Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 12, 2025

Notes:
The Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) hosts the second edition of the STREE (Safety, Training, Respect, Empowerment and Equality) Summit to empower women in safety and security. The summit aims to tackle key safety challenges faced by women and promote a culture of respect, equality, and empowerment. The event includes panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops. Experts like lawyers, journalists, and health professionals will share insights to improve women’s safety and support their entrepreneurship.

Notes:
Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have issued a public alert after a rise in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, raising fears of contamination in air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, usually found in natural water bodies but can also grow in man-made systems like cooling towers. The bacteria can lead to two illnesses: Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness. Common symptoms include cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion or diarrhea. It spreads by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not from person to person. There is no vaccine, but antibiotic treatment is effective once diagnosed.

Notes:
Recently, bioluminescent blue waves appeared in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala, drawing tourists but causing concerns about environmental degradation among ecologists and fishers. Bioluminescence is the natural light produced by organisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae when coastal waters are disturbed. The main cause of this glow is Noctiluca scintillans, a type of plankton known as “sea sparkle”. This glow happens due to chemical reactions in parts called scintillons, and it is usually blue but can appear red or brown depending on the plankton’s concentration. The phenomenon is most commonly seen between March and May, known locally as “Kavaru” in Malayalam.

Notes:
World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on April 11 to spread awareness about Parkinson’s Disease, a brain disorder that worsens over time and affects movement and coordination. The day was established in 1997 by Parkinson’s Europe and the World Health Organization (WHO) to honour Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the disease in 1817. Parkinson’s Disease affects over 10 million people globally, with nearly 1 million cases in India. The 2025 theme focuses on early diagnosis, understanding symptoms, and managing lifestyle for better outcomes.

Notes:
India recently showcased the BM-04 missile at the Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 defense exhibition in Hyderabad, highlighting its growing strength in conventional counterforce weapons. The BM-04 is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is 10.2 meters long, 1.2 meters in diameter, weighs 11,500 kg, and carries a 500 kg conventional warhead. With a range of 1,500 km and 30-meter circular error probability (CEP), it uses a two-stage solid-fuel system. It is canisterized and launched from a six-wheel indigenous transport erector launcher (TEL). It features a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for evasive flight paths and can be upgraded regularly to face evolving threats.