TODAY ON Januay 22, 2023
GK News Highlights and Headlines

Highlights

1. ICICI Bank Q3 net jumps 34% to ₹8,312 crore, buoyed by growth in loans, net interest income
2. India’s hockey coach Graham Reid watches intently as the skipper Harmanpreet Singh holds court during the press conference on the eve of the crossover match against New Zealand at Kalinga Hockey stadium in Bhubaneswar.
3. Palestinian who allegedly tried to stab Israeli fatally shot
4. Snowfall, rain throw life out of gear in sinking Joshimath
5. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presenting the Ezhuthachan Award to writer Sethu in Kochi on Saturday.
6. Sethu’s works reflect the conflicts faced by individuals, society: Chief Minister
7. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan among maestros to perform at Kanha Music Festival from Jan. 25
8. First Indian intranasal COVID vaccine to be launched on January 26
9. Sri Lanka to hold local council election on March 9
10. Kotak Mahindra Bank Q3 profit surges 31% to ₹2,792 crore
11. There are 572 islands in Andaman and Nicobar, of which only 36 are inhabited, 24 in the Andamans and 12 in Nicobar. File
12. PM Modi to attend ceremony to name 21 Andaman and Nicobar islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees
13. Four snake catchers from Assam make journal hiss-tory
14. Australian Open 2023 | Andy Murray's exhausting Grand Slam ends with loss
15. The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen
16. Users can now send messages to themselves on Whatsapp
17. Union Minister of Sports Anurag Thakur, along with protesting wrestlers, addresses a joint press conference regarding complaints against the WFI and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
18. Eyeing World Expo 2030, Riyadh to pump in billions to become global metropolis
19. Dera Sacha Sauda chief walks out of Rohtak jail after being granted 40-day parole
20. Joshimath Crisis | Pets and cattle displaced as owners navigate subsidence while demolition of unsafe buildings resume
21. Hours before wrestlers called off their protest, WFI rejected their allegations
22.  32 injured in jallikattu held at Tiruchi
23. Pyramid-like Ahom burial mounds in Assam to be India’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Site tag
24. Ind vs NZ 2nd ODI | India crushes New Zealand, takes unassailable 2-0 lead
25. I&B Ministry orders blocking of BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ critical of PM Modi on YouTube, Twitter

Headlines 

China builds new dam in Tibet near Indian border

In a development that is a matter of concern to both India and Nepal, China is constructing a new dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in Tibet, close to the tri-junction, satellite imagery has revealed. The new dam is located around 16 km north of the tri-junction and is opposite the Kalapani area of Uttarakhand, according to sources in the security establishment.

I&B Ministry blocks BBC documentary critical of PM Modi; Opposition slams ‘censorship’

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued orders to block multiple YouTube videos of the first episode of the BBC documentary, “India: The Modi Question”, as well as more than 50 tweets linking to the videos. Opposition leaders have accused the government of imposing censorship through its orders.

Snowfall, rain throw life out of gear in sinking Joshimath

Life has been thrown out of gear in Joshimath after snow and rains hit the already ‘sinking’ town over the last couple of days, with those living in shelter homes suffering the additional ordeal of leaving home and living a nomadic life. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more snow for the town and nearby areas in the coming week.

British investigation into Gujarat riots was to address concerns of our constituents: Jack Straw

Former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, in an interview with veteran journalist Karan Thapar of The Wire on BBC documentary about the 2002 Gujarat riots, said that the British government conducted an investigation of its own because many citizens of Gujarati Muslim origin were worried about their loved ones in India and “were making representations” to that effect to the then Tony Blair government.

ED arrests Trinamool youth leader Kuntal Ghosh in West Bengal job recruitment scam case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 21 arrested Trinamool Congress youth leader Kuntal Ghosh in connection with the West Bengal job recruitment scam. Allegations against the youth leader from Hooghly district is that he collected ₹19 crore from 325 candidates promising them jobs as teachers in State-run school.

Wrong British narrative of Nagas being different is the reason for conflict, says R.N. Ravi

Governor R.N. Ravi said that the wrong narrative created by the British that the people of Nagaland were different and did not belong to India was at the core of the prolonged conflict in the State. He was responding to a question during an interaction with a group of IAS trainees here about his role as the interlocutor for the Naga peace talks between 2014 and 2021.

U.S. designates Russia's Wagner military group an international 'criminal organization'

The U.S. on Friday designated Russia's Wagner group as a "transnational criminal organization," piling pressure on the private Russian army fighting in Ukraine. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wagner, controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman close to President Vladimir Putin, has about 50,000 fighters in Ukraine, 80% of them drawn from prisons.

Thousands protest against Spanish government in Madrid

Thousands of people protested in Madrid on Saturday against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s leftist government in a rally held in a key election year that was backed by far-right party Vox. Participants waved red and yellow Spanish flags and called on Sanchez to resign. Some held up signs with a photo of the Socialist premier calling him a “traitor”.

Ind vs NZ 2nd ODI | India crushes New Zealand, takes unassailable 2-0 lead

On winning the toss, India captain Rohit Sharma paused in thought, trying to remember whether the think-tank had decided to bat or bowl. But his pace quartet had no such problems when it came to its plans against the New Zealand batters.

Australia T20 veteran Dan Christian to retire after ongoing BBL

Australia's most experienced T20 cricketer Dan Christian has announced that the ongoing Big Bash League will be his last tournament, calling it quits on a glittering career spanning 17 years. "Yesterday (Friday) at training I told by Sydney Sixers teammates that I'll be retiring from playing at the end of the BBL season," the pace-bowling all-rounder, who will turn 40 in May this year, posted on Twitter on Saturday.

Liverpool and Chelsea draw 0-0 to hit Champions League hopes

A season of frustration continued for Liverpool and Chelsea after a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Saturday did little to help either team’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification next season. A game that was short on chances and quality underlined why both teams are struggling in midtable in the Premier League and face a challenge to break into the top four.

I&B Ministry orders blocking of BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ critical of PM Modi on YouTube, Twitter

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued orders for blocking multiple YouTube videos of the first episode of the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” and the over 50 tweets containing their web links. The directions were reportedly issued by I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra on January 20 using the emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules, 2021. Both YouTube and Twitter have complied with the directions, said a source.

Hours before wrestlers called off their protest, WFI rejected their allegations

The Wrestling Federation of India had rejected all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and claimed that the wrestlers’ protest was motivated by a “hidden agenda to dislodge the current management”. Responding to a Sports Ministry notice, the WFI sent its reply on January 20 evening. Few hours later, the wrestlers called off their protest after the government announced that it will form an oversight committee to probe the charges. It also said the WFI chief will step aside till the investigation is over.

At annual police meet, more detention centres and use of biometrics suggested

Creation of a greater number of detention centres and use of biometrics to identify and deport foreigners who overstay are some of the measures that were discussed at the ongoing annual police conference in Delhi chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. The police officials also sought clarity on government’s policy when it came to Rohingyas, or refugees recognised by the United Nations as India is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

Gang rape survivor made to wait for 12 hours in police van for medical examination in Odisha

A gang rape survivor in Odisha’s Keonjhar district alleged that she had to wait in a police van for 12 hours for her medical examination. The incident took place in Anandapur sub-division of the district after a case of gang rape was registered at the Soso police station on 19 January. The 37-year-old woman was taken in a police van to Anandapur sub-divisional hospital on 19 January morning where doctors refused to undertake her medical examination as the place of occurrence of the crime was under Salania Community Health Centre area.

Seven civilians injured in twin Jammu blasts; L-G for urgent steps to identify, action against attackers

Seven civilians were injured in coordinated twin blasts, which went off within a short interval of 20 minutes, in Jammu’s Narwal on January 21. The incident has posed a security challenge ahead of the Republic Day and Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ rally in Jammu next week. The first explosion took place inside a parked vehicle in Narwal’s Transport Yard area around 11 a.m. followed by the second blast metres away in another vehicle. The condition of the seven injured in these blasts was stated to be stable, officials said.

Urination incident | Air India pilots’ body mulls legal course against suspension of pilot

Air India pilots’ body IPG is considering legal recourse and other options, regarding aviation regulator DGCA suspending the licence of the pilot-in-command of the flight where a passenger allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger onboard last November. A senior member of the Indian Pilots Guild, which represents the airline’s pilots who fly wide-body planes, said it will take up the issue of suspension of the pilot concerned strongly.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief walks out of Rohtak jail after being granted 40-day parole

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of the Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak on January 21 after he was granted a 40-day parole. Singh came out of the prison in the afternoon, a police official from Rohtak said. He will be going to the Dera Sacha Sauda Ashram at Barnawa in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, another official said.

Moscow-Goa flight diverted to Uzbekistan after bomb threat email

A Goa-bound chartered flight from Moscow with 240 passengers on board was diverted to Uzbekistan in the wee hours of January 21 after the authorities at the Dabolim airport in the State received an email, which claimed that there was a bomb on the plane, police said. This is the second such incident on the Moscow-Goa route involving the same airline in less than two weeks. The flight, operated by Russian airline Azur Air, was scheduled to land at the Dabolim airport in South Goa at 4.15 am, a senior police official said.

Egyptian president’s visit expected to strengthen time-tested ties: MEA

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is scheduled to visit India from January 24 to 26, during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, grace the Republic Day celebrations and hold an interaction with the business community. The Ministry of External Affairs said Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that will include five ministers and senior officials. The Ministry also said Sisi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 25 and President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in his honour the same evening.

Morbi bridge collapse: Hearing on Oreva Group MD’s pre-arrest bail plea adjourned till Feb 1

A sessions court here on January 21 adjourned till February 1 the hearing in the anticipatory bail application filed by Ajanta Manufacturing Limited’s managing director in connection with the collapse of the suspension bridge on October 30 that killed 135 persons. The court of principal district and sessions judge P.C. Joshi deferred the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea moved by Jaysukh Patel to February 1 as the public prosecutor was not present.

Death toll from Tibet avalanche rises to 28

At least 28 people were killed in an avalanche in the city of Nyingchi in the southwestern region of Tibet, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Rescue work at the scene is over, Xinhua said. Local authorities have sent a total of 1,348 people and 236 equipment to help excavate a rescue passage of 7.5 kilometres (4.66 miles), Xinhua said. Fifty-three survivors were found, five of whom were seriously injured, Global Times reported, citing a local government official in the western Chinese region.

Turkey cancels planned visit by Swedish Defence Minister

Turkey on January 21 cancelled a planned visit by Sweden’s Defence Minister in response to the Nordic country’s permits for anti-Turkish protests. It is the latest backlash from Turkey, a NATO member which has been holding off on approving Sweden’s application to join the military alliance until the Swedish government cracks down on groups that Ankara regards as security threats. Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the scheduled January 27 visit by his Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson would not take place. He said the visit no longer held “any importance or point” because Sweden continued to allow “disgusting” demonstrations against Turkey.

German caution on Ukraine arms rooted in political culture

Germany has become one of Ukraine’s leading weapons suppliers in the 11 months since Russia’s invasion, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz also has gained a reputation for hesitating to take each new step — generating impatience among allies. Berlin’s perceived foot-dragging, most recently on the Leopard 2 battle tanks that Kyiv has long sought, is rooted at least partly in a post-World War II political culture of military caution, along with present-day worries about a possible escalation in the war.

Significant lapse in judgment: U.N. apologises for photo of its personnel in front of Taliban flag

The UN has apologised for “a significant lapse in judgement” after photographs surfaced of some of its personnel in front of a Taliban flag in Afghanistan during a visit by deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed this week to the war-torn country when she met the de facto authorities and expressed alarm over women’s rights violations. Ms. Mohammed, the highest-ranking woman in the United Nations, along with Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous and Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political, Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Khiari completed a four-day visit to Afghanistan on Friday.

Hockey World Cup | Hardik-less India seek better show from strikers in must-win match against New Zealand

A below-par show against debutants Wales denying them a direct quarterfinal berth, hosts India would look to address their attacking woes against a plucky New Zealand for a place in the last-eight stage of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup on Sunday. India needed to beat Wales eight places below them in world rankings — by a margin of eight goals to top Pool D and qualify directly for the quarterfinals but the home side could only notch up a 4-2 win on Thursday, as the forwards lacked in finishing. India are now up against New Zealand in the must-win crossover match. The Black Sticks finished third in Pool C with a win and two losses.

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