1. Ben Stokes breaks world record for smashing most sixes in Test cricket history
Tags: Sports Sports News
England Test captain Ben Stokes on 18 February became the player to hit the most number of sixes in the history of Test cricket, surpassing England coach and former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum in the match against New Zealand.
An overview of the news
Stokes holds the world record for hitting two sixes in the second innings of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui (New Zealand).
Stokes played an innings of 31 runs in 33 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
Wicket-keeper Tom Blundell stumped him off the bowling of all-rounder Michael Bracewell.
In 90 Test matches, Stokes scored a total of 5,652 runs at an average of 36.00 with 109 sixes and 12 centuries and 28 fifties.
His individual best score in Tests is 258.
McCullum has 107 sixes in 101 Tests. He scored 6,453 runs at an average of 38.64. He has 12 centuries and 31 fifties in Tests with a best score of 302.
Batsman who hit most sixes in test cricket
Australia's Adam Gilchrist is third after Stokes (109) and McCullum (107) to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Chris Gayle of West Indies is fourth in the list with 98 sixes and Jacques Kallis of South Africa is fifth with 97 sixes.
India's Virender Sehwag is in sixth place, he has hit 91 sixes. Sehwag is the Indian to hit the most sixes in Tests.
2. Qatar lifts ban on frozen seafood from India
Tags: International News
Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) has said that Qatar partially lifted a ban imposed last year on the import of frozen seafood from India on 18 February.
An overview of the news
The ban will continue on exports of chilled seafood, which accounts for about a third of the West Asian country's total seafood exports in 2021-22 with the worth of Rs 143 crore.
Frozen seafood is stored at minus 20 degrees, while chilled seafood is stored at 3-4 degrees Celsius.
In the current financial year, India's seafood exports to the West Asian country stood at around Rs 90 crore, with prawns taking the number one spot.
China has also lifted the suspension of shipments from 99 Indian seafood processing and export units.
Now seafood exports are expected to cross USD 8 billion in the current fiscal.
Why was the ban imposed?
This ban was imposed in November 2022.
Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera infection, was reportedly detected in consignments exported from India to Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup. After this these food products were banned.
3. Cabinet approves signing of the MoU between the India and South Africa for cooperation in Disability Sector
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet on 15 February approved the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa for cooperation in the 'disability sector'.
An overview of the news
It aims to encourage cooperation between the Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability sector.
It will strengthen bilateral relations between India and South Africa.
This MoU will benefit a large number of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in both the countries, especially those who are in need of modern, scientific, durable, low cost aids and assistive devices.
South Africa
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Capitals: Cape Town (Legislative), Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Currency : Rand
4. India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Fiji signed a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders on 16 February in presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
An overview of the news
Under this agreement, holders of diplomatic and official passports will be able to enter, transit and stay in each other's territory without a visa for a period of 90 days.
India and Fiji share close and long-standing relations and the two countries also reviewed bilateral relations.
India and Fiji have inaugurated the solarisation of the State House in Suva and this is the first of a series that India is supporting in the Pacific Islands.
It shows India's commitment towards climate action.
The Visa Waiver Agreement will be helpful in encouraging greater travel between the two countries.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
President : Wiliame Katonivere
Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
5. Bollywood actor Javed Khan Amrohi passes away
Tags: Person in news
Bollywood actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away due to lung failure at a Mumbai hospital on 14 February.
An overview of the news
Amrohi is survived by a son and a daughter.
He worked in more than 150 films with many big stars including Shah Rukh Khan to Aamir Khan and Salman Khan.
Javed Khan last worked in the year 2020 in Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur starrer film 'Sadak 2'.
He started his career in 1973 with the film 'Jalte Badan'.
Apart from this, he worked in many best films like Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram, Prem Bandhan, Jhootha Kahin Ka, Prem Rog, Pasand Apni-Apni, Ram Teri Ganga Maili.
Apart from this, Doordarshan's famous show 'Nukkad' also gave him a lot of recognition, after that he also worked in Gulzar's 'Mirza Ghalib', in which his role of a fakir was highly appreciated.
Javed Khan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for the film 'Lagaan'.
6. WPL 2023: Smriti Mandhana created history, became the most expensive player
Tags: Sports Sports News
India's star opener Smriti Mandhana has become the costliest player in the ongoing player auction for the Women's Premier League (WPL).
An overview of the news
She joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 3.4 crore after winning the highest bid in the ongoing Women's Premier League 2023 auction in Mumbai.
A total of 448 players were included in the auction, out of which 87 players were bought by the franchises. 30 foreign players were also involved in this.
Ashley Gardner (Australia) was at number two in the list of expensive players. He was bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 3.20 crore.
Natalie Sciver is at number three. She was bought by Mumbai Indians for 3.20 crores.
India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma is at number four. Deepti is included in UP Warriors for 2.60 crores.
Jemima Rodrigues was at number five. He was included in their team by Delhi Capitals for 2.20 crores.
About Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana is a young and talented left-handed Indian batsman and former captain of the Indian women's cricket team.
Mandhana is known for her attacking batting style and has been a consistent performer in the T20I format.
Mandhana made her T20I debut in April 2013 against Bangladesh.
In the T20 International format, he has played 65 matches and scored 1743 runs at an average of 27.61.
His highest score in T20 International format is 83 and he has 9 fifties to his name.
In June 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awarded her as the Best Female International Cricketer.
In December 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded her the Rachael Hayhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year.
7. PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express train
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.
An overview of the news
This is the 8th Vande Bharata Express which will cover a distance of about eight hours between Secunderabad in Telangana and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The intermediate stops envisaged for the train include Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.
This will lead to ease of living, boost tourism and benefit the economy.
In the last few years, seven Vande Bharat trains have covered a distance of 23 lakh kms, carrying 40 lakh passengers to their destinations.
The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express can accelerate to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds.
Name of all 8 Vande Bharat Express train
Varanasi-New Delhi,
Katra-New Delhi,
Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar,
Amb Andaura - New Delhi
Chennai - Mysuru
Nagpur - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
Howraha-New Jalpaiguri
Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam
About Vande Bharat Express Train
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.
These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.
The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.
These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
8. Fifth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagir’ delivered to Indian Navy
Tags: Defence National News
The fifth submarine of the Project -75, Kalvari Class submarines, Yard 11879 (Vagir) was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December.
Important facts
Project -75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
Launched on 12 Nov 20, Vagir commenced sea trials from 1 Feb 2022 and has completed all major trials, including weapon and sensor trials, in less time than earlier submarines.
The construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and instills confidence in the region.
What is also a remarkable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.
Project- 75
Project- 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene-class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
9. Tamil Nadu government makes Aadhaar mandatory for all its schemes
Tags: State News
The Tamil Nadu government has announced that all those who are eligible for benefits (other than minor children) under various government schemes will have to submit proof of having an Aadhaar number or get an Aadhaar identification.
Important facts
As per the order, Aadhaar is mandatory for government employees, government pensioners and beneficiaries of various schemes implemented by the state government through various departments through their implementing agencies.
Any person who is willing to avail the benefits but does not have an Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, will need to apply for Aadhaar enrollment before registering for the schemes.
The Treasury and Accounts Department through its implementing agency will provide Aadhaar enrollment facilities for those beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled.
In case there is no Aadhaar Enrollment Centre, the Department will provide enrollment facilities at convenient locations through its implementing agency in coordination with the existing Registrar of UIDAI or by becoming the Registrar of UIDAI itself.
The government has also announced a remedial mechanism in case Aadhaar authentication fails due to bad biometrics or any other reason.
This will be done through Aadhaar One Time Password (OTP) or time-based OTP with limited time validity.
About Tamilnadu
The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.
Tamil Nadu is located at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
Bharatanatyam is a very popular and famous dance form of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of bananas and flowers, the second largest producer of mango, rubber, groundnut, coconut and the third largest producer of coffee.
Governor- Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Chief Minister- M.K.Stalin
Assembly seats 235 seats
Rajya Sabha Seats - 18
Lok Sabha seats- 39
10. Gujarat CM unveils Urban G20 logo, website and social media handle
Tags: place in news Summits Person in news
Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel unveiled the logo, website and social media handles of the Urban-20 conference in Gandhinagar on 19 December 2022. The ceremony was attended virtually by the Union Minister for Urban Development and Urban Housing Hardeep Singh Puri.
Urban 20
The UNESCO heritage city Ahmedabad will host the Urban 20 meetings as part of G 20 meetings between Februarys to July 2023.
In July 2023, the U20 mayor’s summit will be held in Ahmedabad to discuss urban development issues.
The Urban 20 will provide a platform for the G20 cities to facilitate discussions on important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, and financing of urban infrastructure to propose collective solutions.
Indian Presidency of G 20
India officially assumed the Presidency of G20 on 1 December 2022 from Indonesia. The summit meeting of the Head of the States and the leaders of the G20 is scheduled to be held in September 2023 in New Delhi.
To prepare for the summit meeting a series of meetings is to be held by India.
The first meeting was the G-20 Sherpa meeting held in Udaipur in the first week of December 2022.
G-20
The G-20 was founded back in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis.
The Group of Twenty (G-20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union.
The G-20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
