Today's Current Affairs 15th January 2024

INTERNATIONAL

Maldives asks India to withdraw troops by March 15

• Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15.
• As per government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.

Taiwan Elects Pro-Sovereignty William Lai in Historic Election, Further Straining China Ties

• Taiwanese voters have chosen William Lai Ching-te, a pro-sovereignty candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as their president.
• Lai, the current vice president, secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP by defeating his conservative rival, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), by over 900,000 votes.

 NATIONAL

Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve Achieves Milestone as India’s First Dark Sky Park

• Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has made history by securing recognition as India’s inaugural Dark Sky Park, marking its position as the fifth in Asia. 

PM Modi Releases First Instalment of PM-JANMAN Scheme for Pucca Homes

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release ₹540 crore, the inaugural tranche of funding, for pucca homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) on January 15.
• The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) was launched on November 15, 2023.

CM stalin to inaugurate state of the Madurai jallikattu stadium

• The newly-built jallikattu arena is all set to be inaugurated by CM MK Stalin on January 23 or 24, Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister P Moorthy said.
• The jallikattu event commenced in the Alanganallur and Avaniyapuram in Madurai.

Maiden national highway steel slag road on NH- 66 Mumbai-Goa inaugurated

• V.K. Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI AAYOG inaugurated India’s First National Highway Steel Slag Road section on NH- 66 Mumbai-Goa National Highway.
• Dr Saraswat said that the Steel Slag Road Technology, developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) is transforming the waste of steel industries into wealth and is helping the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

 SPORTS

Real Madrid Wins against Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup

• Real Madrid played against Barcelona and won 4-1. This big game was part of the Spanish Super Cup final and happened on January 14, 2024.
• It took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Rohit sharma first men's player with 150 t20 appearances and 100 win

• Rohit Sharma has created history with his appearance in the second match against Afghanistan as he became the first men's cricketer to play 150 T20Is on Sunday.
• Rohit also has hit the most sixes in T20Is with 182 to his name.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

Pongal 2024: 15-18 January

• It begins on January 15, lasting until January 18. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, Lord Surya.
• The Pongal festival, also known as Bhogi Pongal, is a vibrant and auspicious harvesting festival widely celebrated in India. This four-day festival holds immense significance in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Indian Army Day 2024: 15^th January

• Indian Army Day is a special day celebrated on January 15 every year.
• It marks the anniversary of the Indian Army getting its first Indian chief in 1949.
• This chief was General K.M. Cariappa, who took over from the British.
• The theme for Indian Army Day in 2024 is “In Service of the Nation.”
• In 2024, the main celebration will be in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.