TODAY ON February 09, 2023
GK News Headlines & Highlights:

Headlines:
India developing border infra, connectivity with friendly neighbours due to China concerns: Jaishankar
India’s connectivity projects with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar have been accelerated due to its “obvious” concerns about the frontier with China, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday

AAP, BJP in battle over ‘feedback unit’; L-G gives nod to CBI probe
A ‘feedback unit’ (FBU) formed by the AAP government in 2015 has led to a fresh political storm in the national capital, with Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena giving his approval to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a case against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged political intelligence gathering.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells France, Germany to provide 'game changing' weapons
France and Germany have the opportunity to be "game changers" in the war against Russia by not hesitating in delivering heavy weapons and modern fighter jets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to Paris. Mr. Zelenskyy arrived in Paris for a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after holding talks in Britain earlier in the day

Aarogya Setu app contact-tracing data deleted: IT Ministry
Contact-tracing data from the COVID-19 pandemic collected by the Aarogya Setu app has been deleted from government databases, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said in a written response in Parliament. According to an RTI application filed by the Internet Freedom Foundation, that policy was discontinued by June 2022.

Left-leaning unions urge Kharge to reconsider protests in front of LIC offices
Leaders of two Left-leaning and two independent unions working among the employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) have written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urging him to reconsider the decision to hold protests in front of the LIC offices on the issue of Hindenburg report against the Adani Group. The leaders said such protests will “tarnish the image of the finest public sector institution” of the country.

Two more arrested in Delhi excise policy case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Hyderabad-based chartered accountant and the Enforcement Directorate has held a businessman in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The chartered accountant, Butchibabu Gorantla, was purportedly instrumental in the formulation and implementation of the policy, thereby causing wrongful gain to Hyderabad-based wholesale and retail licensees and their beneficial owners. In the money laundering case, the ED has arrested Gautam Malhotra, son of former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Deep Malhotra who is in the liquor business.

Travellers from G20 countries can use UPI for payments: RBI Governor
To further expand the scope of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become a ubiquitous payment instrument for retail electronic payments in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to expand its use for inbound travellers to India. RBI Governor also added that QR code-based coin vending machines will be installed on a pilot basis to ease the pressure on bank notes and for easy availability of coins to members of the general public.

Myanmar, Russia sign pact on developing nuclear power
Myanmar’s military-led government, working with Russia’s state atomic energy company, has inaugurated a nuclear power information centre as a step toward developing atomic power to fill energy shortages in the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation. Officials from the two sides met at the newly opened Nuclear Technology Information Centre in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, on Monday.

Collegium rejigs proposals for High Courts; Vinod Chandran named for Patna High Court
The Supreme Court Collegium recalled its earlier recommendation to appoint Kerala High Court judge, Justice K. Vinod Chandran, as Gauhati Chief Justice and has instead proposed his appointment as Chief Justice of Patna High Court. The Collegium stated that the position of Chief Justices in various High Courts have fallen vacant owing to retirement and the recent elevations to the Supreme Court.

Joe Biden says U.S. is ‘unbowed, unbroken’ in State of Union address
President Joe Biden exhorted Congress to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a State of the Union address aimed at reassuring a country beset by pessimism and fraught political divisions. In his 73-minute speech, Mr. Biden sought to portray a nation dramatically improved from the one he took charge of two years ago: from a reeling economy to one prosperous with new jobs; from a crippled, pandemic-weary nation to one that has now reopened, and a democracy that has survived its biggest test since the Civil War.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits and encourages troops with daughter
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded the “limitless strength” of his nuclear-armed military as he visited troops with his daughter to mark the 75th founding anniversary of his army, state media said. The visit came amid indications North Korea is preparing to stage a massive military parade in capital Pyongyang where it could showcase the latest hardware of a growing nuclear weapons program that stokes the concern of its neighbours and the United States.

LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James parlayed his offensive versatility over 20 seasons into the NBA all-time scoring record, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Tuesday for most points in league history. Abdul-Jabbar, who was sitting courtside, stood and applauded as James celebrated. The former Lakers star and NBA commissioner Adam Silver both shook James' hand and gave him brief hugs at center court.

Highlights on 8 February

1.   World Test Championship final to be held at The Oval from June 7 to 11: ICC
2.   Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu lays foundation of 'Himachal Niketan' in Delhi
3.   Zelensky to visit U.K. for first time since Russia's invasion
4.   PM Modi donned a blue jacket which is made from recycled PET bottles during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament in New Delhi.
5.   Mehbooba Mufti detained during protest against J&K anti-encroachment drive

6.   Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi demands action against Rahul for his remarks in Lok Sabha
7.   External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena
8.   RBI announces pilot for QR code-based Coin Vending Machine
9.   The new Bing page that users could try out before a public release
10. Microsoft introduces new AI-powered Bing on limited basis

11. RBI projects economic growth at 6.4% for next fiscal
12. 484 companies included in Bloomberg’s gender equality index for 2023
13. Travellers from G20 countries can use UPI for payments: RBI Governor
14.  Myanmar, Russia sign pact on developing nuclear power
15. RBI hikes repo rate by 25 basis points to control inflation; real GDP growth for FY24 projected at 6.4%