Current Affairs in Short: 25 January 2018

1. No Padmaavat screening in Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic period drama, 'Padmaavat' was not released in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh during the film’s nation-wide release on January 25, 2018.

The film distributors in the three states decided not to pick the film reels while the Multiplex Association of India announced that its members would not screen the film in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, in view of the potential risk to life and property

Three major distributors in Rajasthan-Marudhar Sign Entertainment, Yashraj Jai Pictures and AA Films refused to pick up the film reels, citing the precarious law and order situation. Theatre owners in Gujarat also announced that the film will not be screened in any of the multiplexes or single screens in the state till the row over the film is resolved.

The decision came as Rajput outfits and other fringe elements vandalised malls, burned vehicles and issued open threats to theatre owners and the public in their bid to stall the film’s release, claiming it as a distortion of history.

2. Prime Minister holds bilateral talks with ASEAN Leaders

Ahead of the India-ASEAN commemorative summit, Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with Sultan of Brunei, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassan-al Bolkiah in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

Modi also held talks with his Thailand counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong. Later, in the evening, the Prime Minister would be meeting the President of Indonesia JokoWidodo.

Prior to this, on January 24, Modi held separate bilateral meetings with leaders of three ASEAN nations - Myanmar, Vietnam and Philippines. All the 10 ASEAN leaders would be attending India’s 69th Republic Day parade on January 26.

3. Union Government appoints six new Joint Directors in CBI

The Union Government has appointed six new Joint Directors in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The newly appointed officers include senior police officer Praveen Sinha from Gujarat-cadre and police officers Ajay Bhatnagar and Pankaj Kumar Srivastava.

Sinha, a 1988 batch officer of Indian Police Service, is at present Additional Secretary in Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Bhatnagar is Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Srivastava is presently serving in his cadre state Madhya Pradesh.

Three other IPS officers, Sharad Aggarwal, Gajendra Kumar Goswami and V Murugesan, have also been appointed as JDs in the probe agency. These three officers are at present Deputy Inspector Generals in the CBI.

4. Britain funds satellite hunt for new minerals

The British government has handed out $1 million for research that uses satellites to identify deposits of minerals, including battery metal lithium, as part of efforts to bolster the economy after the exit from the European Union.

The project, named Satellite Applications Catapult, is seeking to assess the quality of mineral structures, to ensure exploration spending is focused on the best deposits, by analysing satellite images of geology and vegetation.

The British government is counting on a low-carbon car industry to help boost up the economy after the country leaves the European Union.

5. Jaypee Infratech CFO Ram Bahadur Singh resigns

Ram Bahadur Singh, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of debt-ridden Jaypee Infratech has announced his resignation from the company, citing health reasons.

In an official statement, Jaypee Infratech informed that Singh who was the Director and Chief Financial Officer of the company has resigned due to deteriorating health since last six months, from the close of working hours on January 15, 2018.

Jaypee Infratech has been taken over by a NCLT-appointed Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) for recovery of bad loans.