DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: April 6, 2024

Delhi High Court appoints Justice Najmi Waziri as chairman of Forest Conservation Committee

Tags: Person in news

The Delhi High Court appointed retired high court judge Justice Najmi Waziri to chair the internal departmental committee for forest conservation.

An Overview of the News

• The objective of this decision is to ensure serious cooperation from various departments in collecting documents, maps and records required for effective forest conservation.

Background:

• The Delhi High Court had earlier issued an order on December 21, 2023, emphasizing the need to protect deemed and protected forest areas in the national capital.

• A petition was filed seeking amendment to the order nominating a retired High Court judge to chair the internal departmental committee responsible for forest conservation.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

• The Court expects full cooperation from all concerned departments with the Committee headed by Justice Waziri.

• The Delhi Government has been entrusted with the task of immediately providing all necessary secretarial facilities and assistance to Justice Waziri.

• The amendment to the order dated December 21, 2023, includes appointing Justice Waziri to head the committee.

Purpose of Appointment:

• The purpose of the nomination of the retired High Court judge is to bring greater seriousness and efficiency in the collaborative efforts of various departments.

• The aim is to protect forest and deemed forest areas from further encroachment and denudation.

Composition and responsibilities of the committee:

• The committee consists of officers like the Chief Conservator of Forests, Conservator of Forests, and Deputy Conservator of Forests.

• Its primary responsibility is to ensure that concrete measures are taken for the conservation, reclamation, and enhancement of both protected and deemed forests.

Romania unveils world's most powerful laser

Tags: Science and Technology International News

Developed by a research center in Romania as part of the EU Infrastructure Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project.

An Overview of the News

• Operated by French company Thales, this laser claims to have revolutionary potential in a variety of fields, from healthcare to space exploration.

• At the core of this groundbreaking laser technology lies chirped-pulse amplification (CPA), a method developed by Mourou and Strickland.

• CPA facilitates the amplification of laser power while ensuring safe intensity levels by stretching and compressing the ultra-short laser pulse.

• This innovative technology achieves unprecedented levels of intensity, opening the door to myriad applications such as corrective eye surgery and advanced precision instruments in industrial operations.

Nobel Prize Winner Contribution:

• Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for their pioneering work in laser technology.

• His inventions have led to revolutionary advancements by enabling precision instruments and applications.

Possible Applications:

• Nuclear waste treatment: Laser technology can reduce the radioactivity period of nuclear waste, increasing the safety and manageability of disposal.

• Space debris removal: Laser technology can be deployed to clear space debris, reducing the risk of collisions with satellites and spacecraft.

• Medical Advances: The precision of lasers promises breakthroughs in medical treatments, including targeted cancer treatments and advanced surgical techniques.

Involvement of the ELI Project and Thales Group:

• Part of the European Union Infrastructure Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project, which aims to push laser technology boundaries.

• Operated by Thales Group, a leading global provider of aerospace, defense and security solutions, headquartered in France.

Dr. Meenesh Shah appointed as the new Chairman of NCDFI

Tags: Person in news

Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman, of NDDB, has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited (NCDFI) during the recent board elections on April 5, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Ensuring transparency and fairness, the election process was monitored by Praveen Chaudhary, IAS, District Collector/Magistrate of Anand.

• Dr. Shah succeeds Mangal Jeet Rai, who served two terms as NCDFI President.

• Mangal Jeet Rai was re-elected as Director, he will remain on the Governing Council of NCUI.

Board Elections and Appointments:

• In the General Body meeting held in April 2024, eight directors including Dr. Shah were elected unopposed.

• Executive Director of NDDB Shri S. Regupathy was named as director.

About NCDFI:

• NCDFI was established on December 7, 1970, as a national-level apex dairy cooperative institution.

• Governed under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023.

• It consists of 20 regular members, 14 associate members and NDDB as institutional members.

• MD of NCDFI: Shri Srinivas Sajja

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden Secure Miami Open Men's Doubles Title 2024.

Tags: Sports News

The men's doubles championship at the 2024 Miami Open Tennis tournament was won by Australian Matthew Ebden and 44-year-old Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna. 

An Overview of the News:

• The tournament held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, United States, on March 31, 2024. 

• Despite losing the opening set, they defeated Croatia's Ivan Dodig and the USA's Austin Krajicek.

• With their triumph, Bopanna and Ebden were able to take back the top spot in the ATP men's doubles rankings.

• Bopanna became the fourth Indian to win the Miami Open, following in the footsteps of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupati, and Sania Mirza.

Danielle Collins Triumphs in Women's Singles:

• Danielle Collins, an American tennis player, defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the championship match to win the women's singles title.

Men's Singles Champion Jannik Sinner Wins:

• In the men's singles division, Jannik Sinner of Italy triumphed against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the championship match.

Additional Insights on the Miami Open:

• The inaugural competition took place at the Lavers International Tennis Resort in Florida in February 1985.

• Named after the Miami Gardens, Florida, USA, professional tennis tournament, it is held there once a year.

• Hard Rock Stadium is home to outdoor hard courts where competitions are held. 

• These events usually take place in late March or early April.

Important Tennis Grand Slams:

• The Australian Open kicks off the tennis calendar in mid-January.

• The French Open, commonly referred to as Roland Garros, usually graces the tennis scene in late May.

• Wimbledon, renowned for its grass courts, captivates audiences towards the end of June.

• The US Open, a significant event concluding the Grand Slam calendar, unfolds at the close of August.