These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares today’s current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.
Scroll down for current affairs of 16th January, 2024.
Passing of Yakshagana Virtuoso, B Narayana Kunder, in Brahmavara
- Brahmavara Bykadi mourns the departure of B Narayana Kunder (68), a distinguished denizen, who peacefully breathed his last at his abode.
- The late Mr. Kunder, having concluded his tenure as a Syndicate Bank employee, gracefully retired from the banking realm after dedicated service in Barkur and Brahmavar branches.
- Renowned for his portrayal of Mahishasura in Yakshagana performances, he not only curated a local troupe but also emerged as a significant patron of this traditional art form.
- As a testament to his community involvement, Mr. Kunder served as the former president of Baikadiamogaweera Grama Sabha and held a past membership in Baikadi Yuvakamandal.
- His commitment extended to the spiritual activities of the local Baikadi temple.
- In recent times, Brahmavara Bykadi bid farewell to the multifaceted B Narayan Kunder, a luminary in the realm of Yakshagana artistry.
Historic Election Victory: Pro-Sovereignty William Lai Takes the Helm in Taiwan
- In a groundbreaking electoral event, Taiwanese voters have elected the pro-sovereignty candidate, William Lai, as their president.
- The Beijing communist government disapproves of Mr. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has governed Taiwan for eight years.
- Lai, the incumbent vice president, clinched an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP, triumphing over his conservative adversary, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), by a resounding margin of over 900,000 votes.
- Mr. Lai’s commanding 40% share of the vote placed him comfortably ahead of Hou Yu-ih from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
- Since the year 2000, Taiwan has alternated between the DPP and the KMT, the latter being more amicable toward Beijing.
Taiwan:
Capital: Taipei City
Currency: New Taiwan dollar
Demise of Distinguished Urdu Poet Munawwar Rana at 71
- The eminent Urdu poet Munawwar Rana breathed his last at the Sanjay Gandhi PostGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, succumbing to a cardiac arrest at the age of 71.
- Born in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, Rana was widely acclaimed for his profound contributions to Urdu literature and poetry.
- Notably, his celebrated poem ‘Maa’ extolled the virtues of motherhood in the traditional ghazal form.
- Among his accolades, the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 recognized his poetry book ‘Shahdaba.’
Tamil Nadu Enforces Bill Mandating Tamil Paper for State Government Jobs
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly has enacted a bill that compels candidates to pass a Tamil paper in competitive exams for state government positions.
- The amendment to the Tamil Nadu Government Servants Act 2016 stipulates that even if a candidate qualifies and secures a job, they must pass a Tamil paper within two years of employment.
- The Bill emphasizes the importance of Tamil as the official language, facilitating better comprehension, higher education, and further research.
Denmark’s Transition: King Frederik X Assumes Throne After Queen’s Abdication
- Denmark’s King Frederik X has ascended to the throne, succeeding Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after a 52-year reign.
- Queen Margrethe, aged 83, made history as the first Danish monarch in almost 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne.
- The succession was formalized during a meeting of the Council of State at Parliament, attended by government representatives, King Frederik X, his Australian-born wife Queen Mary, and their heir to the throne, Prince Christian, 18. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies globally, does not have a coronation.
- Denmark’s King Frederik X takes the throne after the queen steps down.
Denmark:
Capital: Copenhagen
Official languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic
Government: Monarchy, Parliamentary system
Continent: Europe
Global Ranking on Future Opportunities: India Secures 35th Position, UK Takes the Lead
- India has secured the 35th position in the global index that evaluates countries based on their readiness to leverage future possibilities.
- The UK has claimed the top spot in the released list. The Future Possibilities Index (FPI), presented during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting by Newsweek Vantage and Horizon Group, places Denmark, the US, the Netherlands, and Germany in the top five following the UK.
- Among prominent emerging markets, China leads at 19th place, followed by Brazil at 30th, India at 35th, and South Africa at 50th.
- The study, analyzing 70 countries, explores factors aiding governments, investors, and private sector stakeholders in harnessing six global transformative trends for growth and well-being.
- These trends include the Exabyte Economy (advanced digital technologies), Wellbeing Economy (health prevention and wellness), Net Zero Economy (carbon emission reduction), Circular Economy (recycling and reuse), BioGrowth Economy (food and agriculture innovations), and Experience Economy (consumption of experiences over physical goods).
- The combined business opportunity from these trends is estimated to exceed USD 44 trillion by 2030, equivalent to over 40% of the global GDP in 2023. The study utilized data from international organizations and a survey of 5,000 business executives conducted by Phronesis Partners.
Nadda Unveils ‘Namo NavMatdatta’ Portal for Novice Voters
- J P Nadda, the President of BJP, inaugurated the Namo NavMatdatta registration portal in New Delhi.
- This portal seeks to involve and register first-time voters as Viksit Bharat Ambassadors. As part of the initiative, five thousand conferences are set to be organized on January 25th, strengthening the party’s youth outreach and democratic engagement.
- The portal serves as a platform for registering all Nav Matdatas as Viksit Bharat Ambassadors. J.P. Nadda engaged with enthusiastic first-time voters and dedicated Karyakartas, emphasizing the leadership’s commitment to direct grassroots engagement.
- The live interaction provided an opportunity for Mandal Karyakartas nationwide to share insights, fostering unity within the organization.
Rohit Sharma Makes History with 150 T20I Appearances and 100 Wins
- India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, achieves another milestone in his illustrious career, becoming the first men’s player to participate in 150 T20 Internationals (T20Is).
- This feat was accomplished during the second T20I match against Afghanistan at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. Additionally, Rohit secured the unique distinction of being the first player to win 100 T20Is.
- In terms of T20I appearances, Rohit leads with 150, followed by Paul Stirling of Ireland at 134. George Dockrell, another Irish cricketer, ranks third with 128 appearances. Rohit, a top run-scorer in T20Is, boasts 3853 runs in 149 games, maintaining a strike rate of around 140. He also shares the record for the most hundreds in T20Is with Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav.
Prime Minister Modi Launches World’s Longest River Cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the MI Ganga Vilas, the world’s longest river cruise, embarking on a journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh.
- This remarkable voyage will span 51 days, covering 3200 kilometers and traversing three rivers, including one in Bangladesh.
- The cruise will pass through 27 river systems and touch approximately 50 tourist spots and cities, such as Patna, Kolkata, Dhaka, and Guwahati.
- The luxury cruise, equipped with five-star facilities, accommodates 36 tourists and started its maiden journey with 32 tourists from Switzerland. The vessel, MI Ganga Vilas, features three decks, 18 suites, a gym, restaurant, salon, and other amenities.
- The cost for a day of travel on the cruise is Rs 25 thousand, and a 51-day cruise is priced at Rs 20 lakh per passenger.
- The journey includes traversing the Sundarbans and Kaziranga National Park, with measures in place to ensure environmental responsibility, including an RO plant and STP to prevent river pollution, and a commitment to avoid the use of plastic during the voyage.
KJ Joy, Pioneer of Techno-Music in Malayalam Cinema, Passes Away
- K. J. Joy, the first techno-musician in the Malayalam film industry, breathed his last in Chennai.
- With a career spanning nearly 200 films, including 12 Hindi films, Joy introduced technology, including the use of the keyboard, to South Indian cinema.
- His music career began as an accordion artist under his guru M. S. Viswanathan, who launched him as a full-time music director in the 1975 Malayalam film ‘Love Letter.’ Joy, 77, hailed from Thrissur and composed timeless youth songs like ‘En Swaram Poovittum Ganame.’
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