29th November, 2023 Current Affairs

INTERNATIONAL
UK Detects First Human Case Of H1N2 Pig Virus

• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) disclosed the first human case of H1N2, or the pig virus, discovered through routine national flu surveillance. The affected individual experienced mild illness and fully recovered, raising questions about potential pig-to-human transmission.
• The UKHSA is actively tracing contacts related to the infected case and closely monitoring the situation. Enhanced surveillance measures are being implemented in North Yorkshire, where the case emerged. The focus is on understanding potential transmission routes between pigs and humans.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
All 41 Workers Evacuated In Uttarakhand Tunnel After 17 days

• On November 23, 2023, after 17 harrowing days trapped underground, all 41 workers were successfully rescued from the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand, India. The rescue operation, which involved a combined effort of the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local authorities, became a symbol of human resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
• The 4.5 km-tunnel is part of the Centre’s ambitious Char Dham project aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between four prominent Hindu shrines in Uttarakhand – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
• Also known as Silkyara tunnel, this tunnel is on the route connecting Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi district. It is a double-lane tunnel and one of the longest under Char Dham project.
• About 2.4 km of the under-construction tunnel from the Silkyara side and 1.75 km from the other side has been built.

India, US To Launch Joint Microwave Satellite For Earth Observation

• India and the United States are set to elevate their space collaboration to new heights with the upcoming joint launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, in a recent meeting with a high-level NASA delegation led by Administrator Mr. Bill Nelson, announced the launch schedule for the first quarter of the next year.
• NISAR, slated for launch aboard India’s GSLV, is a microwave remote sensing satellite designed for comprehensive Earth observation. The satellite’s data will be instrumental in studying diverse aspects, including land ecosystems, solid earth deformation, mountain and polar cryosphere dynamics, sea ice behavior, and coastal ocean phenomena at both regional and global scales.
• The integration process of NISAR is well underway, with ISRO’s S-band SAR seamlessly integrated with NASA’s L-band SAR at JPL/NASA. Currently undergoing testing at URSC, Bangalore, with active participation from NASA/JPL officials, the integrated L & S band SAR promises cutting-edge capabilities for Earth observation.

Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs (Important Dates) 4-10 November 2023 Bitbank: When is World Tsunami Awareness Day celebrated?

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DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau Volcano Erupts

• Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano, situated in the Sundra Strait, unleashed a powerful eruption on Tuesday morning, casting a volcanic ash cloud approximately 1 km high into the sky. The event, monitored by the volcano’s Observation Post, marks a continuation of heightened volcanic activity since April last year, underscoring the growing concern over the volcano’s potential danger.
• The recent eruption brings back haunting memories of the catastrophic events in 2018 when Anak Krakatau’s eruption triggered a devastating tsunami. The tsunami claimed the lives of over 400 people and displaced thousands, emphasizing the volatile nature of the volcano and the potential risks it poses to the region.

Published date : 29 Nov 2023 05:37PM