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. Union Health Ministry organises “Cycle for Health” rally at Lady Hardinge Medical College
Tags: National National News
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised a Cyclothon with the theme 'Cycle for Health' at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) on 14 February.
An overview of the news
Faculty, staff and students participated in the rally with great enthusiasm and in large numbers.
The main objective of organising this rally is to promote physical and mental health and to provide information about environment friendly transport to the citizens.
Mega cycling events in the form of cyclothons or cycle rallies are being organised in all the 1.56 lakh Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs).
These activities are being carried out as part of the year-long "Healthy Mind, Healthy Home" campaign launched in November last year, which aims to promote awareness about healthy living.
Accordingly, a health fair will also be organised on the 14th of every month in all AB-HWCs across the country, where activities like yoga, tele-counselling, Nikshay Poshan Abhiyaan, non-communicable diseases screening and drug distribution, sickle cell disease screening will be organised. Activities will be organised.
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, also known as "Green MP" for his enthusiasm for cycling, has urged people to use cycles to promote health and fitness.
3. '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.'
4. Mohammad Shahabuddin elected President of Bangladesh
Tags: Person in news International News
According to the notification issued by the Election Commission of Bangladesh on 13th February Mohammad Shahabuddin will be the next President of Bangladesh.
An overview of the news
He will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh.
He was the only candidate to file his nomination after the time for nomination and withdrawal was over.
Retired judge, Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner and freedom fighter Mohammad Shahabuddin was nominated for the post by the ruling Awami League.
The term of current President Abdul Hamid ends on April 23.
He served as the President of Bangladesh for two consecutive terms.
The Constitution of Bangladesh does not allow any person to hold the presidency for more than two terms.
About Mohammad Shahabuddin
He was born in 1949 in Pabna. He took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 along with most of his family members, he was imprisoned for several years.
He is a member of the Awami League Advisory Council.
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
President: Mohammad Shahabuddin
Currency: Taka
5. Govt to set up Bima Sugam portal to address existing protection gap across general insurance business
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on 13 February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will set up a Bima Sugam portal.
An overview of the news
The portal will address the existing protection gap across life, health and general insurance businesses in the country.
According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the portal will be the infrastructure of an insurance market where insurers, distribution networks and policy holders will meet virtually on a seamless digital platform.
The portal is expected to improve the accessibility and ease of purchasing insurance for policyholders.
It will also serve as a readymade digital platform for insurers and distribution networks.
6. Around 39 crore loans extended under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana till Jan 27
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Minister of State for Finance, Dr Bhagawat Karad said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on February 13 that till January 27, 2023, about 39 crore loans have been given under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
An overview of the news
Out of this, more than 26 crore loans have been given to women entrepreneurs and about 20 crore loans to SC, ST and OBC borrowers.
This scheme has helped in creating one crore 12 lakh net additional employment in the country from 2015 to 2018.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
It was launched on 8 April 2015.
Under the scheme, the people of the country are given loans up to a maximum of 10 lakhs to start their own small business.
Any person who wants to further his business can take a loan under this scheme.
People are issued a Mudra card to avail loans under this scheme.
The loans are provided through Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Micro Financial Institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries.
More than 64 per cent of the loan accounts opened under the scheme are of women.
Three types of loans under Mudra Yojana
Under this scheme, three types of loans are given in Shishu, Kishore and Tarun.
Shishu- Loans up to Rs.50,000.
Kishor - Loans above Rs.50,000 and less than Rs.5 lakh.
Tarun - Loans above Rs.5 lakh and up to Rs.10 lakh.
7. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Asia's biggest air show Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru
Tags: Summits National News
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Aero India show in Bengaluru on 13 February.
An overview of the news
The 14th edition of Aero India 2023 is being organised by the Indian Department of Defense Production from February 13 to 17 at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The theme of the five-day event is ‘The Runway to a Bllion Opportunities’.
The main objective of the event is to promote indigenous production and exports of aerial platforms and attract foreign investment.
98 countries are participating in the event and MoUs worth Rs 75,000 crore are expected to be signed during the event.
Defence Ministers' Conference, CEOs' Round Table, Brainstorm Startup Event, India and Karnataka Pavilion and an Air Show are the highlights of the event.
In the India Pavilion section, 115 Indian companies will display 227 products made in India.
LCA Tejas Mark 1 is the main attraction of these products.
Made in India Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv Mark III and IV, Light Combat Helicopter Prachanda participating in HAL's HTT 40 Trainer Air Show.
Significance of Aero India 2023
The event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms - Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
The event will help integrate domestic MSMEs and start-ups into the global supply chain.
It will attract foreign investment including partnership for co-development and co-production.
This event will make a significant contribution to the development of the aerospace and aviation sector.
8. Govt to borrow ₹13,879 crore to strengthen health infra from international agencies
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Minister of State for Health, Dr Bharti Pawar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that the Government of India has signed loan agreements worth Rs 13,879 crore from international agencies to strengthen health infrastructure.
An overview of the news
With whom the loan agreement has been signed are-
1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) ($300 million or Rs 2,474 crore).
2. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (50 billion Japanese yen or Rs 3,162 crore)
3. World Bank ($1 billion or Rs 8,243 crore)
This loan has been taken to strengthen the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) which is the largest health mission in India.
PMABHIM was launched to fill the gaps in the field of health infrastructure, especially critical and primary care facilities.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission
It is one of the biggest health schemes to strengthen the health care infrastructure in India.
The mission was announced in the Budget 2021-22 with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.
It was launched in October 2021 with an aim to provide comprehensive health services across the country.
It aims to fill gaps in public healthcare infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in urban and rural areas.
9. Digital economy working group meeting of G20 to be held in Lucknow
Tags: Summits National News
As part of India's G20 chairmanship, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will organise the first Digital Economy Working Group meeting in Lucknow from February 13-15.
An overview of the news
This year three defined areas will be discussed with representatives from all 20 countries.
The first is digital public infrastructure in which India has done a lot of work in this area with schemes like UPI, UIDAI, Diksha, Kovin, eSanjeevani and other apps developed in the Covid era.
Cyber security will be another important aspect of the meeting.
The third issue that will be discussed is digital skilling.
India is launching various projects in this area and providing skills through PM-DISHA and Future Prime Skills with NASSCOM, which is the National Association of Software and Service Companies.
During the meeting on the first day, side events will be organized which will showcase the work done by the State and Central Governments.
The Digital Economy Working Group was first introduced at the G20 in 2017.
Four workshops focussing on digital public infrastructure
Sharing implementation experiences of digital identity in various countries.
Sharing of cyber security solutions for MSMEs.
Digital public infrastructure to boost attainment of sustainable development goals and use of geo-spatial technologies for infrastructure.
Product development in the digital economy.
Global Digital Economy
The global digital economy is currently estimated at US$11 trillion and is expected to reach US$23 trillion by 2025.
Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) plays a critical role in shaping the global policy discourse in the digital space.
10. Nikos Christodoulides elected as the new president of Cyprus
Tags: Person in news International News
Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides was elected President of Cyprus on 13 February after a second and final round of voting.
An overview of the news
Christodoulides, 49, won 51.9% of the vote, while his opponent Andreas Mavroyanis, 66, took 48.1%.
More than 72.4 percent of people voted in Cyprus this time, which is higher than before.
He was appointed Government Spokesperson in 2014 and Foreign Minister in 2018.
Christodoulides is supported by the Democratic Party, the Movement for Social Democracy and the Democratic Alignment.
Cyprus was divided in 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the northern part in response to a Greek-sponsored coup d'état.
Since then the current issue between Cyprus and Turkey is the ongoing dispute between the Greek Cypriots in the south and the Turkish Cypriots in the north.
Republic of Cyprus
It is an island European country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
It gained its Independence from Britain in 1960.
The country has a majority population which are of Greece descent while the minority population are of Turkish origin.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and created a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983.
Except Turkey no country recognises Turkish Cyprus.
India also recognises the Cyprus government.
Capital: Nicosia
Currency: Euro
President: Nikos Christodoulides
