Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 4, 2024

Notes:
Mirabai Chanu, Tokyo Olympics medallist, secures her spot at the Paris Olympics, making history as the sole Indian weightlifter to qualify. At the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, the 29-year-old Olympic silver medalist finished third in Group B of women’s 49kg, earning 11th place overall. After a six-month injury lay-off, Chanu lifted a total of 184kg at the event, solidifying her berth for the 2024 Paris Games.

Notes:
Indian scientists have made significant strides in decoding the genetic structure of the lumpy skin disease virus, responsible for the deaths of around 100,000 cattle since May 2022. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a viral infection affecting cattle, caused by the LSDV, a member of the capripoxvirus genus. Though endemic in Africa, Middle East, and parts of Asia, LSD doesn’t infect humans and spreads through blood-feeding insects or contaminated feeding and water sources.

Notes:
South Korea’s KSTAR fusion reactor that is also called as Korean artificial sun, operating at the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, achieved a breakthrough by sustaining plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds, setting a new world record. This surpasses its own previous record and marks progress toward clean, limitless energy through nuclear fusion. Despite challenges, fusion holds promise as a climate solution. Director Si-Woo Yoon highlights the significance of stable, high-temperature plasmas for future fusion reactors.

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Paheredar, along with a helicopter, docked at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam on April 02, 2024, continuing its ASEAN deployment. Crew will focus on marine pollution response, search & rescue, and law enforcement through professional interactions, training, and sports events with Vietnam Coast Guard. Demonstrating India’s shipbuilding prowess, the visit strengthens bilateral ties and showcases cooperation. 25 NCC cadets will join in environmental activities.

Notes:
NICES programme, operated by ISRO and the Department of Space, called upon Indian researchers to combat climate change. Launched in 2012 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, NICES monitors climate variability using Earth Observation satellites. Its objectives include disseminating Essential Climate Variables crucial for understanding Earth’s climate. With over 70 accessible geophysical variables, NICES focuses on space-based indicators, weather extremes, and climate services.