NATIONAL NEWS

National Skill Training Institute in Hyderabad

Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the National Skill Training Institute in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Constructed for ₹19.90 crore in an area of 4 acres, the institute offers short-term and long-term skilling courses to women in various sectors.

Reddy emphasized that empowering women has been a major priority for the Central Government.

He stated that the government has launched numerous schemes dedicated to empowering women across India, such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and PM Ujjwala.

He also added that several other initiatives have been taken to help women increase their opportunities to build decision-making power.

The event was attended by several women achievers like Saina Nehwal and Sunita Krishnan.

First Pilot Project to Make Jet Fuel from Alcohol in Pune

The first pilot technology project to make jet fuel from alcohol was inaugurated by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Pune.

This project will produce sustainable biological aviation fuel or SAF.

This pilot project has been set up in the research and development department of Praj Udyog Group in Pirangut Industrial Estate near Pune.

Pramod Chaudhary, President of Praj, along with officials of Indian Oil and other oil companies were present for the inauguration program.

There is a huge demand for this bioaviation fuel in the global market, and it is a big challenge to provide the necessary raw materials for it.

He added, that most of the countries around the world have great expectations from India for biofuel.

He congratulated the engineers of Praj Udyog Group for setting up this project in India before Brazil and expressed confidence that this project will truly be a pioneer for the world.

After the inauguration, the Minister along with other officials inspected the project and expressed satisfaction over the use of state-of-the-art technology.

Akasa Air Announces Flight Operation

Akasa Air has become the second airline to announce tie up with Noida International Airport, located near the national capital.

Visitors gathered near an Akasa Air aircraft during the 'Wings India 2024', an exhibition and conference on civil aviation, at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad.

Previous to Akasa Air, IndiGo was the first airlines to announce its partnership with the Noida airport for commercial services to enhance connectivity, the airline had said in a statement earlier.

A partnership agreement was signed between Akasa Air and Noida International Airport in Hyderabad on the sidelines of industry event 'Wings 2024'.

The Noida International Airport, which is also called the Jewar International Airport, is aimed at servicing the National Capital Region (NCR).

Noida International Airport, which is expected to start operating from September 2024, is aimed at offering passengers unmatched connectivity and an exceptional travel experience.

Akasa Air's partnership with Noida airport will help aid connectivity between NCR and Tier 2 and 3 cities across the country.

'Gole Mela' Festival at Jagannath Temple, Udhampur

In Jammu and Kashmir, a Popular Festival known as 'Gole Mela' was organized at Jagannath temple in Udhampur.

A large number of devotees assembled and paid obeisance at Jagannath temple.

Gole Mela is organized twice every year.

Moreover, two ancient temples are dedicated to Lord Jagannatha across India.

One is situated in Puri, Orissa and other in Udhampur District of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

North Korea Conducts 'Underwater Nuclear Weapons System' Test

North Korea informed it has carried out a test of its "underwater nuclear weapons system" in response to drills by the US, South Korea and Japan this week.

The underwater drone, which supposedly can carry a nuclear weapon, was tested off the east coast, state media stated.

South Korea called the reported tests a "provocation".

The North has claimed tests of its "Haeil-5-23" system before, but the latest incident comes as the North has ramped up military action in recent weeks.

It claimed to have deployed a new solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile.

That followed live-fire drills at the maritime borderwith South Korea in the first week of January.

 

BANKING

DBS Bank India Partners with StartupTN

DBS Bank India has announced a partnership with StartupTN, the nodal agency of the Tamil Nadu government in fostering innovation and promoting entrepreneurship throughout the State.

It is to strengthen the ecosystem and drive innovation within the State by providing crucial support to startups, including knowledge sharing through various forums and facilitating connections with potential investors.

The partnership will impact and engage more than 1,000 Startups in Tamil Nadu through StartupTN’s eight regional hubs in metros, as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

As part of this collaboration, new-age companies associated with StartupTN will have an opportunity to connect with DBS Bank India’s network of over 30 accelerators, incubators and ecosystem enablers so that they can gain from being part of a larger entrepreneurial community.

 

SPORTS

Asia Olympic Qualification Shotgun Tournament

Indian Shooter Raiza Dhillon has won silver in the women’s skeet final at the ongoing Asia Olympic Qualification shotgun tournament in Kuwait.

With this win, Raiza secured Paris 2024 Olympic quota in shooting.

While Maheshwari Chauhan got Bronze and Ganemat Sekhon finished at 4th.

The trio also won team gold medal for India.

Dhillon was on top of the table with six out of six targets.

The Indian continued to lead the final with 14 hits.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Delhi and Bengaluru Jointly Clinch 'Best Airport' Award

Bangalore and Delhi airports jointly won the Best Airport award.

Both airports jointly won the award at the 4th edition of “Wings India Awards” in the Civil Aviation Sector.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia presented the Wings India Awards 2024 at an event organized in Hyderabad.

Vistara won the Best Airline of the Year award.

Air India has been recognised for International Connectivity.

Alliance Air has been recognized for Regional Connectivity.

Air India Express was declared a Sustainability Champion.

GMR Group has been honoured as the Best Aviation Service Provider.

Skyways Air Services has been honoured for cargo services.

Indian Oil Skytanking Pvt. Ltd has been honoured for Fuel Services and GMR has been honoured for Aero Academy.

Actress Alia Bhatt Honored at Saudi Arabia's Joy Awards

Actress-producer Alia Bhatt became the first Indian woman to be honored at the Joy Awards 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

She was awarded the Honorary Entertainment Makers Award at the Joy Awards ceremony 2024.

Before Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have been honored at the Joy Awards for their work and contribution to the entertainment business.

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is one of the most talented actresses in Bollywood.

She has created a distinct identity for herself with her brilliant performances in films.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal         

Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary was appointed as the director general of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a Personnel Ministry order stated.

Chaudhary, a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is presently working as Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment as the DG, SSB for a period up to November 2025.

The SSB guards India's frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Japan Becomes 5th Country to Land Spacecraft on The Moon

Japan became the 5th country in history to reach the moon when one of its spacecraft successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface.

Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India in reaching the moon.

SLIM, which was aiming to hit a very small target, is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle.

It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing.

While most previous probes have used landing zones about 10 kilometers (six miles) wide, SLIM was aiming at a target of just 100 meters (330 feet).

A landing of such precision would be a world's first, and would be crucial technology for a sustainable, long-term and accurate space probe system, stated Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

 

OBITUTARY

Former Olympic Pole Vaulter Shawn Barber

Barber, a world champion pole vaulter, Olympian and three-time NCAA champ during his time at Akron, died at his home in Kingwood, Texas, from medical complications. Barber was 29.

Barber, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, competed for Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finishing

He won three NCAA Division I pole vault championships as a member of the Akron track and field program from 2013-2015.

Barber became the first male individual national champion in Zips history, capturing the 2014 NCAA Division I indoor championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He earned the gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada with a winning jump of 19-¼.