1. MIGUEL DÍAZ-CANEL

Cuba marked the end of an era on with the transfer of power from the Castro clan, in charge for six decades, to the communist country’s first-ever civilian leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

About:

• As Raul Castro, 89, enters retirement, he handed the all-powerful position of first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba to Mr. Diaz-Canel, 60, already Cuba’s president.
• Miguel Díaz-Canel is a Cuban politician serving as the president of Cuba since 2019 and the first secretary of the Communist Party, the most senior position in Cuba, since 2021.
• His two predecessors in the role were brothers, by blood, and notably his succession from Raúl Castro represents a clearly non-dynastic form of succession for the Communist Party as well as the Republic of Cuba.
• Díaz-Canel is therefore the first president to not be a Castro family member since Osvaldo Dorticós in 1976 and the first leader of the government who is not a Castro since José Miró Cardona in 1959.

Source : The Hindu

2. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Council of the European Union approved conclusions on a European Union strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to reinforce its strategic focus to contribute to regional stability at a time of “rising challenges and tensions in the region.

About:

• The Council tasked the High Representative and the Commission with putting forward a Joint Communication on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by September 2021.
• The EU will aim to promote effective rules-based multilateralism, reiterating its support for ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) centrality, a point also stressed by India.
• The Council of the European Union is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as listed in the Treaty on European Union.
• It is one of three legislative bodies and together with the European Parliament serves to amend and approve the proposals of the European Commission, which holds legislative initiative.
• It was founded on 1 July 1967.

Source : The Hindu

3. VANDE BHARAT MISSION (VBM)

The Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), which started repatriating Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns since May 7, 2020, has turned out to be one of the largest evacuations of civilians by a country.

About:

• Into the middle of Phase 10, the VBM has surpassed the large-scale airlift of 1,10,000 people in 1990 at the onset of the Gulf War.
• Till now, the Air India (AI) Group has operated 11,523 inbound flights to carry 18,19,734 passengers and 11,528 outbound flights with 13,68,457 passengers.
• The national carrier, which carried out the bulk of air transfers under the mission, was supported by its budget carrier Air India Express.
• The current VBM Phase 10 has international and domestic schedules operating till October 31.
• Air India Express (AIE) used its B-737-800 fleet to lift agricultural produce, mainly fruits and vegetables, to West Asian countries, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
• “Transport bubbles” or “air travel arrangements”, temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the pandemic, are in place.

Source : The Hindu

4. INGENUITY

NASA announced that Ingenuity had performed its first flight. “…the first flight of a powered aircraft on another planet!”

About:

• Ingenuity, the first helicopter to fly on Mars was carried by NASA’s rover called Perseverance that was launched in July last year and will help collect samples from the surface from locations where the rover cannot reach.
• Perseverance landed at the Jezero Crater of Mars in February year. It will remain on the Red Planet for about two years and look for finding past signs of life.
• The rover is designed to study signs of ancient life, collect samples that might be sent back to Earth during future missions and test new technology that might benefit future robotic and human missions to the planet.
• Ingenuity is able to fly using counter-rotating blades that spin at about 2,400 rpm. It has a wireless communication system, and is equipped with computers, navigation sensors, and two cameras. It is solar-powered, able to charge on its own.
• Taking to the air would give scientists a new perspective on a region’s geology and even allow them to peer into areas that are too steep or slippery to send a rover. In the distant future, they might even help astronauts explore Mars.
• NASA will try and demonstrate rotorcraft flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars with this helicopter, which is why the mission is so crucial.

Source : Indian Express

5. CHARLES GESCHKE

Charles Geschke, Adobe’s co-founder who aided the development of the world’s most widely used file format, the Portable Document Format (PDF), died at the age of 81 in California.

About:

• Charles Geschke was an American businessman and computer scientist best known for founding the graphics and publishing software company Adobe Inc. with John Warnock in 1982.
• The company is named after the Adobe Creek, a 14.2-mile-long northward-flowing stream originating on Black Mountain in Santa Clara County, California, United States.

History of the creation of the PDF

• PDF, which is one of the world’s most popular file formats, is used everyday by millions across the world to save and share documents, resumes, research papers, flight or railway tickets.
• In the 1990s, Warnock spearheaded what is called the “Camelot Project”. The aim was to come up with a file format that could be shared easily across different computer systems and applications.
• For instance, if a document is created on a laptop that uses Windows and is shared as a pdf with an individual who uses a Macbook, the latter can see the information and images in the document without any glitches. Before the pdf, the process of sharing documents between was not as seamless.

Source : Indian Express

6. INDIA - GERMANY AGREEMENT ON ‘CITIES COMBATING PLASTIC ENTERING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT’

India and Germany signed agreement on ‘Cities combating plastic entering the marine environment’.

About:

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and German Federal Ministry of Environment signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’.
• The project’s outcomes are in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste management and Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision to phase out single use plastic by 2022”.
• This project is envisaged under the contours of the Joint Declaration of Intent regarding cooperation in the field of ‘Prevention of Marine Litter’ signed between India and Germany in 2019.
• The project, aimed at enhancing practices to prevent plastic entering the marine environment, will be undertaken at the national level (at MoHUA), select states (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair for a period of three and a half years.

Source : DD News

7. WORLD LIVER DAY

World liver day is observed on April 19 every year, to spread awareness about the liver-related disease.

About:

• The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, except the brain. It is a key player in your body’s digestive system.
• The theme for this year is ‘Keep your liver healthy and disease-free.’

Source : Indian Express

8. SpO2

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas.

About:

• Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (SpO2) is a measure of the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen and can be measured by oximetry or through blood tests.
• The body needs there to be a certain level of oxygen in the blood or it will not function as efficiently. In fact, very low levels of SpO2 can result in very serious symptoms. This condition is known as hypoxemia.
• There is a visible effect on the skin, known as cyanosis due to the blue (cyan) tint it takes on.
• Hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood) can turn into hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the tissue). This progression and the difference between the two conditions is important to understand.

Source : PIB

9. CENTRE FOR LAND WARFARE STUDIES (CLAWS)

The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), an autonomous think tank, under the patronage of Indian Army has established a joint initiative with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Mangalore to conduct PhD programme for Army Officers.

About:

• The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, is an independent think tank on strategic studies and land warfare in the Indian context. CLAWS is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• CLAWS has taken this initiative to further enhance professional military education (PME) of officers which will eventually benefit the country with better equipped military leaders with in-depth knowledge in respective domains.
• Under the initiative, CLAWS has been recognised as a sub-centre of MAHE by virtue of which five of CLAWS faculties will serve as co-supervisors.
• CLAWS will also initiate the selection process and conduct mandatory research methodology classes, as per guidelines given by the UGC and MAHE, Mangalore.

Source : PIB

10. INAS 323

Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built ALH Mk III aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

About:

• The squadron will operate three state-of-the-art ALH Mk III, a multirole helicopter with Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The Mk III version of the ALH has an all glass cockpit and will be used for Search and Rescue, Special Operations and Coastal Surveillance.
• 16 aircraft are under procurement and the aircraft are being delivered in a phased manner to the Indian Navy.

Source : PIB