NITI Aayog released draft battery swapping policy
- NITI Aayog has released a draft battery swapping policy, under which all metropolitan cities with a population above 40 lakh will be prioritized for the development of a battery swapping network under the first phase.
- All major cities such as state capitals, UT headquarters, and cities with populations above 5 lakh will be covered under the second phase.
Khongjom Day was observed in Manipur at the Khongjom War Memorial Complex
- Rich tributes were paid in Manipur to the valiant sons of the state who made tremendous sacrifices fighting against the British in the battle of Khongjom during the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War to maintain Manipur’s independence.
- Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, as well as the general public, attended the state-level Khongjom Day ceremony at Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Khebaching, Thoubal district.
- Every year on the 23rd of April, Manipur commemorates Manipuri warriors who battled against the British, especially Major Paona Brajabashi.
- The Governor and Chief Minister of Manipur joined the people of Manipur in a floral homage to the heroes. At Khebaching, two minutes of silence were held, as well as a gun salute.
- Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, speaking at the event, stated that the younger generation must remember our forebears’ sacrifices and always fight for a united nation.
- Chief Minister also thanked the Centre for renaming Mount Harriet in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur. He explained that the decision was made in honour of Manipur fighters’ sacrifice.
Karnataka govt launched Social Awareness Campaign “SAANS”
- Health and Medical Education Minister of Karnataka, Keshava Reddy Sudhakar has launched the ‘Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully’ (SAANS) Campaign.
- SAANS is a campaign that has been launched to ensure early detection and greater awareness of pneumonia in children under the age of five. As per SRS 2018, Karnataka’s under-five mortality is at 28 per 1000 live births.
- Pneumonia is a lung infection that is caused due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. By 2025, the state’s goal is to reduce the under-five mortality to 23 per 1,000 live. Also, to achieve the National Health Policy goals, pneumonia mortality has to be reduced to less than 3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Prasar Bharati signed MoU with Public Broadcaster of Argentina
- Prasar Bharati has signed an MoU with the Public Broadcaster of Argentina Radio Television Argentina (RTA) for collaboration in the field of broadcasting.
- The MoU encompasses a range of fronts in Media and Broadcasting that is set to exemplify the communication and transmission networking of both nations.
- India and Argentina share cordial relations and developmental partnerships in the areas of political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation.
- The Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar Vempati and the president of RTA, Rosario Lufrano, signed the agreement in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to Argentina Dinesh Bhatia.
Elon Musk to acquire Twitter in $44 Billion 2022
- Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, agreed to acquire Twitter for $44 billion, ending a drama that included hostile takeover threats before handing him personal control of one of the world’s most powerful social media networks.
- According to Twitter, the publicly traded corporation will now become a private entity owned by Musk, who negotiated a $54.20 per-share purchase price.
- Musk secured $46.5 billion in funding last week to complete the deal, and Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, predicted earlier in the day that the board would likely approve his offer because no other buyer could be found.
- Twitter stock was trading 5.9% higher on Wall Street.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gets John F. Kennedy Award
- The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, for the first time ever, awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022 to five individuals. The award will be presented by Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg on May 22, 2022, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, USA.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President is named for his valour to protect the Ukrainian people during the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
F-1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2022 won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen
- Formula One champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Netherlands) won the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy. It was Verstappen’s second win this season after Saudi Arabia, which has also included two retirements, and the 22nd of his career.
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Mexico) finished second and Lando Norris (McLaren-UK) finished third.
List of 2022 F1 Race Winners:
- Bahrain Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari-Monaco);
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands);
- Australian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari-Monaco).
Serbia Open title: Andrey Rublev defeated Novak Djokovic
- Andrey Rublev (Russian) has defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) to win his third title in the Serbia Open. Andrey Rublev has saved five set points in the second set to force a tie-break, but he was unable to prevent Djokovic from levelling the match.
- Rublev has now equalled Rafael Nadal (Spain) for the most tour-level titles in 2022 He also clinched crowns in Marseille and Dubai in February 2022.
Naveen Patnaik released 2 books “The Magic of Mangalajodi” & “The Sikh History of East India”
- Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik released 2 books, a coffee table book titled “The Magic of Mangalajodi” by Avinash Khemka; and a compilation of the Sikh history of eastern India titled “Sikh History of Eastern India” by Abinash Mohapatra.
- The coffee table book “The Magic of Mangalajodi” provides a bird’s eye view of Mangalajodi in Chilika lake through various images and descriptions. Sikh History of Eastern India is a result of the meticulous research work on Sikh history and philosophy by Abinash Mohapatra.
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day 2022: 26 April
- International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed every year on April 26 to raise awareness of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the risks of nuclear energy in general.
- The day not only informs us about the man-made disaster but also educates human beings about the risks of nuclear energy in general. After the 30th anniversary of the accident, on December 8, 2016, the United Nations adopted the resolution and proclaimed April 26 as the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.
UNESCO’s World Book Capital 2022: Guadalajara, Mexico
- Guadalajara, Mexico was named World Book Capital for the year 2022 by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, on the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.
- The city, already a UNESCO Creative City since 2017, was selected for its comprehensive plan for policies around the book to trigger social change, combat violence and build a culture of peace.
- As a UNESCO Creative City of Media, Arts Guadalajara has supported its local talents and advancing creative industries through initiatives that place media arts at the core of their programmes including in its world-famous International Book Fair.
- Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year. As the twenty-second city to bear the title since 2001, Guadalajara follows Tbilisi (2021) Kuala Lumpur (2020).
India’s participated as the Guest of honour at the Paris Book Festival 2022
- As announced in the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – President Emmanuel Macron Joint Statement released in 2018 during the French President’s visit to New Delhi, India has been designated as the Guest of Honour Country at the Paris Book Festival 2022, which will take place from April 21 to April 24, 2022.
- On April 21, 2022, the Paris Book Festival was launched. On the same day, the India Pavilion at the Paris Book Festival
