Category: All Current Affairs

Diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla takes over as new foreign secretary

January 30, 2020

Diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who last served as India’s envoy to the US, took charge as new foreign secretary for a two-year term. He will be succeeding Vijay Gokhale. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanshyam, a 1982-batch IFS officer, was also in contention for the post. Shringla had played an important role in successful hosting of the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in September where US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the Indian diaspora.

Guinness World Record for highest altitude fashion show event set by Nepal

January 30, 2020

Nepal has set an all new Guinness World Record for the highest altitude fashion show event ever held. The Mount Everest Fashion Runway, organized by RB Diamonds and KASA Style in support of Nepal Tourism Board, was held at 5340 metres (17515 ft) elevation at Kala Patthar, near the Everest base camp on January 26. The event was part of the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign of the Nepal Tourism Board. Models from various parts of the world, including Finland, Italy, Sri Lanka and Singapore, participated in the show.

16th Mumbai International Film Festival inaugurated

January 30, 2020

16th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2020, for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films, inaugurated on Tuesday at Nehru Centre Auditorium, Worli, Mumbai. The festival will conclude with an award ceremony on 3rd February at 5:00 pm. Screening and other special events of the festival will be held at Films Division complex. The oldest and largest film festival for non-feature films in South Asia, which began in 1990 is organized by the Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

World Sustainable Development Summit 2020 being held at New Delhi

January 30, 2020

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), will be held from 29-31 January, 2020 at New Delhi. The event under the theme ‘Towards 2030 Goals: Making the Decade Count‘, will lay focus on the global efforts being made to meet our 2030 targets. In its 2020 edition, the Summit will be addressing the broad themes of- circular economy, water, energy, industry transitions, and e-mobility. WSDS 2020 will aim to broaden the scope of its reach and involve many more stakeholders involved in the climate change fight.

Mangaluru: Indian Coast Guard commissions high speed interceptor boat C-448

January 30, 2020

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned a high-speed interceptor boat C-448 in Mangaluru, Karnataka. The interceptor boat is built by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) shipyard. The C-448 is fitted with the latest navigation and communication equipment designed for high-speed interception, close coast patrol, low-intensity maritime operations, search and rescue, and maritime surveillance. The interceptor boat is also capable of operating in shallow waters and deep seas. On joining the Indian Coast Guard fleet at New Mangalore, the ship will be deployed for patrolling, rescue operations and other duties.

War memorial built by Assam Rifles in Nagaland for 357 martyrs

January 30, 2020

Assam Rifles constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed while fighting insurgency in the northeastern state. The monument was built at Mokokchung, which is also the cultural and intellectual center of Nagaland. The names of the 357 martyrs are carved, each on a single granite stone. The war memorial designed in a concentric circular form, with outer rectangular flower beds as boundary wall. The central arena, the heart of the memorial, comprises two circular podiums with a 19-feet high main memorial mast having three converging posts signifying the Army, Air Force, and Assam Rifles.

Calcutta University confers Abhijit Banerjee with ‘Doctor of Letters’

January 30, 2020

Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee was conferred the honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) by alma mater Calcutta University at its annual convocation in Kolkata. Abhijit was awarded Nobel Prize in 2019 for “Experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”. He is one of the directors of Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), United States of America (USA) founded in 2003.

Gujarat: ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Centre’ foundation stone laid by S Jaishankar

January 30, 2020

The foundation stone of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Centre was laid by External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar near the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat. The centre for Empowerment and Livelihoods will be a state-of-the-art skill Development centre in the tribal area. It will have all modern infrastructure and will run several skill courses for free, aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework. GMR Varalakshmi Foundation along with Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited has taken initiative to establish this Centre with an investment of over Rs 15 crore.

Country’s first ‘walk-through’ aviary inaugurated in Mumbai

January 30, 2020

India’s first and biggest ‘walk-through’ aviary was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo also known as Byculla Zoo in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The aviary will house over 100 species of rare, exotic and common birds, living their natural environs. A small bridge passing through the aviary will be opened for the public to walk through and view the birds at close quarters.

Senior Congress leader M Kamalam passes away at 92

January 30, 2020

Senior Congress leader and ex-minister M Kamalam passed away at her residence in Kozhikode on Thursday morning. She was 92. She was Co-operation Minister between 1982-1985 during Chief Minister K Karunakaran’s tenure. She represented Kalpetta Assembly constituency twice – having won in 1980 and in 1982. She served as Vice President and general secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).  She had also served as Chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission.