1. Saudi Arabia to send its 1st female astronaut to space this year
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut is set to go into space this year, in what is seen as a move to reform Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative image.
An overview of the news
Saudi female astronaut Rayna Barnawi will join Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
Barnawi and al-Karni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by American privately funded space infrastructure developer private space company Axiom Space .
The Ax-2 will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America.
Another fellow Emirati, Sultan Al-Neyadi will also visit the space station at the end of February 2023.
Axiom Space launched its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022, with four private astronauts spending 17 days in space orbit.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia's neighbouring United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to send a citizen into space. Astronaut Hazza al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS.
In 1985, Saudi royal prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in a US-organised space mission, becoming the first Arab Muslim to travel in space.
Saudi Arabia
King - Salman
Capital - Riyadh
Currency - Saudi Arabian riyal
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
2. 'Khanan Prahari' Mobile app to Curb Illegal Mining launched
Tags: National National News
The government on 13 February launched a mobile app namely ‘Khanan Prahari’ and a web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS).
An overview of the news
It has been launched to report unauthorised coal mining activities so that monitoring and appropriate action can be taken by the concerned law and order enforcing authority.
CMSMS Application
CMSMS has been developed to take transparent action to curb illegal mining and use of space technology as an e-governance initiative of Government of India.
Objective of CMSMS Application
To ascertain the participation of citizens against illegal mining by receipt of complaints of citizens through Mobile App Khanan Prahari
Monitoring and taking action on any illegal coal mining activity being carried out within the leasehold limits.
''Khanan Prahari' Mobile App
It is a mobile app of the Ministry of Coal to report illegal coal mining.
It is a tool for geo-tagged photographs of any illegal coal mining incident as well as information to any citizen from the location of the incident.'
3. Former England captain Eoin Morgan retires from all forms of cricket
Tags: Sports Sports News
Former England captain Eoin Morgan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 13 February.
An overview of the news
Morgan had said goodbye to international cricket on 28 June 2022. He announced his retirement from all three formats of cricket.
Eoin Morgan captained the ODI World Cup played in England in the year 2019 and won his team the title. He also became the first captain to win the ODI World Cup for England.
Morgan has scored 2458 runs playing a total of 115 T20 matches. While playing 248 ODIs, he scored 7701 runs.
Morgan captained England in 126 ODIs and 72 T20Is, registering 118 wins as captain in both formats.
Apart from this, he scored 700 runs in 16 Test matches.
Born in Dublin, Morgan made his ODI debut for England in 2009 at the age of 16 against Ireland.
4. Moldov's PM Natalia Gavrilita resigns
Tags: Person in news International News
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita announced her resignation on 10 February.
An overview of the news
She resigned, citing lack of support in the former Soviet republic. She was in power only for 18 months.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu has accepted Gavrilita's resignation and said she will speak to parliamentary groups about a possible replacement.
Ms. Gavrilita's party won a majority in the elections held in August 2021.
The next prime minister of Moldova could be Dorin Risen, a European security adviser who is a supporter of Sandu.
Rieken is expected to be approved as the country's prime minister without interference.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of 2.5 million people, is already facing a host of issues such as rising inflation, a massive influx of refugees from Ukraine and a severe energy crisis in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Moscow significantly reduced its electricity supply to Moldova.
Last year alone, the country saw protests against a dramatic increase in prices, particularly for Russian gas.
About Moldova
Moldova is located between Ukraine and Romania.
Capital: Chișinău
President: Maia Sandu
Official Language : Romanian
Currency : Moldovan leu
5. 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.
6. Rajasthan Government to provide LPG cylinder at Rs 500 per cylinder; Ashok Gehlot
Tags: Person in news State News
The Rajasthan Government will provide 12 LPG cylinders per year to the poor families at Rs 500 per cylinder from 1 April 2023. This was announced by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Alwar on 19 December 2022.
He said the decision was taken to provide relief to the people suffering from unprecedented inflation and unemployment.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY) was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Under the scheme a poor household headed by a woman is provided with a free LPG gas stove and free first LPG Cylinder.
However under the scheme the beneficiaries have to buy the subsidized LPG cylinder.
The target of the PMUY was to release 8 crore LPG connections by March 2020 which was achieved on 7 September 2019.
PMUY 2.0
It was launched virtually by PM Modi on 10 August 2021 at Mahoba, Madhya Pradesh.
It aims to provide additional 1.6 crore LPG connections with special focus on migrant households.
Connection is provided to an adult woman belonging to a poor household.
The beneficiaries should belong to any of the following categories:
- Eligible as per Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 list,
- Belongs to SC/ST households, be a beneficiary of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, People residing in river Islands.
7. 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.
8. 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
9. 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.
10. Axelsen and Yamaguchi win BWF World Tour Finals
Tags: Sports Sports News
Men's badminton world number one Viktor Axelsen won the men's singles title after defeating Indonesian ace Anthony Ginting at the season-ending World Tour Finals in Bangkok on 11 December.
The BWF moved its $1.5 million flagship event to the Thai capital's Nimibutra Arena after the tournament's original host China pulled out of the tournament due to Covid restrictions.
Men's Singles Final
Defending champion Axelsen appeared fresh, relaxed, energetic and in control as he cruised to a 21-13 win in the first game.
His confidence had been shakey following a surprise loss to India's H S Prannoy on 9 December -- only his third defeat this year -- but he appeared to be a different player on 11 December.
Women's Singles Final
Defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan won the women's singles title by defeating Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan.
In the women's singles final, Yamaguchi won in straight games 21–18, 22–20 in a close match.
With that, Yamaguchi became the first women’s singles player since Ye Zhaoying in 1997 to claim the All England Open, World Championships and end-of-season finals all in the same year, as per the Badminton World Federation.
About BWF World Tour
The BWF World Tour is a Grade 2 badminton tournament series, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
It is a competition open to the top world ranked players in singles (men's and women's) and doubles (men's, women's and mixed).
The competition was announced on 19 March 2017 and came into effect starting from 2018.
