ALL EXAM QUIZ 08.05.2024

Explanation:

• Ancient rocks with the oldest evidence of magnetic field of the Earth have been found in Greenland.
• These rocks have been discovered by geologists at MIT and Oxford University.
• The researchers found that the age of rocks is nearly 3.7 billion years.
• Their magnetic field had a minimum strength of 15 microtesla.
• There is evidence from earlier research that the magnetic field on Earth is at least 3.5 billion years old.
• The lifetime of the magnetic field is being extended by an additional 200 million years by the current study.
• The magnetic field might have been essential to bringing about the habitability of Earth.

Explanation:

• Zimbabwe has launched a new currency called ZiG (short for Zimbabwe Gold) amid the country's long-running currency crisis. It has been launched in electronic form.
• This is the sixth time after 2009 that a new currency has been launched in the country. Zimbabwe is a South African country, its capital is Harare.
• Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, formerly known as Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Republic of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe Rhodesia, is a landlocked country located between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers in the southern part of the African continent.
• Its borders are South Africa in the south, Botswana in the south-west, Zambia in the north-west and Mozambique in the east. English, Shona (a Bantu language) and Ndebele (also a Bantu language) are the three official languages of Zimbabwe.

Explanation:

• Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a no-objection certificate to approve the change in the names of eight railway stations in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Amethi, which is a high-profile Lok Sabha constituency, is currently represented by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Mrs.Smriti Irani. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, she had defeated Congrees leader Rahul Gandhi. She is again contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi.

The government has approved the change in the name of the following eight stations of Amethi

1. Fursatganj Railway Station as Tapeshwarnath Dham,
2. Kasimpur Halt as Jais City,
3. Jais City as Guru Gorakhnath Dham,
4. Bani as Swami Paramhans,
5. Misrauli as Maa Kalikan Dham,
6. Nihalgarh as Maharaja Bijli Pasi,
7. Akbarganj as Maa Kalikan Dham,
8. Warisganj as Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan

Explanation:

• Kochi will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th meeting of the Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP 26) from May 20-30, 2024.
• This is in line with India's desire to facilitate a constructive global dialogue on environmental management and scientific cooperation in Antarctica.
• The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C. in 1959. It was signed by 12 countries and came into force in 1961. Currently 56 countries have signed the Antarctic Treaty.
• India has been a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty since 1983.
• India's first Antarctic research station 'South Gangotri' was established in the year 1983.
• The Antarctic Treaty has declared Antarctica a demilitarized zone. It has been declared a peace zone dedicated to peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation and environmental protection.

Explanation:

• Japan has won the men's AFC U-23 Asian Cup for the second time after defeating Uzbekistan in the final. Japan had earlier won the title of this tournament in 2016.
• In the final match played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Japan won by one goal and also qualified for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
• The sixth edition of the AFC U-23 was held in Qatar from 15 April to 3 May 2024.
• Japan got gold, Uzbekistan got silver and Iraq got bronze medal.
• Japan won the gold medal with the only goal scored by substitute Yamada in extra time. Japan's goalkeeper also ensured his team's victory by saving a penalty in the last moments of the match. He saved the penalty shot of Uzbekistan player Rahmonaliyev.
• With this victory, the Japanese team won the gold medal, while the Uzbekistan team got the silver medal.
• In the semi-finals, the Iraqi team won the bronze medal by defeating the Indonesian team 2–1.

Explanation:

• Dr. Bina Modi, Chairperson and Managing Director of KK Modi Group, was honored by Jagdeep Dhankhar, Honorable Vice President of India, for her 'outstanding contribution in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility'.
• The honor took place during the inauguration of the new building of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), where the Vice President was present as the chief guest.
• Dr. Modi leads the CSR initiatives of the group companies, which include upliftment of vulnerable farming communities in Andhra Pradesh and supporting the education of young girls through initiatives such as Project Khushi.

Farming community upliftment

• Since 2015, Dr. Modi has been actively engaged in supporting the marginalized farming community in Andhra Pradesh through multi-faceted interventions.
• These initiatives include health care provision, access to clean drinking water, ecological balance through tree plantations and biodiversity parks, and empowerment of farmers through training and education on sustainable agricultural practices.

Explanation:

• Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population has urged residents to wear masks due to an alarming rise in air pollution levels in the Kathmandu Valley.
• According to IQAir, an organization that measures real-time pollution in 101 cities around the world, Kathmandu has been ranked the most polluted city globally.
• Kathmandu tops the list of cities with 'unhealthy air' in the world.
• New Delhi, Chiang Mai (Thailand), Hanoi (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand), and Dhaka (Bangladesh) follow in the ranking of the most polluted cities.
• The ministry has advised the public to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, refrain from traveling and stay away from highly polluted areas.
• High levels of air pollutants in Kathmandu pose significant health risks.

Explanation:

• The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has announced the appointment of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Pratima Singh as Director in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• 2009 batch IRS officer Pratima Singh has been selected for the prestigious role under the Central Staffing Scheme.
• His appointment as Director in DPIIT is for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever comes first.
• Singh's selection was recommended by the Revenue Department, where she was previously working.

Explanation:

• Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is set to fly into space for the third time as a pilot in the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
• Boeing's Starliner will fly to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• Butch Wilmore will travel to the International Space Station with Williams, 58.

Explanation:

• The Election Commission has invited 75 international visitors from election management bodies of 23 countries under the International Election Visitors Program (IEVP) during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the country.
• It also includes members of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Its objective is to acquaint foreign management bodies with Indian election practices.