Current Affairs 10 October 2024
1. South Korean author Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature
Han Kang, a South Korean author, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her "intense poetic prose" that addresses historical traumas and highlights the fragility of human life. Han mentioned plans for a quiet celebration with her son, and the prize includes an award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) and a medal, to be presented on December 10.
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Han Kang's Nobel Prize is a major achievement for South Korean and global literature.
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Her work highlights themes of trauma, memory, and identity, connecting across cultures.
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The award emphasizes the importance of marginalized voices in literature.
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Han's writing, rooted in Korean history, explores universal questions of humanity and violence.
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The Swedish Academy's selection reflects growing appreciation for unconventional storytelling and deep psychological themes.
2. Madhavendra & Divi won 37th National U-11 Chess Championship 2024
Madhavendra Pratap Sharma from Madhya Pradesh clinched the national title in the boys' category, while Divi Bijesh from Kerala won the girls' category. He is the second-seeded player in the boys' category, scored 10 points out of 11 rounds to win the gold medal.
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He achieved this by winning 9 consecutive matches and drawing the last two, marking his second national title.
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He won the National Under-9 title in 2022 and the Asian Under-10 title in 2023.
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In this year's National Under-19 competition, he finished in fourth place.
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Aadvik Agrawal from Maharashtra secured second place with 9.5 points, while Aarav from Tamil Nadu took third.
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In the girls' category, fourth-seeded Divi Bijesh from Kerala won the National Under-11 title with 9.5 points, based on a better tie-break.
3. Spanish Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal Retires
Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. His final tournament will be the Davis Cup finals in November in Malaga, concluding an illustrious journey. He boasts 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal, and is one of three men to achieve the Career Golden Slam in singles.
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Rafael Nadal's career is highlighted by numerous records and accolades, cementing his status as a tennis icon.
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His legacy includes unmatched sportsmanship and passion for the game.
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Nadal's contributions will be remembered for generations.
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He holds 22 Grand Slam titles, the most in tennis history.
4. Noel Tata elected as Chairman of Tata Trusts
Noel Tata has been appointed as the chairman of Tata Group's philanthropic arm, Tata Trusts. With this appointment, Noel becomes the 11th chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the 6th chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. He is the son of Naval H. Tata and Simone N. Tata and the half-brother of Ratan Tata. Noel Tata was already serving as a trustee of both the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together own a 66% stake in Tata Sons.
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Noel Tata's leadership includes expanding Trent Limited from one store in 1998 to over 700 stores today.
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He holds a degree from Sussex University and completed the International Executive Programme at INSEAD.
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His long-standing connection with the Tata Group and role in Tata Trusts made him the leading candidate for chairman after Ratan Tata’s death.
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Noel Tata's reserved leadership style contrasts with the public persona of his late half-brother, Ratan Tata.
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His appointment aligns with the 2022 amendment ensuring no individual holds both the chairman roles of Tata Trusts and Tata Sons simultaneously.
5. Bihar Government to Establish Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as State’s Second Tiger Reserve
The Bihar government is set to establish the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) as the state’s second tiger reserve. With the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) already at capacity, the government is finalizing plans to translocate some tigers to KWLS. The sanctuary covers an area of 1,504.96 square kilometers. Currently, VTR is home to 54 tigers. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has granted in-principle approval for developing KWLS into a tiger reserve during its 12th technical committee meeting.
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Kaimur district's geography is crucial for establishing a tiger reserve, featuring two distinct regions: the hilly Kaimur plateau and the plains along the Karmnasa and Durgavati rivers.
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These diverse landscapes provide a variety of habitats, making Kaimur an ideal location for tiger conservation.
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The district has significant forest cover, including the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans 986 sq km, and a total forest area of 1,134 sq km.
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Kaimur's strategic location near Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh highlights its importance as a potential wildlife corridor between states.
About Bihar:
Governor: Rajendra Arlekar
Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
Capital: Patna
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary, Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary
6. The Indian Navy signed MoU with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
To enhance the welfare of Naval Civilians, the Indian Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance. This initiative is a significant aspect of 2024, designated as the "Year of Naval Civilians." It reflects the Navy's commitment to financial security and inclusivity for its civilian workforce by providing affordable life insurance options, including term insurance, to protect families in case of untimely death.
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The agreement with Bajaj Allianz offers Naval Civilians voluntary life insurance options at competitive rates.
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The policy provides immediate financial relief to families in case of the employee's death or other covered events.
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This initiative addresses a key concern of the workforce.
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Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla highlighted the partnership's importance, noting that the tailored insurance products demonstrate the Navy’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for civilian.
7. PM Modi Honored with Guard of Honor in Laos Visit
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Laos for the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and 19th East Asia Summit, welcomed by Laos Home Minister Vilawong Budkham with a ceremonial guard of honor. The visit aims to enhance bilateral ties and celebrate the tenth anniversary of India's Act East Policy, focusing on future cooperation strategies.
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The East Asia Summit will address challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
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India shares deep cultural ties with the region, particularly with Lao PDR, rooted in Buddhism and the Ramayana.
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PM Modi looks forward to meetings with Lao PDR leadership to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance engagement with ASEAN countries.
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He will hold a bilateral meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
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The ASEAN-India Summit will assess progress in India-ASEAN relations and define future cooperation.
8. Arshdeep Singh ranked 10th in ICC T20I for Bowlers
Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been rewarded for his impressive start in the T20I series against Bangladesh by breaking into the top 10 of the ICC Twenty20 International cricket rankings for the first time. Arshdeep climbed from No. 16 to No. 8 in the bowling rankings, updated on Wednesday, October 9. His previous best was No. 13, but a strong performance in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6, propelled him to his career-high ranking.
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Arshdeep Singh played a key role in India's seven-wicket win over Bangladesh, taking three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs.
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He dismissed Litton Das and Parvez Emon early, disrupting Bangladesh's start.
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Arshdeep won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling performance.
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He rose eight places to No. 8 in the ICC T20I bowler rankings, reaching a career-high rating.
9. World Mental Health Day observed on 10th October
World Mental Health Day aims to prioritize mental health globally. Encourages open conversations and promotes mental well-being initiatives. Annual themes focus on raising awareness and the importance of mental health. It helps reduce stigma and motivate people to seek support.
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It is observed to promote global mental health education and to spread awareness.
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It gives an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to discuss their work.
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The theme of the World Mental Health Day 2024 is “Mental Health at Work."
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On October10, 1992, World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time.
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This day was started by Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter.
10. Dr. P. Venugopal, Former Director of AIIMS, passed away
Dr. P. Venugopal, former AIIMS Director and pioneer of cardiac surgery, conducted India’s first heart transplant and over 50,000 surgeries. He introduced advanced cardiac surgery concepts to India and was renowned for his integrity and philanthropy. A Padma Bhushan awardee, he offered free surgeries to underprivileged patients and contributed to two super-specialty hospitals.
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Venugopal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his contributions to medicine.
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Co-authored a memoir, *Heartfelt*, in 2023, chronicling his pioneering work in cardiac surgery.
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Trained over 100 cardiac surgeons globally and introduced stem cell therapy for heart repair.
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Cremated on October 9, 2024, at Lodhi Road Crematorium, survived by his wife Priya Sarkar and daughter Saiansha Panangipalli.
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His passing marks the end of an era in Indian cardiac surgery, but his legacy will continue to inspire.
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