4th June, 2022 Current Affairs
Archana Lakkavajula
NATIONAL
Country’s first Liquid Mirror Telescope comes up in Uttarakhand
- The first liquid mirror telescope in the country and the largest in Asia – was commissioned atop Devasthal, a hill in Uttarakhand. This will now keep a watch on the overhead sky to identify transient or variable objects such as supernovae, gravitational lenses, space debris, and asteroids.
- The scientists from the three countries spun a pool of mercury, which is a reflective liquid so that the surface curved into a parabolic shape. It is ideal for focusing light. A thin transparent film of mylar protects the mercury from the wind.
- The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi-lens optical corrector that produces sharp images over a wide field of view. A large-format electronic camera located at the focus records the images.
INTERNATIONAL
US briefs Dhaka on Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
- The United States has briefed Dhaka on the newly launched 13-country initiative Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In a joint statement issued after the 2nd High Level Economic Consultation between the US and Bangladesh held in Washington on Thursday, Bangladesh welcomed additional information on the supply chain resilience, and de-carbonization pillars of the IPEF.
- Both the countries shared a common vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and secured Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all.
- Dhaka has also sought US assistance in exploring its marine resources and further developing the blue economy to ensure environmental protection and economic prosperity.
APPOINTMENTS
Javier Olivan Taking over as the Meta New Chief Operating Officer
- Javier Olivan, the current chief growth officer at Meta Platforms, will take over as the company’s chief operating officer after Sheryl Sandberg stepped down from the post.
- Olivan has been with Meta, formerly known as Facebook, for several years, contributing to its explosive expansion. Olivan will be responsible for the advertising and business products while continuing to head infrastructure and corporate development.
Science & Technology
ISRO chairman inaugurates new spacecraft manufacturing facility
- Dr. S Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), inaugurated ANANTH Technologies’ spacecraft manufacturing unit at Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) Aerospace Park.
- The new state-of-the-art spacecraft manufacturing facility can conduct assembly integration and testing of four large spacecraft simultaneously.
- This is a first of its kind facility in India, adding that since its establishment in 1992, Ananth Technologies has contributed to the manufacturing of 89 satellites and 69 launch vehicles built/launched by ISRO.
OBITUARY
Santoor maestro Bhajan Sopori passes away
- Santoor maestro and Padma Shri awardee, Bhajan Sopori has passed away at the age of 73. The santoor player was born in Sopore in Kashmir Valley in 1948 and belonged to the Sufiana Gharana of Indian classical music.
- He was the great-grandson of Pandit Shankar Pandit, who had developed the style popularly known as the ‘Sufi Baaj’ (style), based on Sufiana Qalam and Hindustani Classical music.
- Hailed as ‘Saint of the Santoor’ and the ‘King of Strings’, Sopori won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992 and the Padma Shri in 2004. In 2009 he was honored with the Baba Allaudin Khan Award and M N Mathur award in 2011 for his contribution to Indian classical music.
Freedom fighter Anjalai Ponnusamy passes away
- Freedom fighter Anjalai Ponnusamy, who fought for India’s independence from colonial Britain, died, aged 102.
- At the age of 21, Anjalai joined the Rani of Jhansi Regiment – the women’s regiment of the Indian National Army – in the hopes of discarding the yoke of British colonialism from the Indian people.
- A prominent figure in the struggle for India’s independence, Bose was a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi, who shared his dream of an India free from British rule. To accomplish this, he founded the Indian National Army in 1943, albeit with the support of the Japanese, during World War II. After the war ended with the Japanese defeat, the Indian National Army was disbanded, and Anjalai returned home to continue her life in Malaysia.
AWARDS
Indian American Harini Logan Wins 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee
- Harini Logan was eliminated from the Scripps National Spelling Bee once, then reinstated. She missed four words in a gruelling standoff against Vikram Raju, including one that would have given her the title.
- In the first-ever lightning-round tiebreaker, Harini finally claimed the trophy. The 13-year-old eighth-grader from San Antonio, Texas, who competed in the last fully in-person bee three years ago and endured the pandemic to make it back, spelt 21 words correctly during a 90-second spell-off, beating Vikram by six.
Published date : 04 Jun 2022 05:36PM