current affairs 08 October 2022

French writer, Annie Ernaux wins the 2022 Nobel Prize in literature.

• The French writer, Annie Ernaux (82) has been awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in literature.
• Reason: For the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory.
• She is known for works that blur the line between memoir and fiction.
• She becomes the 17th female writer to have won the prize.
• Her notable books: Cleaned Out; The Years; and Simple Passion

Indian origin, Dr Vivek Murthy is US representative on WHO Executive Board.

• US President, Joe Biden has nominated Dr Vivek Murthy (45) to serve as America's representative on the executive board of the World Health Organisation.
• He will serve in the new position alongside his continued duties as the US Surgeon General.
• In March 2021, He was confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the country.
• He also served as the 19th Surgeon General under President Barack Obama.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 launches to International Space Station.

• SpaceX has launched group of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Crew-5 mission, from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
• This is the first time that the SpaceX has launched a Russian cosmonaut on its vehicle, which comes as part of an exchange deal between Nasa and Roscosmos.
• The Crew-5 flight carried Nasa astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Koichi Wakata (JAXA), and Anna Kikina (Roscosmos cosmonaut).

Hardeep Puri co-chairs US-India strategic clean energy partnership dialogue.

• The Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP) is being organised in the United States from October 7 to 11, 2022.
• The event will be co-chaired by Hardeep Singh Puri (Union petroleum minister) and Jennifer Granholm (US energy secretary).
• The revamped USISCEP was launched in 2021.
• It is based on the US-India climate and clean energy agenda 2030 partnership that was announced by PM Modi and President Joe Biden at a summit in April 2021.

NTPC, GE Gas Power ink MoU for hydrogen co-firing in gas turbines.

• NTPC Ltd has signed an MoU with GE Gas Power to explore the feasibility of hydrogen (H2) co-firing blended with natural gas.
• This process will be done in GE’s gas turbines installed at NTPC’s Kawas gas power plant in Gujarat.
• NTPC’s Kawas plant is powered by four GE gas turbines.
• It is operating in a combined-cycle mode and has an installed capacity of 645 MW.
• GE’s advance E-class gas turbine portfolio can burn upto 100% by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas.