Important Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 18th  JANUARY 2018

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

59th National Exhibition of Arts inaugurated by Dr Mahesh Sharma

●    Dr. Mahesh Sharma inaugurated The 59th National Exhibition of Art at Lalit Kala Gallery in New Delhi today. 
●    The exhibition covers artworks from extensive series of mediums like paintings, sculptures, graphics, photographs, drawings, installation and multimedia. 
●    The catalogue for the 59th National Exhibition of Art has also been released by Dr Mahesh Sharma.

Modi has revived the deal to buy Spike anti-tank missiles

●    Narendra Modi has revived the deal to buy Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel.
●    It is a $500 million deal.
●    India had opted out of buying the anti-tank guided missiles in December after the Defence Ministry decided to back the state-owned DRDO.
●    DRDO promised to deliver a world-class missile within four years.

States To Discuss Steps To Empower Minorities 

●    Minority affairs ministers and ministers of social justice from several states will discuss measures to empower minorities.
●    The meeting will be launched by Yogi Adityanath.
●    Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will be the chief guest. 
●    Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chandigarh will take part in the meeting.
 

Mumbai more expensive than Singapore for expats

●    Mumbai has been ranked as Asia's fifth most expensive rental city for expatriates.
●    It makes Mumbai more expensive than Singapore.
●    Tokyo has been ranked second on the list.

Make sanitary napkins available at reduced prices: Bombay HC

●    The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to consider making sanitary napkins available at concessional rates to needy women. 
●    The court was hearing a PIL which said 88% women do not have access to sanitary napkins due to lack of awareness and high price of the product. 

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: DEFENCE

Successful Fifth Flight Test of Agni-5 Ballistic Missile

●    Long Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was successfully flight tested for its full range today at 0953 hrs from Dr Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. 
●    This was the fifth test of the Missile and the third consecutive one from a canister on a road mobile launcher. All the five missions have been successful.
●    The flight performance of the missile was tracked and monitored by radars, range stations and tracking systems all through the mission.

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: ECONOMY

Maharashtra Cabinet Approves 1 Per Cent Quota For Orphans

●    The Maharashtra cabinet approved a 1% reservation for orphans in government jobs.
●    The cabinet, also approved the Maharashtra State Innovation and Startup policy.
●    It aims to attract investment of Rs.5,000 crore.

India To Become $5 Trillion Economy In 8-9 years

●    Commerce and Industries Minister is Suresh Prabhu.
●    He said that India is expected to become a $ 5 trillion economy in the next 8-9 years.
●    Manufacturing sector will contribute 20% to that.

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Namaste Shalom-monthly magazine on bilateral relations between  INDIA-ISRAEL

●    The Jewish community is going to launch 'Namaste Shalom'.
●    It is going to be a regular monthly magazine on bilateral relations between the two countries.
●    The magazine would be launched at the Magen David Synagogue at Byculla in south Mumbai.

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

French startup launches world's 1st hydrogen-powered bicycle

●    Pragma Industries, based in Biarritz, France and makes fuel cells for military use.
●    It has made hydrogen-powered bikes.
●    Cost is about 7,500 euros per bike.
●    The bikes are too expensive for the consumer market.
●    Bike runs for about 100 km (62 miles) on a two-litre tank of hydrogen.

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been jailed

●    Saudi Arabia's richest man Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was first arrested and detained in "anti-corruption" sweep. 
●    He was moved out of his restricted quarters at the Riyadh Ritz Carlton Hotel and moved to Al Ha'ir prison.
●    For more than two months, the prince had been held at the Riyadh Ritz.

Malaysia's Sultan gets Stone Age 'Flintstones car' as gift

●    A Malaysian sultan has been given a life-size replica of Fred Flintstone's car.
●    This car is from a classic cartoon.
●    Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor is one of Malaysia's most powerful and wealthiest state rulers. 

Israel PM describes Mahatma Gandhi as "Humanity's Great Prophet"

●    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Mahatma Gandhi as one of the great prophets of humanity.
●    Mr Netanyahu arrived the Sabarmati Ashram today.
●    Before this, Israeli PM and his wife spent around 20 minutes in the ashram premises.

This City Could Be World's First To Run Out Of Water

●    South Africa's Cape Town, one of the world's iconic tourist destinations, could run out of water by April.
●    "Day Zero" is the day when the city will go dry. 
●    The date is April 22.
●    Almost 2 million tourists flock to Cape Town every year.
●    A maximum 25 litres of water will be provided per person, per day.

Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephant Gives Birth In Indonesia

●    A critically endangered Sumatran elephant has given birth to a new calf in Indonesia, 
●    Sumatran elephants are a protected species.
●    The newborn was found with its 40-year old mother Seruni.

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: AWARDS

 National Bravery Awards 2018

●    16 courageous have been selected from different parts of the country to be given the National Bravery award 2018. 
●    Out of f the 16 children, four would be awarded posthumously. 
●    The children have been selected from 13 states.