DAILY GK: 23 , 24 FEB 2022

 DAILY GK: 23 , 24 FEB 2022

1.       UNDERSEA CABLE SYSTEMS: AIRTEL JOINS SEA-ME-WE-6 CONSORTIUM

·         Bharti Airtel has announced its integration in ‘SEA-ME-WE-6 undersea cable consortium’, as a major investor while Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) will introduce its next generation multi-terabit India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) undersea cable system in Hulhumale, Maldives  in collaboration with Ocean Connect Maldives.

·         Another subsea cable system India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) is also built by RJIL that connects Mumbai and Milan.

·         Uses of undersea cable systems – Undersea cable systems along with data centres supports 5G and the digital economy that builds large integrated capacities to enable India’s digital ecosystem.

 

2.       INDIA, OMAN BILATERAL AIR FORCE EXERCISE ‘EASTERN BRIDGE-VI’

·         6th edition of 5-day bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) namely ‘Eastern Bridge-VI’ commenced at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan.

·         The Indian Air Force(IAF) has deployed a fleet of Sukhoi-30MKIs, Jaguar and Mirage-2000 fighter jets for the sixth edition of the exercise ‘Eastern Bridge’.

·         The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has deployed its F-16 jets.

·         Oman Capital– Muscat,Currency– Omani Rial, Sultan– Haitham bin Tariq Al Sai

 

3.       INDIA ELECTED FOR CHAIRMANSHIP OF IRSG

·         India has been elected for the Chairmanship of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), a Singapore based inter-governmental organisation of natural rubber (NR) and synthetic rubber (SR) producing and consuming countries. 

·         KN Raghavanwill officiate as the Chairman of IRSG for the next 2 years. 

·         Roles of IRSG - IRSG is the only forum for NR and SR producers and consumers to discuss matters affecting the world rubber industry and act as an interface between government and the Industry. 

·         IRSG Headquarters– Singapore

 

4.       JPMORGAN BECOMES FIRST BANK TO ENTER THE METAVERSE, OPENS A LOUNGE IN DECENTRALAND

·         JPMorgan Chase & co, the largest financial institution in the United States (US) has become the 1st bank to arrive in the metaverse, a virtual world based on blockchain technology with the opening of a lounge named ‘Onyx’ in blockchain technology-based virtual world Decentraland.

·         Onyx refers to JPMorgan’s suite of Ethereum-based services and released a report exploring how businesses can find opportunities in the metaverse

·         In January, Samsung opened a version of its New York store in Decentraland, and in November, Barbados established a metaverse embassy. 

·         Metaverse is a virtual reality world where users can do multiple activities like games, shopping, and interaction with others just like they do in the real world.

·         The metaverse uses Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for interaction and has become an efficiently used technology to enhance user experience.

 

5.       ISRAEL SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES ITS “C-DOME” NAVAL AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM

·         Israel successfully test fired its “C-Dome or Protective Dome” naval defence system based on Iron Dome which was tested against rockets, cruise missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

·         The C-Dome was successfully tested for the first time from Saar-6 Corvette INS Magen, Israel’s Naval Warship.

·         “C-Dome or Protective Dome” Missiles is a multilayer missile defence system, alongside the Arrow and David’s Sling systems which is capable of intercepting everything from long-range missiles to short-range rockets.

·         Rafael developed the Iron Dome, a mobile all-weather air defence system.

·         The C-Dome has the speed of mach 2.2 (2716.56 kmph).

·         The command and control system was developed by the mPrest software company.

·         The Multi-Function Surveillance, Track and Guidance Radar (MF-STAR) was developed by IAI’s Elta Systems.

·         IsraelPresident – Isaac Herzog,Capital – Jerusalem

 

6.       HIGHLIGHTS OF WINTER OLYMPICS 2022

·         The 24th edition of winter Olympics i.e. 2022 Winter Olympics/ Beijing 2022, officially called the XXIV Olympic Winter Games was an international winter multi-sport event held on February 4-20, 2022 at Beijing National Stadium in Beijing.

·         With this, Beijing becomes the first city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

·         Norway topped the medal tally for the second successive Winter Olympics by winning a total of 37 medals, of which 16 were gold. This win set a new record for the highest number of gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics.

·         India launched a diplomatic boycott of the Games after a People’s Liberation Army (China’s Army) commander Qi Fabao involved in 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes between India-China appeared as an Olympic torchbearer in the customary torch relay.

·         Beijing 2022 passes Winter Olympics to Milano and Cortina of Italy which will host the winter games in 2026.

 

7.       AIRTHINGS MASTERS CHESS TOURNAMENT

·         A 16-year old Indian Grandmaster (GM) R Praggnanandhaa defeated  World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway) in the 8th round of the Airthings Masters, an online rapid chess tournament.

·         With this victory, R Praggnanandhaa became  the third Indian, after Viswanathan Anand and P Harikrishna, to accomplish the rare feat of defeating Magnus Carlsen. 

·         The  Airthings Masters, is  an online chess rapid tournament of 16 players, a player gets three points for a win and one for a draw in the preliminary rounds. Currently

·         In 2016 R Praggnanandhaa became the world’s youngest international masters  in history, at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. 

·         He became India’s youngest and world’s second youngest Grandmaster in 2018.

 

8.       INDIA WINS THE BID TO HOST 2023 IOC SESSION IN MUMBAI AFTER 40 YEARS

·         During the 139th International Olympic Committee’s session (IOC) in Beijing, China, India won the bidding rights to host the 2023 IOC session in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

·         India will host for the first time in 40 years since 1983.In 1983, IOC session was held at New Delhi.

·         The IOC has a total of 105 members active members. 

·         The IOC session discusses the global Olympics movement including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter.

·         IOC President – Thomas Bach, Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland

 

9.       WORLD THINKING DAY 2022 – FEBRUARY 22

·         World Thinking Day(WTD) is annually observed across the globe on 22nd February by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries across the world to speak up on gender equality and climate change. 

·         The day is annually celebrated and organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts(WAGGGS). 

·         The theme for World Thinking Day 2022 is “Our World, Our Equal Future: The Environment & Gender Equality”.  

 

10.     “PRESIDENTIAL COLOURS” AWARD

·         The Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane on behalf of the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, presented “Presidential Colours or Nishan” to four Parachute battalions.

·         The four Parachute Regiment battalions that were presented President’s Colours were: 11 PARA (SPECIAL FORCE), 21 PARA (SPECIAL FORCE), 23 PARA and 29 PARA. 

·         The Presidential Colours or Nishan is one of the greatest honours and meritorious awards presented to Military Unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation, during war and in peace.

·         A paratrooper is a military parachutist who is trained to parachute in a military operation, and function as part of an airborne force.

 

11.    RANJI TROPHY 2021-22

·         Sakibul Gani, an Indian cricketer hailing from Motihari in Bihar, created a world record by becoming the first cricketer to score a triple century on his debut in a first-class match, 2021–22 Ranji Trophy. 

·         He scored 341 runs with 405 balls, (56 fours& 2 sixes) representing Bihar in the plate group 2021–22 Ranji Trophy fixture against Mizoram at the Jadavpur University Campus Ground, Kolkata, West Bengal. 

 

12.    BOOK  ‘A NATION TO PROTECT’

·         Priyam Gandhi-Mody authored “A Nation To Protect”, a book about the leadership of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi tackling the Covid-19 crisis.

 

13.    CENTRAL EXCISE DAY 2022: 24 FEBRUARY

·         Central Excise Day of India is celebrated every year on February 24. The day is being celebrated to honour the service of the Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC) to the country.

·         The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs. The Customs and Central Excise/ Central GST department was established to administer customs laws.

·         Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Custom: Vivek Johri.

·         Headquarters of Central Board of Excise and Custom: New Delhi.

·         Central Board of Excise and Custom Founded: 1 January 1964.