CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 18th JANUARY, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 18^th JANUARY, 2023

1. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has listed Neelakurinji or Kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, including it to the list of protected plants.
2. A new book ‘Irrfan Khan: A Life in Movies’ offering a compelling account of iconic actor Irrfan Khan’s life and achievements, starting from his days at the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) to his nearly a decade-long stint in television and his gradual ascent in the film industry will be released by March 2023.
3. Kerala’s Kollam has become the first constitution-literate district in India.
4. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on 15 January, 2023 informed that by 2025, the entire country will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network.
5. United States Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Beth Jones announced a $250,000 US government project to support the conservation and restoration of the historic Paigah Tombs in Hyderabad.
6. Viacom 18 Media Private Limited has bagged the media rights for Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) for the period of 2023-2027. 
7. Sibi George presently Ambassador of India to Japan, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Marshall Islands on 16 January, 2023.
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 January, 2023 announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project under which India will provide essential medical supplies to any developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crisis and proposed to set up a ‘centre of excellence’ to facilitate development solutions to these countries. 
9. National Award-winning movie ‘Toolsidas Junior’ will be screened at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival.
10. The first Education Group of G-20 countries will meet from 31 January to 2 February in Chennai.
11. Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury, Clare Lombardelli, has been appointed as the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Chief Economist. 
12. The 21^st edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France, ‘Exercise Varuna’ commenced in the Indian Ocean on 16 January, 2023.
13. Two-time world champion and defending Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) has won the men’s single title in Malaysia Open Badminton 2023, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15 January 2023.
14. Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced his resignation after the communist party blamed him for the violations and wrongdoings by the senior ministers under him during his 2016-2021stint as Prime Minister of Vietnam. 
15. Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top location for mobile gamers, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal, according to the India Mobile Gaming Report 2022 issued by the gaming platform Mobile Premier League (MPL). 
16. Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts including the Beatles during a six-decade career on Hong Kong radio that earned him the title of the world’s longest-working disc jockey, passed away on 15 January, 2023.