and offshore waters around the entire coast of Australia. Some species extend into waters of southern Indonesia.
Named Amoria thorae, the species is very rare and scientists have not seen a live specimen yet. The newly-identified species can be distinguished from other Amoria species by the combination of small shell size, shape, high spire, equal-sized thick plaits among others.

Notes:
Bullish trader Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed new airline named ‘Akasa Air’ has got no objection certificate (NOC) from the government to operate in India.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala is often referred to as the Warren Buffett of India or the Big Bull. His stock moves and investment strategies are closely tracked by investors. He manages his own portfolio as a partner in his asset management firm, Rare Enterprises.

Notes:
Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, known as ASKAP, is a radio telescope situated at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Australia. It is run by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Government agency.
Recently, using this telescope, Astronomers have discovered unusual signals coming from the direction of the Milky Way’s center. This new signal had very high polarisation and varying brightness. It was named as ‘ASKAP J173608.2-321635’.

Notes:
The USA celebrates ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ as a holiday that celebrates and honours Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.
It started in 1977 as a day of respect at a discrimination conference. It has now become a national holiday honored by President Joe Biden. This day falls on the same day Columbus Day, first recognized as a national holiday in 1934 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept India’s growth forecast for 2021-22 unchanged at 9.5%, in its latest World Economic Outlook report.It also projected India’s economy to grow 8.5% in FY23.
In July, IMF had slashed India’s growth forecast for FY22 to 9.5% from earlier projection of 12.5%. It has lowered the global growth projection marginally to 5.9% from 6% earlier. Supply disruptions in advanced economies and worsening pandemic impact in developing countries are the reasons.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Environment has released a draft notification on regulation of extended producer responsibility under the plastic waste management rules 2016. This covers three categories of plastics namely rigid plastic packaging: flexible plastic packaging of single layer / multilayer plastics.
As per the draft, quantity of waste that will have to be managed by producers and importers has been specified.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually conducted the final breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, recently. The construction of the tunnel is expected to be over by June 2022.
Sela tunnel is expected be the world’s largest bi-lane tunnel at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet. The construction is being undertaken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The tunnel goes through Sela Pass and will cut down the distance to the China border through Arunachal Pradesh by 10 km.

Notes:
World Students’ Day is observed every year on October 15, in honour of former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, who was born on the same day in 1931.
The day aims to acknowledge the efforts of the President towards education and students. The United Nations declared October 15 as World Students’ Day in 2010. This year, the theme for World Students’ day is “Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace”.

Notes:
Tropical storm Kompasu hit the Philippines and left dead at least 19 people. The storm has triggered landslides and flash floods as it crossed the northern tip of the Asia-Pacific islands.
Another 14 people have been reported missing in the Philippines. Kompasu returned to tropical storm strength after making landfall on the Chinese island province of Hainan. It also crossed Hong Kong and Vietnam and caused damages.

Notes:
Praggnanandhaa is Indian ace Chess player and is one of the young Grandmasters of the country. Recently, he won Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour by winning against his American opponent Christopher Yoo.
With this victory, Praggnanandhaa has won $12,500 prize money as well as the right to play with an elite set of chess champions at the Meltwater Champions Tour in 2022.