Daily Current Affairs: 20 January 2023 | Gkseries
Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 20 January 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 20 January 2022
International Tourism Fair FITUR 2023 kicks off in Madrid
FITUR: The primary trade show for Latin American inbound and outbound markets, FITUR serves as a global hub for tourism industry professionals. FITUR is the second most important tourism fair in the world. Around 10,000 national and international companies take part in each edition and there are more than 50,000 visitors spread over the different days of the event.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More About International Tourism Fair FITUR
FITUR 2023 has designed an extensive programme to diversify the specialised public in different thematic areas. Thus :-
- FiturTechy brings together the world of technology
- FiturCruises brings together tourism platforms from the world of cruises
- FiturSports does the same with the world of sports, and
- FiturLGBT+, among others, presents the latest developments in the world of LGTB+ tourism.
Latin America will again play a special role at FITUR. During the previous edition, the Dominican Republic was the fair’s partner country and the slogan of the 2022 edition was “We embrace the world. We are tourism”. This year, Guatemala will present a varied tourist offer. With destinations like Guatemala Std and natural enclaves like Lake Atitlán – one of the country’s most visited attractions. This year’s Fitur motto is “Citizens of the World. We Are tourism”, and its focus is on a healthy and sustainable future.
A total of 8,360 enterprises will exhibit this year, and the organisers anticipate 82,000 professionals from the tourist industry and related businesses to attend, and an influx of up to 30,000 members of the general public.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
Spain Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Spain Capital: Madrid
Spain King: Felipe VI of Spain
Spain Prime Minister : Pedro Sánchez
Aruna Miller becomes Maryland’s first Indian-American Lieutenant Governor
Aruna Miller becomes Maryland’s first Indian-American Lieutenant Governor: Aruna Miller has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American politician to be sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor in the state of Maryland, adjoining the US capital. Aruna, 58, a former delegate to the Maryland House, made history when the Democrat became the 10th Lieutenant Governor of the state. The Lieutenant Governor is the state’s highest official following the Governor and assumes the role when the Governor is out of state or incapacitated. Moore became Maryland’s 63rd governor, the state’s first and the country’s only current Black chief executive. The Bhagwat Gita served as the foundation for the Lt Governor’s oath of office.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Significance of This Development:
Miller’s swearing-in will break a barrier that no other immigrant or woman of colour has breached before her. She was part of a historic Democratic ticket that sailed to victory in November and also gives Maryland its first Black governor, its first Black attorney general and its first female comptroller.
About The Aruna’s Family:
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which Aruna’s father immigrated after, eliminated racial and national origin quotas to permit a new generation of immigrants to enter the United States. She graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in civil engineering in 1989, and worked for 25 years at the local Department of Transportation in Montgomery County. Miller has served two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2010 to 2018.
UN General Assembly adopts Indian Co-sponsored Resolution on ‘Education For Democracy’
UN General Assembly adopts Indian Co-sponsored Resolution on ‘Education For Democracy’: In a resolution titled “Education for Democracy,” the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) emphasises that everyone has a constitutional right to an education. The resolution, which was co-sponsored by India, recognises that “education for all” contributes to the strengthening of democracy. The resolution encourages member states to integrate education for democracy into their education standards.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More About This Development:
This isn’t the first time that an education resolution has been adopted by the UN General Assembly. An similar resolution from the Assembly earlier this year urged all UN organisations to employ education to advance democracy, human rights, and peace. The resolution aimed at encouraging member states to integrate education for democracy into their education standards.
Goa Manohar International Airport wins best sustainable greenfield airport award
New Goa Manohar International Airport: The New Goa Manohar International Airport (MIA), built by the GMR Goa International Airport Ltd (GGIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited, won the prestigious “Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport” award under Aviation Sustainability and Environment at ASSOCHAM 14th International Conference-cum-Awards for Civil Aviation 2023 at New Delhi. The honour was given in recognition of the “outstanding measures” that GGIAL has taken to make sustainability one of its guiding principles. During the conference, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia presented the award to the senior officials from GGIAL in the presence of industry dignitaries and participants.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
According to a GMR Goa International Airport announcement, the forum recognizes businesses involved in civil aviation initiatives that implement best practises and technological advancement in their everyday operations. The criteria of awards are contribution, innovativeness, applicability, relevance and impact potential in their respective areas. The jury evaluated the participants on various parameters and innovative thought process.
Sustainability as one of core concepts, New Goa Manohar International Airport is designed to be a zero-carbon footprint airport and will join the elite club of green airports across the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the New Goa Manohar International Airport on December 11 of last year, and commercial operations began on January 5 of 2023.
Hockey World Cup 2023, Netherlands records biggest win in Hockey World Cup history
Netherlands records biggest win in Hockey World Cup history: The three-time champion Netherlands defeated Chile’s debutants by a score of a record-breaking 14-0 to qualify as the first team to the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. With three victories in as many games, the Netherlands finished first in Pool C with a maximum of nine points.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Hockey World Cup 2023: Netherlands records biggest win in World Cup history
The largest margin of victory in a World Cup game was recorded by the third-ranked Netherlands against the 23rd-ranked Chile in the day’s second play. World No. 1 After crushing South Africa 12-0 in New Delhi, Australia previously held the record for the greatest margin of victory in a hockey World Cup game.
The Netherlands, who have won the World Cup three times and placed second in the previous two tournaments, earned 18 penalty corners in the match, of which they converted six, while Chile only received two.
The Netherlands advanced directly to the quarter final stage, however Malaysia and New Zealand from group C must play crossover matches to advance. The 16 teams were divided into four groups, A, B, C, and D, and each group had three games scheduled against the other teams in its pool. The team that finishes first in the table will automatically proceed to the quarterfinals, per the rules. On the other side, starting on January 22, the clubs in the second and third slots will play the crossover matches.
Hockey World Cup 2023: Score Board
- Jip Janssen and team captain Thierry Brinkman each scored a hat-trick in the sixth, 29th, 34th, and 44th minutes, and Koen Bijen added two more goals in the 40th and 45th minutes.
- Derck de Vilder (22nd), Thijs van Dam (23rd), Terrance Pieters (37th), Justen Blok (42) and Teun Beins were the other Dutch goal scorers (48th).
New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern announces resignation
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand and an international leader in progressive politics, shocked the country. She was re-elected for a second term in 2020, the victory buoyed by her government’s “go hard and go early” approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw New Zealand impose some of the world’s strictest border rules, separating families and shutting out almost all foreigners for almost two years. For her compassionate handling of the 2019 Christchurch mosque tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of 51 Muslim worshippers and the wounds of an additional 40, Ardern received praise from all over the world.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Ms. Ardern had faced a tough election campaign this year. Her Liberal Labour Party won re-election two years ago in a landslide of historic proportions, but recent polls have put her party behind its conservative rivals. She received praise from all over the world for how her nation initially handled the coronavirus epidemic when New Zealand was able to contain the virus at its borders for months. But its zero-tolerance strategy was abandoned once it was challenged by new variants and vaccines became available.
Why this decision has been taken?
- Ms Ardern’s resignation comes not long after she saw support for her party decreasing, with polls conducted last November showing only 33 per cent of respondents in support of Labour.
- Just before she was chosen as prime minister, Ms. Ardern’s approval rating fell to 29%, the lowest level since 2017.
- In her campaign, she had pledged to tackle New Zealand’s housing problems with a program called Kiwibuild in which 100,000 affordable homes were to be built.
- However, according to the NZ government, just approximately 1,300 dwellings had been built by July of last year, with another 1,200 under construction.
- Ms Ardern also had to deal with New Zealand’s child poverty rate, which although declining remains higher than rates in comparable European countries, especially for single-parent families.
- Another issue that the country has been dealing with is the fallout of the pandemic and surging inflation.
- Political analysts had earlier predicted that the 2023 elections would be very close, and mainly focused on the economy, inflation and equality.
Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas appoints Nick Walker as new CEO
Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas appoints Nick Walker as new CEO: Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas has selected Nick Walker as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, with effect from January 5, 2023.
“Before this appointment, Walker was president and chief executive officer at Lundin Energy, one of the leading European independent E&P companies,” it said.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
He has over 30 years of diverse international experience in technical, commercial, and executive leadership roles. He will be the sixth CEO of the company since mining billionaire Anil Agarwal-led group bought the company from Scottish explorer Cairn Energy plc, now known as Capricorn Energy plc, in 2011. Walker comes into Cairn Oil & Gas after Prachur Sah quit the firm to join Indus Towers Ltd (formerly Bharti Infratel Ltd) as managing director and CEO effective January 3, 2023. He has also worked in various companies like BP, Talisman Energy, and Africa Oil.
Rahul Dhir, the company’s first CEO who oversaw its listing and development of India’s biggest oil discovery in Rajasthan, quit the company in August 2012. His successor P Elango resigned in May 2014, while the third CEO Mayank Ashar resigned in May 2016. Thereafter, Sudhir Mathur resigned in April 2018. Sah was appointed deputy CEO in October 2020.
Announcing the appointment of the new CEO, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, of Vedanta Resources Ltd, said, “We welcome Nick as the CEO for Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas business and look forward to him driving the company’s growth in years to come. Nick’s global experience and incredible track record in the energy sector will provide the right expertise as Cairn embarks on the next phase of growth and sustainability.”
Adani, Ashok Leyland to develop Asia’s first hydrogen-mining truck
Adani, Ashok Leyland to develop Asia’s first hydrogen-mining truck: Adani Enterprises, Ashok Leyland, and Ballard Power have signed a deal to develop Asia’s first hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Truck (FCET) for mining logistics and transportation.
This collaboration marks Asia’s first planned hydrogen powered mining truck. The demonstration project will be led by AEL, a company focused on both mining operations and developing green hydrogen projects for sourcing, transporting, and building out hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Ballard, an industry leading PEM fuel cell engine manufacturer, will supply the FCmove fuel cell engine for the hydrogen truck and Ashok Leyland, one of the largest manufacturers of buses in the world, will provide the vehicle platform and technical support. The FCET is scheduled to be launched in India in 2023. The demonstration project will be led by Adani Enterprises Limited.
The Adani Group previously announced it plans to invest more than USD 50 billion over the next 10 years in green hydrogen and associated ecosystems corresponding to a capacity of up to 3 million tonne of green hydrogen annually.
Vinay Prakash, Director, Adani Enterprises and CEO, Adani Natural Resources said, “This pioneering and ambitious green hydrogen project holds a strong promise for India’s future energy self-reliance and is consistent with the vision of Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, of accelerating the use of hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology in the commercial transport system. This experience of handling hydrogen as a fuel for commercial fleet not only prepones the advent of hydrogen technology for the mining and logistics sector in the country but will also enable other businesses to opt for long-term sustainable solutions transitioning fleets in ports, airports and in their industrial operations.”
The hydrogen powered mining truck will weigh 55 tonne, have three hydrogen tanks, a 200-km working range, and powered by Ballard’s 120 kW PEM fuel cell technology.
“After signing a memorandum of understanding with the Adani Group last year, we are eager to move our partnership forward and welcome the chance to cooperate with cutting-edge businesses like Adani,” said Randy MacEwen, CEO, Ballard Power Systems.
He further said that the company’s technology offers a strong value proposition for their heavy-duty mining truck with our zero emission engines providing long range, rapid refuelling and heavy payload capabilities. Commenting on the development, Dr. N. Saravanan, CTO, Ashok Leyland said, “Ashok Leyland is excited to collaborate with Adani and Ballard to bring out fuel cell commercial vehicles in the mining and logistics sectors in India. With our track record of developing unique and new products, Ballard’s technological expertise in fuel cells, and Adani’s unwavering dedication to hydrogen, there is a significant opportunity for India to decarbonize both goods and passenger transportation.”
Tourism Ministry to organize 1st Global Tourism Investors Summit
Tourism Ministry to organize 1st Global Tourism Investors Summit: The Ministry of Tourism will organize the first Global Tourism Investors Summit from 10th to 12th April 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Aim: To bring together global policymakers and business leaders to understand and explore Tourism Business opportunities in India.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
In this regard, Tourism Ministry has organized a Roadshow for the Northern region, Chandigarh.
Focus:
The event focused on promoting India as an investment destination for travel, tourism, and hospitality by identifying State-Specific investment possibilities and discuss avenues to promote sustainable tourism.
NASA awards 425 million to Boeing for fuel-efficient airliner research
NASA awards 425 million to Boeing for fuel-efficient airliner research: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded $ 425 million to Boeing for the agency’s sustainable flight demonstrator project.
Boeing will work with NASA to “build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft and validate technologies aimed at lowering emissions,” the agency said.
They will also validate technologies, that aimed to lower emissions. NASA will invest $425 million and the remaining amount of the agreement funding (estimated at 725 million dollars) will be contributed by the Boeing and its partners.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
The “Transonic Truss-Braced Wing” demonstrator single-aisle airplane aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30%. The concept involves an aircraft with extra-long, ultrathin wings stabilized by diagonal struts and higher-aspect ratios that could eventually accommodate advanced propulsion systems.
Boeing chief engineer Greg Hyslop said the program “represents an opportunity to design, build and fly a full-scale experimental plane, while solving novel technical problems.”
Single-aisle aircraft account for nearly half of worldwide aviation emissions. NASA plans to complete testing by the late 2020s, so technologies demonstrated could impact industry decisions about next generation aircraft in the 2030s.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the goal of the project is to “produce and test a full-scale demonstrator will help lead to future commercial airliners that are more fuel efficient, with benefits to the environment, the commercial aviation industry, and to passengers worldwide.”