NATIONAL NEWS
Asia's largest early Childhood Conference - Early Ed Asia 2019 begins in Jaipur
Jaipur will host the Early Ed Asia 2019. This two day educational event, touted to be Asia's largest conference on Early Childhood will be held at the pink city's most revered heritage structure - The iconic City Palace. It is the first time that a conference of this magnitude is organised around early childhood education in India.
- Conceived and presented by Early Childhood Association (ECA) and ScooNews under the patronage of the Royal Family of Jaipur, the conference will bring together the brightest minds in Early Childhood Education on 12th and 13th February to discuss the latest trends in teaching and research to provide a stronger foundation to our children.
PM Modi inaugurates National Cancer Institute at Badhsa in Haryana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Badhsa, Jhajjar, in Haryana, from Kurukshetra through video conferencing. Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister OP Dhankar presided over a review meeting regarding preparations for the inauguration of NCI, jointly with District Administration and AIIMS administration, in Jhajjar.
- Union Health Minister JP Nadda would be present as the chief guest in the inauguration ceremony of the NCI, Badhsa. Prime Minister Modi will also launch the Swachh Shakti-2019 programme from Kurukshetra. This programme is dedicated to women.
- He will also lay the foundation stone of the National Institute of Ayurveda at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula from Kurukshetra through digital link. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 270.50 crore, and will have 250 beds.
India signs agreement with Norway to combat marine pollution
India's Environment Ministry signed an agreement with the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry for an initiative seeking to combat marine pollution. This initiative will seek to support local governments in implementing sustainable waste management practices, develop systems for collecting and analysing information about sources and scope of marine pollution and improve private sector investment.
- In partnership, Norway and India will share experiences and competence, and collaborate on efforts to develop clean and healthy oceans, sustainable use of ocean resources and growth in the blue economy.
- Extra info.:
Norway Capital: Oslo
Currency: Krone
RBI MSME package to help recast Rs 1-trn loans for 700k accounts: Govt
The Reserve Bank's restructuring package for small businesses announced last month will help recast Rs 1 trillion of loans for 700,000 eligible micro, small and medium enterprises. The estimate from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary Rajiv Kumar is much higher than domestic rating agency Icra's assessment of Rs 10,000 crore.
- The scheme announced by RBI is a one-time scheme wherein a loan tenor and interest rate can be revised without classifying the asset as an NPA. The facility is available for standard advances of up to Rs 25 crore only.
Meghalaya govt to rename Dikkibandi stadium after P A Sangma
The Meghalaya Cabinet has decided to rename the Dikkibandi stadium in Tura town after former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma. The Dikkibandi Stadium (formerly known as MP stadium) and a junction leading to AMPT road in Tura have been renamed after P A Sangma.
- Purno A Sangma is also a former chief minister of Meghalaya. He was elected from the Tura Lok Sabha seat a number of times. Conrad K Sangma and James K Sangma are sons of Purno A Sangma.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NASA lost contact first mini-spacecraft MarCO CubeSats
NASA has lost touch with the first mini-spacecraft that ventured into deep space, according to the US space agency which said that it is unlikely the twin CubeSats will be heard from again.The MarCO CubeSats were launched last year to test if such low-cost technology can operate in deep space.
- The twins, nicknamed EVE and WALL-E after characters from a Pixar film, served as communications relays during the InSight’s Mars landing, beaming back data at each stage of its descent to the Martian surface in near-real time, along with InSight’s first image. WALL-E sent back stunning images of Mars as well, while EVE performed some simple radio science.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Book 'Undaunted: Saving The Idea of India' by former finance minister P Chidambaram launched
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed disapproval of the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to slap NSA for alleged cow slaughter, saying the party leadership has conveyed its reservations to the state leadership.
- Speaking at the launch of his book "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India", Chidambaram said Congress president Rahul Gandhi has pointed out the "mistake" to the party government in Bhopal. Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern UP Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra attended the book launch of the veteran Congress leader.
SPORTS
Clouded Leopard will be mascot for National Games 2022 in Meghalaya
Meghalaya's state animal Clouded Leopard will be the mascot for the National Games 2022 coinciding with the 50th year of the creation of the state. This decision was taken at the first National Games 2022 executive committee meeting chaired by Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.
- Clouded leopard is one of the wild cats that live throughout the forests of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
Russian Daniil Medvedev wins Sofia Open 2019
Big-hitting Russian Daniil Medvedev brushed aside Hungary's Marton Fucsovics to win the Sofia Open title. Third seed Medvedev was at his devastating best as he gave the hapless Hungarian a brutal lesson to claim his fourth career title.
- The world No.16 converted his first championship point after breaking Fucsovics's serve to love.
Jamie Chadwick Becomes The First Female Driver To Win MRF Challenge Title
Jamie Chadwick from England made history by becoming the first female driver to win the MRF challenge title after scoring a triple win in the final round in Chennai. The 20-year-old became the first woman to win the coveted prize after an incredible performance.
- She achieved six victories in the 15 race championship and came back from a large deficit to win in style at the final event.
APPOINTMENTS
Egypt's el-Sisi elected new chairman of African Union
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been elected chairman of the African Union at the continental body's summit in Ethiopia. El-Sisi's election brought to an end the one-year chairmanship of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.
- Extra info.:
African Union Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Egypt Capital: Cairo
Currency: Egyptian pound
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Dhruv Patel receives royal honour in UK for service to Hindu community
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has conferred the royal honour of OBE (order of the British empire) on Indian-origin Dhruv Patel for voluntary service to Britain’s Hindu community and social cohesion.
- Patel, 35, a businessman with interests in property, retail pharmacy and insurance, is the founder of City Hindus Network, a non-profit organisation. He received the honour from Prince William in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace.
OBITUARIES
England football great Gordon Banks passes away
England football great, goalkeeper Gordon Banks, whose safe pair of hands helped the Three Lions to their only World Cup final victory in 1966, has passed away at the age of 81.Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end due to a car crash that cost him the sight in one eye.
- He was widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game and will perhaps be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil's Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the "save of the century".
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 22nd December 2015 in its 70th session, to observe February 11th as the “International Day of Women and Girls In science; to promote participation of women in fields related to science and technology.
- The prime objective of the forum will be to harness resources, channelize funders, and mobilize investors in the fields of women in science and technology. The theme of this year is "Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth".
World Day of the Sick
The World Day of the Sick is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church which was instituted on 13 May 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Beginning on 11 February 1993, it is celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, for all believers seeks to be "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering".
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