Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The FDA approved Cobenfy, a new drug for schizophrenia, combining xanomeline and trospium chloride, which avoids many side effects of older medications. Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder affecting 1 in 100 people, leading to social isolation and a life expectancy reduced by 13-15 years. Symptoms usually appear in late adolescence or early adulthood, peaking in men in their early 20s and emerging in women in their mid- to late 40s. Clinical symptoms include reality distortion (delusions, hallucinations), disorganization, and negative symptoms like apathy and lack of motivation. Cobenfy offers a new treatment option with a different action mechanism, but may cause side effects like nausea, indigestion, and dizziness.

Notes:
Bihar inaugurated its first dry port at Bihta, operating in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The port is connected by rail to gateway ports in Kolkata, Haldia, Visakhapatnam, Nhava Sheva, and Mundra. A dry port, also known as an Inland Container Depot (ICD), provides logistics facilities away from seaports or airports for cargo handling, storage, and transportation. It helps reduce congestion at seaports/airports and facilitates efficient movement of goods between inland regions and coastal areas.

Notes:
Mormugao Port Authority is now listed as an incentive provider on the Environment Ship Index (ESI) portal, recognized by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH). IAPH, founded in 1955, represents 185 ports and 160 port-related businesses in 88 countries, handling over 60% of global seaborne trade and container traffic. Mormugao’s ‘Harit Shrey’ scheme, launched in October 2023, offers discounts on port charges for ships with high ESI scores, promoting reduced emissions. ESI evaluates ships based on emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide, and greenhouse gases, identifying vessels with superior environmental performance.

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 Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying launched the 21st Livestock Census, which is conducted every five years. The first census took place in 1919-20, with the 20th edition using mobile technology for the first time. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries oversees the census, tracking counts of domesticated animals, poultry, and stray animals. The 21st Census introduces data on pastoral animals, the role of pastoralists, livestock-based income, and gender details of stray cattle.

Notes:
Prime Minister Modi and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat. It is India’s first private military aircraft production facility. The complex will manufacture C295 aircraft, enhancing India-Spain relations and supporting ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’ The Airbus C295, originally designed by Spanish company CASA, is a medium tactical transport aircraft also suited for medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol.

Notes:
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organizing Ganga Utsav- The River Festival 2024 on November 4 at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar, marking the Ganga River as the ‘National River.’ The festival promotes Ganga conservation, its cultural and spiritual importance, and public cleanliness awareness. It will be the first Utsav on the riverbank, with celebrations across 139 districts and a major event in each Ganga basin state. It aims to strengthen people’s connection with the Ganga, foster river conservation, and raise awareness on preventing river pollution.

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.

Notes:
Japan’s Mount Fuji recently experienced its latest snowless period in 130 years. It is also known as Fuji-san. It is Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters. It is located near the Pacific coast in Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, about 100 km southwest of Tokyo-Yokohama. Unlike other tall mountains, it stands alone and is not part of a larger range. Mount Fuji is a dormant stratovolcano with its last eruption in 1707, yet still considered active. Its iconic shape comes from basaltic lava flows, with a smooth slope and a summit crater. Its volcanic activity is due to the Pacific Plate sinking under the Philippine Plate.

Notes:
The Prime Minister’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ recently mentioned Odissi dance and the Konark Sun Temple. Located on the Odisha coastline in Puri district, it is also known as Surya Devalaya, dedicated to the Hindu god Surya. It was built by Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in 1250. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The temple showcases Odisha architecture, resembling a solar chariot with 24 stone wheels and six horses. Oriented eastward, it captures sunrise rays at the entrance. Its wheels serve as sundials, and it features intricate carvings of animals and mythology.