1. Facebook launches new dedicated Gaming App for Android users
On Monday, Facebook launched its own gaming app for all android users. The development of a separate version for Apple users in under process. This gaming app is going to enable users to watch e-sports and other gaming competitions and also let the users participate in the game with other online users. The gaming app, scheduled to launch two months later, was immediately launched by the company now due to the pandemic. This app aims at providing people with the much-needed entertainment amidst the lockdown.
2. Plasma Therapy helps Delhi’s COVID-19 patient recovery: First in India
A 49-year-old male COVID-19 patient in Delhi who was the first to undergo plasma therapy has shown positive improvements and is on the verge of recovery. He was taken off the ventilator at Delhi’s Max Hospital. The patient’s health conditions had deteriorated after he was admitted to the hospital. He had developed pneumonia and with Type I respiratory failure. Due to this, following all the necessary health protocols, the doctors decided to administer the Plasma Therapy. On the fourth day post the therapy, the patient started showing a positive result. Though not a definitive cure to COVID-19, Plasma Therapy can surely help India in fighting the virus, say medical experts.
3. Elon Musk says Tesla’s Cybertruck can float for a while in water
Tesla company’s CEO, Elon Musk, through his tweet claimed that the cybertruck developed by the company is capable of floating for a while. This tweet of his captured attention from around the globe. This claim of his came as a response to a tweet of a twitter user who has raised a question to Musk about the electric vehicle’s water-fording capabilities.
4. OnePlus announces special pricing for the latest Series 8 and 8 Pro mobiles
One Plus made the official announcement of the pricing of OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro in India. The starting price of the series 8 is Rs. 41,999. Not just this, it also announced that these two models will go on sale in the country sometime around May. The OnePlus 8 model with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage is going to cost Rs 41,999. The OnePlus 8 model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is going to cost Rs 44,999 and the one 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is going to cost Rs 49,999. Further, OnePlus 8 Pro with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is going to cost 54,999 and the OnePlus 8 Pro with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage will amount to Rs 59,999.
5. The price of Crude Oil in US drops below $0 for the first time in history
On Monday, the repercussions of Coronavirus was seen in the US economy when, for the first time in history, the crude oil prices in the United States dropped to zero. This was the first time that the oil prices fell below $0 to $1.43. The major reason behind this drastic fall in prices was the reduced demand for oil and the problem of shortage of space to store the excess barrels of oil, that the producers were facing.
6. Transgender as a separate job category in job applications by Government Of India
The central government has instructed its various departments to add ‘transgender’ as a separate gender category in the job application forms for the purpose of appointment of people in civil and other government services. This instruction came from the personnel ministry and is based on the provision of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, notified in December of 2019.
7. Actor Tom Hanks shares COVID-19 experience, his wife Rita lost her sense of taste & smell
Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife were tested positive for the Coronavirus. Recently he shared his and his wife’s experience of suffering from the virus. He said that while he underwent severe body aches and fatigue, his wife Rita has tougher times. Adding to this, the actor said that Rita Wilson had a high fever and had lost her sense of taste and smell. This gave her no joy of eating anything. She also got nauseous often and developed respiratory issues. The couple was tested positive last month, but are now making their way towards recovery.
8. Trump appoints Indian-origin man, Sudarsanam Babu, on a top US Science Board
US President Donald Trump has appointed Sudarsanam Babu, an Indian-American, as a member of the National Science Board for the term of 6 years. Mr. Babu is currently the director of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, as well as ORNL Governor’s Chair of Advanced Manufacturing. With a master’s degree in technology (industrial metallurgy – welding) from IIT Madras and a PhD in materials science and metallurgy from the Cambridge University, Sudarsanam Babu has experience of 21 years in additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, physical metallurgy, and computational materials modeling.
9. Cartoon Director of Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Gene Deitch passes away at 95
Gene Deitch, the man most popularly known to direct the evergreen cartoons like ‘Tom and Jerry’ and ‘Popeye The Sailor Man’, aged 95 passed away on 16th April. He was an Oscar winner filmmaker and illustrator. He died in his apartment in Prague. Gene had directed about 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry between 1961 to 1962 and some episodes of Popeye between 1960 and 1963. Munro, a short film directed by Gene Deitch received the best animated short film Oscar in the year 1961. He has also directed other animated films like Alice of Wonderland In Paris.
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