Current Affairs JAN 19

NATIONAL

50th World Economic Forum in Switzerland on 21 January; Union Minister Piyush Goyal to lead Indian delegation

• The four day 50th World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland will begin on 21 January.
• 53 heads of state or government from 117 countries are participating in the event.
• The theme of this year's WEF  is 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World'.
• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will lead the Indian delegation.
• Among other highlights of the forum is Indian actress Deepika Padukone, who will be given a WEF crystal award for her work on mental health while the US rapper William Adams will be talking about ending gun violence.

Prakash Javadekar inaugurates ELECRAMA 2020, a flagship showcase of electrical industry in India

• Union Minister for Heavy Industries Prakash Javadekar inaugurated ELECRAMA 2020, the flagship showcase of the Indian electrical industry, in Greater Noida.
• He asked the power industry to focus on the quality of electrical equipment.
• He urged the industry to become a part of the production chain and not just a supplier of spare parts.

Kiren Rijiju and Pramod Sawant flag off ‘Fit India Cyclothon’ in Panaji

• The Fit India Mission under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the inaugural event of ‘Fit India Cyclothon’ event in Panaji.
• The Cyclothon was flagged off by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from the Campal Parade Ground in the city.
• The Cyclothon event witnessed participation by over 500 cycling enthusiasts who came together to cycle through a five-kilometre stretch within the Panaji city.

9th International Children's Film Festival begins in Kolkata

• The 9th International Children's Film Festival begins in Kolkata with the screening of Aizaz Khan directed Hamid.
• About 250 films from 45 countries will be screened in the week-long festival. 
• The National Award winner Children actor, Talha Arsad Rishi will inaugurate the festival. 
• Besides the screening of films, an exhibition on the children's film festival will also be organised.

INTERNATIONAL

Russia to deliver S-400 air defence systems to India by 2025

• Russia said it has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India, and all five units will be delivered by 2025.
• In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the air defence missile systems.
• Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin also said that a contract will be finalised shortly for joint production of Kamov lightweight multi-role military helicopters for India.
• The Indian Armed forces will receive the first batch of 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles this year as well.
• These will be produced in India under a joint venture.

APPOINTMENTS

Centre appoints Nripendra Misra as chairman of NMML executive council

• Former principal secretary to the Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra, has been appointed chairperson of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).
• According to a government order, the Executive Council of the NMML has been reconstituted and it will be now chaired by Mr Misra.
• Mr Misra is a 1967-batch retired IAS officer.
• The Nehru Memorial Museum & Library is a museum and library in New Delhi, which aims to preserve and reconstruct the history of the Indian independence movement.

Arjun Munda becomes President of suspended AAI

• Union Minister Arjun Munda was elected as President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) in its much-delayed elections.
• The elections were held as per the Delhi High Court order.
• Mr Munda had a smooth sailing as he beat his rival B V P Rao by a margin of 34-18 votes.
• A three-time Jharkhand Chief Minister, the 51-year-old Munda is a hugely popular tribal leader who also runs an archery academy which was instrumental in the rise of former world number one Deepika Kumari.

OBITUARY

Former cricketer Bapu Nadkarni Passes Away

• Former India all-rounder cricketer Bapu Nadkarni, who built an extraordinary career with his parsimonious left-arm spin, has died at the age of 86.
• Nadkarni enjoyed a 13-year international career, during which he played 41 Tests and snared 88 wickets.
• The legendary cricketer will be best remembered for bowling 21 consecutive maiden overs against England in a Test match in Chennai.
• He also served as a member of the National Selection Committee and also as the Joint Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)

Once known World's shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar dies

• The world's shortest man who could walk, as verified by Guinness World Records, died in Nepal. He died of pneumonia.
• Khagendra Thapa Magar was first declared the world's shortest man in 2010 after his 18th birthday.
• Magar, measured 67.08cm (two feet and 2.41 inches) .
• Magar lost the title in June 2011 to Junrey Balawing of the Philippines. In 2011 He became the world's shortest mobile man. While Junrey Balawing is in non-mobile catagory.
• Magar became an official face of Nepal's tourism campaign, which featured him as the smallest man in a country that is home to the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.

SPORTS

Vinesh Phogat wins gold medal in Rome Ranking Series

• Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat won her first gold medal of the 2020 season at the Rome Ranking Series event after teen sensation Anshu Malik settled for a silver in 57kg competition, in Rome.
• Vinesh downed two tough Chinese rivals on her way to the 53kg gold medal bout in which she overpowered Ecuador's Luisa Elizabeth Valverde 4-0. 
• She won by technical superiority against Khrystyna Bereza (10-0) and Lannuan Luo (15-5) before getting the better of Qianyu Pang (4-2).

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