World Liver Day observed globally on 19 April
World Liver day is observed on the 19 April every year to spread awareness about the second largest organ in the body. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain. Liver diseases can be caused by hepatitis A, B, C, alcohol and drugs. Viral Hepatitis occurs due to consumption of contaminated food and water, unsafe sexual practices and drug abuse.
Why is the Liver important?
- Fights infections and illness
- Regulates blood sugar
- Removes toxic substances from the body
- Controls cholesterol levels
- Helps blood to clot
- Makes many of the body’s essential proteins
- Releases bile and aids in digestion
- Responsible for manufacturing cholesterol and triglycerides
- Breaks down medications and drugs, including alcohol
- Breaks down insulin and other hormones in the body
Former Footballer Ahmed Hussain Passes Away
Former India International Football defender, Ahmed Hussain Lala has passed away due to COVID-19. He represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where India finished fourth. Besides, he was also part of the Indian team that won the gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games.
Ahmed also took part in the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, in which India finished fourth. In Club Football, Ahmed played for Hyderabad City Police, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Club. In his career, he had won two Santosh Trophy, three Durand Cups and six Rovers Cups.
NASA Awards $2.9 billion contract to SpaceX
The United States space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has picked Elon Musk’s SpaceX for its Artemis programme, to develop the first commercial lander and take the next two US astronauts to the moon. The total value of this contract is $2.89 billion.
Under this contract:
- SpaceX will develop a spacecraft ‘SpaceX Starship’ to land next to two US astronauts, including a women astronaut at the lunar south pole region, by 2024.
- NASA also aims to bring the first person of colour to the moon’s surface as part of the Artemis programme.
- Between 1969 and 1972, the US brought 12 astronauts to the moon.
Rating Agencies downgrade India’s GDP forecasts for FY22
With the resurgence of COVID-19 cases posing risks to economic recovery, the leading brokerages have downgraded India’s GDP growth projections for the current fiscal year 2021-22. Current fiscal year to as low as 10 per cent on local lockdowns threatening fragile recovery.
Given below in the GDP growth forecast by several rating agencies for FY22:
| Agencies | FY22 (revised estimate) | FY22 (previous estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Nomura | 12.6% | 13.5% |
| JP Morgan | 11% | 13% |
| UBS | 10% | 11.5% |
| Citi Research | 12% | 12.5% |
In the Covid-ravaged 2020-21 fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021), the economy is projected to have contracted by up to 8 per cent. The low base of FY’21 was seen aiding a double-digit growth rate in the current fiscal before moderating to 6.8 per cent in FY’23.
India Clinches 14 medal at 2021 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship
The 2021 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships was held from April 13 to 18, 2021 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event was the 34th edition of the Asian Wrestling Championships. India won 14 medals to stand in the third spot on the medal table. The medals include 5 Gold, 3 Silver & 6 Bronze Medals. Iran and Kazakhstan topped the medal tally with 17 medals each.
Following are the medal winners from India:
GOLD MEDAL
- Ravi Kumar Dahiya – 57 kg Men’s freestyle
- Vinesh Phogat – 53 kg Women’s freestyle
- Anshu Malik – 57 kg Women’s freestyle
- Sarita Mor – 59 kg Women’s freestyle
- Divya Kakran – 72 kg Women’s freestyle
SILVER MEDAL
- Bajrang Punia – 65 kg Men’s freestyle
- Deepak Punia – 86 kg Men’s freestyle
- Sakshi Malik – 65 kg Women’s freestyle
BRONZE MEDAL
- Karan Mor – 70 kg Men’s freestyle
- Narsingh Yadav – 79 kg Men’s freestyle
- Sanjeet – 92 kg Men’s freestyle
- Satyawart Kadian – 97 kg Men’s freestyle
- Seema Bisla – 50 kg Women’s freestyle
- Pooja Sihag – 76 kg Women’s freestyle
Max Verstappen Wins Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix 2021
Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) won the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix 2021, in Imola, Italy. This win is his first victory of the season. The race was the second round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.
The seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) finished second, following a crash and sustaining damage involving Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Lando Norris (McLaren – Great Britain) took third place.
Adobe co-founder and PDF developer Charles Geschke passes away
American computer scientist Charles Geschke, best known as the co-founder of graphics and publishing software company Adobe Inc, has passed away. Geschke co-founded Adobe company in 1982 with fellow mate John Warnock. Geschke, who was widely known as Chuck, also helped in developing the popular Portable Document Format (PDF).
Italy launches first ever mega food park in India
Italy has launched its first-ever mega food park project in India, at Fanidhar in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. The project aims to create synergy between agriculture and industry of the two countries and focuses on the research and development of new and more efficient technologies in the sector.
With this Italy also aims to explore the great opportunities offered by the Indian market. This is the first Italian-Indian food park project, an initiative in the food-processing field, which serves as a pillar of the partnership between India and Italy.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Italy Capital: Rome;
- Italy Currency: Euro;
- Italy President: Sergio Mattarella.
Veteran Tamil actor and comedian Vivek passes away
Renowned Tamil actor and comedian Vivek has passed away. He was launched by legendary filmmaker K Balachander in the late 1980s. He went on to become one of the most sought after comedy actors of Tamil cinema in the 1990s and retained a stronghold in the industry.
The actor was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for his excellent work in Tamil cinema. He acted in over 200 movies. He was last seen in Dharala Prabhu, which was the Tamil remake of the Hindi film Vicky Donor.
RBI approves re-appointment of Murali Natarajan as DCB Bank MD and CEO
Private sector lender, DCB Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the re-appointment of Murali M. Natrajan as the Managing Director & CEO, for a further period of one year from April 29, 2021. He was appointed as MD and CEO of DCB Bank in May 2009. Prior to joining DCB, Natrajan has worked with foreign banks Standard Chartered & Citibank.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- DCB Bank Headquarters: Maharashtra.
- DCB Bank Founded: 1930.
India’s Mirabai Chanu creates a new Clean and Jerk world record in Tashkent
Mirabai Chanu set a new World Record in the women’s 49kg Clean and Jerk with a massive 119 kg lift at Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent. The 26-year-old Indian won the bronze medal at the event. The gold medal went to Hou Zhihui of China who created a new world record in snatch. Asian Games, held once every 4yrs, is the 2nd largest multi-sport event after Olympics.
Railways to run ‘Oxygen Express’ trains via green corridors
Following a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Indian Railways will run ‘Oxygen Express’ trains transporting liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country via green corridors to meet growing demand from states. Green corridors are being created to ensure fast movement of these trains.
Empty tankers will begin their journey from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai to load liquid medical oxygen from Vizag, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro, the national transporter.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal;
- Indian Railways Founded: 16 April 1853, India;
- Indian Railways Headquarters: New Delhi.
Indian expedition to Antarctica returns to Cape Town
The 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences successfully returned to Cape Town after completing a journey of about 12,000 nautical miles in 94 days, including stopovers.
This achievement concludes four successful decades of India’s scientific endeavour in the continent of peace and cooperation. The team reached its destination Bharati station on February 27 and Maitri station on March 8 in Antarctica. Bharati and Maitri are India’s permanent research base stations in Antarctica.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Minister of Earth Sciences: Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Gender Samvaad event launched by Ministry of Rural Development
The Ministry of Rural Development recently launched the Gender Samvaad Event. It is a joint initiative between DAY-NRLM and IWWAGE. The main objective of the Gender Samvaad event was to create awareness of gender-related interventions under the DAY-NRLM. DAY-NRLM is Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission. IWWAGE is Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy.
About Gender Samvaad
- It provides opportunities to understand the best practices of other states to improve women agencies.
- For instance, facilitating women’s access to land rights and their engagement in Farmer Producer Organisations, establishing strong institutions for public service delivery, best practices around food, nutrition, health and water and sanitation.
- It helps to understand Gender Interventions globally.
- Also, the event provides opportunities to engage with experts on suggestions to handle implementation barriers.
- It aims to promote the need to focus on gender issues.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Union Minister of Rural Development: Narendra Singh Tomar.
