Current affairs 04 February 2023

Saudi Arabia to host 2027 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.

• The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the hosting rights of the 2027 Asian Nations Cup.
• It was announced during the 33rd Congress of the Asian Football Confederation, which was held on 1st February in Bahraini, Manama.
• Saudi Arabia has obtained votes from 43 countries to organize the 2027 Asian Cup out of 45 votes.
• 2023 AFC Asian Cup: Qatar (from June 26 to July 16, 2023)
• Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Currency: Riyal

India's 1st hydrogen train will come by Dec 2023 on heritage routes.

• Union Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed that India will receive its first hydrogen train by December 2023.
• It will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be expanded to other places.
• The Vande Metro (mini version of Vande Bharat Express) is also being developed.
• Vande Metro Aim: To help people living around big cities to travel to and fro in comfort between their place of work and hometowns.
• Railway Budget (2023-24:) Rs 2.4 lakh crore

India’s unemployment rate declines to four-month low at 7.14% in January.

• The unemployment rate of India declined to 7.14% in January 2023 (the lowest in four months) from 8.30% in December 2022.
• This data was released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
• The urban unemployment rate declined to 8.55% in January from 10.09% (December 2022).
• While the rural unemployment rate slipped to 6.48% from 7.44%.
• Unemployment was the highest in J&K at 21.8% followed by Haryana (21.7%) and Rajasthan (21.1%).

Odisha’s VK Pandian honored with FIH President’s Award 2023.

• Secretary to the CM of Odisha, VK Pandian was honoured with the FIH President’s Award 2023 for his outstanding contribution to hockey.
• He was awarded by FIH President Tayyab Ikram at the Bhubaneswar-Rourkela final of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023.
• FIH President’s Award: It is a recognition to individuals National Associations or other organizations for valuable services to hockey.
• Hockey India President: Dilip Tirkey

DCPCR launches WhatsApp chatbot "Bal Mitra" for children.

• The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched its WhatsApp chatbot named Bal Mitra.
• It is an initiative to enable two-way communication between people and the child rights panel.
• It will help citizens and the commission to interact more effectively.
• Features of the chatbot: Complaint registration, searching information and tracking complaint status, and seeking information on admissions.
• DCPCR chairperson: Anurag Kundu.