NATIONAL NEWS
4th India-ASEAN Expo summit begins in New Delhi
The 4th India ASEAN Expo and Summit will bring Indian and ASEAN businesses together to work jointly towards integrating them into regional value chains, thereby promoting mutual trade and investment. The flagship event of Department of Commerce, being organised with industry body FICCI from February 21 to 23 in New Delhi.
- More than 200 exhibitors and 100 buyers from the ASEAN are expected to participate in the expo.
India Pharma 2019 & India Medical Device 2019 held in Bengaluru
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), is organising the 4th International Conference on Pharmaceutical & Medical Device sector on 18th – 19th February, 2019 in Bengaluru. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Statistics & Programme Implementation, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated India Pharma 2019 & India Medical Device 2019 in Bengaluru.
- The theme for India Pharma 2019 is ‘Enabling Quality Affordable Healthcare’ and that of India Medical Device 2019 is ‘Med-Tech India: Gearing up for Ayushman Bharat’.
'International Vision Zero Conference’ held in Mumbai
Shri Heeralal Samariya, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment inaugurated the three days Conference on the VISION ZERO and its relevance to Occupational Safety and Health in Mumbai.
- The concept of ‘Vision Zero’ is fast gaining international acceptance and is expected to leverage the efforts of the Government of India to raise the occupational safety and health standards in the country so as to improve the occupational safety and health situation.
Govt to infuse Rs 48,239 crore in 12 public sector banks
The Central government approved recapitalisation of 12 public sector banks with an infusion of Rs 48,239 crore. Corporation Bank gets the highest infusion of Rs 9,086 crore while Bank of Maharashtra gets the lowest at Rs 205 crore.
- Allahabad Bank will get Rs 6,896 crore, Punjab National Bank Rs 5,908 crore, Bank of India Rs 4,638 crore, Union Bank Rs 4,112 crore, Indian Overseas Bank Rs 3,806 crore, UCO Bank Rs 3,330 crore, Andhra Bank Rs 3,256 crore, United Bank Rs 2,839 crore, Central Bank of India Rs 2,560 crore and Syndicate Bank Rs 1,603 crore.
Government launches Operation Digital Board to provide better digital education in schools
Government has launched Operation Digital Board on the lines of Operation Blackboard to provide better digital education in schools. Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said, under the initiative, seven lakh classrooms of 9th, 10th and 11th standards and two lakh classrooms of colleges and Universities will be equipped with digital boards in the next three years.
- It will improve the quality of education and offer new opportunities and new ways of teaching and learning. It will convert the monologue classrooms into interactive ones.
Department of justice launches tele-law mobile app, Nyaya Bandhu
Keeping in line with the government’s initiative to ensure empowerment to the common man through technology for access to justice, the law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a tele-law mobile application that is integrated with a dashboard and an application called Nyaya Bandhu.
- The pro bono legal service was developed to accelerate and facilitate practising advocates to register and connect with the registered eligible beneficiaries and thereby, solidify the pro bono culture in the country.
OFB gets clearance for producing 114 long-range artillery gun Dhanush
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has received a bulk production clearance from the Indian Army and the Defence Ministry for production of 114 ‘Dhanush’ artillery guns. ‘Dhanush’ is the first long-range artillery gun to be produced in India and it is a major success story of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
- The gun is equipped with inertial navigation-based sighting system, auto-laying facility, on-board ballistic computation and an advanced day and night direct firing system. The self-propulsion unit allows the gun to negotiate and deploy itself in mountainous terrains with ease.
Commerce Minister Launched ‘SWAYATT’ on GeM
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu launched SWAYATT on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and reiterated the need to support and strengthen such initiatives and enterprises which constitute the backbone of the Indian economy.
- SWAYATT is an initiative to promote Start-ups, Women and Youth Advantage Through eTransactions on Government e-Marketplace (GeM). This will bring together the key stakeholders within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem to Government e-Marketplace the national procurement portal.
After Pune varsity backs out, Bhopal to host History Congress
After Pune University allegedly backed out, the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has decided to host the 79th Indian History Congress (IHC) in Bhopal beginning February 26. The 79th session was earlier supposed to be held at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) from December 28.
- Over 1,000 delegates including prominent historians are expected to participate in the IHC in Bhopal.
Dwarka to house India’s first hi-tech forensic lab
Boosting the country’s efforts in tackling cybercrime, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and LG Anil Baijal inaugurated the state-of-the-art National Cyber Forensic Lab and Delhi Police’s cybercrime unit ‘CyPAD’ at Dwarka Sector 16.
- The lab, to be accessed by Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell, will have a dedicated training and open-source analytic cell that will monitor social media profiles of suspects to identify them.
World Bank team touring Himachal for developing waste management strategies
Himachal Pradesh will collaborate with the World Bank and the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund for developing agro climatic zone-based municipal solid waste management strategies.
- A World Bank team led by environment specialist Pyush Dogra and a Korea Green Growth Trust Fund team headed by Lee Dong Hoon are currently touring the state.
Bandicoot, a drainage-cleaning robot introduced in Chennai
Bandicoot, a drainage-cleaning robot, has been introduced for the first time in India at the Kumbakonam city corporation as part of efforts to rid of manual scavenging at the cost of Rs 18 lakh in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- It is a semi-automatic robot can enter manholes for cleaning sewage lines with its robotic arm and is equipped with 5 night-vision cameras to relay the scenario underneath. Drainage cleaning could be detected by viewing the blockages on the screen.
Odisha CM launches KALIA scholarship for farmers' children
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a scholarship programme for the children of the beneficiaries of the KALIA scheme. After taking steps towards transforming the economic standards of the farmers through Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), the state government has come up with Kalia scholarship in order to ensure human resource development among the farming families across the state.
- The students can apply online on the kalia.co.in/scholarship portal. The Kalia scholarship funds would be directly sent to the bank accounts of the eligible students through DBT.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
AntBot, the first walking robot that navigates without GPS
Scientists claim to have developed the first walking robot that can explore its environment and find its way home without GPS or mapping, opening new avenues for the navigation of autonomous vehicles. Researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) took inspiration from desert ants, which are extraordinary solitary navigators, to design the AntBot.
- Ants use polarised light and ultraviolet radiation to locate themselves in space. Cataglyphis desert ants in particular can cover several hundreds of metres in direct sunlight in the desert to find food, then return in a straight line to the nest, without getting lost. AntBot copies the desert ants’ exceptional navigation capacities, allowing it to explore without using Global Positioning System (GPS).
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
TCS recognised as a global top employer
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognised as a global top employer for the fourth consecutive year by the Top Employers institute, and is the only company among the top 10 IT services brands to receive the certification.
- TCS was recognised for its exceptional workplace policies, culture and continued investments in its 4.17 lakh employees across the world. ln addition to the global ranking, TCS has been certified as the number one top employer in four regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East and as a top employer in 29 individual countries.
EPFO hikes interest rate on provident fund to 8.65 pc for 2018-19
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recommended increasing interest rate for 2018-19 to 8.65 per cent as compared to 8.55 per cent in the previous year. The decision was taken at the 224th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT). Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said all CBT members agreed to give a higher interest for subscribers. The proposal will now go to the Finance Ministry for approval.
- The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister is the apex decision-making body of the EPFO, which finalises the rate of interest on provident fund deposits.
- Extra info.:
EPFO Headquarters: New Delhi
SPORTS
ICC bans Irfan Ansari for 10 years from all forms of cricket
Veteran coach Irfan Ansari has been banned from all forms of cricket for ten years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching three counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
- Ansari approached Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed during Pakistan series with Sri Lanka in the UAE in October 2017 with a view to engaging him in corrupt conduct by soliciting information from him.
Malaysia's squash star Nicol David announces retirement
Eight-time world squash champion Nicol David has announced she will retire at the end of the 2018-2019 season, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career. The 35-year-old Malaysian is the most successful woman squash player and spent an unprecedented nine years as world No. 1 between 2006 and 2015.
- David has won five British Open titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals, five Asian Games gold medals and three World Games gold medals.
APPOINTMENTS
PayU India appoints Anirban Mukherjee as CEO
Naspers-owned PayU, a leading online payments service provider, has a new Chief Executive for its Indian operations in Anirban Mukherjee. Besides leading PayU’s Indian business, Anirban will join PayU’s global leadership team to support its ambitious plans to unlock innovative credit and financial services for under-served populations in high-growth markets. Mukherjee will now report to Laurent Le Moal, CEO, PayU Global.
Former Supreme Court judge DK Jain appointed as BCCI ombudsman
The Supreme Court appointed its former judge, Justice DK Jain as the first ombudsman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice S A Bobde.
- He will be responsible for looking into the matter related to differences between the state cricket associations and the BCCI. The former judge will also look after the investigation in the controversy surrounding Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.
AWARDS
Dr Soumitro Chakraborty wins 'CEO of the year' award
Dr Soumitro Chakraborty, Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. (Fiinovation), was conferred with 'CEO of the year' award at the 8th World CSR Congress held in Mumbai. The World CSR Congress this year focussed on the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in corporate strategies, innovation, and strategic alliances.
- The award recognises Fiinovation's exemplary work in the social development sector and noteworthy CSR and sustainability programmes.
OBITUARIES
Veteran film producer Raj Kumar Barjatya passes away
The man behind hit films like 'Hum Aapke Hai kaun' and 'Maine Pyar Kiya', veteran Bollywood producer and father of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, Raj Kumar Barjatya passed away in Mumbai.
- Associated with some of the biggest hits in the history of Indian cinema, Raj Kumar Barjatya inherited the production banner of Rajshri films from his father Tarachand Barjatya and passed it on to his son Sooraj. Some of his other ventures include 'Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo' and 'Hum Saath Saath Hain.'
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Day of Social Justice
Since 2009, every 20 February has been the UN observance known as “World Day of Social Justice”. The purpose of the day is to focus on the plight of social injustice throughout the world and to press for improvements and solutions.
- The theme of this year is "If You Want Peace & Development, Work for Social Justice".
International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21 around the world. It's a day to celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity. The world has more than 7,000 languages and the multilinguism is celebrated through this day. UNESCO has been celebrating International Mother Language Day for nearly 20 years and aims to promote mother tongue-based multilingual education.
- The theme of this year's International Mother Language Day will be indigenous languages as a factor in development, peace and reconciliation.
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