1. Dr Jitendra Singh launches “Geospatial Hackathon”
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on 14th January launched “Geospatial Hackathon” to promote Innovation and Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem.
An overview of the news
The hackathon will promote innovation and startups in the geospatial ecosystem of India.
The objective of this hackathon is not only to foster partnerships between the public and private geospatial sectors, but also to strengthen the geospatial start-up ecosystem of our country.
The "Geospatial Hackathon" will end on March 10, 2023 and will have two sets of challenges - Research Challenge and Startup Challenge.
There will be 4 winners to be found for the best solution to the geospatial select problem statements.
The minister invited the youth of the country to participate and contribute in building the country's geospatial economy.
Half of India's population is below 40 years of age and very ambitious.
The Indian start-up economy has crossed a major milestone as India's 100th start-up joins the unicorn club in 2022.
2. G20’s first Infrastructure Working Group meeting to be held in Pune on January 16-17
Tags: National News
The first ever Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting of the G20 under India's G-20 presidency will be held in Pune on January 16-17.
An overview of the news
The Forum will bring together IWG member states and international organisations invited by India to discuss the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency.
The meeting is being hosted by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Australia and Brazil are joining as co-chairs.
The outcomes of the Infrastructure Working Group feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote Infrastructure Development.
The theme of the Indian G-20 presidency 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' explains the purpose of the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda.
The theme emphasises the message of equitable development and is in sync with the central agenda of the discussion which talks about building resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban infrastructure.
Topics of discussion
Infrastructure investments
Developing infrastructure as an asset class
Promoting quality infrastructure investment
Identifying innovative instruments for mobilising financial resources for infrastructure investment
The most priority topic of discussion in this meeting has been kept on 'Financing Cities of the Future: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable'.
3. Italian man sets Guinness World Record by creating 'mirror typing' books in ancient languages
Tags: Person in news International News
According to a report by Guinness World Records (GWR), an Italian man, Michele Santaglia has created a world record by typing copies of 81 books backwards, which is called 'mirror writing'.
An overview of the news
Santaglia types books using four completely blank keyboards without looking backwards.
He types each book in its original language whether it be hieroglyphs, Old Hebrew, Traditional Chinese, Mayan, Etruscan, Cuneiform or Voynich glyphs.
He reverse-typed the Bible, the Code of Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of the Dead from ancient Egypt, the writings of Leonardo da Vinci.
He is able to type using 16 computer keyboards simultaneously located at different heights.
He credits Leonardo da Vinci who inspired him to do mirror typing.
Santaglia has given several books to various world figures over the years, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and former Italian Presidents Carlo Ciampi and Giorgio Napolitano.
Also, he has compiled all the four Indian Vedas in a single book by reverse typing.
4. World's First Digital Party
Tags: National News
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become the world's first fully digital party, with data on over three crore office-bearers from national president to booth level being made available through an app called Organisational Reporting and Analysis (SARAL).
Through this app prepared with the simple name, it will be an important medium of communication within the party along with making it easier for the general public to access the party's executive members from the president to the booth level.
Both phone and SMS options are available on the app to contact any level official from any state.
The biggest feature of this app is that with its help real time messages can be sent to any office bearer, which will facilitate the activation of the office bearers on any issue.
Everyone will have the facility to download this app and only party-affiliated office-bearers will have access to the main part of the organisation in the app.
5. Lok Sabha Speaker to lead Parliamentary delegation to Kenya, Tanzania
Tags: International News
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a delegation to Kenya and Tanzania from January 16 to 21.
An overview of the news
The delegation includes Chirag Paswan, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak and S Phangnon Konyak (all Members of Parliament) and Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha.
During their visit to Tanzania, apart from meeting their host, the delegation will also call on the Vice President of Tanzania, Philip Mpango.
The delegation will also visit places of cultural and historical importance.
About Kenya
Kenya is a country in East Africa.
President: William Ruto
Capital: Nairobi
Currency :Kenyan shilling
About Tanzania
Tanzania, East African country situated just south of the Equator.
President: Samia Suluhu Hassan
Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian shilling
6. Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal disqualified from Lok Sabha over attempt to murder case
Tags: National News
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued a notification disqualifying Lakshadweep MP Mohd Faizal, who was recently convicted in an attempt to murder case by a court in the Union Territory.
An overview of the news
According to a notification issued on January 13, Faizal has been disqualified from the date of his sentencing by a sessions court in Kavaratti on January 11.
This decision has been taken under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 under the provisions of Article 102 (l) (e) of the Constitution of India.
The court in Lakshadweep had sentenced four people, including Faizal, to 10 years in jail after they were found guilty in an attempt to murder case.
The Kavaratti sessions court also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh each on the convicts for attempting to murder Mohd Salih, son-in-law of late Congress leader and former Union minister P M Sayeed, during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
7. EU Inaugurates First Mainland Satellite Launch Port
Tags: Science and Technology International News
European officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf inaugurated the EU's first mainland orbital launch complex on 13 January during a visit to Sweden by members of the European Commission, which is the 27-nation bloc's executive arm.
An overview of the news
The European Union is looking to boost its ability to launch small satellites into space with a new launchpad in arctic Sweden.
The new facility inaugurated at the Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna will complement the EU's current launching capabilities in French Guiana.
The tiny satellites are vital for tracking natural disasters in real time and helping to guarantee global security in light of Russia's war in Ukraine.
The total number of satellites could reach 100,000 by 2040 as compared to the current 5,000 operational satellites.
European Union (EU)
It is an international organisation made up of European countries, which was formed in 1993.
It is a group of 27 countries that act as a cohesive economic and political bloc.
19 of these countries use the euro as their official currency.
Its goal is to promote peace and the well-being of all citizens of the EU.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
8. Vidisha becomes first Indian district to implement state-of-the-art 5G use cases proposed by startups
Tags: National National News
Vidisha, an aspirational district of Madhya Pradesh became the first ever district in India for on ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases offered by startups.
An overview of the news
This feat has been achieved through a joint initiative of Vidisha district administration and Center for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Department of Telecom (DoT) under the guidance of Additional Secretary (Telecom) and Administrator USOF.
Department of Telecom (DoT) is promoting digital communication technology - partnership of startups and SMEs for potential user communities.
This partnership is being done through Telecom Startups and MSME Mission (TSuM) and 5G Vertical Engagement Partnership Program (VEPP).
This has been accomplished to accelerate digital transformation across socio-economic verticals.
What is 5G technology?
The fifth generation mobile network is called 5G.
The 5G network will operate in the millimeter-wave spectrum (30-300 GHz) which can send huge amounts of data at very high speeds.
It is the newest upgrade in Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.
Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G have been tested to exceed 20 Gbps (gigabit per second).
9. Startup firm IG Drones develops India's first 5G-enabled drone
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Tech startup firm IG Drones has developed India's first 5G-enabled drone capable of vertical take-off and landing.
An overview of the news
This drone has been named Skyhawk.
It can be used in other areas apart from defence and medical applications.
The Skyhawk can fly for about five hours with a payload of 10 kg, as this drone is also equipped with capabilities like artificial intelligence and thermal imaging.
Due to the facility of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), it does not require any special runway or track for take-off or landing, so it can be operated in any area.
The drone is IP67 rated and can be controlled through a combination of NavIC + GPS navigational satellites.
This drone can travel 100 km in 12 to 15 minutes at its maximum speed.
About IG Drones
IG Drones is an India-based tech company providing drone survey, mapping and inspection services.
It was established at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology in Sambalpur, Odisha.
Its headquarter is located in New Delhi.
10. Uganda declares end of Ebola disease outbreak: WHO
Tags: International News
According to the statement released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus on Jan 11, 2023.
An overview of the news
Uganda has managed to bring the outbreak to an end in less than four months after the first case was confirmed on September 20, 2022, in Central Mubende District.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, it is a rare, severe and fatal disease in humans.
The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The first case of the disease was reported in Guinea in December 2013. Later, the disease spread to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Transmission of disease
The virus is transmitted from wild animals to people and through human-to-human transmission (zoonotic nature) to human populations.
Symptoms of the disease
Fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, liver and kidney dysfunction, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding.
Treatment of the disease
The Arvebo vaccine has been shown to be effective in protecting people from the Zaire ebolavirus species.
Remdesivir was also tested as an Ebola treatment.
