Important Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 2nd  JANUARY 2018

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Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Wayanad to be made floriculture hub
●    Government has initiated a series of efforts to develop Wayanad district as the floriculture hub of the State.
●    Wayanad had been designated as special zone for floriculture and aromatic rice cultivation.
●    The 18-day fete is being organised jointly by the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare.

AAP govt revamps fair price shops

●    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government announced a revamped system for distribution of rations.
●    It includes an e-point of sale (POS) system.
●    It will allow beneficiaries to buy from any fair price shop.

First Telugu woman to scale Mt. Aconcagua
●    G.R. Radhika, Addl. SP, climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina on December 30.
●    She became the first Telugu woman to climb the highest peak in South America.
●    ONGC Supported her financially.
●    She plans to complete the 7-summit world challenge by climbing two more left out peaks.

MGR’s childhood home to become a memorial

●    The childhood home of M.G. Ramachandran will get a facelift.
●    He was former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister & All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam founder.
●    The new house will function as an interpretation centre with displaying of books and photographs of the leader. 
●    There will be a mini-theatre inside the house to screen documentaries on MGR and films in which he acted.

Hollywood women launch abuse campaign

●    More than 300 actresses, writers and directors have launched a project to help fight sexual harassment in the film industry and other workplaces.
●    The initiative is called Time's Up.
●    The campaign is backed by hundreds of actresses.
●    They have already raised more than $13m (£9.6m) of its $15m target.

Vikas Samiksha Yatra

●    Nitish Kumar laid foundation stones for more than 100 projects worth Rs 700 crore in Nalanda district.
●    This has been done as part of his statewide "Vikas Samiksha Yatra".

Cargo Movement On Brahmaputra starts

●    Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari flagged off cargo movement on the Pandu-Dhubri route of the Brahmaputra river.
●    It will boost the inland waterway transport system in the northeast, 
●    5 bridges would be constructed on the river to ease transportation.

Telangana constituted Fin. Commission

●    The State Finance Commission of Telangana has been constituted by the government.
●    The Constitutional body will review financial positions of the local bodies.
●    Former minister and ZP chairman G Rajesham Goud, from Jagtial, has been appointed as chairman of the commission. 

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

Vidarbha wins maiden Ranji Trophy

●    Vidarbha won maiden Ranji Trophy after beating Delhi by nine wickets in the final of domestic tournament.
●    Opting to field, Vidarbha bowled out Delhi for 295 in the first innings.
●    Vidarbha scored 547 in reply.
●    In second innings, Delhi were all out for 280.

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

China-hand Gokhale to be Foreign Secretary
●    Vijay Gokhale is going to become next Foreign Secretary.
●    He is an officer with great experience on China and the East Asian neighbourhood. 
●    Gokhale is a 1981-batch officer.
●    He is currently Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Marijuana legalised in California

●    California legalised marijuana in new year.
●    It is a much-anticipated change that comes two decades after the State was the first to allow pot for medical use. 
●    Pot is now legal in California for adults 21 and older, and individuals can grow up to six plants.
●    About 90 businesses received state licenses to open on New Year’s Day.

China Develops Underwater Surveillance Networks In Indian Ocean, South China Sea

●    China has established an underwater surveillance network.
●    It will help Chinese navy track its target accurately.
●    It will give China a cutting edge in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

UK To Tax Tech Giants Over Extremist Content
●    Britain is planning to impose new taxes on tech giants like Google and Facebook. 
●    This will be done if they are not able to fight online extremism by taking down material aimed at radicalising people or helping them to prepare attacks.
●    Tech giants are being accused of putting private profit before public safety.

S Korea offers high-level talks with North
●    South Korea has offered high-level talks with North Korea.
●    It will also discuss its possible participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
●    Kim Jong-un, is considering sending a team in South Korea for the Games in February.

China’s waste ban will affect US
●    China's waste import ban ha came into effect.
●    Now U.S. and UK will have to deal with mountains of recyclables.
●    Every single day, about 4,000 shipping containers full of recyclables leave U.S. ports, bound for China. 
●    In return, China sends back, electronics, and clothing.

Former winner Carlson crowned new chairperson for Miss America
●    Gretchen Carlson has become chairperson of the Miss America organization’s board.
●    She is former Fox News host and Miss America 1989.
●    Carlson joins the board after the Huffington Post revealed lewd e-mails between former pageant C.E.O. Sam Haskell and lead pageant writer Lewis Friedman on December 21. 

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: AWARDS

GAIL Awards Contracts for PMUG yojana

●    GAIL India has awarded contracts for a 520-km pipeline under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga gas pipeline project. 
●    With this phase-II of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) project has been finalised.
●    JHBDPL is a 2,655-km long project.
●    It is also known as the 'Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga' project.

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

India Hosting 10 Asean Leaders on 26 Jan
●    Indian government will host leaders of 10 Asean countries as chief guests on January 26.
●    It will happen for the first time that 10 country’s leader will take part in the event.
●    In 2017 Southeast Asian bloc completed its 50 years of formation.

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: SCHEMES

Bhavantar Bharpai scheme in Haryana
●    Haryana government has launched Bhavantar Bharpai scheme.
●    It is also known as  the price deficit compensation scheme for vegetables. 
●    This is being done to support farmers in distress.
●    The scheme aims to ensure income of up to Rs 48,000 to 56,000 per acre to farmers.
 

Current Affairs 2nd JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA’s to explore Saturn’s moon
●    NASA's flying observatory is preparing its 2018 observing campaign.
●    It includes observations of Saturn's giant moon Titan.
●    Sofia is a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 100-inch diameter telescope. 
●    It is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center.