30 January 2016 Current Affairs
Janos Pasztor of Hungary Appointed as Senior Adviser to Secretary-General on Climate Change
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Janos Pasztor of Hungary as Senior Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Change on 30 January 2016.Mr. Pasztor most recently served as the Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change in the lead up and successful conclusion of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement.Mr. Pasztor also served as Executive Secretary of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability, Director of the Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team, Director of the United Nations Environment Management Group and in various senior positions within the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.In his new role as Senior Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Change, Mr. Pasztor will support efforts of the Secretary-General to mobilize world leaders and all sectors of society to implement the landmark Paris Agreement.
7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Russia
A strong earthquake of 7.0 magnitude struck in Russia’s Far East on 30 January 2016.The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 160 kilometres (100 miles), about 95 kilometres northeast of the Russian town of Yelizovo in the mountainous Kamchatka Krai region. The National and Pacific Tsunami Warning Centers said there was no risk the earthquake had caused a tsunami.
Noted Telugu Scholar Nayani Krishna Kumari Dead
Former vice-chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and well known Telugu literature Nayani Krishna Kumari passed away at her home in Hyderabad on 30 January 2016. She served as the vice-chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University from 1996 to 1999. Before that, she had worked as a professor and head of Telugu department, Osmania University. She was also principal of Padmavathi Mahila College in Tirupati. Krishna Kumari, who was born on March 14, 1930, to Nayani Subba Rao and Hanumayamma in Guntur, began writing stories on the history of Andhraites called ‘Andhrula Katha’ when she was 18.
Former Army chief K.V. Krishna Rao passed away
The former Army chief General K.V. Krishna Rao, who was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for two terms passed away at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment on 30 January 2016.He was 93.He served two terms as Jammu & Kashmir Governor when militancy flared up — first was a brief few months in 1989-90.When the militancy picked pace, the Narasimha Rao government turned to the General, and he returned as the J&K governor in March 1993, and served through the tumultuous period until May 1998.He started his career as an army officer during World War II, during which served in Burma, North West Frontier and Baluchistan.Gen. Rao also participated in the 1947-48 war against Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, before he went on to become the founder instructor of the National Defence Academy during 1949-51.He commanded an Army Division in the 1971 war with Pakistan in the eastern theatre. General Krishna Rao was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff on June 1, 1981 and served as COAS until July 1983.He was also Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the highest appointment in the Services, during March 1982 to July 1983. He was Colonel of the Mahar Regiment during 1968-83. From June 1984 to July 1989, General Rao was the Governor of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. He also served short tenures as the Governor of Mizoram.
N Ramesh Kumar Appointed as the AP state election commissioner
The AP government on 30 January 2016 constituted the State Election Commission and appointed senior IAS officer N Ramesh Kumar as the state election commissioner. Ramesh will hold the office for a period of five years.
Angelique Kerber defeats Serena Williams to win Australian Open
Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Australian Open title, ending the six-time champion’s unbeaten streak in finals at Melbourne Park.Serena Williams reached the six times finals in Australia Open title and all times she won the title. Williams won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2015 before losing to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals.