Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 19, 2025

Notes:
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy. The exercise is planned to take place around the end of May 2025 in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The main aim is to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination between European forces and the Indian Navy. The proposal comes due to rising piracy and instability in the Red Sea region, especially near the Horn of Africa. Unlike regular Passage Exercises (PASSEX), this drill will include tactical manoeuvres, counter-piracy actions, and communication training. Operation ATALANTA, launched in 2008, is the European Union’s mission to fight piracy near Somalia.

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The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has approved the declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve. It is the first wetland linked to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to receive such protection. The 30-acre lake is a key feeding and resting site for flamingos during high tide. A committee was formed after 17 flamingos died due to blocked tidal inlets in 2023. About 60 percent of the algae-filled lake has been cleared, helping flamingos return. Experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) warned that wetland loss may push birds near Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), raising bird strike risks.

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Scientists have found strong signs of possible extraterrestrial life on the exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation. This is the second and more promising detection of life-related chemicals in the planet’s atmosphere. The findings were made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the most powerful space observatory, built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). A team from Cambridge University, led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, studied the planet’s atmosphere. They found chemical traces of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS). On Earth, these gases are produced only by marine phytoplankton and some bacteria. This raises the possibility of biological activity on K2-18b.

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The classical Indian texts Natyashastra by Bharat Muni and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita have been added to the Memory of the World Register by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). This announcement was made by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 18 April 2025. With this, India now has a total of 14 inscriptions in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. UNESCO’s Executive Board met in Paris, France, on 17 April 2025 and approved 74 new entries. These 74 documentaries come from 72 countries and four international organisations. The new entries include topics like the scientific revolution, women’s historical contributions, and global cooperation.

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World Heritage Day, also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed on April 18 each year. It aims to promote the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The day has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1983 and is organized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The theme for 2025 is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts,” emphasizing preparedness and resilience.