Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 6, 2024

Notes:
National Maritime Day, observed annually on April 5th, honors the pivotal role of maritime transport in global trade. It commemorates the 1919 voyage of SS Loyalty from Mumbai to London. Additionally, ‘World Maritime Day’ is celebrated on the last Thursday of September, with the 2024 date set for September 26th. This year’s theme for India’s National Maritime Day, declared by the Union Shipping Ministry, is “Navigating the Future: Safety First.”

Notes:
Romania has developed the world’s most powerful laser, which is part of the European Union’s Infrastructure ELI project. The laser, called the “Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics”- (ELI-NP) laser, is located in Magurele, Romania, near Bucharest. It uses Chirped-Pulse Amplification, which is a groundbreaking technology based on the inventions of Nobel Physics Prize winners Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland. The laser is operated by the French company Thales and is expected to have revolutionary applications in healthcare and space exploration.

Notes:
The Sannati Buddhist site, discovered in the 1990s by ASI excavations, underwent neglect until a restoration project in 2022. Situated by the Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, it’s renowned for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple. Notable findings include the Maha Stupa constructed over three phases from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D. and the Ranamandala area showcasing a chronological scale from prehistoric to early historic eras. An inscription in Prakrit using Brahmi script was also unearthed.

Notes:
The Philippines, alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia, conducted joint naval drills in April, 2024, in the South China Sea, aimed at strengthening military cooperation amidst China’s regional influence. This exercise precedes a trilateral summit involving the Philippines, Japan, and the US, highlighting efforts to bolster security ties in the face of growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government is taking measures to prevent forest fires in Papikonda National Park (PNP), receiving technical assistance. PNP, located in the Eastern Ghats, is crucial for high precipitation and hosts the River Godavari. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978 and upgraded to a national park in 2008, it’s recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. The region also boasts a unique dwarf goat breed, the “kanchu mekha.”