Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed new DG of National Security Guard
Senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia (1984-batch -Telangana cadre) has been appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the 'black cats' commando force National Security Guard (NSG).
He succeeded incumbent S P Singh (retire on 31st January).
Currently, Mr. Lakhtakia is serving as Special DG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters New Delhi.
Note:
The NSG personnel is often referred to as Black Cats because of the black dress and black cat insignia worn on their uniform.
The National Security Guard (NSG) was raised as the federal contingency force to counter terrorists and hijack- like incidents in 1984.
George Weah Sworn-in as Liberian President
Former international football star George Weah (51-year) sworn in as Liberia's 25th president at the SKD Sports Complex in Monrovia.
He succeeds Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Weah grew up in Clara Town slum in Monrovia and went on to become the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year.
National Affairs
International Conference on dam safety to begin at Kovalam
Kerala's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Arjun Ram Meghwal (Union Minister of State for Water Resources) has jointly inaugurated the two days International Dam Safety conference at Leela Raviz, Kovalam.
Around 550 delegates from over 20 countries are participating in this conference.
Challenges in dam safety management across the globe, an overview of the centrally-funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project and World Bank initiatives are some of the issues that will be discussed at the conference.
Note: The event is being organized by the Water Resources Department, KSEB, College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram and NIT, Kozhikode, under the aegis of CWC.
Raipur organizes nation's first 'Kachra Mahotsav
The Raipur Municipal Corporation has organized the three-day India's first garbage festival 'Kachra Mahotsav 2018' in Chhattisgarh.
Other districts in the state have also shared innovative ideas including poems by students on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene.
The objective of the festival is to increase awareness of use the waste generated in the city creatively and to showcase multiple techniques for reusing things that are labeled as garbage.
Honours & Awards
SRK honored to receive Crystal Award
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has received the World Economic Forum's 24th Crystal Award for his leadership in championing children's and women's rights in India.
The Annual Crystal Awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of outstanding artists who have shown exemplary commitment to improving the state of the world.
Delhi LG felicitates National Bravery Award winners
Delhi Lt Governor ‘Anil Baijal’ felicitated children who have been conferred the 'National Bravery Award 2017' at the Raj Niwas.
Among the 18 brave hearts (7 girls and 11 boys), two girls and one boy have been given the award posthumously.
The coveted Bharat Award was conferred on Nazia of Uttar Pradesh.
The Geeta Chopra Award was conferred on Late Netravati M Chavan of Karnataka.
The Sanjay Chopra Award was conferred to Master Karanbeer Singh (7.5 years) of Punjab.
Note: The National Bravery Awards give recognition to the children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service.
International Affairs
India to grow at 7.4 percent in 2018: IMF
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s economy is projected to grow by 7.4% in the next fiscal year.
It estimated the Indian gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.7% for the year 2017-18.
China is expected to slow down to 6.6% in this year and 6.4% next year.
Global economic activity continues to firm up” and the overall “output is estimated to have grown by 3.7% in 2017, which is 0.1% point faster than projected in the fall and 0.5% higher than in 2016.
WEF annual meet begins in Davos
Today, the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meet has begun in Davos with a special message from Pope Francis being read out at the opening ceremony.
The summit's theme of this year is 'Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World'.
More than 3,000 world leaders from business, politics, art, academia and civil society would be participating in the summit.
Note:
The World Economic Forum (WEF) was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, a German-born business professor at the University of Geneva.
Its mission is cited as "committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
Sports
Shuttler Siddharth Singh wins Swedish Open Junior title
Young Indian Shuttler Siddharth Pratap Singh has won the Swedish Open Junior International Series in Uppsala in Sweden.
He defeated Christophersen (Denmark) 21-15, 21-11 to claim the men's singles title.
West Indies to host 2018 Women’s World T20
The 2018 Women’s World T20 (sixth edition) will be hosted by West Indies (Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and St Lucia) from 9th-24th November 2018.
The hosts will be joined by Australia, England (world champions), New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka who have all achieved the qualification.
The remaining two spots will be taken by Bangladesh, Holland, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, Uganda or United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The qualifier tournament for the competition is scheduled to be held on 3-14 July 2018 in the Netherlands.
Note:
The ICC Women's World Twenty20 is the biannual international championship for women's Twenty20 International cricket.
The event is organized by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
