Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

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:
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:
Sangeet Natak Akademi launches ‘Shakti: a festival of music and dance’ to revive Temple Traditions. Held during Navaratri, starting April 9, 2024, it celebrates the power of nine goddesses. The festival, under Kala Pravah, will span seven Shaktipeeths across India, from Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, to Shaktipeeth Maa Harsidhi Temple, Ujjain.

Notes:
In a milestone for India, the Eurasian otter was recently radio-tagged in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first instance of such tagging in the country. India is also home to two other otter species: the Smooth-coated otter and the Asian small-clawed otter. The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is classified as near threatened by the IUCN, with protected status under India’s Wildlife Protection Act and CITES Appendix I. It boasts brown fur, webbed feet, and unique adaptations for its aquatic lifestyle.

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International Day for Human Space Flight (IDHSF) is celebrated annually on April 12, honoring Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961. The UNGA declared it in 2011 to advocate for peaceful space exploration. In 2024, the theme is “Encouraging Scientific Curiosity” to foster outer space exploration’s peaceful advancement. Gagarin’s historic flight paved the way for humanity’s space ventures, promoting benefits for all.

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A study in Leicester led by Dr. Joseph Barker and Prof. Andre Ng used AI to detect ventricular arrhythmia (VA), a deadly cardiac disorder. The AI tool, VA-ResNet-50, accurately identified VA 80% of the time, analyzing 270 adults’ ECGs from 2014 to 2022. Ventricular arrhythmia, if untreated, can cause sudden death. Published in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, the study highlights AI’s potential in diagnosing critical heart conditions.

Notes:
Mali recently prohibited media coverage of political parties and associations. The landlocked nation is situated in western Africa, primarily within the Sahel region, acting as a transition between the Sahara Desert and humid savannas. It shares borders with Algeria (north), Niger, and Burkina Faso (east), Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea (south), and Senegal and Mauritania (west).

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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed a novel hydrogel to remove microplastics from water. This hydrogel, with a unique polymer network, binds and degrades microplastics using UV light. It comprises three polymer layers: chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline, combined with copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters acting as catalysts. Microplastics, typically less than 5mm, are categorized as primary (from commercial products) and secondary (resulting from larger plastic breakdown due to environmental factors).

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Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, recently produced rare volcanic vortex rings, where gas, mainly water vapor, forms perfect circles when released from its crater. This phenomenon, first noted in 1724, can last up to 10 minutes. Etna’s circular vent is a key characteristic. Similar events have been observed at various volcanoes worldwide. Situated on Sicily’s east coast, Etna boasts Italy’s highest peak south of the Alps.

Notes:
Kristalina Georgieva has been re-appointed as Managing Director of the IMF for a new 5-year term starting on October 1, 2024. The IMF Managing Director is chosen by the executive board, with Kristalina Georgieva being the sole candidate this year. Nominations for the MD position can come from an IMF Fund Governor or Executive Director. The Board of Governors, comprising finance ministers and central bank governors, is the IMF’s highest decision-making body.