Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. unveiled a new server chip that’s based on advanced 5-nanometer technology. The new chip is based on micro-architecture provided by the SoftBank Group Corp.-owned Arm Ltd.
Named as Yitian 710, the Arm-based server chip is the third semiconductor introduced by Alibaba since 2019, following an artificial intelligence chip as well as a chip used for internet-of-things. China has been inviting companies to build a homegrown semiconductor industry and to achieve self-sufficiency.

Notes:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated 250mm Seer Water supply scheme in Kashmir. The project would benefit around 10000 people and will be completed under the ambit of Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Union Minister also inaugurated tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course Pahalgam. He also inaugurated Forest Departments Deodar sapling plantation drive being conducted under the banner of Green JK Drive, under which a total of 1 lakh saplings will be planted as part of the drive.

Notes:
Iran’s Air Force is set to conduct a large-scale, nationwide drills named Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Velayat (Defenders of Velayat Sanctuary).
This is the 10th edition of the drills and it will be held in five airbases across the country. As per Iran’s Army Air Force Commander, all kinds of indigenous and upgraded systems and ammunition, heavy and semi-heavy smart bombs, all kinds of laser-guided and radar-evading missiles will be used during the drills.

Notes:
NASA has selected a new space telescope proposal to study the recent history of star birth, star death, and formation of chemical elements in the Milky Way.
The gamma-ray telescope, called the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), is set to be launched in 2025 as NASA’s latest small astrophysics mission. COSI will study gamma rays from radioactive atoms produced when massive stars exploded. It will also probe the origin of our galaxy’s positrons, also known as antielectrons.

Notes:
Cumbre Vieja is an active volcanic ridge, is located in Spain’s La Palma Island, a part of Canary Islands. Recently, as the volcano started erupting, a total of around 7,500 people have been forced to be evacuated.
As per the Scientists, the eruption could continue for three more months. The molten rock has already covered more than 866 hectares and damaged around 2,185 buildings. The economy of La Palma is largely based on tourism and banana plantations.

Notes:
Barbados has elected its first-ever president Sandra Mason to replace Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as head of state.
Barbados is a former British colony that gained independence in 1966 but had maintained ties with the British monarchy. There have been calls from across the country for full sovereignty and homegrown leadership. Sandra Mason was a former jurist who has been governor-general of the country since 2018.

Notes:
China has passed a new Education Law to reduce students’ homework and off-school tutoring. It aims to strike a balance between academics, rest and physical education.
China has been making large efforts to exercise strict controls over the citizens’ personal and social lives. There have been several legislations to limit the time kids and youth spend on playing video games.

Notes:
Two entrepreneurs from Shree Guru Plastic and Inside Out, Guwahati have been chosen as winners Zero Waste Cities Challenge.
It was launched by WasteAid, a United Kingdom-based non-profit, to find entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that can help reduce or recycle waste and create green employment. Guwahati was among three cities selected for the challenge. The two winners were honoured for their work on promoting circular economy and reducing plastic usage.

Notes:
World Polio Day is observed on October 24 every year to raise awareness for polio vaccination and to eradicate polio.  The theme of World Polio Day 2021 is “Delivering on a Promise”.
The World Polio Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) had reduced polio worldwide by 99%, as of 2013.

Notes:
The United Nations celebrates the World Development Information Day, on October 24 every year. The first World Development Information Day was held in 1973.
World Development Information Day was founded by the UN in 1972, to raise awareness about problems related to development and enhance efforts to solve them through strengthening global collaboration. This year, the theme for the day is Action for Sustainable Development Goal.