Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
The Uttarakhand government forms expert teams to assess five potentially hazardous glacial lakes at risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The National Disaster Management Authority identifies 188 such lakes in Himalayan states, including 13 in Uttarakhand. GLOFs result from sudden water discharge from glacial lakes, posing threats of floods, sediment, and debris downstream, endangering lives and infrastructure. Uttarakhand’s vulnerable lakes include Vasudhara Tal in Chamoli and four in Pithoragarh district- Maban Lake in Lassar Yangti Valley, Pyungru Lake in the Darma basin.

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Sierra Leone’s President has declared a national emergency on substance abuse due to the surge in the use of the dangerous synthetic drug “kush.” The tropical West African country, bordered by Guinea, Liberia, and the Atlantic Ocean, faces this challenge. Its landscape comprises lightly wooded hills and mangrove swamps along the coast, with major rivers like the Rokel, Taia, Moa, and Sewa flowing through its terrain.

Notes:
British national Russ Cook, also known as the “Hardest Geezer,” conquered an epic challenge spanning over 352 days. Trekking 10,000+ miles across 16 countries in Africa, he endured visa hurdles, health scares, and even an armed robbery. Departing from South Africa’s south and reaching Tunisia’s north, he completed the journey, raising charity funds. Cook aims to inspire others with his feat, potentially the first to run Africa’s length, emphasizing the power of sports at a press conference in Bizerte, Tunisia.

Notes:
India is contributing to the ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative by the United Nations, aiming to establish life-saving early warning systems for hazardous weather, water, or climate events globally by 2027. Collaborating with Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius, India is aiding in setting up early warning weather systems. These efforts enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities by providing timely alerts and forecasts for natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and storms.

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Russia’s Angara A5 space rocket is set for its maiden launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. This three-stage marvel aims to deliver 24.5 tonnes of payload into low orbit, replacing the veteran Proton M. The launch site, nestled in the Amur region’s forests, strategically borders China and lies 1,500 km from Vladivostok. This moment marks a significant leap in Russia’s space endeavors, heralding a new era in heavy-lift rocket technology.

Notes:
Simon Harris, 37, became the youngest Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland on April 9, 2024, succeeding Leo Varadkar. The Prime Minister is elected by members of the Dáil, the lower house of Ireland’s bicameral parliament, the Oireachtas. The Dáil comprises 158 directly elected members. Ireland operates as a parliamentary democracy with the President as Head of State, but executive power rests with the Prime Minister.

Notes:
Hurun Research Institute’s “Global Unicorn Index 2024” ranks startups founded in the 2000s. India, with 67 unicorns in 2023 (down from 68 in 2022), ranks third globally. The USA leads with 703, followed by China with 340. India lacks unicorns in Aerospace/SpaceTech. Unicorns are privately held, venture-capital backed startups valued at $1 billion. Factors behind India’s unicorn decline include a startup ecosystem slowdown and unsustainable growth. India’s initiatives include the Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme and tax exemptions for startups since April 2016.

Notes:
Command Hospital, Pune, achieved a milestone by being the first government hospital in India to procure and perform piezoelectric bone conduction hearing implants. The ENT department conducted successful implants in a child with congenital ear anomalies and an adult with Single Sided Deafness (SSD). As a Neurotology center of the Armed Forces Medical College, they addressed the limited outreach of the costly implant, offering a vital solution for patients with conductive/mixed hearing loss or SSD who don’t benefit from traditional interventions.

Notes:
The IMF’s Fiscal Monitor warns against relying solely on industrial policy initiatives to spur economic growth in the US, Europe, and beyond. Released biannually by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, it offers insights into public finance trends, fiscal outlooks, and policy implications for the global economy. Projections, aligned with the World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report, are crafted by IMF desk economists following WEO guidelines.

Notes:
A sungrazer comet, discovered, photographed, and destroyed during a total solar eclipse, exemplifies this special class of comets. Sungrazers approach within 850,000 miles of the sun, enduring intense solar radiation and tidal forces. Most follow the Kreutz Path, originating from a shattered comet. They rarely survive their close encounter with the sun, often evaporating in its atmosphere. This comet’s demise sheds light on the dynamics of these celestial wanderers.