1. First batch of Indian wheat aid sent to Afghanistan
Tags: National News
Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla flagged off the first truckload of wheat supplies from India to Afghanistan at the Attari-Wagah border on 22 February 2022. Afghan Trucks carrying 2500 tonnes of Indian wheat will carry it to Afghanistan’s Jalalabad via Pakistan's Torkham border.
This is the part of 50,000 tonnes of wheat promised by India to Afghanistan as humanitarian aid in October 2021.
India Pakistan Trade route
At present the only operational land trade route between India and Pakistan is through the Attari/Wagah border .
Wagah is an Indian army outpost on the Indo-Pak border ( between Amritsar and Lahore) and Atari is on the Pakistani side of the border .
Currently there is only one operational rail route along the Amritsar-Attari-Lahore railway line through Attari and Amritsar rail station for movement of cargo between the two countries.
The cargo moves either by the goods trains or by freight cars attached to the bi-weekly Samjhauta Express(Delhi to Lahore).
2. Germany halts Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline
Tags: International News
Germany on 22 February 2022 halted the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline project in response to the Russian President Vladimir Putin decision to recognise the breakaway Ukrainian region of Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic, as an Independent country on 21 February 2022.
The Nord 2 gas pipeline is designed to double the flow of Russian gas direct to Germany. Europe's most ambitious and divisive energy project, worth $11 billion, was finished in September, but has stood idle pending certification by Germany and the European Union.
Nord 2 and Nord 1 pipelines could deliver 110bn cubic meters of gas to Europe every year. That is over a quarter of all the gas that European Union countries use annually.
Controversy over the pipeline
The pipeline was meant to ease the pressure on European consumers facing record energy prices amid a wider post-pandemic cost of living crisis.
The Nord 2 gas pipeline has been controversial from its inception . Germany, which meets half of its gas requirement from Russia, argued that the project was a commercial one not political.
But the pipeline had faced opposition within the European Union and from the United States. They feel that the pipeline will increase European energy dependence on Russia and the Russians can use it to blackmail Europe in future conflict .
It will also deny transit fees to Ukraine through which another Russian pipeline passes through and enable Russia to punish Ukraine and possibly invade it .
Russia planned the Nord gas pipeline after there was a dispute over transit fees with Ukraine on the gas pipeline passing through its territory and Ukraine was found to be using gas meant for Western Europe for itself without the permission of Russia in 2005.
Nord 2 Gas pipeline
It is a 1200 Km gas pipeline which will transport natural gas from Ust Luga gas field in Russia to Greifswald in Germany under the baltic sea.
The Nord 2 pipeline is owned by the Russian state owned gas company Gazprom. It paid half the cost but the rest of the cost was shared by Shell ,Austria's OMV ,France's Engie and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall.
The Nord 1 pipeline which started transporting gas to Europe along the same route started its operation in 2011.
Fact File
Top Natural Gas Producing countries in the world (2020)
United States
Russia
Iran
Qatar
China
Country having biggest reserves of Natural Gas (2020)
Russia
Iran
Qatar
Turkmenistan
United States
Source : BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2021.
3. Australia reopens for International tourist
Tags: International News
Australia has reopened its border for international tourists after nearly two years .
The country imposed some of the world's strictest travel bans after shutting itself off in March 2020 due to Covid-19.
From 21 February 2022 all fully vaccinated international travellers, including those planning a holiday or visiting friends and relatives, or those intending to travel for business can enjoy quarantine free entry and won’t need to seek a travel exemption.
India was ranked seventh in the list of countries traveling to Australia before covid time.
Fact File
Australia
It is the smallest continent by area on Earth after Asia, Africa, North America , South America, Antarctica ,Europe and Australia.
It is the 6th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, United States, and Brazil.
Australia has been called “the Oldest Continent,” “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last Frontier.”
Its unique flora and fauna include the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the Platypus and Echidna. It is also famous for its Kangaroos,Koala bears.
It is the second driest continent after Antarctica.
Its highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, rises to only 7,310 feet (2,228 meters).
Its Capital : Canberra
Currency : Australian Dollar
Prime Minister : Scott Morrison
The United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the State of Australia.
4. Government of India has extended the “Border Infrastructure and Management” (BIM) scheme till 2026
Tags: National News
The Government of India has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme of “Border Infrastructure and Management” (BIM) from 2021-22 to 2025-26, at a cost of Rs.13,020 crore.
Points to Know
Border Infrastructure Management
The Border Infrastructure Management scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
It is a 100% centrally funded scheme. It means all the money is spent by the Government of India .
The main objective of the scheme is to create infrastructure such as construction of border fence, border flood lights, technological solutions, border roads and Border Outposts (BOPs)/Company Operating Bases (COBs) to secure the Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-China, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders.
India shares a 3,323 km long border with Pakistan, including 775 km of the Line of Control. The length of the border with China is 3,488 km, 4,096 with Bangladesh, 1,751 km with Nepal, 1,643 km with Myanmar and 699 km with Bhutan.
For Exam
India shares the longest land boundary with Bangladesh, 4096 Km
Union Home Minister : Amit Shah
5. Russia recognises breakaway Ukrainian regions
Tags: International News
Russian President Valdimir Putin signed a Presidential decree to recognize two Ukrainian breakaway regions - the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic backed by Russian backed sepratist as an Independent countries .
These two regions situated in Eastern Ukraine are dominated by the Russian speaking population. The regions have been locked in armed conflict with the Ukrainian government army since a Russia backed armed uprising in the region following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Their independence, proclaimed following referendums, is not recognised by the international community.
In a televised address President Putin said that eastern Ukraine was part of ancient Russian land and demanded that Ukraine drop its long-term goal of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Putin said that Ukraine had no history of Independence and ordered the Russian troops to move into the Eastern Ukrainian territory for a peacekeeping operation . This action of Putin has sparked fear in the Western countries that Russian troops will soon cross into Ukraine, sparking a major war and conflict in the region .
Putin's announcement drew U.S. and European condemnation and vows of new sanctions. American President Joe Biden, who also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, signed an executive order to halt all U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas.
The United States says Russia has massed a force numbering 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and has warned of invasion at any moment.
Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but it has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO.
For a detailed and comprehensive view of the crisis kindly Click Here
FactFile
Ukraine
It is the second largest country in Europe after Russia (area wise).
As an Independent country it emerged only after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Ukraine had experienced a brief period of independence in 1918–20, but portions of western Ukraine were ruled by Poland, Romania , and Czechoslovakia in the period between the two World Wars.
Capital : The capital is Kyiv (Kiev), located on the Dnieper river in north-central Ukraine.
President : Volodymyr Zelensky
Currency : Hryvnia
6. Vigyan Sarvatara Pujyate to showcase Indian achievement in science and Technology
Tags: National News
The Ministry of Culture ,Government of India is organising a commemorative exhibitions at 75 locations across the country portraying 75 years of India’s achievements in science and technology as part of ‘Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate’.
It was inaugurated by by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region of India Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh at New Delhi on 22 February 2022.
Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate is a week-long Festival of SCoPE (Science Communication Popularisation Extension) being celebrated from 22nd-28th February, 2022. ‘
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, is an important partner in Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate.
NCSM forms the largest network of science centers and museums in the world under a single administrative umbrella.
The Ministry of Culture will also organise a series of lecture demonstrations under the ambit of Dhara – an Ode to Indian Knowledge System
7. Indian Navy's 12th Presidential fleet review at Visakhapatnam.
Tags: National News
President Ram Nath Kovind participated in the Indian Navy's 12th Presidential fleet review at Visakhapatnam held on 21 February 2022.
A fleet review is usually conducted once during the tenure of the President.
President Ram Nath Kovind participated in the Presidential fleet review on an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sumitra, which will lead the Presidential Column.
President Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will be reviewing over 60 ships and submarines, and 55 aircraft of the Indian Navy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar were also present at the review.
The first Presidential fleet review was held in 1953 for the first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Important for Exam
Indian Navy
The headquarters of the Indian Navy is at New Delhi.
The other command centre of the Indian Navy are as follows
Command Headquarters
Western Command : Mumbai
Southern Command: Kochi(Kerala)
Eastern Command : Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
Tri service command : Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar)
(It means Army,Navy,Air Force joint command )
Navy Day : 4 December
8. First foreign branch of IIT to be set up in UAE
Tags: National News
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) will establish its first branch in the UAE as part of the India-UAE trade deal signed on February 18 2021.
This will be the first time an IIT will be established outside India.
Presently, there are 23 IITs in India, which are located in various regions of the country offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate level programmes.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
In 1945 the British Government set up a committee headed by Nalini Ranjan Sarkar to study and recommend the steps to be taken for technological development in India.
It recommended setting up at least four ‘Higher Technical Institutes’ (HITs) one each in East, West, North and South.
After Independence the government of India set up the“ Higher Technical Institute in India” as the Indian Institute of Technology.
The first IIT was inaugurated by the then Education Minister, Abul Kalam Azad, on 18th August, 1951 in Kharagpur.
On the recommendations of the Sarkar Committee, four campuses were established at Bombay (1958),Madra (1959), Kanpur (1959), and Delhi (1961).
They are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act 1961.
At present there are 23 IITs in India .
9. Prime Minister inaugurates Asia's biggest Bio-CNG plant 'Gobar-Dhan' in Indore
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Asia's biggest Bio-CNG plant, Gobar-Dhan, in India’s cleanest city of Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Situated on the Devguradia trenching ground, the 550 MT per day capacity Bio-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) plant is the biggest of its kind in Asia.
The Gobar-Dhan plant will have the capacity to treat 550 tonnes of segregated wet organic waste and produce around 17,000 kg CNG and 100 tonnes of organic compost per day. The plant is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide green energy along with organic compost as fertiliser.
The Prime Minister said that in the coming two years, work is being done to build such Gobar-Dhan Bio-CNG plants in 75 major municipal bodies of the country. This campaign will go a long way in making India's cities clean, pollution-free, clean energy.
10. Atlantic storm Eunice pummels Europe
Tags: International News
An Atlantic storm with a speed up to 196 Km battered North -Western Europe on 18 February 2022 killing at least 9 people .
The storm named Eunice developed in the Atlantic ocean and struck England, and created havoc there . It led to the closure of airports, rail and road networks and death of people .
The storm also affected Wales, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands ,and Germany.
The storm is now headed towards Scandinavian countries and Northern Europe.
The name Eunice was coined by the United Kingdom Meteorological office and the next storm which will hit the United Kingdom will be called Franklin .
What is the United Kingdom/Scandinavia/Nordic Countries
England , Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are together called the United Kingdom.
While England , Wales and Scotland are part of Great Britain.
The Queen of England is the head of the United Kingdom and Great Britain.
Scandinavia
It is a part of Northern Europe which consists of Norway, Sweden and Denmark . These countries were once part of a common Kingdom .
Greenland, which is a Danish territory, and the Faroe Islands, which is a self-governing part of Denmark, are also included in the list.
Nordic countries
The term Norden refers to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. These form a group of countries having similarities with one another and are distinct from the rest of Europe . They are also called Norse countries .
