Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 20 2020
1. India to set up Maritime Research Coordination Centre in Sri Lanka
Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Sri Lankan President Gotbaya Rajpaksa. He discussed setting up of maritime research coordination centre in the country. The establishment of research centre is important to learn maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region.
2. Myanmar-China sign 33 deals of BRI: Increases China’s ease of access of Indian Ocean
China and Myanmar signed 33 new deals under BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) to implement China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. Also, a concession agreement was signed by he countries to implement the deep seaport project called Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone.
The agreements were signed to strengthen the collaboration in infrastructure sector that includes rail connectivity, roads and power interconnection projects.
3. Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala passes away
Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala has passed away today following prolonged illness. He was 87. Surjewala, father of party leader Randeep Surjewala, breathed his last at the AIIMS hospital in Delhi.
4. India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable K-4 Ballistic Missile
India successfully test fired nuclear-capable, K-4 ballistic missile off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on January 19, 2020. It has a strike range of 3500km.
The K-4 ballistic missile was launched from an underwater platform in the sea. It can be launched from a submarine. It will be deployed on the fleet of the Arihant Class nuclear submarines being built by India.
The missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
5. ‘Parasite’ wins top prize at Screen Actors Guild Awards
The Korean-language film “Parasite” won the top prize, for best ensemble cast in a motion picture, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
“Parasite,” a comedic thriller that turns on social class divisions, scored its upset victory over a field of contenders that also included “Bombshell,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit” and “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.”
6. Ratchanok Intanon lifts Indonesia Masters 2020 title
Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon lifted the Indonesia Badminton Masters 2020 women’s singles title after defeating Carolina Marin in the summit clash. Intanon defeated Marin 21-19, 11-21, 21-18 in one hour and twenty minutes long match. The clash went into three-games and both the shuttlers tried their 100 per cent to turn things in their favour.
7. Arjun Munda elected president of Archery Association of India
Union minister Arjun Munda was on Saturday elected as president of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) in its much-delayed elections, which were held here smoothly in the presence of three observers.
Enjoying the support of former AAI President Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Munda had a smooth sailing as he beat his rival BVP Rao by a margin of 34-18 votes.
8. Titular Queen of Bhopal, Saleha Sultan, passes away
Princess Saleha Sultan, the titular queen of Bhopal and wife of the late Nawab Bashir Yar Jung of the Paigah family, passed away in Hyderabad on Sunday. She was 80. The funeral will take place in Bhopal on Monday.
9. Rs 70,000 crore loan amount has been disbursed till Jan 13 under MSMEs scheme: Govt
The Finance Ministry has said that a loan amount of nearly seventy thousand crore rupees has been disbursed till 13th of this month under the scheme of providing loan to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises – MSMEs within 59 minutes.
10. Andhra Pradesh Cabinet clears decentralised capital across Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool
Even as protests in Amaravati continue against the proposal for three capitals in Andhra Pradesh, the expert committee appointed by the government to decide the fate of the capital has announced its recommendations. Speaking to reporters, the head of the committee G Nageswara Rao said that the committee has suggested the government to set up three capitals in Amaravati, Kurnool and Visakhapatnam for different functions, as mentioned by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy earlier this week.
