Scientist Saha elected as IUPAC bureau member

1.China dropped from US currency manipulator list

The US Treasury department has dropped the designation of China as a currency manipulator.It is a gesture that aims to ease tensions with Beijing ahead of this week’s signing of a deal to halt their trade war.

In August 2019, China was labeled officially as “currency manipulator” by the United States and also accused China of using yuan to gain “unfair competitive advantage” in trade.

2.Indian Army Day: 15 January

Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.At the time of Indian independence the command of Indian army was in the hands of the British General Sir Francis Butcher.

Cariappa was the second person to receive the title of Field Marshal of India on 14 January 1986, the first went to Sam Manekshaw in 1973.

3.India, Bangladesh ink MoU for co-production of biopic on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

India and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the co-production of a biopic on Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.The biopic will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal and will be released in March 2021 as part of centenary celebrations of Banga Bandhu.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is often called the father of Bengali nation.

He served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17 April 1971 until his assassination on 15 August 1975.

4.ISRO’s communication satellite GSAT-30 to launch on Jan 17

India would launch a communication satellite GSAT-30 onboard Ariane-5 launch vehicle (VA 251) from French Guiana on January 17.The 3,357-kg satellite is slated to blast off from the Ariane Launch Complex at Kourou, a French territory located along the northeastern coast of South America.

GSAT-30 is to serve as a replacement to INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage.

With a mission life of 15 years, GSAT-30 is an operational communication satellite for DTH, television uplink and VSAT services.

5.Amit Shah chairs sixth meeting of Island Development Agency

Union home minister Amit Shah chaired the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA).In the meeting chaired by Shah, the progress made under the “Holistic development of islands” program was reviewed.

For the first time in the country, an initiative of sustainable development in the identified Islands within scientifically-assessed carrying capacity has been taken-up.

Development plans with a focus on the creation of jobs for the islanders through tourism promotion as well as the export of seafood and coconut-based products.

6.Fox ‘jallikattu’ organisers in TN warned of punishment

Forest Department officials in Salem, Tamill Nadu are gearing up to prevent an unusual jallikattu, one that uses foxes (Bengal Fox) instead of bulls.The “Wanga” breed of foxes are tied using ropes and chased across the streets by the villagers on ‘Kaanum Pongal’.

The villagers observe this practice as they believe the Wanga foxes bring good fortunes and copious rains.

Another forest official said the “wanga” foxes are a rare breed and found in dense forest areas in the district.

7.Inscriptions confirm presence of two medieval monasteries at Moghalmari

Recently, a study of inscriptions on clay tablets excavated from Moghalmari have confirmed the presence of two monasteries.Moghalmari is a Buddhist monastic site of the early medieval period in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district.

The inscriptions are in Sanskrit and the script is a transitional phase between later north Indian Brahmi and early Siddhamatrika.

8.Scientist Saha elected as IUPAC bureau member

Bipul Behari Saha, a noted chemist has been elected as a bureau member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for the period 2020-23.Founded 100 years ago, IUPAC is the largest global organization of Chemistry professionals.

Saha is only the second Indian after CNR Rao, former Director of the Indian Institute of Science and Bharat Ratna, to be elected (in 1979) for this prestigious position.

IUPAC has the responsibility of naming all new elements and compounds, declaring atomic weights and physical constants, updating the Periodic table and carrying out research projects.

9.Senior IPS officer AP Maheshwari appointed Director General of CRPF

Senior IPS officer A P Maheshwari was appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).He would soon take over the charge from ITBP Director General S.S. Deswal who was given the “additional” charge to head the country’s largest paramilitary force.

Maheshwari, a 1984 batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry.

The post of DG CRPF was lying vacant after R R Bhatnagar retired on December 31.

10.Rani Rampal to lead Indian Women’s Hockey squad for New Zealand tour

Striker Rani Rampal will lead the 20-member Indian Women’s Hockey team for the upcoming New Zealand tour.Hockey India also said that Savita will be the vice-captain of the team for the forthcoming tournament, which will begin from 25 January 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand.

India will take on New Zealand on January 27 and 29 followed by a match against Great Britain on February 4.