International Affairs
World’s first self-driving train unveiled by Germany
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and industrial group Siemens unveiled the world’s first automated driverless train in Hamburg.
The train is controlled by digital technology and is fully automated.
The project partners and the city of Hamburg have invested a total of 60 million euros in the digital ‘S-Bahn Hamburg’.
State Affairs
Karuppur kalamkari paintings, Kallakurichi wood carvings get GI tags
Karuppur Kalamkari Paintings, Kallakurichi Wood Carvings, and Kanyakumari Clove from Tamil Nadu were awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
Kalamkari painting is done on the pure cotton cloth while the Kallakurichi Wood Carving is a unique form of wood carving where the craftsmen carve temple-related products and furniture.
The Kanyakumari Cloves is known for its rich aromatic oil content.
Quick Facts: Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Miscellaneous
UNDP releases ‘Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021’
GLobal Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021 was released by the United nations Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
The Index considers data from 109 countries and 5.9 billion people including 26 low-income countries, 80 middle-income countries and 3 high-income countries.
The index measures each person’s deprivations across 10 indicators divided into three equally weighted dimensions.
Quick Facts: UNDP is headquartered in New York, US.
International Affairs
Alexander Schellenberg appointed as the new Chancellor of Austria
Alexander Schallenberg has been appointed as the new Chancellor of Austria.
The appointment came following the resignation of Sebastian Kurz amid corruption allegations.
He was sworn in by the President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen.
Quick Fact: Vienna is the Capital of Austria.
Miscellaneous
‘Quest for a Stable Afghanistan’ authored by Sujeet Sarkar
The book titled “Quest for a Stable Afghanistan: A View from Ground Zero” was authored by Sujeet Sarkar.
The book has been published by Rupa Publications.
The book provides a detailed account of the haggard and faulty policies that the West have put Afghanistan on the deeper and increasingly worrisome crisis.
Quick Facts: Pashto and Dari are the official languages of Afghanistan.
National Affairs
PM Narendra Modi addresses 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme through video conferencing.
In his address, he emphasised that with measure like International Solar Alliance, Renewable energy goals and Hydrogen Mission India is rapidly moving in the direction of an eco-friendly growth.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statuary public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993.
Quick Facts: Justice Arun Kumar Mishra is the Chairperson of NHRC.
Summits and Conferences
PM Modi participates in the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually participated in the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan.
The Meeting was convened by Italy and chaired by the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
The issues related to humanitarian crisis, concerns regarding terrorism and human rights in Afghanstan were discussed in the meeting.
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