{"id":71697,"date":"2026-04-16T18:49:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=71697"},"modified":"2026-04-16T18:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:21:57","slug":"news-in-short-16-04-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-04-2026\/news-in-short-16-04-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 16-04-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Ghaggar River<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:GS1\/Geography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Villages near the Ghaggar River report rising cancer cases linked to polluted water, but lack of data and poor healthcare hinder action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ghaggar River in northern India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ghaggar River is an intermittent, monsoon-fed river in northern India.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It originates in the village of Dagshai in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh at about 1,927 metres elevation and flows through Punjab and Haryana into Rajasthan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its main tributaries include the Kaushalya, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang rivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/haryana\/cancer-courses-through-the-ghaggar\/article70837906.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Andaman Sea<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Geography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals from Bangladesh to Malaysia capsized in the Andaman Sea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Andaman Sea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Andaman Sea is a marginal sea in the northeastern Indian Ocean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is\u00a0 bordered by Myanmar to the north and east, Thailand and Malaysia to the east, Indonesia to the south, and India\u2019s Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the west.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It connects to the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca and serves as an important international shipping route, especially between India and China.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also supports regional maritime trade through ports in Myanmar and surrounding countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source : <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/news\/world\/nearly-250-people-including-children-feared-missing-after-boat-capsizes-in-andaman-sea-says-un-11776185676659.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>LM<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>AZEC Plus and Maritime Security<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India, raised concerns over disruptions in maritime energy routes at the AZEC Plus meeting, amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About AZEC Plus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) is a <strong>Japan-led initiative<\/strong> launched in <strong>2023<\/strong> to promote <strong>decarbonisation, clean energy transition, and energy security<\/strong> in Asia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It <strong>provides an alternative, Asia-centric model of energy transition, recognising diverse developmental <\/strong>needs of Asian economies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AZEC focuses on:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Facilitating <strong>technology transfer in clean energy<\/strong> (hydrogen, ammonia, renewables).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supporting <strong>carbon neutrality <\/strong>goals while maintaining economic growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening<strong> energy supply chain resilience<\/strong> in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AZEC Plus is an expanded framework<\/strong> that includes more Asian countries and global institutions such as Asian Development Bank and International Energy Agency.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It <strong>addresses emerging challenges<\/strong> like supply disruptions, critical mineral access, and maritime security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/strait-of-hormuz-tensions-jaishankar-shipping-energy-resilience-10638516\/lite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Hafnium-Oxide Memristor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scientists have developed a hafnium-oxide-based memristor, a brain-inspired nanodevice, capable of significantly reducing energy consumption in artificial intelligence systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Neuromorphic Computing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Neuromorphic computing is a field of technology that seeks to <strong>replicate the architecture and functioning of the human brain<\/strong> in electronic systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the human brain, <strong>memory and processing occur simultaneously<\/strong> within synapses, which leads to highly energy-efficient computation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This approach is fundamentally different from the <strong>Von Neumann architecture, <\/strong>which is used by nearly all modern general-purpose computers.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this <strong>memory and processing units are physically separated,<\/strong> resulting in significant energy consumption due to constant data transfer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is a Memristor?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A memristor is an electronic component that combines the properties of <strong>memory and resistance<\/strong>, allowing it to both store and process information within the same device.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike conventional resistors, a <strong>memristor retains its resistance state even after the power supply is switched off,<\/strong> thereby enabling non-volatile memory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In neuromorphic systems, a <strong>memristor functions as an artificial synapse<\/strong>, where different resistance levels represent the strength of connections between neurons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The memristor uses a <strong>p\u2013n junction mechanism<\/strong> that allows smooth and continuous adjustment of resistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Synapse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A synapse is a <strong>junction (connection point) <\/strong>between <strong>two nerve cells (neurons) <\/strong>in the brain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is the place where <strong>one neuron passes signals (information) <\/strong>to another neuron.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These signals are usually transmitted using electrical impulses and chemical substances (neurotransmitters).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/180576\/OPS\/G23FQR6OV.1+G5EFRUULR.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Reed snake : Calamaria Garoensis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Species&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of burrowing reed snake, Calamaria garoensis (Garo Hills reed snake), in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya, India.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Calamaria garoensis (Garo Hills reed snake)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reed snakes (Calamaria genus) <\/strong>are small, burrowing, and hard to study, and their close physical similarities have often led to misidentification and incorrect grouping under common species names.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Calamaria garoensis\u00a0 was discovered in Oragitok, a biodiverse forest area, and is only known from this small region, indicating it has a very limited range and may need conservation attention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is closely related to <strong>Calamaria mizoramensis <\/strong>but shows about 6.3% genetic divergence, supporting its status as a separate species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The species can be identified by features such as smooth dorsal scales in 13 rows, a short blunt tail, longitudinal body striping, a faint neck ring, and a distinctive dark stripe on the underside of the tail.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Latest Study<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The study also clarifies past misclassification of reed snakes previously grouped under Calamaria pavimentata, now known to be a complex of multiple species.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It highlights the rich but underexplored biodiversity of the Garo Hills and the need for further research and conservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/meghalaya-yields-new-burrowing-reed-snake\/article70860105.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> In News <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Villages near the Ghaggar River report rising cancer cases linked to polluted water, but lack of data and poor healthcare hinder action. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Ghaggar River in northern India <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Ghaggar River is an intermittent, monsoon-fed river in northern India.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It originates in the village of Dagshai in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh at about 1,927 metres elevation and flows through Punjab and Haryana into Rajasthan. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Its main tributaries include the Kaushalya, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang rivers. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-04-2026\/news-in-short-16-04-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71697"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71700,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71697\/revisions\/71700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}