Current affairs 15 April 2024

UK adds Pakistan to the list of countries "too dangerous to travel".

• UK's foreign office has updated its travel advisory, adding Pakistan alongside countries like Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Iran to its list of destinations considered too dangerous.
• Pakistan terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023, marking the highest fatality rate since 2017.
• The regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were highlighted as major hotspots for violence.

Centre unveiled colored souvenir silver coin of Ram Lalla.

• The Government of India unveiled a 50gm colored souvenir silver coin to commemorate the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir.
• The release, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, includes limited-edition coins to celebrate India's rich cultural and religious heritage.
• Sitharaman had also revealed a coin of Lord Buddha and the Greater one-horned Rhino Animals.

Lokesh Muni honored with US President’s Gold Volunteer Service.

• Indian Jain spiritual leader Lokesh Muni was awarded the US President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award by President Joe Biden.
• The award was presented by Congressman Brad Sherman, highlighting Muni's 500 hours of volunteer service in promoting peace, non-violence, compassion, and love.
• Muni dedicated the award to Jainism principles, its founder Lord Mahavir, and Indian culture.

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IISc Bengaluru innovates Hydrogel to combat Microplastics.

• IISc developed a hydrogel capable of adsorbing and degrading over 90% of microplastics in water.
• The three-layered hydrogel, utilizing UV light and comprising chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline, introduces a sustainable approach to filtering microplastics without the drawbacks of clogging.
• This innovation also incorporates a fluorescent dye for tracking microplastic adsorption.

Russia launches 1st Angara-A5 space rocket on 3rd attempt.

• Russia's Angara-A5 rocket, successfully launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, placing a test load into low orbit.
• After two failed attempts due to a pressurizing system malfunction and an engine launch-control issue, the third launch attempt proved successful.
• The rocket blasted off to space, reaching more than 25,000 kilometers (15,500 miles) per hour in minutes.