16th & 17th January 2020 Current Affairs

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16th & 17th January 2020 Current Affairs
16th & 17th January 2020 Current Affairs

National News

Om Birla inaugurates 7th Conference of CPA India Region in Lucknow

Lucknow hosted the 7th Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region. The main theme of the conference is ‘ROLE OF LEGISLATORS’ and during the Plenary Sessions spread over two days, delegates will discuss the Capacity Building of Legislators for Scrutinizing Budgetary Proposals and Enhancing Focus of Legislators on Legislative Business. State Governor, Anandiben Patel will address the Valedictory Session tomorrow.

Union Minister for culture and tourism launched “Indian Heritage in Digital Space” exhibition in New Delhi

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) Shri Prahalad Singh Patel launched the first International Heritage Symposium and Exhibition (IHSE). The exhibition will be held until February 15, 2020 on “Indian Heritage in Digital Space “ and the first international heritage symposium will be held for two days  in the National Museum in New Delhi.

The exhibition was organized along with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

Important Points:

  • Chief Minister– Arvind Kejriwal
  • Deputy Chief Minister– Manish Sisodia

Ladakh hosts first ever Food Processing Summit to attract investors

Union Territory Ladakh is hosting the first ever Food Processing Summit to attract investors to the region. With the help of Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the UT Administration of Ladakh is organizing the Summit.

Ladakh Commerce and industries Commissioner secretary Saugat Biswas said over hundred entrepreneurs from Leh and Kargil are participating in the Summit. The event is aimed at encouraging the entrepreneurs to begin a StartUp to tap the potential in the Food Processing Industries in Ladakh.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to launch ‘Saksham’, annual one-month long, people centric fuel conservation mega campaign of PCRA

‘Saksham’, an annual one-month long, people-centric fuel conservation mega campaign of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is going to be launched on 16th January by Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a function to be held in Delhi.

State News

Gujarat

CM Vijay Rupani launches 7th Economic Census process in Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched the 7th Economic Census process in the state.Economic Census process is being carried out by Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with the help of Common Service Centres.

Nearly 40 thousand enumerators will use mobile application for the first time to gather information under the guidance of 6,500 supervisors.

Mizoram

Mizoram sets to celebrate ‘Chapchar Kut’ festival on March 6, 2020

Government of Mizoram along with the organizing committee  under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Zoramthanga  has decided to celebrate the ‘Chapchar Kut’, the biggest and most important festival of the Mizos, on March 6, 2020. The two- days festival is celebrated under the theme “Promotion of Mizos’ culture and moral code”.

Important Points:

  • Chief Minister-Zoramthanga
  • Governor S. Sreedharan Pillai

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh inked a MoU with IUCN to red-listing of orchids

Arunachal Pradesh inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) to red-listing of orchids. Arunachal Pradesh has become the 1st state in the country to initiate the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) ‘red listing’ at the state level.

Important Points:

  • Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu.
  • Governor of Arunachal Pradesh: B. D. Mishra.

Goa

5th Science Film festival starts in Goa

The 5th edition of Science Film Festival of India (SCI-FFI 2020) was started in Goa’s capital city Panaji. The aims of the festival are instilling the knowledge of science among the youth with the help of exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, and other activities. Films that have been selected to be screened at the event are ‘Mission Mangal’, ‘Antariksham 9000 KMPH’, ‘Everest’, ‘Aamorie’, ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, ‘Geostorm’ and, ‘Virus’ among others.

About Goa:

  • Chief Minister of Goa: Pramod Sawant;
  • Governor of Goa: Satya Pal Malik.

Uttar Pradesh

23rd National Youth Festival 2020 held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and State Government of Uttar Pradesh are jointly organizing 23rd National Youth Festival (NYF) 2020 at Indira Pratishthan, Lucknow from 12th to 16th January, 2020. Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath   and Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju will inaugurate the NYF 2020  on 12th January on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the great Youth icon. The inauguration will be followed by cultural/musical performance by local and renowned artists.

The closing ceremony of the festival on 16th January will be graced by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Shri Kiren Rijiju.

Important Points about UP:

  • Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor – Shri Kiren Rijiju
  • Capital – Lucknow

International Affairs

World Economic Forum released 15th Global Risk Report 2020

World Economic Forum(WEF) released the 15th edition of the “Global Risk Report 2020: An Unsettled World”.  This report is a part of WEF’s Global Risks initiative and presents about the major risk the world is expected to face in the future. It is also to be noted that the year 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the World Economic Forum, with the 2020 theme being “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.

Important Points about WEF:

  • Founded-January 1971.
  • Headquarters-Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Founder & Chairman-Klaus Schwab.

Appointments & Resignations

Robert Abela elected as Malta’s new PM

Labour Party candidate Robert Abela elected as 14th prime minister of Malta with 57.9% of the vote.He defeated his closest rival Chris Fearne.He will replace Joseph Muscat, who resigned over the murder of a journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Important Points about Malta:

  • Capital of Malta: Valletta
  • Currency: Euro
  • President: George Vella.

Mikhail Mishustin becomes the new Prime Minister of Russia

The Russian lawmakers have approved Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposed candidate Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin (53), the head of the Federal Tax Service, as the next prime minister of the country. He replaced Dmitri Anatolyevich Medvedev who resigned from his post.

About Russia:

  • Capital- Moscow
  • Currency- Russian ruble.

National Book Trust appointed Lt Col Yuvraj Malik as director

Lt Col Yuvraj Malik has been appointed as the Director of the National Book Trust on deputation from the Indian Army. He will replace Sahitya Akademi-awardee writer Rita Chowdhury. He has served with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Raj Bhawan in Jammu & Kashmir, United Nation Missions in Africa and several operational areas. National Book Trust came under the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Important Points:

  • Union Minister of Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

Indian Scientist Bipul Behari Saha elected as IUPAC Bureau member

Bipul Behari Saha, a noted chemist has been elected as a bureau member (2020-23) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). for the period 2020-23.He is the second Indian after CNR Rao (former Director of the Indian Institute of Science and Bharat Ratna) to be elected for this position in a century.

IUPAC has the responsibility of naming all new elements and compounds, declare atomic weights and physical constants, update Periodic table and carry out research projects.

Ranks & Reports

Henley Passport Index 2020

Henley Passport Index was launched. The index was launched based on the data collected from International Air Transport Association (IATA). Around 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations were considered to launch the index.

The list was topped by Japan. Japan has been topping the Index for three years continuously. Japan can access now 191 countries.

Japan was now followed by Singapore, Germany, and South Korea.The Indian passport ranked 84th, along with Tajikistan and Mauritania.Afghanistan (107) was among the world’s worst passports.

Summits and Conference

India to host SCO Heads of Govt meeting later this year

India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting later this year.
The meeting is held annually at the Prime Minister’s level and it discusses the SCO’s programme and multilateral economic and trade co-operation.

SCO member states are Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazhakstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Observer states are Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus.

Awards

ICC Awards 2019: Kohli wins Spirit of Cricket, Rohit named ODI player

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the list of ICC award winners for the year 2019 to recognize and honor the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months. Indian opener Rohit Gurunath Sharma became ODI (One Day International) Cricketer of the Year for the first time. At the same time, Virat Kohli bagged Spirit of Cricket award.

England’s World Cup winning all-rounder Ben Stokes won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for the Cricketer of the Year, While Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins became the best Test cricketer of the year, taking 59 wickets in 2019.

Sindhi writer Vasdev Mohi to be conferred with 29th Saraswati Samman

Eminent Sindhi writer Vasdev Mohi will be conferred with 29th Saraswati Samman. He has been selected for this prestigious literary award for his short stories collection- Chequebook. This short stories  collection talks about the agonies and sufferings of marginalized sections of the society.

Saraswati Samman carries a cash award of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque. Mr Mohi has authored 25 books of poetry, stories and translations. He has also received Sahitya Akademi Award.

Obituary

WWE legend Rocky Johnson passes away at 75

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) legend Rocky Johnson, passed away at 75 in Lutz, Florida, United States. He was the father of Hollywood actor and retired wrestler Dwayne Johnson (The Rock).

Rocky Johnson’s sports career began in the mid 1960’s and he joined the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s. He formed a tag team with Atlas known as ‘Soul Patrol’.

Veteran chess administrator Ummer Koya dead

P.T. Ummer Koya, the former vice-president of world chess governing body FIDE (International Chess Federation) from 1996 to 2006, has passed away at his residence at Panniyankara in Kozhikode, Kerala after a protracted illness.He was 69.

He has played a key role in establishing the Indian chess world by bringing major international tournaments including the World Championship to India.

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