NATIONAL NEWS
NDRF Raising Day 2022 observed today
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrates its Raising Day every year on January 19th. The NDRF was formed on January 19, 2006.PM Narendra Modi greeted the hardworking National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on its Raising Day and said in a tweet, “They are at the forefront of many rescue and relief measures, often in very challenging circumstances. NDRF’s courage and professionalism are extremely motivating.”
UBS bank wins right to sell Vijay Mallya’s London home
UBS bank has won the right to repossess and sell fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya’s luxury home in London where he stays with his son Sidhartha and 95-year-old mother Lalitha. This is huge progress in Vijay Mallya’s extradition case. The UK court on January 18th ordered fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, along with his entire family to be evicted from his London home after UBS bank won the case claiming its right to repossess the house and sell it. Vijay Mallya is supposed to refund about Rs 185.4 crore loan to UBS.
Explosion aboard INS Ranvir, 3 Naval personnel die In a tragic incident, there was an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on January 18, 2022. Three naval personnel lost their lives in the accident and over 11 were injured. The ship’s crew brought the situation under control immediately and there was no major material damage. INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Eastern Naval Command and was due to return to base port shortly. A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the explosion. INS Ranvir is a Soviet-era destroyer and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 1986.
New COVID-19 treatment guidelines include active TB as comorbidity
The Union Health Ministry has advised COVID-19 patients to undergo tests for tuberculosis if cough persists for more than two-three weeks. The centre also said that the doctors should avoid giving steroids to COVID-19 patients. The revised clinical guidelines state that drugs like steroids can increase the risk of a secondary infection like invasive mucormycosis or ‘black fungus’ when used too early at a higher dose or for a longer period than required. The National COVID Task Force Chief expressed regret for the overuse of the drug during the second wave.
No foreign chief guest at Republic Day Parade
There will be no foreign chief guest on India’s Republic Day 2022. The decision has been taken in the wake of the current surge in COVID-19 infections across the country due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Government of India had invited the heads of all five Central Asian nations to be the Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
What to expect from Union Budget 2022?
The Union Budget 2022-23 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the budget session of the Parliament on February 1, 2022. This time, individuals especially the salaried class are waiting to see which new reforms or announcements will be made especially in relation to the income tax.
First India-Central Asia Summit on January 27
PM Modi will host the first India-Central Asia Summit on January 27, 2022. The summit will be held with the participation of the Presidents of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan. The upcoming summit will also be the first kind of engagement of its kind between India and the Central Asian countries at the level of leaders.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A giant asteroid bigger than Burj Khalifa passes Earth
The giant asteroid, bigger than Burj Khalifa, flew by Earth at a distance of roughly 1.98 million kilometres. The asteroid was classified as ‘potentially hazardous’ and ‘Near-Earth Object’ due to its proximity to the planet. The asteroid called 7482 (1994 PC1) was larger than any building on the Earth. Astronomers have been studying the asteroid for over decades and no threat has been deemed so far. At its closest distance, the asteroid will still be five lunar distances, five times the distance between the Moon and the Earth.
Roberta Metsola is new President of European Parliament
Roberta Metsola has been chosen to head the European Union Parliament. Metsola has become the only third woman to hold the position. She is also viewed as a political moderate despite the controversy over her anti-abortion stance. Metsola, elected on the same day she turned 43, is the politician from the European Union’s smallest nation.
HAL signs contract for export of Advanced Light Helicopter to Mauritius
HAL has signed a contract with the Government of Mauritius for the export of one Advanced Light Helicopter for the Mauritius Police Force. With this contract, Mauritius and HAL have further strengthened the long-standing business relations that span across three decades. The ALH Mk III is a multi-mission, multi-role versatile helicopter in 5.5-tonne category. The move is also in line with Government’s vision to boost defence exports to friendly nations. More than 335 Advanced Light Helicopters have been produced to date logging around 3,40,000 cumulative flying hours.
