1. 12th World Hindi Conference to be held in Fiji
Tags: Summits International News
The three-day 12th World Hindi Conference will be held in Fiji from February 15.
An overview of the news
The conference is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of India in collaboration with the Government of Fiji.
The main theme of the conference is "Hindi - Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence'.
The Conference will be inaugurated by Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka along with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
Apart from one plenary session based on the main theme, 10 parallel sessions will be held.
Representatives of 50 countries are likely to participate in the World Hindi Conference.
The event will be used to promote Hindi as a global language.
World Hindi Conference
The first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur in 1975 to popularise Hindi as a global language. At that time Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India.
11th World Hindi Conference was held at Port Louis, Mauritius between 18-20 August' 2018.
Hindi Diwas
Every year 14 September is observed as Hindi Diwas in India.
On this day in 1949 the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of the country.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
2. US introduces bill to promote peaceful resolution of conflict between China and Dalai Lama
Tags: International News
US lawmakers have introduced a bill in the House of Representatives and the Senate that outlines US policy for open dialogue between China and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
An overview of the news:
The Bill calls for the independence of the Tibetan people and the peaceful resolution of their differences regarding Tibet.
Congressman Jim McGovern and Michael McCaul introduced a bill promoting the Tibet–China Conflict Legislation in the House of Representatives, while it was introduced in the Senate by Senators Jeff Merkley and Todd Young.
In this bill, emphasis has been laid on peaceful settlement of differences through dialogue.
3. India's first drone-air traffic management system
Tags: National News
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the country's first drone-air traffic management system "Sky UTM".
An overview of the news:
What is Sky UTM?
It is developed by "Sky Air".
Sky UTM is a cloud-based air traffic management system that integrates unmanned air traffic with manned aviation airspace.
The system is capable of handling 4,000 flights per hour and 96,000 flights per day.
Sky UTM is designed to provide situational awareness, autonomous navigation, risk assessment and traffic management to all drone/other aerial moving operators in the airspace.
How does it work?
Sky UTM captures over 255 parameters of UAV movement and stores them in its 'Blackbox' which is a published systematic description of the entire flight.
Sky UTM has operated over 300 successful BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flights to date.
4. Third ASEAN Digital Ministers meeting approves India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
Tags: National National News
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India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023 was approved at the third ASEAN Digital Ministers meeting in New Delhi February 10.
An overview of the news
The Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan, and Ivan John E Uy, Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Philippines co-chaired the meeting.
The meeting was held on a virtual platform with the theme of "Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future" to strengthen India-ASEAN ties in the field of Information and Communication Technology.
The action plan includes capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas of information and communication technology such as artificial intelligence in cyber security.
In 2022, the ASEAN India Friendship Year was celebrated, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations with ASEAN.
It furthers the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in ASEAN and India.
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
The India-ASEAN Digital Action Plan 2023 was approved in the ministers' meeting.
The action plan includes-
Capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas of information and communication technology such as artificial intelligence in cyber security.
Application of IoT and AI in Next Generation Smart City and Society 5.0.
Sustainable data and transport networks for the future: standards and applications.
5G technologies for IoT and future trends,
Role of ICT in implementation of digital health and safety and assessment for future networks, etc.
5. Third ASEAN Digital Ministers meeting approves India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
Tags: National National News
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023 was approved at the third ASEAN Digital Ministers meeting in New Delhi February 10.
An overview of the news
The Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan, and Ivan John E Uy, Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Philippines co-chaired the meeting.
The meeting was held on a virtual platform with the theme of "Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future" to strengthen India-ASEAN ties in the field of Information and Communication Technology.
The action plan includes capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas of information and communication technology such as artificial intelligence in cyber security.
In 2022, the ASEAN India Friendship Year was celebrated, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations with ASEAN.
It furthers the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in ASEAN and India.
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
The India-ASEAN Digital Action Plan 2023 was approved in the ministers' meeting.
The action plan includes-
Capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas of information and communication technology such as artificial intelligence in cyber security.
Application of IoT and AI in Next Generation Smart City and Society 5.0.
Sustainable data and transport networks for the future: standards and applications.
5G technologies for IoT and future trends,
Role of ICT in implementation of digital health and safety and assessment for future networks, etc.
6. 11th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting Held in New Delhi
Tags: International Relations International News
The 11th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held on 10 February 2023 in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
Co-chaired by Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, India and Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davgdorj, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mongolia, the meeting of the Joint Working Group took place for the first time since the pandemic.
Both the countries reviewed the progress of various bilateral defense cooperation initiatives and identified measures to further enhance the existing areas of cooperation.
Both sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the efforts made in this direction despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic.
India -Mongolia Relation
India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955 and upgraded relations with Mongolia to a strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mongolia in 2015 upgraded it to a "strategic partnership" and declared it as an essential component of the 'Act East Policy'.
Mongolia has publicly voiced its support for India's membership for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Both the countries are members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Mongolia
It is located in North Central Asia.
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Currency: Tugrik
President: Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh
7. 11th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting Held in New Delhi
Tags: International Relations International News
The 11th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held on 10 February 2023 in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
Co-chaired by Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, India and Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davgdorj, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mongolia, the meeting of the Joint Working Group took place for the first time since the pandemic.
Both the countries reviewed the progress of various bilateral defense cooperation initiatives and identified measures to further enhance the existing areas of cooperation.
Both sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the efforts made in this direction despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic.
India -Mongolia Relation
India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955 and upgraded relations with Mongolia to a strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mongolia in 2015 upgraded it to a "strategic partnership" and declared it as an essential component of the 'Act East Policy'.
Mongolia has publicly voiced its support for India's membership for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Both the countries are members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Mongolia
It is located in North Central Asia.
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Currency: Tugrik
President: Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh
8. Two-day inception meeting of G-20 EMPOWER group of Ministry of Women & Child Development begins in Agra
Tags: Summits National News
The two-day establishment meeting of the G-20 EMPOWER Group of the Ministry of Women and Child Development began in Agra from 11 February.
An overview of the news
The theme of the meeting : Empowering Women to Lead across Sectors: Role of Digital Skilling and Future Skills.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal ministry of India for G20 EMPOWER.
Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Limited, is the chairperson of EMPOWER 2023 during India's G20 Presidency.
Under India's G20 presidency, EMPOWER will host three meetings in February, April and June 2023 in Agra, Thiruvananthapuram and Bhopal respectively.
An exhibition will also be organized during the event to showcase the work of women-led micro-enterprises, women artisans and craftsmen from different states.
Women leaders from G-20 countries, guest countries, international organisations and the private sector have been invited to the founding meeting.
India's G20 Presidency is inclusive, equitable, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented for the economic empowerment of women.
About G20 EMPOWER
The G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation (EMPOWER) is an alliance of G20 business leaders and governments.
It aims to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector.
The G20 Empower 2023 under India's chairmanship is prioritising the shift from women's development to women-led development.
9. Govt appoints two new Supreme Court judges
Tags: Person in news National News
The Central Government has approved Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arvind Kumar as judges of the Supreme Court.
An overview of the news
Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Rajesh Bindal and Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Arvind Kumar have been made judges of the Supreme Court.
The total number of judges in the Supreme Court has gone up to 34, which is also the sanctioned number of 34 judges.
On January 31, the six-member collegium of the Supreme Court sent the names of these two judges to the government for approval.
Earlier on December 13, 2022, the names of five judges were recommended. These five judges were sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court on 6 February.
These include the names of Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal, Patna High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Karol, Manipur High Court Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, Patna High Court Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Allahabad High Court Justice Manoj Mishra.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has to finalise 19 judicial appointments in his tenure till November 2024.
10. South Africa declares 'State of Disaster' over electricity crisis
Tags: International News
Recently South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a "state of disaster" due to the country's power crisis during his annual State of the Nation address in Cape Town.
An overview of the news
This follows just 10 months after the Covid-induced "State of Disaster" was lifted.
South Africa is currently facing several crises, including issues such as power crisis, unemployment, increase in crime and violence.
The electricity supply company in the country for almost 10 years has become financially weak amid large-scale looting and corruption, due to which the power crisis has arisen.
The President announced that a Minister of Power would be appointed to deal with the matter more effectively and promptly.
The new minister will assume overall responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the power crisis response, including the National Energy Crisis Committee.
South Africa
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Capitals: Cape Town (Legislative), Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Currency : Rand
