Daily Current Affairs- 11th January 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 11th January 2025

INTERNATIONAL

Army chief elected Lebanon's president

• Lebanon’s parliament has elected General Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, effectively ending a two-year political vacuum. The election, held on January 9, 2025, concluded a prolonged period of political paralysis that began after the term of former President Michel Aoun ended in October 2022. 

BHEL Commission Punatsangchhu-II Hydel project in Bhutan

• The government of India-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned two units of the 6×170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan. The 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project is being developed by the Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project Authority, under an Agreement between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India. 

NATIONAL

India: UP government and Google Cloud to launch AI-powered agri network

• The UP government has signed an MoU with Google Cloud (India) to launch the Gemini-powered and Beacon-enabled Uttar Pradesh Open Network for Agriculture. The agreement, aimed at revolutionizing agriculture in the state, was signed by Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and Google Cloud (India) vice-president Anil Bhansali. 

OBITUARY

Renowned Playback Singer P. Jayachandran Passes Away

• Jayachandran, affectionately known as “Bhava Gayakan,” was a celebrated playback singer whose voice resonated deeply with emotions such as love, devotion, and longing. He passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

B.N. Srikrishna appointed as the Chairman of the newly established Advisory Board

• Retired Justice B.N. Srikrishna has been appointed as the Chairman of the newly established Advisory Board for Equal, an identity verification and data-sharing platform, and its strategic investee, OneMoney, an account aggregator. This appointment aligns with the government’s recent release of the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, signaling a stronger regulatory push for data security and privacy. 

Romesh Puri appointed secretary general of IDSA

• The Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) on appointed Romesh Kumar Puri as its secretary general, The IDSA represents the direct selling industry in India, with a career spanning over 34 years in the Government of India, Puri has held various significant roles across multiple ministries and departments, as per a statement. 

SUMMITS & MOUs

Animal Welfare Board of India and NALSAR University Sign MoU

• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NALSAR University of Law, in Hyderabad to Train Animal Welfare Representatives. The MoU was signed by Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Chairman, AWBI and Prof. Shrikrishna Deva Rao, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR University. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed was honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025

• Syed Anwar Khursheed, a distinguished Indian physician based in Saudi Arabia, will be awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025, the highest recognition for overseas Indians by the Government of India. The award celebrates his remarkable contributions to healthcare, community welfare, and strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia. 

RANKING

Henley Passport Index 2025

• The United Kingdom-based Henley and Partners firm releases the Henley Passport Index. It is based on the data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• According to the recently released Henley Passport Index 2025, India has slipped to 85th rank from 80th last year, in the world’s most powerful passports list. Singapore retained its status as the most powerful passport in the world. The United States passport rank declined from 7th in 2024 to 9th in 2025.

Top 5 Ranked Countries are 

1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, South Korea
4. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway
5. Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom