31st January, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Nation remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary

The nation is paying homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary. The day is also observed as Martyrs' Day. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on this day in 1948.
President Ram Nath Kovind laid a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes.

ECI issues SOP for transportation of cash scrupulously during elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued Standard Operating procedure (SOP) for transportation of cash scrupulously during the elections, when Model Code of Conduct is in force.
The bank shall ensure that the cash vans of outsourced agencies/companies carrying that bank's cash shall not, under any circumstances, carry cash of any third party or individuals except the banks.
The outsourced agencies/companies shall carry letters or documents issued by the banks giving details of the cash released by the banks to them and carried by them for filling the ATMs and delivering cash at other branches, banks or currency chests.
Personnel of the outsourced agencies/companies accompanying cash van shall also carry identity cards issued by the respective agencies.
With regard to information of suspicious or illegal cash, foreign currency and Fake Indian Currency Notes found during elections, a reference may be made to the relevant enforcement agencies in the district.
In the case of any violation of the above SOP issued by ECI will attract action as per provisions of model code of conduct as well as laws being in force.

INTERNATIONAL

Portugal's ruling Socialist Party secures absolute majority in Parliament

Portugal's ruling Socialist Party (PS) has secured an absolute majority in Parliament as a result of the snap elections held on Sunday. Country's Interior Ministry released the data after 99 per cent of the ballots had been counted. The counting is yet to conclude.
Led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa, PS got 42 per cent of the votes and won 117 out of the 230 mandates thus Costa will retain the post. The Social Democratic Party is second with around 28 per cent.
The Sunday elections in Portugal were called by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa after the parliament failed to approve the state budget submitted by Costa's socialist government this past fall.

India supplies 4th batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan

As part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance, India has supplied the fourth batch of medical assistance consisting of three tons of essential life saving medicines to Afghanistan. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul.
External Affairs Ministry in a statement said that India stands committed to continue its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and provide humanitarian assistance. In this endeavour, India had already supplied three shipments of medical assistance, consisting of 5 lakh doses of COVID vaccine and essential life saving medicines to Afghanistan.
The Ministry said, the same was handed over to the World Health Organisation and India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul.
The government of India would be supplying more batches of humanitarian assistance consisting of medicines and foodgrains for the people of Afghanistan.

North Korea conducts its biggest missile launch today; South Korea, Japan and US condemn the launch

North Korea has conducted its biggest missile launch since 2017. South Korea reported that the launch took place at 07:52 local time today off North Korea's east coast. Japan, South Korea and the US have all condemned the launch, the seventh test this month.
The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests and has imposed strict sanctions. The United States called on North Korea to "refrain from further destabilising acts", in a statement issued by the US military's Indo-Pacific Command.
But the East Asian state regularly defies the ban, and leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster his country's defences.
South Korea's National Security Council said Sunday's test was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which would be the biggest missile tested since November 2017.
Japanese and South Korean officials estimated that the missile reached an altitude of 2,000km and flew for 30 minutes to a distance of 800km. Finally, it landed in the Sea of Japan.

First Woman President of Honduras

Xiomara Castro was sworn in as the first woman president of Honduras. Honduras is a Central American country. Its capital is Tegucigalpa. It is located along the coast of Caribbean Sea.
She is a leftist. That is, she is a socialist leader. She has promised to tackle the drug trafficking in the country. Also, she is to liberalize the strict abortion laws.
Manuel Zelaya is Xiomara’s husband. He ruled Honduras between 2006 and 2009. In 2009, he left office following the military coup. After his removal, Xiomara ran for elections and has earned great public support.hernandez. He was jailed in the US for drug trafficking.
Xiomara replaces President Orlando
Honduras gained independence from Mexico in 1838. It is known for its Mesoamerican culture. Before Mexicans, Honduras was under Spain. And for this reason, Spanish is the most spoken language in the country.
The country is predominantly dependent on agriculture. It is prone to natural disasters, especially hurricanes.

SPORTS

Australian Open Tennis: Rafael Nadal creates history by winning record 21st grand slam title

In Tennis, Rafael Nadal created history by becoming the only player to win the most grand slam titles.
The Spaniard defeated World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling 5-set Australian Open men's singles final last night. After being two sets down, Nadal made an incredible comeback in a pulsating match which lasted five hours and 24 minutes and emerged victorious by 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. This was his first Grand Slam major since the 2020 French Open triumph.
The win has also put Nadal one step ahead of the other two big men of tennis, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, both having 20 Grand Slam titles each to their credit. In the history of Open era, 35-year-old Nadal has become the third-oldest man to win a Grand Slam title. Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer are the earlier two. He is also only the second man to have won all four Grand Slams at least twice.

Ashleigh Barty wins her first Australian Open title

World Number one Ashleigh Barty, won her first Australian Open title after defeating Danielle Collins of the United States in the Women's Singles final at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne .
Top seed Barty defeated 27th seed Collins in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
With the win, Barty became the first Australian to claim a Grand Slam title on home soil in 44 years since Christine O’Neill in 1978.

Science and Technology

North Korea Hwasong-12 missile

North Korea launched its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 30, 2022.
Month of January was one of the busiest months of missile tests for North Korea.
With the launch of Hwasong-12, the country highlights efforts of ensuring its reliable systems for delivery of nuclear warheads.
Testing schedule started with the launch of new “hypersonic missile,” and later included long-range cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles which were launched from railcars & airports and underscoring its rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal in the midst of stalled denuclearisation talks.
North Korea hasn’t tested its nuclear weapon or longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) since 2017. However, launch of Hwasong-12 signalled it could soon start such testing.

BOOKS
“The $10 Trillion Dream” Book

Former finance secretary, Subhash Chandra Garg, is all set to make his debut as an author with upcoming book titled “The $10 Trillion Dream”.
The book claims to explore the critical policy issues faced by India, today.
It also suggests reforms to solve those issues and become a USD 10 trillion economy by mid-2030s.
The book comprises of plan for India to become a USD 10 trillion economy. It analyses macroeconomy of India, in the light of its evolution since Independence. It also elaborates on performance of the economy on macro parameters of inflation, credit management, fiscal management, growth, inflation, monetary management, foreign capital inflows and other fundamentals. The book also discusses policies in deep to direct significant private sector investment in building digital, environmental, infrastructure and social economy of India.
Subhash Chandra Garg is a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He is into services for over 36 years. He has served in various key positions of Union government and government of Rajasthan. In March 2019, he was designated finance secretary.

Published date : 31 Jan 2022 06:27PM