1 Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Air Force Heritage Center in Chandigarh
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Air Force Heritage Center in Chandigarh . The Heritage Center has been set up under an agreement signed last year between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the Indian Air Force. This heritage center is spread over an area of 17 thousand square feet. This includes the wars of 1965 and 1971 and the Kargil War and the Balakot Air Strike. The pivotal memories of the era are depicted through wall paintings and patterns. The museum displays aircraft models, aero engines and weapons, including the twin-barreled Gryazev-Shipunov gun. Augmented reality, hologram, virtual reality and electro-mechanical siege and interactive kiosks highlighting various aspects of the Indian Air Force are displayed in this heritage centre. Flying simulator is also available here. Which will provide the experience of flying to the visitors. Other attractions at the heritage center include five vintage aircraft and the SAM-3 Pechora missile. A Hindustan Piston Trainer-32 primary flying training aircraft is placed at the centre. The period of its implementation in the Indian Air Force was from 1977 to 2009. A MiG 21 single-seat fighter has also been deployed here. A special section highlighting the contribution of women officers in the Indian Air Force has also been prepared.
2 Special event organized on the first anniversary of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
UAE organized a special event to mark the first anniversary of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It highlighted the positive impact of the agreement in commercial and cultural contacts between the two countries in the last one year. Discussions were held with the heads of industry of both the countries in the programme. They discussed the success of partnership and cooperation in various fields such as food, fashion, arts. For India, this CEPA with UAE is the first agreement in the region and for UAE, it is their first ever CEPA. Since the implementation of this CEPA, bilateral trade between India and UAE has seen a tremendous growth of 20 per cent over the previous year. India’s exports to UAE also registered a significant growth of 12 per cent,
3 Syria returns to the Arab League after a decade of suspension
Syria has returned to the Arab League after more than a decade of suspension because of its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters . Syria’s membership in the organization was suspended 12 years ago after the rebellion turned into a conflict. The conflict since March 2011 has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million. In a statement, Syria’s foreign ministry said it had received the league’s decision after much deliberation. Syria has called for greater cooperation and partnership with the Arab world. The move is further evidence of a softening of relations between Damascus and other Arab governments. group of 22 countries The foreign ministers of 13 of the UN’s members were present at the meeting in Cairo, the capital of Egypt , where it was decided to re-incorporate Syria. The meeting stressed the need to end the Syrian civil war and the resulting refugee and drug trafficking crisis. The US and Britain have criticized the move.
4 India’s top position in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector
Tourists from India have registered the highest attendance in Sri Lanka ‘s tourism sector during April 2023 . Nearly 20,000 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka last month, thus India regained the top spot after six months. According to information received from Sri Lanka Tourism Authority data, 19 thousand 915 Indian and 14 thousand 656 Russian tourists visited the country in April. Earlier, from October 2022 to March 2023 maximum number of Russians had visited Sri Lanka. Last month, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Priyantha Fernando said that the target set for tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka would be revised to 2 million from the initial estimates of 1.5 million.
5 Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar launched the third phase of Thalassemia Bal Seva Yojana in New Delhi
Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar launched the third phase of Thalassemia Bal Seva Yojana in New Delhi . Coal India Limited is supporting this project under its Corporate Social Responsibility. Dr. Pawar also launched the Thalassemia Bal Seva Yojana portal. Thalassemia is a blood disease inherited from parents to children. The Health Ministry is implementing the Thalassemia Bal Seva Yojana since 2017. The second phase of the scheme was launched in March this year.
6 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation introduces QR code based paper tickets for travel
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation-DMRC has introduced QR code based paper ticketing for travel on all its routes . With the introduction of this facility, passengers will now be able to use QR code based paper tickets in addition to tokens . For this facility, DMRC has upgraded its Automatic Fare Collection – AFC Gates and Customer Care Counters to QR based paper tickets. Initially, two AFC gates have been upgraded for entry and exit at all stations for travel by QR based paper tickets. DMRC said that by the end of this month, mobile based QR ticket It is also targeted to introduce ticket booking system which will make the journey of passengers more seamless and easy as it will eliminate the need for passengers to buy tickets physically from the counter.
7 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Railways jointly signed MoU with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Project SMART’
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Railways have jointly signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘ Station Area Development along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail ‘ ( Project-SMART ). signed an MoU with. Project-SMART envisages development of areas around Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR) stations. The objective is to enhance the accessibility and convenience of passengers and other stakeholders and to promote economic activities around the station areas. The MoU has been signed for four high speed rail stations – Sabarmati and Surat (Gujarat), Virar and Thane (Maharashtra). Out of the 12 stations on this route, Surat, Virar and Thane are green field and Sabarmati is brown field development.
8 Union Minister Nityanand Rai inaugurated Dawki (Dawki) land port in Meghalaya
Union Minister Nityanand Rai has inaugurated the Dockie Land Port in Meghalaya ‘s West Jaintia Hills district to improve trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh. inaugurated. Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs were also present during the inauguration. The Dockie Land Port is located in the West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, about 55 km from the district headquarters Jowai and about 84 km from the state capital Shillong. Tamabil is the matching land port located in Bangladesh. The Dockie Land Port will play an important role as an economic and transport hub between India and Bangladesh, facilitating cross-border transportation of goods, people and vehicles. Additionally, it will simplify border crossing procedures for travelers. The land port is expected to give a boost to the tourism and economic sectors.
9 UAE government launches ‘Machines Can See 2023’ summit
The UAE government launched the ‘ Machines Can See 2023 ‘ summit in Dubai , one of the first international conferences in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the region. The conference is being organized in partnership between the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and the ‘Machines Can See’ company. The conference aims to bring together experts from around the world to discuss the future of AI and its potential to contribute to the UAE’s vision of creating the next Silicon Valley.
10. Petersburg Climate Dialogue Held
Petersberg Dialogue on Climate Change 2-3 May 2023 Berlin It was held in , and was hosted by Germany and the United Arab Emirates, which are hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference brought together ministers from 40 countries to discuss the way forward towards COP28. Discussions began around a possible global target for renewable energy at the next climate conference. In the opening address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need to clean up economies, reduce fossil fuel use and drive decarbonisation across every sector in order to achieve a 1.5-degree global warming pathway. He reiterated his earlier proposal for the Acceleration Agenda.
11 Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022 report released
Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022 is a report that was released recently by Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and SeaVoter International . According to the survey, about 81% of people in India are concerned about global warming , while 64% of Indians think that the government should do more to address global warming . Most people (83%) want a national program to educate the population about global warming. A similar percentage want a national program to train people for new jobs in the renewable energy industry.
12 Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, three killed
Three women were killed and three people were injured when an Indian Air Force MiG -21 fighter aircraft crashed and fell on a house in a village in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan . The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh air station . The plane had developed a technical snag near Bahlolnagar village near Pilibanga area before it crashed . During the accident, the pilot managed to eject safely from the aircraft, although the pilot also received some injuries. The Air Force has informed that a helicopter has been rushed to the spot to rescue the pilot. An inquiry has been ordered to find out the accident.
13 Adani Group to build country’s first integrated data center and technology business park in Andhra Pradesh
Adani Group is going to build India’s first Integrated Data Center and Technology Business Park in Andhra Pradesh ‘s Visakhapatnam (Madhurwada in Vizag) . It is being created to develop the local technology ecosystem, which will benefit the country as well as the state. The foundation stone laying ceremony for this park took place in Visakhapatnam on 3 May 2023 and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was present in the event. The park will have a 300 MW integrated data center facility and will be operated by a 50:50 joint venture between EdgeConnex and Adani Group. The park will be completely operated through 100 percent renewable energy.
14 HDFC Bank launches a retail banking initiative called ‘Vishesh’
HDFC Bank has launched a retail banking initiative called ‘ Vishesh ‘ aimed at customers in semi-urban and rural areas . The bank is expected to attract around 100,000 new customers through this programme , which involves increasing its branch network and developing bespoke financial products for the market segment. HDFC Bank plans to add 675 branches in rural and semi-urban areas by 2024, taking the total count to around 5,000.
15 Inauguration of a new border haat at Bholaganj, Sylhet between India and Bangladesh
A new border haat was inaugurated at Bholaganj under Companyganj Upazila of Sylhet between India and Bangladesh . The Border Haat was jointly inaugurated by Imran Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment and Neeraj Kumar Jaiswal, Assistant High Commissioner of India. A total of 26 Indian stalls and 24 Bangladeshi stalls will be allowed to be set up in this haat. People living within five kilometer radius of the border will be able to use this haat. A special card will be issued for this. Goods sold in the Haat will be duty free. This is the fourth border haat in Sylhet division. Is. Three of these haats are already running. There is a plan to open three more border haats in this division. The first border haats were started in the year 2011 at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and at Kurigram in Bangladesh.
16 GetVantage Receives NBFC License From RBI
GetVantage , a fintech platform providing alternative financing solutions, has received an NBFC license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) . Its lending operations will be managed by its NBFC subsidiary, GetGrowth Capital. The platform plans to raise a total of Rs 200 crore to expand its lending operations, of which Rs 50 crore has already been invested by Chirata Ventures, Incred, and backers such as Sony and DI.
17 Full disclosure essential to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued fresh instructions to all banks and financial institutions in the country to ensure that all wire transfers, whether domestic or international , have complete originator and beneficiary details . The move is aimed at preventing wire transfers from being used as a channel for money laundering and terrorism financing . The updated directions are part of the Master Direction on Know Your Customer (KYC) and are in sync with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
18 Visa launches CVV-free payments for tokenized cards in India
Visa has launched a new feature CVV-free payments in India that allows users to make online payments without the need for a CVV number. This feature is applicable to tokenized credit and debit cards and is available only for domestic transactions in India. When a user tokenises their card, it is secured with a unique code and the transaction goes through two-factor authentication . process, which does not require the 16 digit card number or any other card details. The new authentication method protects users from cyber fraud as the token cannot be used on other platforms.
19 Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles title of Madrid Open tennis tournament.
Spain ‘s Carlos Alcaraz has won the men’s singles title of the Madrid Open tennis tournament . In the final, he won the title by defeating Germany’s Jan Lennard Schruff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
20 Indian campaign ends in ongoing Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju, South Korea
The Indian campaign has come to an end at the ongoing Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju , South Korea . Ajit Narayan and Achinta Shiuli, competing in the men’s 73kg category, failed to get medals. Indian players have won three medals which are all silver medals . Bindayarani Devi and Jeremy Lalrinnunga Only he could show his full strength in the championship. Bindayarani started India’s winning streak with a silver medal in the women’s 55kg category on Saturday. He also won the silver medal in the clean and jerk event by lifting 111 kg. Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga won the silver medal in the men’s 67 kg snatch category. The Asian Weightlifting Championship will continue till May 13. But India is not represented in any of the rest of the categories.
