Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
Luong Cuong was elected as Vietnam’s new president on October 21, 2024, by the National Assembly, following To Lam’s tenure. Cuong’s appointment comes amid political turbulence and aims to stabilize the leadership structure in Vietnam, particularly before the 2026 Party Congress. Former president To Lam transitioned to the role of general secretary, emphasizing collective leadership while maintaining significant influence over the country’s governance.

Notes:
The Telangana government aims to develop Musi riverbanks for commercial use, inspired by South Korea’s Great Hangang (Han River) project. The Han River is South Korea’s fourth-longest river, flowing through Seoul. It originates from the Namhan and Bukhan rivers in eastern South Korea. The river flows through Seoul and empties into the Yellow Sea. Telangana’s plan was to attract private firms to develop riverfronts similar to the Han River model.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 14th All India Civil Defence and Home Guards conference at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The conference was held after 19 years. More than 60 senior officials and 1,200 members from different states participated in this event. The focus was on discussing the draft Civil Defence Bill and Model Home Guard Bill. The conference aims to enhance efficiency through modern technology in civil defense and home guard operations across India.

Notes:
International Snow Leopard Day was observed on October 23. The snow leopard, also known as the “Ghost of the Mountain,” has a beautiful, spotted coat that insulates it from the cold. They are found across 12 countries in Central Asia, including Russia, Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Major threats include loss of prey, conflict with humans, and illegal trade of fur and bones. The snow leopard is classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN and is protected under India’s Wildlife Act, 1972.

Notes:
A foundation stone for a Right to Information (RTI) museum was laid in Beawar, the birthplace of the RTI movement, to highlight digital exclusion in social security pensions. About 13.5 lakh people in Rajasthan are waiting for their pensions due to issues in the digital database. The RTI movement began in 1996 with a 40-day dharna led by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, advocating for transparency and accountability. The museum will document the RTI movement’s history and serve as a resource center for rights-based education.

Notes:
Haryana will celebrate the International Gita Mahotsav from November 28 to December 15. Tanzania is the partner country, and Odisha is the partner state this year. A special cleanliness campaign, “Divya Kurukshetra,” will launch in Kurukshetra, with the Chief Minister participating to encourage public support. Gita Jayanti will be celebrated on December 11, with key events occurring from December 5-11.

Notes:
ISRO is monitoring Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana’ approaching Odisha and West Bengal using EOS-06 and Insat-3DR satellites. EOS-06, also called Oceansat-3, is an Earth observation satellite launched on November 26, 2022. It was launched via ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C54). Part of the Oceansat series, EOS-06 aims to monitor the Earth’s oceans and coastal areas. Its main objective is to enhance services from Oceansat-1 and Oceansat-2 for oceanographic and atmospheric studies, including marine weather forecasting and coastal zone management.

Notes:
The Global Ecosystems Atlas was launched on October 22, 2024, at COP16 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Colombia. It was developed by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). It is the first tool focused on global ecosystem mapping and monitoring. It provides critical data on ecosystem health and risks, aiding governments, businesses, and communities in sustainable management. This atlas addresses urgent issues like biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation, aiming to improve our approach to protecting essential natural systems.

Notes:
The 11th Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES) took place in Singapore from October 22-24, 2024, as part of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). It was co-organized by Nanyang Technological University (NTU’s) Energy Research Institute (ERI@N) and Singapore’s Solar Energy Research Institute (SERIS). Supported by key organizations like the Asian Development Bank, Singapore Economic Development Board, Energy Market Authority, and Enterprise Singapore. ACES 2024 aimed to unite global leaders to promote clean energy, accelerate net-zero goals, and encourage innovative energy solutions. The summit emphasized the integration of policy, finance, and technology for advancing climate action and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific.

Notes:
Indian duo Krittwika Roy and Yashaswini Ghorpade won the women’s doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Feeder Cagliari 2024 in Italy. They defeated South Korea’s Yoo Siwoo and Kim Haeun 3-1 in the final. The Indian pair beat Italy’s Arianna Barani and Maria Picu 3-0 in the first round and Japan’s Sachi Aoki and Sakura Yokoi 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they overcame Germany’s Sophia Klee and Franziska Schreiner 3-1. Ghorpade and Harmeet Desai reached the mixed doubles semifinals, while Harmeet also advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals.