Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 15 February 2022

::National::

Vineet Joshi takes charge as new CBSE chairperson

Vineet Joshi, additional secretary in the ministry of education, has been assigned the charge of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairperson, the ministry announced.
Joshi’s appointment comes after his predecessor ManojAhuja was appointed as the OSD in the department of agriculture and farmers welfare.
“Consequent upon reliving of ManojAhuja from the post of CBSE chairman, the charge has been assigned to Vineet Joshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, in addition to his existing assignments,” the ministry said in an official order.
Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer had previously also served as the CBSE chairperson. Currently, he is the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and also look after the Institutes of Eminence (IoE), and Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA), among other verticals of higher education.

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::International::

Brazilian PrezBolsonaro departs for Russia despite objections

The plane of Brazil’s President JairBolsonaro took off Monday evening headed to Russia despite Western warnings the country could soon invade Ukraine — frustrating those who have suggested he cancel the trip, including the US government and members of his own Cabinet.
The trip was planned well before the Ukraine crisis arose and Bolsonaro’s focus is bilateral trade; Russia is a key source of fertilizers for South America’s agricultural powerhouse.
But even some of his allies fear Bolsonaro could make damaging comments on the crisis or that his presence could be seen as tacit support for a Russian invasion of its neighbor.
Two top officials from Brazil’s Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press that they have received messages from US officials saying the trip’s timing is inopportune and conveys Brazilian indifference to threats of invasion. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak publicly.
A US State Department official, meanwhile, issued a statement Monday that appeared to accept the meeting would go ahead, “As democratic leaders, the United States and Brazil have a responsibility to stand up for democratic principles and the rules-based order. We hope Brazil will take this opportunity to reinforce this message in their conversations in Moscow.”
They said Bolsonaro was reluctant to delay the visit that has been scheduled since December, following an invitation from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. They also said Bolsonaro sees potential benefits for a possible reelection bid because he can show proximity to fellow conservative leaders abroad. After Russia, Bolsonaro is to stop in Hungary and meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
But Bolsonaro isn’t known for sticking to the script. Already on Monday outside the presidential palace, he was alluding to the conflict.
“The whole world has its problems. We have to converse, but wanting to resolve the problems of others … if it’s possible, right? ... We know what is at stake. I won’t go into details here,” he said.

::Economy::

Reliance Jio to Invest $200 Million in Mobile Startup Glance

Reliance Industries Ltd.’s digital platform will invest $200 million in the mobile content company Glance InMobi Pte., a sign regional startups continue to attract financing at strong valuations despite setbacks for some newly-public technology stocks.
The funding from Jio Platforms Ltd. values the startup at about $1.7 billion, said two people familiar with the deal asking not to be quoted since the terms are not public. Glance is also backed by Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel’s Mithril Capital.
The Singapore-based startup offers two kinds of services: Its namesake, Glance, delivers curated content to users’ phones without them having to unlock their screens or open any apps. Its short video platform, Roposo, is increasingly becoming a celebrity- and influencer-led commerce platform for brands.
The Jio Platforms investment will help Glance expand globally to markets including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Russia. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, the companies said in a joint statement, sent to stock exchanges.
Glance will integrate into the operating system called Pragati OS that Google has custom-made for the Jio devices, bringing lock screen content to buyers of the new phone. Roposo, in partnership with Reliance’s retail arm, will feature content on Jio users’ lock screens.

Retail inflation recorded at 6.01% in January: Govt data

Retail inflation rose to 6.01 per cent in January on an annual basis and breached the RBI's upper tolerance level, mainly due to higher prices of certain food items, as per government data released.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation was 5.66 per cent in December 2021 and 4.06 per cent in January 2021.
As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the inflation in the food basket was 5.43 per cent in January 2022 as against 4.05 per cent in the preceding month.
The Reserve Bank, which mainly factors in the CPI-based inflation, has been tasked by the government to keep the inflation at 4 per cent, with margin of 2 per cent on either side.

::Science and tech::

NASA's new space telescope sees 1st starlight, takes selfie

Nasa’s new space telescope has captured its first starlight and even taken a selfie of its giant, gold mirror.
All 18 segments of the primary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope seem to be working properly one and half months into the mission, officials said Friday.
The telescope's first target was a bright star 258 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
“That was just a real wow moment,” said Marshall Perrin of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
Over the next few months, the hexagonal mirror segments — each the size of a coffee table — will be aligned and focused as one, allowing science observations to begin by the end of June.
The $10 billion infrared observatory — considered the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope — will seek light from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the universe nearly 14 billion years ago. It will also examine the atmospheres of alien worlds for any possible signs of life.

::Sport::

'Perfect start' for Casper Ruud with title victory at Argentina Open

Norway's Casper Ruud said he made the "perfect start" to the 2022 season after winning his seventh ATP tour title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.
Ruud bounced back from a shaky start to defeat local favourite Diego Schwartzman 5-7 6-2 6-3 and win the tournament for the second time after his triumph in 2020.
Schwartzman had ended a 13-year wait for an Argentine champion with his 2021 title but he could not repeat those heroics against Ruud.
"It means a lot," Ruud said. "I think this is the perfect start and it will give me confidence for the rest of the season and also for the next weeks when I am here in South America."