Daily Current Affairs 20th January 2023: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 20th January 2023. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 20th January 2023. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 20th January 2023 Current affairs test.
National News
1. India pledges $100 million for infrastructure tasks in the Maldives
- During his visit, EAM S Jaishankar committed an additional 100,000,000 Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects.
- He also presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Maldivian National University and Kochi University of Science & Technology. The agreement includes 100 million rufiyaa in funding for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).
- Furthermore, India has provided two maritime ambulances to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
- Out of 45 significant community initiatives in India, 23 have been completed.
About the Maldives
- Capital: Male
- Currency: Rufiyaa
- President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Sports
2. Friends Pashkum wins 14th CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2023
- The men’s team, Friends Pashkum, defeated the Humas Warriors Drass to secure the title.
- In the women’s category, Down Hill Kargil triumphed, defeating Wakha Mulbekh.
- The tournament, held in Ladakh, saw participation from 27 teams, including four women’s teams, and was supported by the Rural Development Department and the Youth Service and Sports Department.
Appointments and Resignations
3. Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amidst anti-corruption drive
- President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has announced his resignation during the ongoing anti-corruption initiative in Vietnam.
- Earlier, two of President Phuc’s deputies in the prime minister’s office had resigned.
- Several cabinet members have been removed as part of Vietnam’s anti-corruption campaign.
- Having served as the Prime Minister from 2016 to April 2021, Phuc became the president in 2021.
About Vietnam
- Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
- Capital: Hanoi
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong
4. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to step down
- On February 7, 2023, Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
- Choosing not to seek re-election, Ardern also confirmed she won’t contest the leadership position in the ruling party or participate in the upcoming general election on October 14.
- Historically, when elected as the prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37, Ardern became the youngest female head of government globally. She further made headlines by giving birth while in office, joining Benazir Bhutto in this distinction.
- Her leadership saw New Zealand through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Christchurch mosque shooting, and the White Island eruption.
About New Zealand
- Capital: Wellington
- Currency: Dollar
Defence
5. Indian Army organizes ‘Sainya Ranakshetram 2.0’
- The Indian Army, guided by the HQ Army Training Command, will host “SAINYA RANAKSHETRAM 2.0” between January 2022 and 2023.
- Aim: To expedite the development of unique solutions in cybersecurity; Purpose: To address functional cyber challenges. Gen. Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, commended the competition winners via a webcast.
- The event identified potential talents in cybersecurity within the Defence forces and civil academia. This talent will be utilized for the rapid creation of cybersecurity tools and techniques.
Science & Technology
6. NASA concludes its Geotail mission after 30 years
- The collaborative effort between NASA and JAXA on the Geotail spacecraft has ended after three decades in orbit due to a malfunction in its final data recorder.
- Launched on July 24, 1992, the Geotail gathered extensive data about the earth’s magnetosphere’s structure and characteristics. Owing to the high-quality data it provided, the mission was extended from its initial four years.
Obituaries
7. Renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and guru Lakshmi Vishwanathan passes away
- Lakshmi Vishwanathan, a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer and educator, passed away at the age of 75.
- An author of four books, including “Kunjamma-Ode to a Nightingale,” “Women of Pride-the Devadasi Heritage,” “Kapaliswara Temple,” and “Bharatanatyam: The Tamil Heritage.” She was honored with awards like the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu government.
