20th January 2019 Current Affairs
Congo Court declares Felix Tshisekedi is elected President
- Congo’s Constitutional Court has declared the election of Felix Tshisekedi as the President and has rejected the challenges to the vote by runner-up Martin Fayulu.
- The court’s declaration came shortly after the African Union in an unprecedented move asked Congo to delay announcing the final election results, citing “serious doubts” about the vote.
Bharat Ratna CNR Rao chosen for Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials
- Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna C N R Rao has been chosen for the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research by the Centre for Advanced Materials of the United Arab Emirates.
- The award involves a plaque, a medal and a cash prize of 1 lakh US Dollar.
- The award will be presented to Professor Rao during the International Workshop on Advanced Materials at Ras Al Khaimain UAE on February 25.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur honoured with Sansad Ratna Award
- Himachal Pradesh BJP MP Anurag Thakur has been bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for his distinguished performance as a parliamentarian under Jury Committee Special Award category.
- Thakur became the first BJP MP to receive the Jury Committee award.
- 12 parliamentarians were honoured with the Sansad Ratna award, which was set up in 2010 on suggestion of ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Andry Rajoelina sworn in as President of Madagascar
- Andry Rajoelina was sworn in as Madagascar’s president on 19 Jan at Mahamasina stadium in the Madagascan capital city of Antananarivo.
- The oath-taking ceremony was attended by delegation from 35 countries and international organizations.
- High Constitutional Court had declared him as winner of the Presidential election on 8th January with 55.66% of the votes.
US Spy Satellite NROL-71 launched
- On Jan. 19, 2019, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launched the clandestine NROL-71 spy satellite on a secret mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
- NROL-71 is a reconnaissance satellite.
- A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
World's largest aircraft maker to stop rocket engine project
- World’s largest aircraft maker Stratolaunch, founded by late Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, will stop development of its “family of launch vehicles and rocket engine”.
- “We are…focusing on the aircraft and our ability to support a demonstration launch of the Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL air-launch vehicle,” it added.
- Stratolaunch completed high-speed taxi test of its aircraft in January 2019.
IIT Hyderabad to launch India's first BTech course in AI
- IIT Hyderabad is launching a full-fledged BTech program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the coming academic year 2019-20.
- The institute claims it has become India’s first educational institution to do so, and likely the third globally besides Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- The course will enrol around 20 students through the JEE-Advanced exam.
World's oldest man Masazo Nonaka dies in Japan aged 113
- Masazo Nonaka, who was recognised as the world’s oldest man by Guinness World Records last year, has passed away at the age of 113.
- His family said Nonaka died peacefully from natural causes in the early hours of Sunday while sleeping.
- Nonaka, who enjoyed watching sumo wrestling and eating sweets, outlived his wife and three of their five children.
No liquor sale in Rajasthan after 8 pm, orders CM Ashok Gehlot
- Rajasthan’s newly elected Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday issued a strict order to the officials to stop the sale of liquor after 8 pm at all shops in the state.
- “Those violating order should be penalised; their shops should be sealed and licence should be cancelled,” the order said.
- He also ordered officials to stop illegal transportation of liquor.
Aparna Kumar becomes 1st woman IPS officer to reach South Pole
- Despite suffering from pneumonia just before leaving for the expedition, Aparna Kumar became the first woman IPS officer to reach the South Pole last week.
- “And if that was not enough, I also broke my prescription sunglasses during the expedition,” Aparna said.
- A 2002 batch IPS of UP cadre, Aparna Kumar is posted as DIG, ITBP in Dehradun.
Might choose IISc over IIT: 17-yr-old with 100 percentiles in JEE Main
- Indore’s 17-year-old Dhruv Arora, who scored 100 percentile score in the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main in first attempt, says he might choose IISc over IIT.
- “I’ll appear for the JEE Advanced…but I have not decided to go for IITs only,” said Arora.
- “Physics is my favourite subject…hence I’m also considering the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru,” he added.
Try out the quiz ?
1. Who has been elected as President of Republic of the Congo?
Congo's Constitutional Court has declared the election of Felix Tshisekedi as the President and has rejected the challenges to the vote by runner-up Martin Fayulu.
2. Bharat Ratna C N R Rao has been chosen for the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research, what is cash prize amount for this award?
Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna C N R Rao has been chosen for the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research by the Centre for Advanced Materials of the United Arab Emirates. The award involves a plaque, a medal and a cash prize of 1 lakh US Dollar.
3. Who has won Sansad Ratna Award?
Himachal Pradesh BJP MP Anurag Thakur has been bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for his distinguished performance as a parliamentarian under Jury Committee Special Award category.
4. Andry Rajoelina sworn as President of which country?
Andry Rajoelina was sworn in as Madagascar's president on 19 Jan at Mahamasina stadium in the Madagascan capital city of Antananarivo.
5. Spy Satellite NROL-71 has been launched by which country?
On Jan. 19, 2019, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launched the clandestine NROL-71 spy satellite on a secret mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
6. What is the name of world's largest aircraft engine maker?
World's largest aircraft maker Stratolaunch, founded by late Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, will stop development of its "family of launch vehicles and rocket engine".
7. Which IIT institute is going to launch a full-fledged B.Tech program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the coming academic year 2019-20?
IIT Hyderabad is launching a full-fledged BTech program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the coming academic year 2019-20.
8. World's oldest man Masazo Nonaka died. He was from which country?
World's oldest man Masazo Nonaka dies in Japan aged 113
9. Recently which state has banned liquor sale after 8 PM?
Rajasthan's newly elected Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday issued a strict order to the officials to stop the sale of liquor after 8 pm at all shops in the state.
10. Who has become the 1st woman IPS officer to reach South Pole?
Despite suffering from pneumonia just before leaving for the expedition, Aparna Kumar became the first woman IPS officer to reach the South Pole last week.
11. Who has scored 100 percentile score in the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main in first attempt?
Indore's 17-year-old Dhruv Arora, who scored 100 percentile score in the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main in first attempt, says he might choose IISc over IIT.
