Current Affairs January 2024

1. A United Nations helicopter was captured by al-Shabab fighters in Somalia on January 10, 2024.
2. The helicopter experienced a technical glitch, prompting it to land close to Gadoon village in the Galgaduud region.
3. The helicopter took off from the city of Beledweyne, and there were nine passengers on board, including military personnel and a third-party contractor.
4. Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has been attempting to overthrow the Somali government since 2006 to establish its rule.
5. The group primarily operates in the center and south of Somalia, with thousands of fighters.

Q: Which terrorist group captured a United Nations helicopter in Somalia in January 2024?

a. Taliban
b. Al-Shabab
c. ISIS
d. Boko Haram

answer: b. Al-Shabab

• Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League, is set to take the oath as Bangladesh’s prime minister for the fourth consecutive term.
• The oath-taking ceremony will take place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Thursday.
• President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath not only to the prime minister but also to other members of the upcoming cabinet during the ceremony.
• The elected members of the 12th parliament are scheduled to take their oath on Wednesday.
• The Election Commission of Bangladesh published a gazette notification on January 9, providing details of the results of the 12th National Elections.
• In the elections, which occurred on January 7, the Awami League-led alliance secured a landslide victory, winning 225 seats. The Awami League alone secured 222 seats in the 12th National Elections.

Q: Who is elected as Bangladesh’s prime minister for the fourth consecutive term?

a. Mohammed Shahabuddin
b. Sheikh Hasina
c. Nawab Sharif
d. Mohamed Asif

Ans : b. Sheikh Hasina

• Gabriel Attal is appointed as the next Prime Minister of France as part of Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to revitalize his presidency.
• Currently serving as the education minister, Attal takes on the role of Prime Minister.
• At the age of 34, Gabriel Attal becomes the youngest Prime Minister in modern French history.
• This surpasses the previous record held by Socialist Laurent Fabius, who was 37 when appointed by François Mitterrand in 1984.
• Gabriel Attal replaces Élisabeth Borne, who resigned from the position after a 20-month tenure.

Q: At what age does Gabriel Attal become the youngest Prime Minister in modern French history?

a. 30
b. 34
c. 37
d. 40

Ans : b. 34

India and Maldives have had a long-standing relationship, with India being one of the first countries to recognize Maldives’ independence in 1965 In recent times, there have been some developments in the relationship between the two countries. Here are some of the latest developments:

• In December 2023, three deputy ministers of the Maldives made disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Lakshadweep, promoting it as a tourist hotspot. This led to a nosedive in India-Maldives relations. The Indian government raised the issue with Maldives, after which the Maldives government suspended the three ministers.
• In January 2024, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited China on an official visit, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a delegation of senior government officials. This visit has deepened the diplomatic shift as India-Maldives ties strain.

Q: What was the cause of the nosedive in India-Maldives relations in December 2023?

a. Trade disputes
b. Disparaging remarks about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep
c. Military conflicts
d. Economic sanctions

Ans : b. Disparaging remarks about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep

• Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, a senior diplomat of India, assumed the position of secretary general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on 4 January 2024 at Dhaka.
• He is the 4th secretary general of BIMSTEC and will perform this duty for a period of the next three years. He has succeeded Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan, said a media statement.
• On his arrival in Dhaka, Pandey was warmly received by Abdul Motaleb Sarker, director general (Saarc & BIMSTEC) and directors of the BIMSTEC secretariat.

What is BIMSTEC ?

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The organization was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. The primary objective of BIMSTEC is to promote technical and economic cooperation among its member countries in various sectors such as trade, investment, tourism, health, education, and environment.

Q: Who assumed the position of Secretary General of BIMSTEC in January 2024?

a. Mani Sankar Ayer
b. Indra Mani Pandey
c. Lal Mani Tripathi
d. Mukesh Yadav

Ans : b. Indra Mani Pandey

1. Cargo ship ‘MV Lila Norfolk’ was hijacked near the coast of Somalia on 4th Jan Night.
2. All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, have been rescued and are safe.
3. MARCOS, elite commandos, of Indian Navy conducted the operation to sanitize the cargo ship.
4. The hijacking was reported by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
5. INS Chennai, a navy destroyer, was diverted from anti-piracy patrol to rescue the crew.
6. The naval warship launched a helicopter and issued a warning to pirates to abandon the hijacked vessel.

Q: Which elite commando unit conducted the operation to rescue the hijacked cargo ship near the coast of Somalia?

a. Navy Seals
b. MARCOS
c. SAS (Special Air Service)
d. GIGN (National Gendarmerie Intervention Group)

Ans : b. MARCOS