World Liver Day 2022 Observed globally on 19 April
- World Liver Day is observed on 19 April annually to spread awareness about the causes of liver disease and tips for its prevention so as to take holistic care of the liver.
President of European Commission to visit India on April 24-25
- The President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen will visit India on April 24-25, 2022.
- The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that it will be her first visit to India as the President of the European Commission.
- During her visit, Ursula Von Der Leyen will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries.
- The President of the EU has been invited as the Chief Guest for this year’s edition of the Raisina Dialogue. She will address the inaugural session on April 25.
Supreme Court reconstitutes expert committee for Delhi-Dehradun Corridor Project
- The Supreme Court has reconstituted an expert committee for monitoring the compensatory afforestation in Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor Project.
- The Supreme Court of India has reconstituted the expert committee to monitor the compensatory afforestation and other mitigation measures for the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor Expressway project. The independent 12-member expert committee was formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to be headed by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand.
- Chandra Prakash Goyal is currently appointed as the Director-General of Forests and Special Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Apart from the new Chairperson, the Supreme Court has also included Anil Prakash Joshi (founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation) and Vijay Dhamsana (environmentalist) as additional members in the committee.
Smriti Handa appointed as Bharat Pe’s CHRO
- Fintech Company BharatPe has appointed Smriti Handa as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).
- In her new role, Handa will work closely with the senior leadership team and will also focus on strengthening the organisational culture and HR practices in the company.
- Smriti Handa had previously worked with Philips, Reckitt, and Airtel, in global and local roles. Before joining BharatPe, she was HR Head, Reckitt Hygiene- SoA.
- Smriti Handa on her new role said that her immediate focus will be on creating purpose-led leadership and a performance-driven culture in the company.
Narayan Das Narang, Telugu Film Producer passes away
- Veteran Film Producer Narayan Das Narang passed away at the age of 76. He breathed his last in Hyderabad on April 19, 2022.
- The film producer reportedly bankrolled more than 600 movies, including Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya’s ‘Love Story’ and Naga Shaurya’s Lakshya.
- The funeral took place at 4 PM at Mahaprasthanam on April 19 where several south stars paid their last respects and offer their condolences to the late producer’s family.
- The news of Narayan Das Narang’s demise was confirmed by the Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
World’s Highest Tunnel connecting Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh to be construed by BRO
- BRO Director General Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhary announced that the Border Roads Organisation will build the world’s highest tunnel at Shinku La Pass, at 16,580 feet, to connect Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. He said this while opening the strategically crucial Himachal to Zanskar Road at Shinku La Pass, where more than a half-dozen vehicles crossed from the Zanskar side towards Manali.
- The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), according to Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhary of PTI, would begin construction of the tunnel connecting Himachal Pradesh and the Zanskar Valley in Ladakh by July this year. He stated that the Centre has already established BRO’s ‘Mission Yojak’ to carry out this ambitious project.
- The tunnel, which is expected to be completed by 2025, will transform the economy of Zanskar Valley, according to the official.
- Currently, one must travel 101 kilometres on the Leh route from Manali to Darcha, then turn left towards Shinku La Pass and enter Zanskar valley.
- The tunnel’s south portal will be at Shinku La, and the tunnel’s north portal will be at Lhakhang.
- The D-G praised BRO personnel’s efforts in reopening the Shinku La-Padum and Manali-Leh roads in record time.
Russian vessel Moskva has sunk as a result of a ‘Neptune missile strike’ by Ukraine
- According to a ministry message, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Moskva, was being hauled to port when it sank due to stormy waves. The 510-crew missile cruiser, which led Russia’s naval attack on Ukraine, was a symbol of the country’s military might.
- Kyiv claims that its rockets struck the cruiser. According to the United States, it was also targeted by Ukrainian missiles.
- Moscow has denied any attack and claims the ship sank due to a fire.
- According to Russia, the conflagration caused the warship’s ammunition to explode, and the whole crew was eventually evacuated to adjacent Russian boats in the Black Sea.
- After first stating that the battleship was floating, the Russian defence ministry revealed late Thursday that the Moskva had been lost.
- The 12,490-tonne warship is the largest Russian warship sunk in combat since WWII.
Tropical Storm Megi: Landslides and floods caused Mass Destruction in Philippines
- Tropical Storm Megi wreaked havoc on the Philippines, killing at least 167 people in landslides and floods. According to the national disaster organisation, another 110 persons are missing, and 1.9 million people have been impacted.
- Hillside avalanches and overflowing rivers wreaked havoc on the villages surrounding Baybay city in central Leyte province.
- Tropical Storm Megi, also known as Tropical Storm Agaton in the Philippines, was a minor but devastating tropical storm that hit the Philippines in April 2022.
- Megi arose from a convection zone in the Philippine Sea, travelling northwestward into the Leyte Gulf, where it stayed nearly stationary, slowly tracking eastward.
- Megi made two landfalls, one at Guiuan’s Calicoan Island and the other in Samar’s Basey.
- Before fading, it continued southwestward and reentered the Philippine Sea.
Karnataka named Robin Uthappa as brand ambassador for Brain Health Initiative
- The Karnataka State Government in association with NIMHANS and Niti Ayog launched the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (Ka-BHI) in January.
- Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has been recently appointed as the brand ambassador for Karnataka- Brain Health Initiative (Ka-BHI).
Lt Gen Manoj Pande named as India’s next Chief of Army Staff
- Lieutenant General Manoj Pande has been appointed as the next Chief of Army Staff. Lt Gen Pande is the incumbent Vice-Chief of the Army. He will take over from General MM Naravane, who is set to retire on April 30, 2022.
- Lt Gen Manoj Pande is the first-ever officer from the Corps of Engineers to be appointed as Army Chief. He has served as chief engineer in the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He was the Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) from June 2020 to May 2021.
- Outgoing army chief Gen MM Naravane is seen as the frontrunner for the Chief of Defence Staff’s (CDS) post, that has been vacant since the death of India’s first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat in an air crash last December.
TRISHAKTI CORPS CONDUCTS EX KRIPAN SHAKTI IN WEST BENGAL
- Exercise KRIPAN SHAKTI, an Integrated Fire Power exercise was recently conducted by The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps at the Teesta Field Firing Ranges (TFFR), near Siliguri, West Bengal. The exercise was led by Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar and General Officer Commanding Trishakti Corps.
NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK TITLED “THE BOY WHO WROTE A CONSTITUTION ” HAS BEEN RELEASED
- On the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar’s 131st birth anniversary, a new book titled “The Boy Who Wrote a Constitution: A play for Children on Human Rights” authored by Rajesh Talwar, a fact-based drama on Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s own recollections of his childhood has been released. It is published by Ponytale Books.
- Talwar’s also authored books include “The Vanishing of Subhash Bose”, “Gandhi, Ambedkar, and the Four-Legged Scorpion”, and “Aurangzeb”.
Haryana wins 12th Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship
- Haryana has emerged as the champions of the 12th Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship by defeating Tamil Nadu 3-1 in the shootout after the final ended 1-1 in the regulation time.
- The tournament was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from April 6 to 17, 2022. Haryana has won the trophy for the first time since 2011. Karnataka prevailed over Maharashtra 4-3 in the third/fourth place classification match.
Ethosh Digital has opened its first IT Training & Services centre in Leh.
- Leh has taken the first step in building an IT sector. SS Khandare, the Additional Director General of Police for Ladakh, has opened Ethosh Digital’s first IT Training and Services centre in Leh.
- Ethosh Digital is a multinational company established in California that specialises in digital communications and AR-VR products. Ethosh Digital was assisted in establishing the first IT office in Ladakh by Aseem Foundation, a Pune-based NGO that works in India’s border regions in the sectors of education, business, health, sports, and sustainable development.
- ETHOSH is a technology-driven firm that creates high-impact Digital Experiences for global industry leaders and big brands in the Lifesciences, Healthcare, and Engineering sectors. They specialise in marketing, customer service, training, and R&D enablement, therefore they generate unique digital content and solutions.
