Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Leopardus pardinoides, the clouded tiger cat, is a small wild cat that was proposed as a new species in 2024. A member of the tiger cat complex, it boasts short, round ears and a long tail. Inhabiting high-altitude cloud forests across Central and South America, this small wild cat is distinguished by having only one pair of mammae/teats.

Notes:
The International Day of Sports for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on April 6 highlights the positive impact of sports and physical activity worldwide. In 2024, the theme is ‘Sport for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies’. An event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on April 4 showcased collaborations between major sporting bodies to create positive change. Attendees included representatives from the international sporting community and the ‘United Nations Football for the Goals’ initiative.

Notes:
The inaugural ‘Parivartan Chintan’ tri-service armed forces planning conference convened in New Delhi on April 8, 2024, organized by the Union Ministry of Defence. Led by the Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside the Department of Military Affairs, the conference aimed to establish a unified, integrated theatre command. Chaired by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, it sought to foster jointness, integration, and readiness for future conflicts through innovative reforms and initiatives.

Notes:
Mexico ended diplomatic ties with Ecuador after Ecuadorian police raided the Mexican embassy in Quito on April 5, 2024, seeking to arrest former VP Jorge Glas, granted asylum by Mexico. President Lopez Obrador denounced the breach of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, asserting sovereignty violation. Brazil and UN Secretary-General Guterres criticized Ecuador’s actions. The Convention, established in 1961, governs diplomatic norms including the establishment of embassies in receiving states.

Notes:
Former Indian Hockey player and Dronacharya awardee Harendra Singh has been chosen by Hockey India to coach the senior national women’s team until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He replaces Janneke Schopman of Holland, who resigned after the team’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics. No formal announcement has been made due to the model code of conduct.

Notes:
Researchers at the University of Kerala developed an innovative Airbreathing Magnesium-Copper/Cupric Oxide (Mg-Cu/CuO) Fuel Cell. Unlike its predecessor, the Mg-C fuel cell, it features a reusable copper-based cathode, offering enhanced operational stability. This eco-friendly technology utilizes air and seawater to generate power, emitting only water as a byproduct. Anticipated to rival the impact of Lithium-ion batteries, it exclusively produces electricity and heat during operation.

Notes:
South Africa has decided to end captive lion breeding due to concerns over trophy hunting and the use of lion bones in traditional Chinese medicine. In April 2024, Environment Minister Barbara Creecy announced that the country will stop breeding lions for a variety of reasons, including trophy hunting and the use of bones as substitute for tigers in traditional Chinese medicine. The South African government had already announced its intention to ban the breeding of lions for hunting in 2021.

Notes:
Rice vampireweed (Rhamphicarpa fistulosa) impacts over 140,000 farm households annually in Africa, causing $82 million in losses. It’s a predominant and troublesome parasitic weed affecting rice, sorghum, and maize. Though it also affects other cereals, rice suffers the most. Current fertilizers don’t control it. Resistant rice cultivars NERICA-L-40 and -31 offer hope, but further research is needed to mitigate its extensive economic and agricultural damage.

Notes:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiated an awareness campaign in Delhi’s major markets like Khan Market and INA Market in April, 2024, in collaboration with the Food Safety Department. The campaign focused on detecting and mitigating pesticide residue and contaminants in food products, utilizing FSSAI’s “Food Safety on Wheel” mobile lab. Traders were educated on pesticide hazards, the necessity of testing, and adherence to safety standards, emphasizing collective responsibility for food safety.

Notes:
The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s navy warned of Tehran’s potential to close the Strait of Hormuz if Israel’s presence in the United Arab Emirates is perceived as a threat. The Strait of Hormuz, nestled between the Gulf of Oman, Iran, and the Persian Gulf, is a vital maritime pathway for global oil trade, accommodating a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply from the Middle East. Shared by Oman and Iran, its strategic significance extends to international trade and global security due to geopolitical sensitivities. Its narrow confines underscore its pivotal role in shaping regional and global economic dynamics.