TIT BITS:
1. ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu
Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS
on a private mission as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in April 2025,
strengthening India's space collaboration. This mission enhances India’s
human spaceflight capabilities and provides valuable experience for
the upcoming Gaganyaan mission (2026).
2. The Pineapple Express, a powerful atmospheric river, is
carrying warm, moisture-laden air from Hawaii to North America's West Coast,
potentially causing heavy rainfall and flooding. Atmospheric rivers
(ARs) are narrow air corridors that transport massive water vapor
from the tropics, influencing weather patterns, water supply, and extreme
weather events worldwide.
3. The West Bengal government has
approved the long-pending Teesta Bridge project, with ₹1,100
crore sanctioned by the Centre, to enhance connectivity
between Sikkim and West Bengal. This new bridge, crucial for tourism
and military movement, replaces the damaged Coronation Bridge
and strengthens strategic access to China and Bhutan borders.
4. The European Central
Bank (ECB) cut its benchmark deposit rate by 0.25% to 2.75% to boost
the struggling eurozone economy, while the U.S. Federal
Reserve kept its rates unchanged. Economic stagnation, high
energy costs, and trade uncertainties continue to challenge the Eurozone’s
recovery and inflation control efforts.