Daily Current Affairs Quiz January 29 2026

1. The EU moved against Russia: on Jan 29 EU foreign ministers agreed to blacklist Russian government banks for high money-laundering risk. In parallel, the EU also announced it would designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

2. In West Africa, Nigerien forces repelled an armed assault on Niamey’s Diori Hamani Airport, killing ~20 militants (several were linked to insurgent groups). Boko Haram gunmen also attacked in Nigeria’s northeast, killing at least 25 construction workers in Borno State.

3. Burkina Faso’s junta issued a decree dissolving all political parties and scrapping the laws governing them. This move tightens military control after the September 2022 coup.

4. An international probe was launched into Georgia’s internal politics: Britain, Canada, Germany and 21 other OSCE members agreed to send an expert mission on Jan 29 to investigate alleged human-rights abuses in Georgia.

5. China’s government executed 11 people convicted of running overseas fraud “scam” call-centers (mostly based in Myanmar), responding to concerns about cross-border cybercrime.

1. Gold prices eased on Jan 29 after hitting record highs: spot gold fell about 1.3% to ~$5,328/oz, though it remained near multi-year peaks on strong demand (UBS raised its short-term forecast amid a risk-on market). The Federal Reserve held U.S. interest rates steady (3.50–3.75%), which took some heat off gold.

2. A Reuters poll of economists found India’s central bank (RBI) is expected to hold its policy repo rate at 5.25% through 2026, given robust growth and inflation below target. Over 80% of forecasters saw no rate cut this year.

3. The Indian rupee sank to an all-time low of ₹91.9550 per US$ on Jan 29. The RBI intervened in forex markets to prevent the rupee from weakening past ₹92, as foreign outflows and hedging flows put pressure on the currency.

4. In global finance, India’s RBI and the EU financial regulator (ESMA) signed a cooperation MoU for information-sharing on central counterparty (CCP) oversight. This aims to improve supervision of derivatives clearinghouses used in cross-border markets.

1. Astronomers using the Event Horizon Telescope tracked a 3,000-light-year-long jet back to the supermassive black hole M87* (the first black hole ever imaged). This work, published Jan 28, 2026, is “an early step” toward connecting theories of jet launching with direct observations.

2. Meanwhile, NASA’s Juno spacecraft observed what is believed to be the most powerful volcanic eruption ever seen in the solar system, on Jupiter’s moon Io. The Dec 27, 2024 eruption covered roughly 40,400 square miles and released an estimated 140–260 terawatts of power – far more energy than the largest terrestrial eruptions.

3. Rocket Lab successfully launched a South Korean disaster-surveillance satellite (named Bridging the Swarm) from New Zealand on Jan 29. The mission was slightly delayed from its original schedule; it will gather imagery to improve flood and hazard forecasting.

1. Storm “Kristin” battered Western Europe around Jan 28–29. In Portugal it produced record gusts (up to 202 km/h), felled trees and disrupted power. At least 6 people were killed and over 1 million homes lost electricity.

2. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2025 was one of the three warmest years on record worldwide. Despite the onset of a La Niña phase, global average temperatures remained exceptionally high. WMO noted that extreme events (heatwaves, storms) continued to highlight climate risks.

3. The Asian Development Bank and United Nations launched a $100 million food-security program in Afghanistan, targeting 151,000 families facing acute hunger. The aid will help those affected by mass deportations and aid cuts, aiming to avert a humanitarian crisis.

1. In Pakistan’s northwest, security forces killed three militants during an operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Bannu district). Authorities continue to conduct counter-terrorism raids against insurgent hideouts.

2. In the Russia–Ukraine war, the first exchange of war dead since Nov 2025 took place: Russia handed over ~1,000 Ukrainian bodies, and Ukraine returned 38 Russian bodies. This swap was negotiated under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

3. The U.S. State Department approved a $1.7 billion foreign military sale to Spain for mid-life upgrades of its five F-100 frigates. The upgrades include new radars and weapons systems to extend the ships’ service lives.

1. Arijit Singh (b. 1987) – India’s chart-topping singer – announced on Jan 29 that he is retiring from playback singing to concentrate on composing and nurturing young talent.

2. Kirtida Mekani (b. 1959), a Singapore-based environmentalist known as the city’s “Tree Lady,” passed away on January 19, 2026. Mekani spent decades planting trees and raising awareness about urban greenery in Singapore.

1. Bangladesh reversed an earlier decision and allowed its national shooting team to compete in India’s Asian Shooting Championships (New Delhi). This followed domestic political discussions about sending sports teams abroad amid security concerns.

2. In cricket, New Zealand beat India by 50 runs in the 4th ODI at Visakhapatnam, sealing the series 3–1. Kiwis’ all-rounder Mitchell Santner took 3 wickets as India were restricted.

3. Canada announced its team for the 2026 Winter Olympics (Milan-Cortina): a record 207 athletes will go, and for the first time women (108) will outnumber men. This reflects growing female participation in winter sports in Canada.

At the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective ceremony (Jan 29 in Los Angeles), music legends were honored: Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Brandy was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and gospel singer Kirk Franklin received an Impact Award.

1. Jan 26, 2026 – International Day of Clean Energy. The 3rd annual observance highlighted “Clean Energy for People and Planet” as its theme, focusing on solar, wind and other renewables.

2. Jan 26, 2026 – International Customs Day. The theme was “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment”, marking customs agencies’ role in securing supply chains.
(Jan 26 is also India’s Republic Day; on Jan 28 the traditional Beating Retreat ceremony was held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.)

The Indian Railways Board saw a major reshuffle: Vivek K. Gupta was appointed Member (Infrastructure), Manjusha Jain Member (Finance); Aruna Nayar became Director General (Human Resources); Hitendra Malhotra was named DG (Safety) and Hari Shankar Verma Member (Operations & Business Development). These appointments were approved effective Jan 29.

1. The EU Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on Jan 29 (chaired by Estonia’s Kaja Kallas) to address Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Great Lakes region. At the same venue, EU and Morocco held their regular Association Council (Jan 29) to discuss political and trade relations.

2. In Asia, ASEAN foreign ministers gathered for their annual retreat on Jan 29 in Cebu City, Philippines – the first major meeting under the Philippines’ chairmanship. The theme was “Navigating Our Future, Together”.

1. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the “Mukhya Mantrir Eti Koli Duti Paat” scheme, granting a one-time ₹5,000 cash aid to over 600,000 tea-garden workers. The ₹300 crore program celebrates 200 years of Assam tea and aims to support laborers.

2. The Uttar Pradesh state cabinet approved a cashless health insurance scheme for government school teachers and staff (~1.5 million people). The plan will cover the employees and their dependents for treatment at empaneled private hospitals, with the state footing the bills.

1. Ajit Pawar (b. 1959) – Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader – died in the Jan 28 plane crash. (His passing was widely mourned; he had also switched allegiance to the ruling BJP in late 2023.)

2. Kirtida Mekani (b. 1959) – Singapore environmentalist – died Jan 19, 2026. Mekani was famous for planting trees across Singapore and served on the board of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

1. The WMO’s annual climate report confirmed that 2025 ranks among the warmest years on record, continuing an 11-year streak of globally record temperatures.

2. The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report (released Jan 2026) forecasts global GDP growth slowing to ~2.7% in 2026, down from ~3% in 2025. The report cites trade frictions, high debt and climate shocks as drags on the world economy.

1. The American Library Association announced its 2026 Youth Media Awards: Renée Watson’s novel All the Blues in the Sky won the John Newbery Medal for children’s literature.

2. Jewell Parker Rhodes won the 2026 Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award for her middle-grade novel Will’s Race for Home.

A viral social media trend under #2016 swept TikTok and Instagram: celebrities (e.g. John Legend, Reese Witherspoon) shared decade-old photos and memories, declaring “2026 is the new 2016.” As of Jan 29, the hashtag was used in over 1 million TikTok posts and 37 million Instagram posts, reflecting a nostalgic “time warp” meme of looking back at 2016 trends.