India’s 1st Hydrogen train will come by Dec 2023 on Heritage Routes: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Going greener and more sustainable towards the environment, the Indian Railways is introducing hydrogen and electric trains to the eight heritage routes in the country by December 2023.
Going greener and more sustainable towards the environment, the Indian Railways is introducing a green revolution and will be introducing hydrogen and electric trains to the eight heritage routes in the country by December 2023. The Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed this recently. These hydrogen trains will include the modified version of steam engines, that will be back on tracks, equipped with vintage sirens and green steam vapours.
Initial Routes Where Hydrogen Trains Run:
Talking about this initiative, Vaishnaw added that the new trains will run on the routes of Kalka-Shimla Railways, Nilgiri Mountain Railways, Darjeeling Hills, Kangra Railways, Bilimora Waghai, Mhow-Patalpani, Marwar-devgarh-Madriya and Matheran Hill Railways in Maharashtra.
The Development of Hydrogen Trains:
Hydrogen engines have been developed by a few countries like Germany, France and China, and now India will also be a part of this, the minister added. Talking about the modification, the coaches of new trains will be retro-fitted, induced with hydrogen-propulsion engines that will be used for commercial purposes by the end of the year.
As a pilot project, the railways is manufacturing a prototype of hydrogen fuel-based train at the Northern Railway workshop. It would be test-run on the Sonipat-Jind section in Haryana.
Indian-American Ami Bera Appointed to House Intelligence Committee
Indian-American Congressman Dr. Ami Bera has been appointed as a member of a powerful US House Committee handling intelligence-related matters.
Indian-American Congressman Dr. Ami Bera has been appointed as a member of a powerful US House Committee handling intelligence-related matters. The House Permanent Selection Committee on Intelligence is charged with providing oversight of the country’s intelligence activities, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), National Security Agency (NSA) as well as the military intelligence programs.
Indian-American Ami Bera Appointed to House Intelligence Committee- Key Points
Dr. Bera informed that he is honored to be appointed by Leader Jeffries to serve on the House Intelligence Committee which plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and national security of the United States.
Dr. Ami Beri, a six-time congressman represents the sixth Congressional District of California.
He has also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
During the 117th Congress, Bera served as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Non-proliferation, where he spearheads Congressional efforts to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific allies and partners to advance the US economic and security interests.
In the 117th Congress, Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi served on the House Intelligence Committee.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed on February 6.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed on February 6. The primary objective behind observing this day is to amplify and direct efforts on the elimination of this cruel practice and to promote the elimination of female genital mutilation, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation 2023: Theme
This year, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Delivering the Global Promise launched the 2023 theme; “Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to End FGM”.
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation 2023: Significance
This day is of great significance as it facilitates collective efforts aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation. Girls who undergo female genital mutilation suffer from medical complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health.
Female Genital Mutilation is primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East. Although the prevalence of FGM has declined globally, humanitarian crises such as disease outbreaks, armed conflict and more could cause a rollback of progress toward achieving gender equality and the elimination of genital mutilation.
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation 2023: History
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.
Amit Shah Laid Foundation Stone for India’s Fifth Nano Urea Plant in Deoghar
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a ₹450 crore nano urea plant and township of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a ₹450 crore nano urea plant and township of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The nano urea plant will be the fifth such plant in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s first nano urea plant in Gujarat in 2021. According to Union Minister Amit Shah Nano Urea will benefit farmers and it is already being exported to five countries.
Amit Shah Laid Foundation Stone for India’s Fifth Nano Urea Plant in Deoghar- Key Points
Nano Urea helps in improving the crop productivity, soil health, and nutritional quality of products and aims to address the imbalance and excessive use of conventional urea.
IFFCO Managing Director US Awasthi informed us that the plant is scheduled to be commissioned in December next year.
He also states that the nano urea plant will be constructed at a cost of ₹300 crore and the township at a cost of ₹150 crores.
Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) has allotted 20 acres of land to IFFCO for the complex in the Jasidih area in the Deoghar district.
About Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative
The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, also known as IFFCO is a multi-state cooperative society engaged in manufacturing and marketing fertilizers in New Delhi. The Cooperative started in 1967 with 57 members and now it is the biggest co-op in the world by turnover on GDP per capita with around 35,000 members cooperatives reaching over 50 million Indian farmers.
Earthquake of magnitude 7.8 kills 95, knocks down buildings in Turkey
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey followed by another strong quake which was felt in several provinces in the region, knocking down a number of buildings.
Turkey Earthquake 5 Feb,2023:
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey followed by another strong quake which was felt in several provinces in the region, knocking down a number of buildings, reports said. The US Geological Survey said quake was centred about 33 kilometres (20 miles) from Gaziantep about 26 kilometres (16 miles) from the town of Nurdagi. It was centred 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep, according to the US Geological Survey. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management agency was centred in the town of Pazarcik, in Kahramanmaras province.
Affected Countries From the Recent Earthquake:
Tremors were also felt in Cyprus, Türkiye, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, United Kingdom, Iraq and Georgia.
Several buildings tumbled down in the neighbouring provinces of Malatya, Diyarbakir and Malatya, HaberTurk television reported.
Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. Syria’s state media reported that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama.
In Syria’s rebel-held northwest that borders Turkey several buildings collapsed, according to the opposition’s Syrian civil Defence.
There was no immediate word on casualties. In Beirut and Damascus, buildings shook and many people went down to the streets in fear.
Biggest earthquake in Syria:
Syrian state television reported that a building near Latakia, on the west coast of Syria, had collapsed. Government media said several buildings had partially collapsed in Hama, central Syria, with civil defence and firefighters working to pull survivors out of the rubble.
Raed Ahmed, who heads Syria’s National Earthquake Centre, told government radio that this was “historically, the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre”. Naci Gorur, an earthquake expert with Turkey’s Academy of Sciences, urged local officials to immediately check the region’s dams for cracks to avert potentially catastrophic floodings.
Turkey is in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones. The Turkish region of Duzce suffered a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in 1999 — the worst to hit Turkey in decades. That quake killed more than 17,000 people, including about 1,000 in Istanbul.
Experts have long warned a large quake could devastate Istanbul, which has allowed widespread building without safety precautions. A magnitude-6.8 quake hit Elazig in January 2020, killing more than 40 people. And in October that year, a magnitude-7.0 quake hit Turkey’s Aegean coast, killing 114 people and wounding more than 1,000.
G Kishan Reddy Launched Visit India Year 2023 Initiative
Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year - 2023 initiative and unveiled the logo in New Delhi.
Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year – 2023 initiative and unveiled the logo in New Delhi. Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy kicked off the year of grand plans and activities for promoting tourism in the country.
G Kishan Reddy Launched Visit India Year 2023 Initiative- Key Points
Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy noted that the launch of the Visit India Year 2023 logo is taking place in this important year as India is heading G20.
He also informed that more than one lakh foreign delegates will visit India this year and they will be showcased the entire gamut of India’s culture, including monuments and festivals.
Mr. Reddy added that each foreign delegate of G20 will be a brand ambassador of India’s culture, heritage, and tourist destinations.
He further stated that his Ministry is coordinating with Indian missions and other stakeholders to have a conducive environment for foreign visitors this year.
Harnessing the momentum created by the recovery of the global industry, preferential sentiment from global travelers for exploring India, and building upon the success in growing tourism in India over the years–the Tourism Ministry is on a mission to unlock the untapped potential of tourism in India, making India a 365-day destination.
India to be Theme Country at 2025 Madrid International Book Fair
India will be invited as the focal country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025, the Ambassador of Spain to India Jose Maria Ridao said.
India will be invited as the focal country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025, the Ambassador of Spain to India, Jose Maria Ridao said. Spain is the theme country at the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair. The Madrid International Book Fair is an annual event held in the Buen Retiro Park in Madrid.
More About This Development:
“We are inviting India as the theme country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025. It is usually for publishers only. But, we can expand the horizon, to include cinema and music as well,” Jose Maria Ridao told.
He said as part of the cultural exchange between the two countries, Spain has donated books to five universities in Bengal, where the Spanish language is taught. Works of Spanish authors are also being published by leading Indian publishing houses, Ridao said.
About The Madrid International Book Fair:
The Fair began in 1933. It ceased for a few years because of the Spanish Civil War. The Madrid Book Fair is international in scope. Although it features mainly books from Spanish-speaking countries, the event promotes the literature of a guest country, which may speak another language. In 2018 the guest country was Romania; in 2019 it was the Dominican Republic. The event scheduled for 2020 and 2021 were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.
Comments