Daily GK Update: 28th January 2023

National & International Appointments

US President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American astronaut Raja J. Chari for the appointment to the grade of Air Force brigadier general.
His appointment will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which approves all senior civilian and military appointments
Currently, he is working as the Crew-3 commander and astronaut at Johnson Space Center, NASA
He also served as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Summits & Conferences

The 15th BRICS summit will be held in Durban, South Africa in August 2023.
It was announced by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov in a joint conference with Foreign Minister of the State of Eritrea Osman Saleh in Massawa, Eritrea.
The fifth annual BRICS summit was held in Durban, South Africa in 2013.
BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
BRIC was founded in 2006 and later, in 2010, South Africa was included and it became BRICS.

Summits & Conferences

The 3rd INTERPOL Young Global Police Leaders Programme (YGPLP) is being organized from 25 January to 2 February 2023 in New Delhi, India.
It was virtually addressed by INTERPOL Secretary General, Jurgen Stock.
The event was organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
As many as 59 participants from 44 countries participate in the programme.
CBI Director: Subodh Kumar Jaiswal
INTERPOL Headquarters: Lyon, France

National Affairs

HM Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone for a National Forensic Sciences University at the premises of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad in Karnataka.
Aim: It will help to create expert manpower for the country to combat crime and result in the prosecution of criminals.
He was also part of a road show in Dharwad and addressed a public rally in Belagavi district.
He had a darshan of God Shambulingeshwara and visit Sri Basavanna Devara mutt in Dharwad.

National Affairs

Asia's second and country's first cable suspension bridge "Bajrang Setu" is being constructed at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and will be completed by July 2023.
This bridge is coming up next to the famous 90-year-old Laxman Jhula.
Laxman Jhula was closed in 2022 when it was found that it wasn't safe for pedestrians anymore.
However, it will not be removed and will be preserved as a heritage.
The construction of the new bridge would cost Rs 67 crores.

Summits & Conferences

The first Employment Working Group Meeting under the Sherpa track of the G20 will be held from February 2 to 4 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Focus areas: Addressing Global Skill Gaps, Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection, and Sustainable Financing of Social Security.
The city has been decorated with Rajasthani culture and a special theme.
Dishes specially prepared with millets will be served to the Sherpas and delegates.

National Affairs

Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated National Logistics Portal (marine).
Aim: To connect all the stakeholders of the logistics community using IT
It will improve efficiency and transparency by reducing costs and promoting the growth of the logistics sector
It will be a single window for all trade processes of the logistics sector spread across the country
It will cover all modes of transport in the waterways, roadways, and airways

Agreement

India and South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce 12 African Cheetahs annually over the next eight to ten year.
An initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023.
The cats will join eight Cheetah brought to India from Namibia in 2022.
Aim: To reintroduce cheetah to a former range state is being carried out following the local extinction of this iconic species due to overhunting and loss of habitat

Important Dates

Data Privacy Day (DPD) is observed across the world on January 28 annually to sensitize individuals and disseminate privacy practices and principles.
It encourages everyone to own their privacy responsibilities to create a culture of privacy.
The theme for this year (2023) is ‘Think Privacy First’.
On April 26, 2006, the Council of Europe decided to coin a Data Protection Day and announced that it will be observed each year on January 28.

Agreement

SAMEER has signed a memorandum of understanding with Siemens Healthineers to make available low-cost MRIs, a step towards affordable healthcare, and diagnostic access for every Indian.
SAMEER is specialized in RF Microwaves Radar and Communication Systems.
It is India's premier R&D Institute of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
SAMEER is the acronym for Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research.