International Current affairs-January 2018

2019

JANUARY 2018-MISCELLANEOUS

48^th World Economic Forum annual meet begins in Davos

The 48^th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) began on January 23, 2018 in Davos, Switzerland with the theme ‘Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World’.
WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab declared the summit open amid the ski-resort receiving record snowfall.
Schwab welcomed members from business, politics, academia and media as well as the first timers with a round of applause.
The summit would witness participation from over 3,000 world leaders, business patrons, academicians, philanthropists and politicians from across the world.

First International Dam Safety Conference held in Thiruvananthapuram

The first International Dam Safety Conference-2018 was held in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) from January 23-24, 2018.
It was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was presided over by Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal.

10^th Global Forum for Food & Agriculture held Berlin

The 10^th edition of Global Forum for Food & Agriculture was held in Berlin, Germany from 18^th -20^th January 2018.
The theme of this year’s event is “Shaping the future of livestock – sustainably, responsibly, efficiently”.
Indian delegation to the event is led by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

India attends its first SCO military cooperation meeting

India, for the first time, took part in a meeting of the international military cooperation departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Beijing, China, since joining the bloc last year.
This is the first meeting attended by India in the field of defence cooperation under the SCO framework.
The SCO comprises of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

4^th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture & Forestry held in New Delhi

Agriculture ministers of ASEAN countries met for the fourth sitting in New Delhi.
The topic of discussion was based on food and agricultural future developments.
On this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh stated that India is committed towards the agenda set by United Nations and ASEAN countries have been working together for the prosperity of the agriculture sector as well.

CM Naveen releases book on Biju Patnaik

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik released a book on his father – The Tall Man Biju Patnaik – written by Sundar Ganesan, who said his material on Biju Patnaik “was found scattered all over the world in countries like Indonesia, France, Germany, USA, Russia, Singapore, and other places”.

Book titled “Dilli Meri Dilli: Before and After 1998″ by Sheila Dixit released

The evolution of Delhi and many of its little-known facets have been captured in a book of photographs by one of its architects – former chief minister Sheila Dikshit.
In “Dilli Meri Dilli: Before and After 1998″, Dikshit tries to look at Delhi not as someone who was its chief minister for 15 years but as a resident who has lived almost her entire life here.
The pictorial book traces the evolution of the city of Delhi over the centuries, and puts in perspective its impressive transformation since the beginning of the new millennium.

President Kovind unveils Book on Self-Development in Delhi

President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a book on heartfulness techniques and principles titled ‘The Heartfulness Way’.
Kamlesh D. Patel is the author of this book.
It is the fourth Global Guide of Heartfulness.
Joshua Pollock is the second author of this book.
It was launched by Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Manjrekar’s autobiography ‘Imperfect’

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar unveiled Sanjay Manjrekar’s autobiography ‘Imperfect’ at a South Mumbai.
The former India batsman-turned-commentator also spoke on his frosty relationship with Sachin Tendulkar and his favourite skipper Imran Khan.
Sanjay Vijay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer, he played international cricket for India from 1987 until 1996.

CABE sub-committee recommends free education for girls up to PG level

The sub-committee of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) looking into issues of girl’s education has recommended free and compulsory education for girls up to post-graduate level across the country.
The sub-committee is likely to submit an interim report to Union Human Resource Development Ministry during CABE meeting on January 15, 2018.

28 January 2018: World Leprosy Day

The World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on last Sunday of January month to raise global awareness of Leprosy.
This year it was observed on 28 January.
Observance of the day focuses on target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children.
The day was initiated by French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau in 1954 as way to raise global awareness of this deadly ancient disease and call attention to the fact that it can be prevented, treated and cured.

25^th January 2018: National Voters Day

The Election Commission of India celebrated the 8^th National Voters’ Day across the country on 25^th January for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process.
The National level function was held in New Delhi.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave away awards for best electoral practices to District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other functionaries involved in election management.

15^th January 2018: 70^th Army Day

The 70^th Army Day is being celebrated on 15^th January 2018.
The day is celebrated to pay homage and salute to the courageous and brave Indian soldiers who have been sacrificing their lives for protecting the country.
Every year on this day, the ‘Army Day’ is celebrated to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) K.M Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir F.R.R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence.

12 January: National Youth Festival

The National Youth Day celebrated every year on 12 January.
This is the day when Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest social reformers, thinkers, and philosophers of India, was born.
The Indian government had declared back in 1984 that Swamiji’s birthday would be celebrated as the National Youth Day.
The main aim behind this is to make sure that the students across the country can be encouraged to learn about the life, the ideas and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and apply them in their lives.
The Theme of the Festival is ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’.

9 January: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated every year on January 9 to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India.
This year’s PBD celebrated ASEAN-Indian partnership and was themed Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN INDIA Partnership.
This year marks 25 years of ASEAN-Indian Partnership which is based on centuries-old cultural, religious and human links, forged on an ancient route of commerce.

4 January: World Braille Day

World Braille Day is celebrated every year on January 4^th to commemorate the contribution of Louis Braille for blind people of the world.
He invented a reading and writing system which helped blind people in learning and reading.
The day marks the importance of teaching and providing equal opportunity to blind people and highlights the problems faced by them.
The Braille system is a representation of letters and symbols within a grid in rows.
The inventor, Louis Braille created the system after he went blind at the age of five due to an accident.