Daily Current Affairs- 8th January 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 8th January 2025

INTERNATIONAL

Indonesia officially became a full member of the BRICS

• Indonesia became the tenth full member of the international BRICS group of developing economies. The announcement was made by Brazil, a founding member of the bloc and the holder of the rotating presidency for 2025. "The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia's entry into the BRICS," it said in a statement. 

NATIONAL

PM Modi's visit to Visakhapatnam laid the foundation stone and inaugurated a few other projects

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Visakhapatnam to lay the foundation for a few important projects and inaugurate a few others.
• Accompanied by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and others, Modi laid the foundation for a railway zone at Visakhapatnam.
• Likewise, he laid the foundation for NTPC's integrated green hydrogen hub at Pudimadaka, Nakkapalli mandal, Anakapalli district. As part of this project, the public sector company will invest Rs 65,370 crore in three phases.
• The Prime Minister also launched the Krishnapatnam Industrial Hub, a Rs 1,518 crore project coming up on a 2,500-acre land parcel in the first phase. 

PM Modi to launch Green Hydrogen Hub, attend PBD in Odisha

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on January 8 and 9 to launch, dedicate, and initiate multiple projects totaling over Rs 2 lakh crore, focusing on renewable energy, industrial growth.
• In Andhra Pradesh, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for NTPC Green Energy Ltd’s Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Pudimadaka.
• The visit will also include the dedication and initiation of railway and road projects worth Rs 19,500 crore. These include the South Coast Railway Headquarters in Visakhapatnam. These developments are expected to enhance connectivity and support economic activity in the region. 

Pranab Mukherjee Memorial at Delhi’s Rajghat Complex

• The Central Government has decided to set up a memorial for former President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, part of the Rajghat precinct in Delhi. Mukherjee, who passed away on August 31, 2020, was a veteran Congress leader and the 13th President of India. 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Bahadur Singh Sagoo elected as new Athletics Federation of India President

• Bahadur Singh Sagoo was elected as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), The Asian Games shot put medallist succeeded Adille Sumariwalla, the outgoing president, during the Annual General Assembly Meeting of the federation in Chandigarh. 

State Bank of India appoints Baldev Prakash as group chief risk officer

• State Bank of India has appointed Baldev Prakash as the deputy managing director and group chief risk officer, the lender informed the exchanges.
• Earlier, Prakash was on deputation to Jammu and Kashmir Bank as managing director and chief executive officer, whose three-year term ended in December. 

Signature Global names Sanjeev Kumar Sharma as its chief financial officer

• Realty firm Signature Global Ltd announced on Tuesday the appointment of Sanjeev Kumar Sharma as its chief financial officer (CFO).  

V Narayanan appointed as new ISRO chief

• The Centre has appointed V Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. Mr Narayanan will assume office on January 14. He will succeed the current ISRO chairman, S Somanath. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Earth’s Rotation Day

• Earth's Rotation Day is celebrated on January 8th every year to commemorate the discovery that the Earth rotates on its axis. The day is a tribute to French physicist Leon Foucault, who proved this discovery in 1851. 

SUMMITS & MOUs  

FIU-IND and IRDAI sign MoU for enhanced coordination and information exchange

• The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of continued coordinated efforts in effective implementation of requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Rules framed thereunder, in New Delhi.