NATIONAL NEWS

GAIL Starts India’s Maiden Project

• Gas Authority of India Limited has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into natural gas system at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

• The hydrogen blended natural gas will be supplied to Avantika Gas Limited, one of GAIL’s Joint Venture (JV) Company with HPCL, operating in Indore.

• In line with the National Hydrogen Mission, GAIL has started hydrogen blending as a pilot project to establish the techno-commercial feasibility of blending hydrogen in City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.

Women Fighter Pilots in IAF

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that his Ministry has decided to convert the Experimental Scheme for Induction of Women Fighter Pilots in the Indian Air Force into a permanent scheme.

• It is a testimony to the capability of India’s Nari Shakti (Women Power) and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment towards women empowerment. A total of 16 women have been commissioned as fighter pilots after the experimental scheme for their induction.

• Supreme Court had directed the Centre last year to allow womenr candidates to appear for the entrance exam to the National Defence Academy.

India-EU 2^nd Virtual Maritime Security Dialogue

• India and the European Union held their second maritime security dialogue in a virtual format.

• The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary for Disarmament and International Security Affairs at Ministry of External Affairs Sandeep Arya and Director for Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service Ms Joanneke Balfoort.

• The consultations included developments in the maritime security environment, policy developments covering the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative, India-EU maritime cooperation and regional initiatives to address international maritime security issues.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Flying Boat

• THE JET, the world’s first clean-energy, hydrogen-powered flying boat, is set to be launched in Dubai.

• The Swiss based startup THE JET Zero Emission announced that it has signed an agreement with UAE-based Zenith Marine Services and DWYN to manufacture and operate The Jet.

ABOUT THE JET

• The boat will cruise without noise over the waters at a speed of 40 knots, and has a capacity of hosting 8-12 passengers.

• It is equipped with two fuel cells, an air conditioner and other environmentally friendly technologies that help reduce carbon emissions.

• THE JET will have its inaugural flight during the COP28, which is scheduled to be held in dubai, UAE in 2023.

BANKING NEWS

Vedanta Tie up with Union Bank

• Vedanta said it has tied up a facility of Rs 8,000 crore with Union Bank of India to take over a majority of the syndicated facility after multiple discussions with potential lenders at 7.75%.

• The replacement facility was availed on December 28 last year to take over the existing Syndicated facility to reduce the overall interest cost of the company.

ABOUT VEDANTA Limited

• It is an Indian multinational mining company.

• CEO: Sunil Duggal.

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

ABOUT UBI

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• MD & CEO: N Kamakodi

‘Surya Shakti Cell’ for Financing Solar Projects

• State Bank of India (SBI) along with Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd has launched a dedicated Centralised Processing Cell (CPC)- ‘Surya Shakti Cell’.

• CPC aims to strengthen the existing financing arrangement for solar power projects.

ABOUT SBI

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Portugal PM Antonio Costa Reelected

• Portugal’s ruling Socialists party secured a majority by winning 117 seats in the 230-seat parliament.

• The win gives ruling Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa an absolute majority to govern solo.

• His Socialists Party, Costa’s party received 42% of the votes out of the 99.13% of the votes counted.

First Female President of Honduras

• Leftist Xiomara Castro was sworn as the first woman president of Honduras, vowing to reform the crime- and poverty-stricken nation into a "socialist and democratic state”. She belongs to the Freedom and Refoundation Party.

• Xiomara Castro, 62-year-old replaces Juan Orlando Hernandez, as 56^th President of Honduras.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

World's Top Semiconductor Company in 2021

• According to a report released by research firm Counterpoint Technology Market Research, South Korean electronics manufacturing giant Samsung Electronics surpassed U.S chipmaker Intel to become the world's leading chipmaker by revenue in 2021.

• Samsung took the lead with a strong DRAM and NAND flash market performance in 2021. Samsung also saw solid momentum in logic chips this year.

OBITUARY

Rupinder Singh Suri

• Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association and Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association, Additional Solicitor General and Senior Advocate Rupinder Singh Suri passed away in New Delhi. He was appointed as ASG in June 2020 and was designated as Senior Advocate in 2009.

• In 1984, Mr. Suri had founded the law firm Suri & Co. He served as Standing Counsel for Punjab for two periods of about 15 years.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Last among Equals: Power, Caste, and Politics in Bihar’s Villages

• A Book titled “Last among Equals: Power, Caste, and Politics in Bihar’s Villages” authored by MR Sharan.

• The book is an account of the author’s field study in a group of villages in Bihar.

• The book is published by Context.

The Class of 2006

• India's first-ever season style book 'The Class of 2006: Sneak Peek into the Misadventures of the Great Indian Engineering Life', written by management professional Akash Kansal.

• It was launched virtually amidst one of the biggest book launch ceremonies of the year at IIT Kanpur & Delhi Technological University.

• The book was released by talented Indian film actor, writer, director, and producer R. Madhavan.

IMPORTANT DAYS

UPI Safety and Awareness Week

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the UPI ecosystem have announced the UPI Safety and Awareness initiative.

• NPCI and the ecosystem comprising leading banks and fintech will observe February 1 to 7 as UPI Safety and Awareness Week. Further, the whole month of February will be UPI Safety and Awareness Month.

• Under this programme, NPCI urges all the customers to follow the concept of UPI Safety Shield, which the company has derived to educate customers all about UPI payments.

ABOUT NPCI

• NPCI HQ: Mumbai, Maharasthra.

• NPCI MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe.