1.Bahrain becomes latest Arab nation to recognise Israel
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Bahrain has become the latest Arab nation to agree to normalise ties with Israel as part of a broader diplomatic push by President Donald Trump.Trump announced the agreement following a three-way phone call he had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.The three leaders also issued a brief six-paragraph joint statement, attesting to the deal.Like the Abraham accord with the UAE, a peace deal between Israel and Bahrain would normalise diplomatic, commercial, security and other bilateral relations.
2.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches Aero India 2021 website
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the website of Aero India 2021 in Delhi.The website can be accessed at aeroindia.gov.in.He also announced the launch of the 13th edition of Aero India-21 is scheduled at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, from 03 to 07 February 2021.Aero India is Asia’s largest air show and aviation exhibition held biennially in Bengaluru since 1996.
3.Harsh Vardhan Attends 73rd Session of Regional Committee meet of WHO South-East Asia Region
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The 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for SouthEast Asia hosted virtually.The Health Ministers of all the 11 Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region participated in the two days event.The 73rd session was hosted by the Government of Thailand.From India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare attended the event.The event concluded with the adoption of ‘Declaration on the collective response to COVID-19 in South-East Asia Region’.
4.Odisha launches ‘GARIMA’ scheme for sanitation workers
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The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik launched a new scheme named ‘GARIMA’.It aims to ensure the economic safety and social dignity of core sanitation workers in the state.Initially, the state government has allocated a corpus fund of Rs 50 crore for the scheme.GARIMA Scheme will be implemented by the state Housing and Urban Development department in all the 114 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Odisha.Around 20,000 core sanitation workers and their families with about one lakh population will benefit from the scheme.
5.Meghalaya launched India’s largest “Piggery Mission”
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The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Kailash Choudhury, launched India’s largest piggery mission in Meghalaya.The project is a step towards Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant) and would make the state self-sufficient in pork production, and thus attain self-sufficiency in food and nutrition security as well as augment farmer incomeThe overall cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 209 crore.The project will be funded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
6.Govt enhances scholarship for students of J&K under Pragati, Saksham Scholarship Schemes to Rs 50,000
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The central government has increased the scholarship amount under ‘Pragati and Saksham Scholarship Schemes’ for students of Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 per annum.“Pragati and Saksham Scholarship Schemes” being implemented and offered by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to provide financial assistance for advancement of girls pursuing technical education besides supporting specially abled students for technical education respectively.Under Pragati scheme, all girls of J&K belonging to families having annual income of Rs. 8 lakh who shall be admitted in the AlCTE approved institutions for the session 2020-21 will be eligible for scholarship.Under Saksham scheme, all specially abled students with 40 percent disability pursuing technical education at Degree or diploma level belonging to families with annual income less than Rs. 8.00 lakh would be eligible for the scholarship.
7.Rajasthan government signs pact with Sidbi to develop MSME ecosystem
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Rajasthan’s Department of Industries and Sidbi will work together to provide financial, technical, marketing and export support to MSMEs in the state.The Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan government to develop the MSME ecosystem in the state.The MSME Act was amended to promote industries and exempt such businesses from all kinds of permissions and inspections for three years.
8.Citi Bank names Jane Fraser as the first woman CEO
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Citigroup has named Jane Fraser as its next chief executive officer. She will be the first female CEO of this major global bank.She will succeed Michael Corbat, who is retiring in February 2021.Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City Bank of New York.
9.UNICEF appoints Ayushmann Khurrana for children’s rights campaign
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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Bollywood Actor Ayushmann Khurrana as its celebrity advocate for children’s rights campaign, ”For Every Child”.He will work towards this initiative in India.He will support UNICEF to end violence against children, especially in the present situation COVID-19 is increasing the risk of violence and abuse against children due to the extended lockdown and the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.
10.Japan’s Naomi Osaka wins US Open title
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In US Open Tennis, Japan’s Naomi Osaka defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the Women’s Singles final to clinch her third Grand Slam title.The fourth seed, Osaka, overcame her unseeded opponent 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour 53 minute inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows in New York.It brought 22-year old Osaka’s haul of tennis major trophies to three after her victories at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open.With this, the Japanese has become the first Asian player to win three Grand Slam singles titles and also moved up to number 3 in the world rankings.
