Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 02 & 03 2022
1. Antonio Costa re-elected as Prime Minister of Portugal
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costo has been re-elected after his centre-left Socialist Party secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Portuguese legislative election. Socialist Party bagged 117 seats in the 230 seats Parliament. The main opposition centre-right PSD party landed 27.8 per cent for 71 seats. Antonio Costo is serving as the 119th Prime Minister of Portugal since 26 November 2015.
2. North Korea successfully tests fire most powerful Hwasong-12 ballistic missile
North Korea successfully tested its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Jagang Province area. This was the first nuclear-capable missile testing undertaken by the country since 2017. The Hwasong-12 has an estimated range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles). North Korea’s series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability.
3. Gandhi Mandiram, Smruthi Vanam built at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh
Social activists have built a temple for Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters’ Smrithi Vanam at the Municipal Park in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh to inculcate patriotism among the youth by remembering the sacrifices of freedom fighters. Statues of freedom fighters and social activists were erected in the park with the help of donors. Mahatma Gandhi statue was unveiled along with Smritivanam on the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary in Srikakulam City. Srikakulam, also called Chicacole, the North Eastern District in AP is known for temple tourism.
4. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer unveiled its mascot named ‘Shera’
Chief Electoral Officer’s office of Punjab unveiled its election mascot, “Shera” (Lion). It aims to increase voter awareness, participation and promote ethical voting in the Punjab Assembly polls that is scheduled on 20 February 2022. The mascot “Shera”, depicting a lion.
It represents the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. It is promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) project of the Election Commission of India (ECI). SVEEP project was started in 2009, as the flagship program of the ECI for voter education.
5. India’s first geological park will be built in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
The first geological park of India will be built in Lamheta, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Approval for the park was given by the Geological Survey of India, under the ministry of mining. Park will be constructed with an investment of Rs 35 crores, over five-acre land. The geological park will be built in Lamheta, because this place is among significant places in the world, from the geological point of view.
6. Lt Gen GAV Reddy named as new Defence Intelligence Agency Head
Lieutenant General GAV Reddy has been appointed as the new head of the Defence Intelligence Agency. General Reddy would be succeeding Lt Gen KJS Dhillon. Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon retired after serving in various strategic positions during his 39-year career in the Indian Army. The Director-General of the Defence Intelligence Agency is the head of the organisation and is among the principal advisors on intelligence to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
7. SBI tie-up with Tata Power for financing solar projects
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a dedicated centralized processing cell named ‘Surya Shakti Cell’ with the objective of strengthening the existing financing arrangement for solar power projects. SBI has collaborated with Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. (a Tata Power Company) for financing solar power projects. The cell has been set up in the Ballard Estate in Mumbai. The Surya Shakti Cell will process all the loan applications for Solar Projects from across India by Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd., with a maximum capacity of up to 1 MW.
8. HPCL launches Non-Fuel Retail Store ‘HaPpyShop’
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) has marked its foray into the non-fuel retailing sector by inaugurating its Retail Store under the brand name HaPpyShop, to make available the products of daily need to its customers at their convenience. The first retail store was launched by HPCL in September 2021 in Mumbai at Company’s Retail Outlet located at Nepean Sea Road.
In addition to this, HPCL has launched the platform in a purely online format by opening the Online Store at Madurai. HPCL is also marketing branded packaged drinking water at its Retail Outlets across the country under the name ‘Paani@Club HP’.
9. PNB launches co-branded contactless credit cards with Patanjali
Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Patanjali Ayurved Limited (PAL) have launched co-branded contactless credit cards in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The co-branded credit cards are offered on NPCI’s RuPay Platform and are available in two variants – PNB RuPay Platinum and PNB RuPay Select. Both the co-branded cards offer a hassle-free credit service to purchase day-to-day Patanjali products, along with cash backs, loyalty points. PNB RuPay Platinum and PNB RuPay Select cardholders will receive a welcome bonus of 300 reward points on activation.
10. World Wetlands Day observed on 02 February
World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2 all over the world. 2022 marks 51 years of the Convention on Wetlands. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2022 is ‘Wetlands Action for People and Nature’. The day aims to raise awareness about the crucial role played by wetlands for people and our planet. The day is celebrated to mark the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.
11. World Interfaith Harmony Week: 1-7 February
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February (1-7 February), after General Assembly designation in 2010. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), was conceived to promote cultural peace and nonviolence. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote culture, peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010.
12. Senior advocate & Additional Solicitor General Rupinder Singh Suri passes away
Senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Rupinder Singh Suri has passed away. He was appointed the ASG in June 2020. He was designated as a senior advocate in 2009 and also served as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association. He served as standing counsel in the Supreme Court for Punjab for about 15 years.
13. Spituk Gustor Festival celebrated in Ladakh
Spituk Gustor Festival, a two-day annual celebration of Ladakhi culture and traditional heritage celebrated on 30th & 31st January 2022 in Leh and Ladakh Union Territory. To witness the colourful festivities, devotees arrive at the Spituk Monastery every year and attend the colourful mask dance locally called “Chams”. Spituk monastery is 8 km from Leh. It is a celebration of peace and prosperity that is celebrated at the Spituk Monastery in Leh and Ladakh UT.
14. GoI setting up National Land Monetisation Corporation
According to Economic Survey, the government is setting up the National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) to carry out the monetization of the land and other non-core assets. The initial authorized share capital of NLMC will be Rs 5000 crores and subscribed share capital of ₹150 crores. So far, CPSEs have referred 3,400 acres of land and other non-core assets for monetization from CPSEs including MTNL, BSNL, BPCL, B&R, BEML, HMT Ltd, Instrumentation Ltd.
15. Dubai will launch World’s first Hydrogen-powered Flying Boat ‘The Jet’
Dubai firm, THE JET ZeroEmission announced the launch of the World’s first hydrogen-powered flying boat ‘THE JET’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ‘THE JET’ features cutting-edge characteristics and technologies, making it capable of flying in silence over the waters at a cruising speed of 40 knots and also has a capacity of carrying 8-12 passengers.
16. Torgya Festival celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh 2022
The three days long Torgya Festival of the Monpa tribal community of Arunachal Pradesh is celebrated at Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh. The main attraction of the festival is the ‘Sha-na Cham’, the ritual dance performed by monks to showcase the Choe-Gyal Yap & Yum Tsa-Munde deity. This year is the ‘Dungyur Torgya’ festival, which marks a special occasion as every 3rd year, the festival is organized on a broader level with the name Dungyur Festival during which Dalai Lama offers blessings (also known as Tse-Boom) to other lamas by sending Feb Jum which is a holy item to be used in rituals.
17. Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi joins as Director-General, NIELIT
Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi has joined as Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT). Before joining NIELIT, Dr Madan Mohan Tripathi was working as Professor at Delhi Technological University (DTU), New Delhi. In DTU he also worked as Director Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and Coordinator of Intellectual Property Rights Cell. National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
18.Vedanta tied up with Union Bank of India to take over syndicated facility
Vedanta Ltd has tied up a facility of Rs 8,000 crores (replacement facility) with Union Bank of India at 7.75% to take over the majority of the syndicated facility after discussions with lenders. During 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Vedanta Ltd had tied up a syndicated facility of ₹10K crores with the State Bank of India as the lead bank at a running cost of 10.5 per cent.
19. Crisil Report: India’s GDP expected to grow 7.8% in FY23
Domestic rating agency CRISIL has estimated FY23 real GDP growth at 7.8 per cent as compared with the 8.5 per cent projected in the Economic Survey. Estimating the growth to slow to 7.8 per cent in FY23 from the 9.2 per cent in FY22. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget proposals focused on loosening the purse strings by boosting capital expenditure and going slow on fiscal consolidation are aimed in the right direction.
20. Sony buys ‘Destiny’ game developer Bungie for $3.6 billion
Sony Group Corp. is purchasing Bungie Inc., the U.S. video game developer behind the popular Destiny and Halo franchises, for $3.6 billion to bolster its stable of game-making studios. The deal announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment is the third significant video-game acquisition this month, following Microsoft Corp.’s purchase of Activision Blizzard Inc. for $69 billion two weeks ago and Take-Two Interactive Corp. snagging mobile game leader Zynga Inc. on Jan. 10.
21. Brand Finance report: LIC 10th most valued insurance brand globally
As per a brand valuation report released by Brand Finance, Life Insurance Corporation has been ranked at 10th in the list of insurance brands globally. LIC is the only Indian insurance company in the top 10 list. LIC has a valuation of USD 8.656 billion (around Rs 64,722 crore). Of the top 10, as many as 5 are Chinese insurance companies, with by Ping An Insurance emerging as the world’s most valuable insurance brand, despite recording a 26 per cent drop in brand value.
22. Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy launched in IIT Dharwad
The Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean energy was launched at IIT Dharwad. The center will enhance the research in affordable and clean energy. The center will create, incubate technologies, physical infrastructure. Also, it will create clean energy solutions. The solutions will target on livelihoods of rural communities. The center is to be supported by CSR funds. CSR is Corporate Social Responsibility. The CSR funds are to come from HHSIF.
23. India’s 1st-ever season style book written by Akash Kansal
India’s first-ever season style book titled ‘The Class of 2006: Sneak Peek into the Misadventures of the Great Indian Engineering Life’, written by Akash Kansal a management professional. The book was virtually launched at one of the biggest book launch ceremonies at IIT Kanpur, & Delhi Technological University. “The Class of 2006” consists of 18 different episodes that recall the times spent in College.
24. Actor & filmmaker Amitabh Dayal passes away
Actor and filmmaker Amitabh Dayal has passed away after suffering a heart attack at the age of 51. Dayal has worked in films like Kagaar: Life on the Edge (2003) with Om Puri, Bhojpuri film Rangdari (2012) and Raj Babbar’s Dhuaan (2013), Amitabh Bachchan’s Virrudh (2005). He also worked on P. Akash’s Dillagi…Yeh Dillagi (2005), the film started Dharmendra, Rati Agnihotri and Kapil Dev, but never saw light of the day.
25. Sanctuaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh listed as Ramsar sites
The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh have been listed as Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. With this, the total number of Ramsar sites in India goes up to 49. Khijadiya has become the fourth wetland of Gujarat to get the Ramsar tag. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Wildlife Sanctuary and Wadhwana wetland are the other Ramsar sites in the state. The last two were included in April last year.
