1) E Ink displays: A new crowdfunded phone, called the Minimal Phone, has featured a white E Ink display.
- It is a screen that aims to replicate the experience of reading and writing on paper.
- Works using tiny microcapsules filled with positively charged white particles and negatively charged black ones suspended in a fluid.
- By electric charges, white or black particles can be made to rise, creating the text and images on the display.
- Advantages: Energy efficient, easy readability, etc.
- Disadvantages: Slow refresh rate, expensive manufacturing, limited color and resolution, etc.
2) Padma Awards: President approved conferment of 132 Padma awards for 2024.
- One of the highest civilian honors of India announced annually, except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978-1979 and 1993-1997.
- To recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines involving public service.
- Padma Vibhushan was instituted in 1954 and had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg.
- Renamed in January 1955 as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
- It is not a title under Article 18.
3) Default Bail: Supreme Court recently held that statutory right to default bail cannot be availed once the charge-sheet is filed.
- Court added that default bail cannot be availed on grounds of incomplete submission of charge-sheet or pending investigation against other co-accused.
- Default Bail, also known as compulsive or statutory bail, is provided under Section 167(2) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
- It affords protection to accused against detention due to inordinate delays in completion of investigation and filing of charge-sheet within timeframe stipulated by law.
4) Laughing Gull: Laughing Gull from North America spotted at Chittari estuary in Kasaragod district of Kerala for the first time.
- Known for its unique laughter-like calls.
- Habitat: Coastal regions, especially common around beaches and salt marshes.
- Distribution range: Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America; Caribbean and on both coasts of Central America and northern South America.
- Appearance: Slender, medium-sized gull with long wings; Mediumgray upper-parts.
- IUCN Status: Least Concern.
Places in News:
1) Jordan (Capital: Amman):
- Recently, there was a drone strike on American troops in northeast Jordan near Syrian border.
- Political features
- Arab country of Southwest Asia.
- Bounded by Syria (north), Iraq (east), Saudi Arabia (southeast and south), and Israel (west).
- Al-‘Aqabah, port town, is located in southwestern part of Jordan along coasts of Gulf of Aqaba.
- Geographical features
- Major Rivers: Jordan; Yarmouk, Zarqa.
- Highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami.
