Headlines at a Glance – 13th January 2022
DRDO tests Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully flight tested the final deliverable configuration of the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, ‘fire and forget’ missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight. During the test, which was conducted at a range in Southern India, the missile impacted the designated target with precision and destroyed it. The final impact event was captured on camera. The purpose of this particular test was to prove the consistent performance for the missile system at its minimum range. Because of the strategic importance of tanks and armoured vehicles in modern day battlefields since World War I, the development of ammunition that can beat the armours of tanks and the development of armours that would withstand anti-armour ammo has been an ongoing race since then.
SOURCE: The Indian Express
Rocket scientist S Somanath appointed as new ISRO chief
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Wednesday approved the appointment of S Somanath to the post of Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO for a combined tenure of three years from the date of joining of the post. Somanath, who is at present director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), will succeed K Sivan. Talking about the areas of focus he said there are different segments which we need to concentrate on. “Areas of focus will be technology, policy, implementation and areas where stakeholders need to be taken care of. There are different segments that we need to concentrate on. Looking at the technology side we are the powerhouse of technology in various disciplines. We need to bring new approach methods so that available can be best utilized. There are many new technologies too. We need to bring in newer approaches; have to work with various capacity builders like tech companies,” said Somanath.
SOURCE: Business Standard
No complete ban on cannabis, medical use allowed: Centre to Delhi HC
The use of cannabis is not completely banned in the country as its medical and scientific use is allowed under the law, the Centre has told the Delhi High Court which, on Monday refused to advance the date of hearing of the plea seeking to legalise its use on various grounds including medicinal purposes. The bench headed by Justice Rajiv Shakhder refused to allow the early hearing application by the petitioner Great Legalisation Movement India Trust which contended that there were reports to suggest that cannabinoids helped in countering the impact of Covid-19. Looking at the board position, the application can’t be entertained at this junction. We are trying to do whatever is possible, the bench, also comprising Justice Talwant Singh, told counsel for the petitioner, advocate Abhishek Avadhani.
SOURCE: India Today
IMF names UC-Berkeley’s Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas as next chief economist
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday it has appointed French-born University of California-Berkeley economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas as the Fund’s next chief economist, replacing Gita Gopinath, who is joining the IMF management team this month. The Fund said Mr. Gourinchas, who joined UC-Berkeley in 2003 and held previous economic posts at Princeton University and Stanford University, will start part-time on Jan. 24 and transition to full-time Fund work on April 1. As Economic Counsellor, he will serve as director of the IMF’s Research Department. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Mr. Gourinchas”brings a stellar track record of scholarship and intellectual leadership in macroeconomic areas critical to our work — from global imbalances and capital flows to the stability of the international monetary and financial system, and more recently,to economic policies for the pandemic era.”
SOURCE: The Hindu
.png)
