1. Presidential election in the Czech Republic
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In the Czech Republic, retired army general Petr Pavel won the presidential election, defeating billionaire businesswoman Andrej Babis.
An overview of the news
Retired general Petr Pavel will replace controversial incumbent President Milos Zeman.
During the election, General Pavel got 58.2 percent of the votes while Andrzej Babis got 42.8 percent.
General Powell has been Chairman of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
General Powell has been an outspoken supporter of the European Union and NATO.
Pavel has repeatedly expressed his support for providing military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
About Czech Republic
It is a landlocked country in Central Europe.
Prime Minister - Petr Fiala
Capital - Prague
Currency - Czech koruna.
2. 157th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai
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On 28 January 2022, the 157th birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai has been celebrated across the country.
An overview of the news
Introduction
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 in Punjab.
He is also known as 'Punjab Kesari' and 'Lion of Punjab'.
Lala Lajpat Rai, along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra and Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal, was a member of the trinity called 'Lal Bal Pal'.
Political and social contribution
Home Rule League of America (New York) founded in 1917.
Presided over the special session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta in 1920. In 1920 itself, the first president of the All India Trade Union Congress was also elected.
In 1928, a resolution was introduced in the Legislature against the Simon Commission.
Servants of Society was founded in 1921.
Played an important role in co-founding the Punjab National Bank in 1894.
Important literary works
England Debt to India
Open Letter to The Right Honourable David Lloyd George: Prime Minister of Great Britain
The Message of the Bhagavad Gita
Unhappy india
The Political Future of India
Young India: The Interpretation and the History of the Nationalist Movement from within
Death
Due to injuries sustained in the lathicharge by James Scott during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore on 17 November 1928.
3. NMDC signs up Champion Boxer Nikhat Zareen as its Brand Ambassador
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Hyderabad-based Navratna mining PSU NMDC, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with World Boxing Champion and gold medal winner of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games , Nikhat Zareen to represent NMDC as its brand ambassador.
An overview of the news
The company has chosen to be represented by someone who has proven his commitment to bring laurels to the country.
Nikhat Zareen represents the strength, courage, agility and national pride associated with the brand NMDC.
Her commitment to bring glory to the nation resonates with company values.
Her personality is synonymous with the credibility and strong brand values of NMDC and this association will add to the overall brand of both the stakeholders.
Nikhat Zareen
She won the gold medal at the women’s boxing world championships on May 20, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey.
She became the fifth Indian woman to win a boxing world championships gold medal.
She joins an elite list of Indian boxers, including Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL and Lekha KC, who have become world champions.
She was born on June 14, 1996, in Nizamabad, Telangana.
Medal won by Nikhat Zareen
Gold medal : World Boxing Championships 2022, Istanbul
Gold medal : Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham
Bronze medal : Asian Boxing Championships 2019, Bangkok
Gold medal : Women’s Junior and Youth World Boxing Championships, Istanbul
Silver medal : Youth World Boxing Championships 2013, Albena
4. Naresh Lalwani takes charge as General Manager, Central Railway
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Naresh Lalwani took over as the new General Manager of Central Railway on 24 January 2023.
An overview of the news
He replaced Ashok Kumar Mishra, General Manager, Western Railway, who was also holding the additional charge of Central Railway.
He is a senior Indian Railway Service of Engineering officer of 1985 batch.
Prior to taking over as General Manager, Central Railway, he was serving as Senior Deputy General Manager and Chief Vigilance Officer, Western Railway.
Lalwani graduated from Shri Govindram Saxeria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore in 1985.
He has vast experience of working in various important positions in Indian Railways.
Starting his career from Lumding in Assam, he worked in the Northeast Frontier Railway for 10 years.
Thereafter, he worked in various positions in the Ahmedabad and Mumbai divisions of Western Railway.
He has also worked as a professor in Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering, Pune imparting knowledge to Railway officers.
5. Gambian Vice President 'Badra Ali Joffe' passes away in India
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Gambian President Adama Barrow tweeted on 18 January 2023 that Gambia's Vice President 'Badra Ali Jofe' has passed away in India after a illness.
An overview of the news:
65-year-old Badra Ali had also been the Education Minister before becoming the Vice President.
He served as the Education Minister from 2017 to 2022.
In the year 2016, the famous personality of Gambia 'Yahya Jammeh' was defeated by Badra Ali.
He was then the fourth Vice-President to serve alongside President Adama Barrow.
Badra Ali worked at the World Bank as an education specialist for West and Central Africa.
Gambia was also in the news last year due to the death of about 70 children in the African country Gambia after consuming cough syrup made in India.
Gambia:
Capital: Banjul
President: Adama Barrow
Currency: Gambian Dalasi
6. Renowned architect Dr. B.V. Doshi passed away
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Noted architect and Padma Bhushan awardee Balkrishna Doshi passed away at the age of 95.
An overview of the news
Regarded as the foremost architect of modern India, Doshi was born on 26 August 1927 in Pune.
Doshi has the distinction of having worked with stalwarts in the field such as Corbusier and Louis Kahn.
Doshi's major projects include CEPT University and Kanoria Kala Kendra in Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore and 'Aranya Low Cost Housing', a township for low and middle income families in Indore.
Doshi was awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Award in the year 1995 for the architecture of 'Aranya Low Cost Housing' township.
He was awarded the most prestigious award in the field of architecture "Pritzker" in the year 2018. He was the first Indian to receive this honour.
Doshi was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the year 2020.
7. US President Biden nominates Julie Turner as North Korea human rights envoy
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US President Joe Biden has nominated Julie Turner as special envoy for human rights in North Korea on 24 January.
An overview of the news
The move to fill the post, which has been vacant since 2017, comes amid debate over human rights issues as well as efforts to counter Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
Julie Turner is currently the director for East Asia and the Pacific in the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
Turner has served in the office for East Asia and the Pacific for more than 16 years, primarily focusing on initiatives related to the promotion of human rights in North Korea.
The post of special envoy had become controversial in South Korea as the previous administration tried to bring North Korea to the negotiating table.
Some activists said that human rights had been sidelined due to national security priorities.
North Korea has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses and blamed the sanctions for the dire humanitarian situation.
A landmark 2014 United Nations report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chief and leader Kim Jong Un should face justice for Nazi-style atrocities.
8. Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as DGCA director general
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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 21 January approved the appointment of Vikram Dev Dutt as the next director general in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
An overview of the news
He will take over as the chief of the aviation regulator on February 28, 2023. He will replace DGCA chief Arun Kumar.
In 2022, Dutt was appointed by the Center as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Limited. In 2022, Air India was sold to the Tata Group.
His appointment as DGCA Director General will be "in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India".
Dutt is a 1993 batch IAS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
It is a statutory body and formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
It investigates aviation accidents and enforces all regulations related to aviation.
It registers and provides certificates to civil aircrafts.
It is attached to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
It coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
9. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to be Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations
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According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will be the chief guest at the 74th Republic Day celebrations.
An overview of the news
He will pay a state visit to India from the 24th to the 26th of this month.
This is the first time that the President of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest on the Republic Day 2023 of India.
A 180-member strong contingent of the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.
The President of Egypt had earlier visited India in October 2015 to attend the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit, followed by a state visit in September 2016.
President Sisi will have a bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks with PM Modi on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Abdel Fattah Sisi is a former Army officer who was elected as the president of Egypt t in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018.
About Republic Day Celebration
Every year Republic day is observed on 26 January. It was on this day the constitution of India was promulgated in 1950 and India became a republic.
The President of India presides over the Republic day functions. It is customary to invite a foreign country leader as an honoured guest at the Republic day function.
In 1955 Rajpath (Now Kartavya Path) became the permanent place for the Republic day parade.
The Chief Guest was the Governor-General of Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad.
President of Indonesia, Sukarno was the first guest at 1950 Republic day parade.
10. New Zealand's ruling Labor Party elected Chris Hipkins as the country's 41st prime minister
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New Zealand's ruling Labor Party on 22 January elected Chris Hipkins as its leader and the country's 41st prime minister, replacing Ms Jacinda Ardern.
An overview of the news
Hipkins was the only candidate for the position and was confirmed by 64 MPs in what is known as the Labor caucus.
Known as "Chippy", Hipkins played a key role in the response to COVID-19.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2008 for the Labor Party.
He was appointed Minister of Health in July 2020 before becoming the Minister of COVID Response.
Before Hipkins can officially become prime minister, Ardern must submit her resignation to King Charles III's representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro.
Kiro Hipkins will then be appointed to the role and sworn in.
The Labour party has also selected Carmel Sepuloni as the deputy prime minister.
About New Zealand
Prime Minister: Chris Hipkins
Capital: Wellington
Currency : New Zealand dollar
