Daily GK Update: 30th December 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. Benjamin Netanyahu sworn-in as new Prime Minister of Israel

• Benjamin Netanyahu (73) has been sworn-in as the new prime minister of Israel for a sixth time, after Israel's parliament (Knesset) has passed a vote of confidence in new government.
• Out of 120 members, 63 lawmakers have voted in favour of new government.
• He is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Israel.
• He served as premier of country from 1996 to 1999 and a record 12-year tenure from 2009 to 2021.
• He also served as deputy foreign minister in 1988.

 National Affairs

2. PM Modi to launch railway projects worth over Rs 5,800 cr in Bengal

• PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated railway projects worth over Rs 5,800 crore in West Bengal through video-conferencing.
• The projects include Joka-Taratala stretch of the Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line) and Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express.
• Joka-Taratala project is 6.5-km stretch having six stations has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 2,475 crore.
• He has also laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station.

 Defense

3. IAF successfully tests extended range version of BrahMos from Sukhoi jet

• The Indian Air Force has successfully test-fired the extended range version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile against a ship target in Bay of Bengal from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet.
• Achievement: Carry out precision strikes from Sukhoi against land and sea targets over very long ranges.
• The current weight of missile is 2.65 tonnes, which will come down to 1.33 tonnes with BrahMos-NG (under development).
• BrahMos is a JV between DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyeniya of Russia

 National Affairs

4. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates new Zuari bridge in Goa

• Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways) has inaugurated the phase 1 of Zuari bridge in Goa, that connects North and South Goa.
• It is located on the Zuari river at Cortalim village on Margao-Panaji National Highway
• Under this phase, the 4 Lane Right Hand Side Corridor of the 8 Lane Stayed Cable bridge has been inaugurated.
• This new bridge approaches from Bambolim to Verna and has a total project length of 13.20 KM.

 National Affairs

5. Home Minister Amit Shah launches mobile App ‘Prahari’

• HM Amit Shah has launched the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of Border Security Force in New Delhi.
• This app will provide personal information and information related to accommodation, Ayushman CAPF and leaves on their mobiles to jawans.
• It will also connect jawans with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• He has also launched revised version of manuals which will increase the understanding of operations, administration and training.
• BSF DG: Pankaj Kumar

 Agreement

6. India and Cyprus sign agreement on defence and military cooperation

• India and Cyprus have signed agreements in various areas including on Defence and Military Cooperation.
• Both countries have also signed a Letter of Intent on Migration and Mobility Partnership to provide a common framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, business people and professionals.
• It will also help in combating irregular migration.
• The agreements were signed between EAM Dr. S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Cyprus.

 Obituaries

7. Football legend, Pele passes away

• Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who was popularly known as Pele has been passed away at the age of 82 in São Paulo, Brazil.
• He is the only player to win the World Cup three times (1958, 1962 and 1970).
• He was named Fifa's Player of the Century in 2000.
• During his 21-year career, he has scored the most career goals of 1,283 in 1,363 games including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.

 National Affairs

8. Govt introduces National Geospatial Policy to promote startups

• The Ministry of Science and Technology has notified the National Geospatial Policy, 2022 to promote country's geospatial data industry and develop a national framework to use such data for improving citizen services, and more.
• Aim: To develop high resolution topographical survey and mapping, and high-accuracy digital elevation model by 2030.
• The government will also look to improve availability and access of “better location data" for companies by 2025.

 National Affairs

9. MoHUA launched initiatives for ranking cities based beautification

• MoHUA, Hardeep Singh Puri has launched two key initiative - City Finance Rankings and City Beauty Competition.
• City Finance Rankings: To evaluate, recognize and reward Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on the basis of three financial parameters - resource mobilization, expenditure performance and fiscal governance systems.
• City Beauty Competition: To recognize the transformational efforts made by cities in India to create beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces.

 National & International Appointments

10. Abdullah Abdul Dashti appointed as new coordinator for Black Sea Grain

• UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has appointed Abdullah Abdul Samad Dashti of Kuwait as UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
• He has replaced Amir Mahmoud Abdulla of Sudan.
• The Initiative was launched by Ukraine, Türkiye, Russian Federation and UN on 22 July 2022.
• Aims: To enable the resumption of exports from Ukraine of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizer, including ammonia, through a safe maritime humanitarian corridor on the Black Sea.

 State Affairs

11. Odisha Cabinet approves Rs 367 cr for empowerment of women in agriculture

• The Odisha Cabinet has approved the provision of Rs 367.19 crores for five years (2022-23 to 2026-27) for implementation of “empowerment of women in agriculture-promotion of entrepreneurship for women SHG”.
• The cabinet was headed by Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik.
• Aim: To double the mushroom production across the State through area expansion involving women beneficiaries and to make the state self-sufficient in the production of button mushroom and loose flowers

 Schemes

12. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Indian Railways

• The Ministry of Railways has launched a scheme ‘Amrit Bharat Station scheme’ for the modernisation of railway stations across the country.
• Aim: Infrastructural development of more than 1,000 stations on a continuous basis with a long-term vision.
• High level platforms (760 to 840 mm) will be provided at all categories of the railway stations.
• The plan has provision to provide free WiFi access to its users.
• The amenities for Divyangjan will be provided at railway stations

 Sports

13. Carlsen and Tan Zhongyi win 2022 World Rapid Championship

• GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway) has secured his fourth title of 2022 World Rapid Championship, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• Vincent Keymer (Germany) has settled for silver and Fabiano Caruana (America) has secured bronze.
• While, Tan Zhongyi (China) has won gold in 2022 Women's World Rapid Champion.
• Indian chess player, B Savitha Shri has won bronze medal in women's event and became third Indian after Viswanathan Anand and Humpy to win a medal at the world rapid championship.