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Posted 18 Apr 2024

8 min read

Nagorno-Karabakh Region

Russian peacekeepers have begun withdrawing from Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan's recapture of disputed territory from Armenian separatists.

About Nagorno-Karabakh Region
- It is known as Artsakh by Armenians.
- It is a landlocked mountainous region officially recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
- Territory is internationally recognised as part of oil-rich Azerbaijan, but its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenians.
- It was claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia after the fall of Russian Empire in 1917 and has remained a point of tension ever since.

About IBBI
- Established in 2016 under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code).
- Responsible for implementation of Code that amends laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in time bound manner.
- Governing board of IBBI Composition
  - Chairperson,
  - Three members from amongst the officers of Central Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary or equivalent,
  - One member to be nominated by RBI,
  - five other members to be nominated by Central Government, of whom at least three shall be whole-time member.

Indian Navy seized drugs in Arabian Sea as a part of multi-nation Combined Task Force-150 under CMF.
- Drugs are seized under Operation Crimson Barracuda, first such operation conducted by an Indian Navy after India joined CMF in 2022.

About CMF
- It is a multinational maritime partnership, which aims to uphold the Rules-Based International Order by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability and prosperity in international waters
- Main focus area: Defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.
- Members: 42 countries.
- It comprises five Combined Task Forces.
- Participation is voluntary.
- It is commanded by a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.

As per reports, Israel used GPS spoofing against Iran.
- GPS is a satellite constellation supporting highly accurate positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) measurements worldwide. It is owned by the United States.

About GPS Spoofing
- Also, known as GPS simulation.
- Refers to the practice of manipulating or tricking a GPS receiver by broadcasting false GPS signals.
- This form of cyber-attack undermines the reliability of GPS data, which is vital for a variety of applications.
- Spoofing is different from GPS jamming.
  - In the latter, the GPS signals are jammed or blocked.

SPACE, a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems for Indian Navy, set up by DRDO.

About SPACE
- It will consist of two distinct assemblages –
  - a platform which floats on water surface,
  - a submersible platform which can be lowered to any depth upto 100 m.

Significance
- Evaluation of sonar systems, allowing for quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific package.
- Help to survey, sampling, and data collection of air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floor parameters using modern scientific instrumentation.
- Boost anti-submarine warfare research capabilities.

As per recent study, scientists are looking for a new model to explain Hubble tension which is not explained by Λ cold dark matter or lambda CDM model.
- Lambda CDM explains various features of the universe, including radiation leftover from the Big Bang, etc.

About Hubble Tension
- Refers to the discrepancy that two equally valid methods to measure “how fast the universe is expanding” have yielded different estimates.
  - Expansion of Universe is measured by Hubble Constant.
- The two methods are:
  - Cosmic Microwave Background based on a sea of photons left after Big Bang theory.
  - Cosmic Distance Ladder uses techniques to measure distance to objects that are close, further away, and very far away from the earth.

About Bitcoin Halving
- Refers to the 50% reduction in the reward paid to Bitcoin miners.
  - Bitcoin miners successfully process other people’s cryptocurrency transactions so that they can be added to the public digital ledger known as the blockchain.
- Takes place every four years.
- The halving policy was written into Bitcoin’s mining algorithm to counteract inflation by maintaining scarcity.
  - In theory, the reduction in the pace of Bitcoin issuance means that the price will increase if demand remains the same.

About Kesariya stupa
- Located in Bihar.
- Built in circular shape and structure is made of bricks, mud, and lime mortar.
- Height of 104 feet, taller than Borobodur Stupa in Java, a world heritage monument.
- Built in 3rd Century BC by Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who was instrumental in spreading Buddhism across Indian subcontinent.
- It is believed that stupa was built to commemorate the spot where Lord Buddha gave his 22nd sermon and to mark the place where he announced his impending death