NATIONAL NEWS

AI-Powered Algorithm to Enhance 3D Effects

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras and the US-based Northwestern University have developed deep learning algorithms.

• It can enhance the depth perception and 3D effects in videos captured using smartphone cameras.
• such algorithms will prevent mobile phone images from being "flat" and impart a realistic 3D feel.
• Artificial Intelligence and machine learning techniques are used for such image manipulation.
• The research has been published in the Proceedings of International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV), 2021.

Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2022

• The Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2022 between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will be conducted from 22 March to 31 March, 2022.
• This year marks 9th edition.
• It is being conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy, Seychelles.
• The objective of the joint training exercise is to build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practices between both the armies.
• Exercise Lamitiye with Seychelles is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of current global situation and growing security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region.

OneWeb with SpaceX

• OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, and American Space operator SpaceX entered into an agreement to resume satellite launches.
• The company is building a constellation of 648 low Earth Orbit satellites, of which 428 satellites or two-thirds of the satellites have been deployed inti orbit using Russian rocket Soyuz.
• The first launch with SpaceX is expected to take place in 2022.
• OneWeb plans to offer low latency, high-speed satellite broadband services to people across the globe.

Prasar Bharati Signs MoU with Australia's Public Service Broadcaster

• India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australia's public service broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) to boost co-operation in the field of broadcasting.
• This will expand the reach of DD News, DD India and multiple language services of DD News amongst the Indian Diaspora in Australia.
• They will also exchange programmes of Radio and Television content in the fields of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news, travel, music and arts.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Relativistic Klystron Amplifier

• The Researchers in China have developed a microwave machine “Relativistic Klystron Amplifier (RKA).

• It will destroy or jam satellites in space. It will function as a high-powered laser weapon.

• The device can generate a wave burst measuring 5-megawatts in the Ka-band. This band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum increasingly used for both civil and military purposes.
• RKA can be mounted onto satellites for attacking enemy assets in space.
• It can generate beams strong enough to go through metallic objects moving at high speeds.

SPORTS

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2022

• Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix 2022 was held at Bahrain International Circuit in the west of Bahrain. This was the first Formula One race of 2022.

• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) from Monaco won the Bahrain Grand Prix.

• Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) from spain came second and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) from Great Britain came third.
• The Bahrain Grand Prix is also called the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

Indian Wells Masters 2022

• American Tennis player, Taylor Harry Fritz defeated Rafael Nadal to win the Indian Wells Masters 2022 which was held in California, United States.

• It is also known as the Indian Wells Open or BNP Paribas open.

• He is now ranked 8th in Singles for Men Category by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
• Fritz, who became the first American to win the title in Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001.
• Iga Swiatek from Poland won Women’s Singles Category.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MD & CEO of TCS

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced that its board of directors has reappointed Rajesh Gopinathan as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company for five years.

• Ajesh Gopinathan has served as the CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services since 2017.

• TCS had strengthened its position under his leadership, with revenues increasing from $17.6 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 to $22.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.
• The company’s market capitalisation increased to Rs 14.19 trillion (equivalent to $190 billion) during the above-mentioned period, according to the company.

UN’s Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism

• Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh has been appointed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to a new high-level advisory board on effective multilateralism.

• The advisory board consists of 12-members, which is co-chaired by former Liberian President and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.
• The new advisory board will be asked to build on the ideas in 'Our Common Agenda.
• The 'Our Common Agenda' is a set of actions designed to strengthen and accelerate multilateral agreements - particularly the 2030 Agenda.
• She is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Prior to this she was professor of economics and chairperson of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She is also a member of the UN's high-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs.

President of Asian Cricket Council

• The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has extended the tenure of its President Jay Shah for a period of one year.

• Shah was first appointed as the President of ACC in January 2021. The decision was taken during the annual general meeting of ACC in Colombo.

• He succeeds Nazmul Hassan.
• Shah is the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019.
• Shah's extension was proposed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Down Syndrome Day

• World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed every year on 21 March.

• The theme for the day 2022 is “InclusionMeans”.
• It is a global campaign which is observed annually to spread awareness about Down Syndrome.
• First World Down Syndrome Day was celebrated in 2012.
• Down Syndrome, a genetic condition was first described by British physician John Langdon Haydon Down in 1862.

World Forest Day

• World Forest Day or International Day of Forest is celebrated every year on 21 March.

• The theme for the day 2022 is ‘Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption'.
• The aim is to increase awareness about the role forests play in sustaining lives on this planet.
• The United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as International Day of Forests in 2012 to honour and promote awareness about the value of all types of forests.

World Poetry Day

• World Poetry Day is celebrated every year on 21 March.

•  The day was declared by UNESCO in 1999.

• The aim is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.

• Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated every year on 21 March.

• The theme for the day 2022 is “VOICES FOR ACTION AGAINST RACISM”.

• It is celebrated to create awareness about the need for the elimination of racial discrimination.
• The importance this day is to strengthen meaningful and safe public participation and representation in all areas of decision-making to prevent and combat racial discrimination.
• It recognizes and contributes individuals and organizations that stand up against racial discrimination and the challenges they face.
• It was first celebrated on 21 November 1967.

OBITUARY

Former president of Bangladesh Shahabuddin Ahmed

• Former president of Bangladesh and chief justice Shahabuddin Ahmed passed away. He was at the age of 92.

• He was born on 01 February 1930 at Netrokona, Bangladesh.

• He became the head of the government as acting president of Bangladesh and also served as the President of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001.
• He was responsible for holding a holding a “free and credible” election in the country in February 1991.