This is the current affairs of 28 & 29 April 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which country declared same-sex relationships a crime in April 2024, with a legal provision of a 10-15 year sentence?
a. Sri Lanka
b. America
c. France
d. Iraq
Answer: d. Iraq
– On April 27, 2024, the Iraqi Parliament passed a bill declaring same-sex relationships as a crime.
– Prior to this, there was no separate law for same-sex relationships in Iraq. Death penalty was given under the prostitution law.
– Actually, in 1980, in Iraq, an amendment was made to the prostitution law, adding death penalty for same-sex relationships. – Many Western countries, including the United States, have long been opposed to this decision. After which there have been amendments again.
– Now, instead of the death penalty, the new law will impose a jail sentence.
According to the new law, what is the punishment for homosexuality?
– According to The Hindu newspaper, under the law passed in April 2024, those engaging in same-sex relationships in Iraq could face imprisonment for up to 10-15 years.
– Transgender individuals could also be imprisoned for up to 3 years.
– Supporters of this law have stated that through the new law, they will protect the religious sentiments of the country.
– In Iraq, individuals promoting homosexuality or prostitution and doctors performing gender reassignment surgeries will be put in jail.
– Additionally, men and women involved in swapping spouses, knowingly behaving like women, may also face imprisonment under the new law.
7 years imprisonment for those promoting same-sex relations
– There is a provision of 7 years imprisonment for those promoting homosexual relations.
America, Britain said – This law against human rights
– The United States and the European Union have opposed the newly enacted law in Iraq.
– The U.S. State Department said that this law poses a threat to human rights. It will also affect Iraq’s economy and foreign investment.
– Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister David Cameron has called this law dangerous and concerning.
– He said, “No individual should be targeted based on their identity. We appeal to the government of Iraq to protect human rights and the freedom of people.”
– LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (Homosexual)
Which countries recognize same-sex marriage?
– United States
– Netherlands
– Argentina
– Australia
– Brazil
– Canada
– France (PM Gabriel Attal identifies as gay himself)
– Germany
– Nepal (Became the first South Asian country to register same-sex marriage in November 2023)
In these countries, same-sex relationships are not a crime
– India (Homosexuality is no longer categorized as a crime in India due to a Supreme Court ruling.)
– China
– Sri Lanka (Decriminalized in May 2023)
– Britain
– Nepal
– Russia
– Ireland
In these countries, death penalty for homosexuals
– Pakistan
– Iran
– Uganda
– Yemen
– Saudi Arabia
– Somalia
About Iraq
– Capital: Baghdad
– President: Abdul Latif Rashid
– PM: Mohammad Shia al-Sudani
– Currency: Iraqi Dinar
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2. Who became the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan?
a. Nawaz Sharif
b. Ishaq Dar
c. Shahbaz Sharif
d. Maryam Nawaz
Answer: b. Ishaq Dar
– Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as Deputy Prime Minister in April 2024.
– Dar, of Kashmiri origin, is considered close to former PM Nawaz Sharif.
– Prior to this, he has also served as Finance Minister four times.
– This decision suggests that Nawaz Sharif still wields influence.
Pakistan
– PM: Shahbaz Sharif
– President: Asif Ali Zardari
– Capital: Islamabad
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3. In which country has the United Nations (UN) appointed India’s Geeta Sabharwal as the UN Resident Coordinator?
a. Sri Lanka
b. Indonesia
c. Singapore
d. Philippines
Answer: b. Indonesia
– United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed her as Resident Coordinator.
– She assumed this position on April 22, 2024.
About Geeta Sabharwal:
– Prior to this, she served as the Resident Coordinator in Thailand.
– Additionally, she has worked in Sri Lanka as a Peacebuilding and Development Advisor for the United Nations.
– She has close to 30 years of development experience working in several countries.
– She holds a Master’s degree in Development Management from the University of Wales, UK.
– She is a prolific writer of policy papers on South and Southeast Asia.
– She is from India and speaks English and Hindi.
Resident Coordinator Meaning:
– The Resident Coordinator is a position within the United Nations responsible for coordinating and managing programs and projects of the United Nations in a specific country.
– This means they oversee the activities carried out by the United Nations for that country.
– The UN Resident Coordinator position is the highest-ranking position at the country level within the UN Development System.
United Nations:
– Chief: António Guterres.
– Establishment: October 24, 1945
– Headquarters: New York, USA
Indonesia:
– Capital: Jakarta
– President: Joko Widodo
– Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
– Population: Approximately 280 million
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4. Which player scored a hat-trick of gold medal in the compound team event in the Archery World Cup?
a. Aishwarya Mishra
b. Jyothi Surekha Vennam
c. Arjun Singh
d. Shiva Narwal
Answer: b. Jyothi Surekha Vennam (27 years old)
– Jyoti clinched a hat-trick of gold medals in Stage 1 of the Archery World Cup.
– She won these three gold medals in the women’s compound team, mixed team, and individual categories.
– She secured the top priority in the tournament by defeating Mexico’s Andrea Bessera in a tense shoot-off.
– She achieved this feat on April 27, 2024.
– She is the third woman archer in the world and the second from India to win three gold medals.
– This World Cup is taking place in Shanghai.
Medal tally in Stage 1 of the Archery World Cup:
– The Indian team won a total of 8 medals in the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai.
– This includes 5 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze medal.
Archery World Cup 2024:
– The Archery World Cup 2024, also known as the Hyundai Archery World Cup for sponsorship reasons.
– This is the 18th edition this time.
Duration of the Archery World Cup 2024:
Stage – Date – Location
1 – April 23 to 28 – Shanghai, China
2 – April 21 to 26 – Yechon, South Korea
3 – June 18 to 23 – Antalya, Turkey
Final – October 19 to 20 – Tlaxcala, Mexico
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5. Sudhir Kakar, the father of Indian psychoanalysis and great player of which sport, passed away on 22 April 2024?
a. Cricket
b. Football
c. Volleyball
d. Table Tennis
Answer: d. Table Tennis
– Sudhir Kakar passed away on April 22, 2024.
– He was 85 years old.
– He was an Indian psychoanalyst, novelist, and author in the field of cultural psychology and the psychology of religion.
– Sudhir Kakar’s work includes exploration of the relationship between psychoanalysis and mysticism.
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6. Which country became the first country to launch ‘Men5CV’, a new vaccine for meningitis disease recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)?
a. Cameroon
b. Maldives
c. Nigeria
d. Indonesia
Answer: c. Nigeria
About ‘Men5CV’
– It’s a new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis.
– Meaning: It protects against five strains of the meningococcal bacteria (germs).
– That’s why it’s also called a 5-in-1 vaccine.
– It is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
What is Gavi?
– Gavi is an international organization.
– Which works to strengthen (strengthen, stabilize and sustain) vaccine access in poor countries.
– Its full name is “Global Vaccine and Immunization Alliance”.
– It was founded in 2000.
– Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
How long has the meningitis outbreak been in Nigeria?
– According to Down To Earth News, the outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria occurred between October 1, 2023, and March 11, 2024.
– Due to this outbreak, nearly 1742 suspected cases were reported, with approximately 150 deaths.
– The outbreak was observed in seven of Nigeria’s 36 states.
– These are Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, and Zamfara.
– To reduce this outbreak, a vaccination campaign was initiated from March 25 to 28, 2024.
– The campaign aimed to cover more than ten million individuals aged 1 to 29 years.
Note: The outbreak of meningitis was first recorded in 1805.
What is meningitis and what are its symptoms?
– Meningitis is a disease caused by a bacterial infection.
– In this disease, there is inflammation in the membranes (meninges) around the brain and spinal cord. This causes considerable discomfort to the patient.
– People affected by this disease may experience symptoms such as headache, fever, stiffness in the neck, and nausea.
What did the WHO say?
– WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that meningitis is an old and deadly enemy.
– However, this new vaccine has the ability to prevent the outbreak of this disease and save many lives.
– The goal of eliminating this disease by 2030 was set.
– We are one step closer to achieving that goal.
Note: According to the World Malaria Report 2023, Nigeria had the highest number of malaria cases (667 million) in 2022.
Nigeria:
– It is an African country located on the Gulf of Guinea.
– Borders: It shares borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
– Capital: Abuja
– President: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
– Currency: Nigerian Naira
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7. Which country’s former cricketer Bismah Maroof retired from international cricket?
a. Pakistan
b. England
c. India
d. Bangladesh
Answer: a. Pakistan
– Bismah Maroof posted about this on April 25, 2024.
– Her international cricket career spanned 17 years.
– She made her international debut against India in Jaipur in the year 2006 (Asia Cup).
– Her final match was played against the West Indies Women’s team on April 23.
– Bismah has played 136 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 140 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
– She scored 21 half-centuries in ODIs and 12 half-centuries in T20Is, while taking 36 wickets in bowling.
– She captained in 34 ODIs and 62 T20Is.
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8. When is International Dance Day celebrated?
a. 25 April
b. 27 April
c. 28 April
d. 29 April
Answer: d. 29 April
– The value and importance of dance is celebrated.
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9. When is Ayushman Bharat Diwas celebrated?
a. 29 April
b. 30 April
c. 1 May
d. 2 May
Answer: b. 30 April
– The day aims to emphasize the importance of healthcare facilities for all citizens.
– The Ayushman Bharat Yojana scheme covers the whole family with an insurance sum of Rs 5 lakh.
– It is a paperless and cashless scheme.
– The scheme was launched in the year 2018.
– It is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, providing access to free medical treatment to over 50 crore people from low-income families.
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10. For the first time, a 60-year-old woman won the Miss Universe Buenos Aires pageant 2024, name her?
a. Divita Rai
b. Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez
c. Kristina Piszkowa
d. Shanice Palacios
Answer: b. Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez
About Buenos Aires:
– This city is the capital of Argentina.
– Breaking the stereotype about age and beauty, a 60-year-old woman’s victory for the first time has inspired people around the world.
– She competed with 34 other individuals aged 18 to 73.
– She won this competition on April 24, 2024.
– She will compete to represent Argentina in Miss Universe 2024.
– Miss Universe will be held in Mexico on September 28, 2024.
Who is Alejandra Rodriguez?
– She is a lawyer and journalist from La Plata, the capital of the Buenos Aires Province in Argentina.
– She has also worked as a legal advisor in a hospital.
Participation at the age of 60:
– It should be noted that the Miss Universe Organization removed the age limit for this contest in 2023.
– Therefore, she was able to participate in this competition and won the title of Miss Universe Buenos Aires in 2024.
– Prior to this, only women aged 18 to 28 participated in the competition.
India in Miss World
1966 – Rita Faria – India’s first Miss World
1994 – Aishwarya Rai – India’s second Miss World
1997 – Diana Hayden – India’s third Miss World
1999 – Yukta Mookhey – India’s fourth Miss World
2000 – Priyanka Chopra – India’s fifth Miss World
2017 – Manushi Chillar – India’s sixth Miss World
India in Miss Universe
1994 – Sushmita Sen – India’s first Miss Universe
2000 – Lara Dutta – India’s second Miss Universe
2021 – Harnaaz Sandhu – India’s third Miss Universe
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