Latest Current Affairs January 24

1. Nara Lokesh receives Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018

Andhra Pradesh Information Technology (IT) Minister Nara Lokesh was felicitated with Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018 here at the Dr. Kalam Centre.

“This award is a testimony and a token of encouragement to work harder for the development of Andhra Pradesh.

Nara Lokesh outlined a number of innovative initiatives that the Andhra Pradesh Government is taking to improve its governance.

2. Jerome Powell approved as Federal Reserve head

The United States Senate has confirmed Jerome H Powell as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, a powerful post having an influence on global economy.

Powell (64) will replace Janett Yellen, whose term ends in February. He was confirmed by the US Senate by an overwhelming vote of 84-12.

3. Pema Khandu inaugurates World War II Memorial Museum in Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has inaugurated the World War II Memorial Museum in the state’s Changlang district bordering Myanmar.

Built by the Union Culture Ministry, the Rs 2.25 crore museum in memory of those who laid down their lives in World War II is located adjacent to the historic Stilwell Road and is expected to boost international and domestic tourist inflow especially from Southeast Asian countries.

4. 24 January 2018: National girl child Day

National Girl Child Day is observed every year on January 24 to celebrate the accomplishments of the girl children and bring to focus the issues of skewed sex ratio, female foeticide, child marriage, unequal treatment and gender disparities in India.

The day is celebrated to bring focus on education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and safety of girl children.

5. India to Host 16th International Energy Forum Meet

The 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting will be held in New Delhi on April 10 to 12.

Global energy organisations, including the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, nternational Energy Agency, will also be represented at the meet. India had last hosted the IEF ministerial conference in 1996.

6. Airtel granted regulatory approval to acquire Millicom’s Rwanda operations

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel Ltd. has received an approval for the acquisition of Tigo Rwanda Limited (Tigo Rwanda), a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular S.A. (Millicom) from the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA).

The merged entity will have the largest customer base in Rwanda with 5.9 million subscribers. The combined networks of the two companies will serve customers with voice or data services, global roaming and mobile banking services. It will also have Rwanda’s largest sales and distribution network.

7. India ranked 81^st on Global competitiveness Index

India has moved up on a global index of talent competitiveness to the 81st position, but remains a laggard among the BRICS nations, an annual study showed.

While Switzerland continues to top the list released every year on the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, India has improved its position from 92nd last year. India was at the 89th place in 2016 on the index that measures how countries grow, attract and retain talent.

8. NIIF Makes its First Investment Partnered with DP World

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), India’s first sovereign wealth fund, and Dubai-based ports operator DP World Pvt. Ltd, have announced the creation of an investment platform to invest up to $3 billion in ports, terminals, transportation and logistics businesses in India.

This is the first investment platform from NIIF and will see investment up to $3 billion of equity to acquire assets and develop projects in these sectors.

9. WEF launches Global center for cyber security

In a bid to safeguard the world from hackers and growing data breaches — especially from nation-states — the World Economic Forum (WEF) was announced a new Global Centre for Cybersecurity.

Headquartered in Geneva, the centre will become operational from March. The global centre will be an excellent opportunity to safeguard verticals like automotive and health care where wireless connectivity is the key.

10. WEF to set up C4IR in Mumbai in partnership with RIL

The World Economic Forum (WEF) in partnership with India’s most valued firm Reliance Industries (RIL) has agreed to set up a new Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Mumbai to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India and Startup India programmes to promote young entrepreneurs.

This would be first (C4IR) opened outside Silicon Valley at San Francisco, which is already home to several of these exciting developments in the digital space including include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain amongst many others.

11. Lifter Rakhi Halder creates new national record

Rakhi Halder of RSPB created a new national record in clean and jerk en route to a gold medal in the 63kg women’s category in the 33rd Women Senior National Weightlifting Championships.

Rakhi lifted 128kgs in the clean and jerk for a total of 230kgs to create a new national record, bettering Karnam Malleswari’s feat (127kg) created in Athens in 1999.

The silver in this category went to S Thasana Chanu of Karnataka (202kg) while the bronze was clinched by AIPSCB’s Amandeep Kaur (191kg).