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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

тЧП    Dr. Mahesh Sharma inaugurated The 59th National Exhibition of Art at Lalit Kala Gallery in New Delhi today. 
тЧП    The exhibition covers artworks from extensive series of mediums like paintings, sculptures, graphics, photographs, drawings, installation and multimedia. 
тЧП    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

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


States To Discuss Steps To Empower Minorities 

тЧП    Minority affairs ministers and ministers of social justice from several states will discuss measures to empower minorities.
тЧП    The meeting will be launched by Yogi Adityanath.
тЧП    Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will be the chief guest. 
тЧП    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

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


Make sanitary napkins available at reduced prices: Bombay HC

тЧП    The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to consider making sanitary napkins available at concessional rates to needy women. 
тЧП    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

тЧП    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. 
тЧП    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.
тЧП    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

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


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

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

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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

тЧП    The Jewish community is going to launch 'Namaste Shalom'.
тЧП    It is going to be a regular monthly magazine on bilateral relations between the two countries.
тЧП    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

тЧП    Pragma Industries, based in Biarritz, France and makes fuel cells for military use.
тЧП    It has made hydrogen-powered bikes.
тЧП    Cost is about 7,500 euros per bike.
тЧП    The bikes are too expensive for the consumer market.
тЧП    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

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


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

тЧП    A Malaysian sultan has been given a life-size replica of Fred Flintstone's car.
тЧП    This car is from a classic cartoon.
тЧП    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"

тЧП    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Mahatma Gandhi as one of the great prophets of humanity.
тЧП    Mr Netanyahu arrived the Sabarmati Ashram today.
тЧП    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

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


Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephant Gives Birth In Indonesia

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

Current Affairs 18th JANUARY 2018: AWARDS

 National Bravery Awards 2018

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

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Important Current Affairs 17th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 17th January 2018

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Government To Announce 10 More Smart Cities

тЧП    10 more cities will be added in Centre's flagship Smart City Mission.
тЧП    Till now 90 cities have been named under the scheme.
тЧП    Under the scheme, each city will get Rs. 500 crore.


Inauguration of oil refinery in Barmer

тЧП    Narendra Modi will inaugurate the oil refinery in Rajasthan's Barmer district.
тЧП    This project is a Joint Venture of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Rajasthan government.
тЧП    It is worth over Rs 43,000 crore.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: ECONOMY

3.36% rural youth can’t name India’s capital, finds survey

тЧП    Fourteen per cent of rural youth in the age group of 14-18 failed to identify the map of India.
тЧП    36% did not know that Delhi is the capital of India.
тЧП    This data was given by Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), brought out by Pratham.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: SCHEMES 

Lt Governor Approves "Quality Health For All" Scheme

тЧП    Lt Governor Anil Baijal approved a Delhi government scheme.
тЧП    This scheme is for quality healthcare service for people without any income criteria. 
тЧП    The scheme was passed by the AAP cabinet on December 12.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: GLOBAL NEWS


America's Fastest Spy Plane Could Be Back

тЧП    Lockheed Martin has been developing a successor to the SR-71 Blackbird.
тЧП    Lockheed officials are calling the new upcoming invention as "Son of Blackbird" .
тЧП    It could be fly by 2030.
тЧП    Hypersonic applies to speeds above Mach 5.
тЧП    It is five times the speed of sound. 


UK gets world's first-ever 'Minister for Loneliness'

тЧП    Britain appointed its first-ever minister to combat loneliness.
тЧП    Government said that this affects more than 9 million people in the country.
тЧП    The new minister is Tracey Crouch.
тЧП    She will build on the legacy of the late Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016.


World's coldest village records temperature of -62°C

тЧП    The thermometer in a remote Siberian village has broken all records.
тЧП    It is known as the coldest inhabited place on earth.
тЧП    Temperature has gone down to -67C.
тЧП    Last time such temperature was recorded in 1933.


World's longest underwater cave system discovered in Mexico

тЧП    A group of divers has connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico.
тЧП    It is now the biggest flooded cave on the planet.
тЧП    The discovery can help understanding the ancient Maya civilization.


Ferrari will be the first to build an electric supercar

тЧП    Ferrari is going to build a battery-electric supercar.
тЧП    It is being planned to challenge Tesla.
тЧП    It wants to create high-end, eco-conscious luxury market. 
тЧП    Ferrari CEO is Sergio Marchionne.
тЧП    He also heads Fiat Chrysler.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: SPORTS

Assam wins 8th Sub-junior Hockey Champ

тЧП    Hosts Assam Hockey beat Hockey Rajasthan in the final of the 8th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2018.
тЧП    Match took place in Hojai Hockey stadium.
тЧП    Their first breakthrough came in as Manish Sahani scored off a penalty stroke.


North, South Korea to march under 1 flag at Winter Olympics

тЧП    North and South Korean athletes will march together at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
тЧП    It will happen under a unified flag.
тЧП    The nations have also agreed to form a joint North and South Korean women's ice hockey team.


15-yr-old girl youngest in Grand Slams 3rd round in 20 yrs

тЧП    Ukraine's 15-year-old player Marta Kostyuk became the youngest to enter the third round of a Grand Slam.
тЧП    It happened for the first time after Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the 1997 US Open. 
тЧП    38-year-old Ivo Karlovic became the oldest man to reach the Australian Open third round in 40 years.


India lose their first Test series in 3 years

тЧП    South Africa defeated India by 135 runs.
тЧП    Match was held in the Centurion. 
тЧП    The last time India lost a Test series was when Australia defeated them in 2014-15. 
тЧП    The last Test will start from January 24 in Johannesburg.


Pujara first Indian to be run-out twice in a Test

тЧП    Cheteshwar Pujara is the first Indian cricketer to be run out twice in the same match.
тЧП    Pujara was run out in the first innings of the 2nd Test with South Africa.
тЧП    He again got run out on the 5th day.
тЧП    Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor and former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy have both been run-out in both innings of a Test on two occasions.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: AWARDS

Sudhir gets Janakavi Sawlaram award

тЧП    Actor Sudhir Dalvi was honoured with the Janakavi P Sawlaram award.
тЧП    Thane Mayor Meenakshi Shinde gave the 79-year-old artist a citation, shawl and 'shreefal'.
тЧП    The award is jointly given by the Thane Municipal Corporation and the Janakavi P Savlaram Kala Samiti. 
тЧП    Well-known dancer Jaishree T was given the Ganga Jamuna award.
 

seventh South African to win a Man of the Match award

тЧП    Pacer Lungi Ngidi became the seventh South African to win a Man of the Match award on Test debut.
тЧП    Ngidi took six wickets in the second innings.
тЧП    Lungi had replaced injured Dale Steyn for the Test.

Current Affairs 17th January 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists study elasticity of cells using their vibrations

тЧП    Canada-based scientists have developed a technique to map the elasticity of cell components.
тЧП    It is similar to how seismologists study Earth's vibrations.
тЧП    The technology is called "cell quake elastography".
тЧП    It uses a high-speed camera to study cells. 

Harvard team makes 'heart-on-a-chip' for faster drug testing

тЧП    Harvard University researchers have developed a 'heart-on-a-chip'.
тЧП    This can be used to test the reaction of heart tissue to external stimuli. 
тЧП    The team replicated cardiac muscles using hydrogel.
тЧП    The hydrogel-making process is 60% faster than the older one.

NASA image shows cluster with mass of 3 million billion Suns

тЧП    NASA has shared an image of a galaxy cluster containing the mass of three million billion Suns. 
тЧП    Image was shared from the Hubble Space Telescope.
тЧП    It has been Nicknamed as "El Gordo".
тЧП    It is the largest, hottest, and brightest X-ray cluster discovered. 

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Important Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 16th January 2018

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

T.N. children severely malnourished: report

тЧП    Severe Acute Malnutrition is high among children under the age of five in Tamil Nadu.
тЧП    This is said by the National Family Health Survey-4.
тЧП    Job Zachariah, chief of Unicef for Tamil Nadu and Kerala said that there is a need for a detailed State-level study of this phenomenon as the NFHS data was inadequate. 


Focus on education, skill development in NDMC budget

тЧП    The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) presented its budget for 2018-19.
тЧП    It focused on education and skill development, especially for girls. 
тЧП    The council announced the formation of an Under-10 football team for female students.
тЧП    He said the NDMC will also take care of the diet of the selected students so that all aspects affecting their game are taken care of.

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: OBITUARY 

Ex-Union Minister Raghunath Jha Passes Away

тЧП    Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Union minister Raghunath Jha died.
тЧП    He was 78.
тЧП    Jha was a Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise in the United Progressive Alliance government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


Israel seeks ‘big data’ from India, signs 4 agreements

тЧП    Israel wants to counter cyberthreats and to “revolutionise” Indian farm production.
тЧП    For this Israel has proposed to access India’s “big data”.
тЧП    Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh participated in the delegation-level talks.
 

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Presidential term is only five years: Sri Lankan SC

тЧП    President Maithripala Sirisena had proposed for staying in office for a year longer.
тЧП    Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has denied the proposal.
тЧП    A five-judge bench in a unanimous decision ruled that the President's term was limited to five years only.


Israeli PM To Visit Taj Mahal

тЧП    Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Taj Mahal in Agra with his wife Sara.
тЧП    Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied Netanyahu to Gujarat on Wednesday.
тЧП    He will be welcomed with a road show in Ahmedabad.
тЧП    The roadshow is an 8-kilometre drive from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram. 

Benjamin Netanyahu Pushes For Free Trade Deal With India: Report

тЧП    India and Israel will begin work on a free trade pact.
тЧП    Israel has been pushing for it.
тЧП    Israel has given initial approval for Indian energy companies to explore oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean.
тЧП    Bilateral trade has jumped from $200 million in 1992 to $4.16 billion in 2016,.

Japan mistakenly issues false N Korea missile attack warning

тЧП    Japan’s public broadcaster errantly issued a warning of a North Korean missile launch.
тЧП    It happened just days after Hawaii caused panic for its citizens by triggering a false emergency alert of an incoming missile.
тЧП    Japanese broadcaster NHK issued the alert..
тЧП    The warning was flashed across the broadcaster’s website.

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: ECONOMY

Wholesale inflation eases to 3-month low of 3.58%

тЧП    Wholesale price-based inflation eased to 3.58 per cent in December 2017.
тЧП    Wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation was 3.93 per cent in November 2017.
тЧП    Inflation on food articles slowed to 4.72 per cent in December, from 6.06 per cent in November 2017.

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

Indian boxers’ gold rush in Serbia

тЧП    In the seventh Nation’s Cup tournament for junior and youth women, India claimed 11 gold medals in all.
тЧП    This tournament is being held in  in Sombor, Serbia.
тЧП    The junior team won 13 medals -- nine gold, two silver and two bronze medals --, while the youth team clinched four medals -- three gold and one bronze.

Shankar, Sanjivani bag National titles

тЧП    Shankar Man Thapa and Sanjivani Jadhav won the men’s and women’s 10km titles in the 52nd National cross country championship.
тЧП    It was organised in Ponda near Panaji in Goa.
тЧП    Sanjivani is the 10,000m silver medallist.

Second win for Anand

тЧП    Viswanathan Anand defeated World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana to a 42-move masterclass.
тЧП    He moved into the joint lead with Anish Giri.
тЧП    This happened after three rounds of Tata Steel chess tournament.
тЧП    It was Anand’s second successive victory which raised the Anand’s tally to 2.5 points.

Maria Sharapova wins her first match on Grand Slam return

тЧП    Former world number one Maria Sharapova returned to Grand Slam tennis recently.
тЧП    In her first match after her return, she won a first-round at the Australian Open 2018.
тЧП    Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer also reached the second round of the tournament with straight-set wins.

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Only 24 astronauts have flown to the Moon, 3 of them twice

тЧП    NASA has sent 24 astronauts to the Moon between December 1968 and December 1972. 
тЧП    12 walked on the Moon while three astronauts were launched twice. 
тЧП    Jim Lovell orbited the Moon on both occasions, Eugene Cernan and John Young landed on their second Apollo missions.

Scientists accidentally find oldest ever butterfly fossils

тЧП    Netherlands-based researchers have accidentally discovered the oldest-ever butterfly fossils.
тЧП    This fossil is at least 200 million years old. 
тЧП    The discovery was made while extracting pollen grains from rock samples in Germany.

Current Affairs 16th JANUARY 2018: DEFENCE

Vajra Prahar: Indo-US joint military exercise to be held in Seattle

тЧП    Joint military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Seattle.
тЧП    45-member Special Forces team from Indian Army’s Southern Command will train alongside US soldiers in the third week of January.
тЧП    ‘Vajra Prahar’ is a Indo-US Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and the US. 

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Important Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 15th  JANUARY 2018

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana to have new passbooks on March 11

тЧП    Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced for the distribution of the new pattadar passbooks in all villages.
тЧП    Distribution will be done in one day on 11th March.
тЧП    The new passbooks are the result of a over-three-month exercise taken up by the Revenue department to verify and update land records by going to the door-step of people.

Tamil Nadu to give Medals for outstanding service

тЧП    The State government announced medals for 1,686 personnel.
тЧП    These medals will be given to the police, Fire and Rescue Services and Prison Services departments.
тЧП    1,500 police personnel in the rank of police constables, head constables and equivalent ranks be awarded the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Constabulary Medals for this year.


Tirupati poised to be an ‘IT Hub’

тЧП    Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the temple city Tirupati, would become an ‘IT and Knowledge Hub’.
тЧП    This is because of its proximity to metropolitan cities.
тЧП    He said this after unveiling the Zoho Corporation’s first facility in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Chinese bike-sharing startup Ofo to launch service in India

тЧП    Beijing-based bicycle sharing start-up Ofo will launch its services in India. 
тЧП    It will be made available on Paytm.
тЧП    According to the report, users will be able to book and pick up Ofo bikes for $1 per hour using an app. 
тЧП    Ofo signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) last week.

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India, Israel sign 9 agreements in space, defence, cybersecurity

тЧП    India and Israel will begin work on a free trade pact.
тЧП    Israel has given initial approval for Indian energy companies to explore oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean.
тЧП    Bilateral trade has jumped from $200 million in 1992 to $4.16 billion in 2016, largely in favour of Israel.
тЧП    Netanyahu wants to increase exports to India by 25 percent over the 3 years.

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: RANKING

India ranks 30th on WEF’s Global Manufacturing Index

тЧП    The World Economic Forum (WEF) in its Global Manufacturing Index put India on the 30th position.
тЧП    India is five places below China.
тЧП    Japan topped the rankings.
тЧП    India had a total manufacturing value of over $420 billion in 2016 which has grown up by over 7% per year.

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city Haifa

тЧП    Teen Murti Chowk has been renamed as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk.
тЧП    The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. T
тЧП    The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.

Visitors can zip line over 1,000 feet above Grand Canyon

тЧП    A zip line has been launched over 1,000 feet above Grand Canyon West, United States. 
тЧП    4 visitors at a time can travel at speeds of about 72 kmph.
тЧП    It will cost $89 per person. 


Rhino Shot Dead By Poachers In Kaziranga National Park

тЧП    An adult female rhinoceros was shot dead by poachers in Assam's Kaziranga National Park.
тЧП    This park is a UNESCO declared World Heritage site.
тЧП    Poachers could not take away the horn of the dead rhinoceros.
тЧП    A combing operation has been launched to trace the poachers..
тЧП    The incident was the first case of rhino killing by poachers this year.

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: DAYS AND DATES

January 15 celebrated as Army Day

тЧП    Indian troops on monday celebrated the 70th Army Day, officials said.
тЧП    Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Indian naval staff Sunil Lanba and Indian air chief marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa visited Amar Jawan Jyoti.
тЧП    Army celebrates Army day in its parade Ground in New Delhi cantonment.
тЧП    This time 15 medals were presented to soldiers.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

тЧП    On 15th January, US celebrated Martin Luther King Jr day.
тЧП    This day celebrates life and legacy of civil rights activist.
тЧП    He was a Baptist minister, Nobel Laureate and civil rights activist.
тЧП    In 1983, then-President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that created a federal holiday in King's honour. 
 

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: DEFENCE

Navy to buy its 3rd aircraft carrier for тВ╣1.6 lakh crore

тЧП    The Indian Navy will buy its third aircraft carrier in тВ╣1.6 lakh crore.
тЧП    It will also buy 57 twin-engine fighter planes.
тЧП    Recently Navy was denied by Nitin Gadkari for giving any land for their families.
 

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: ECONOMY

First-ever Pentagon audit to cost over тВ╣5,700 crore

тЧП    The US Department of Defence's first-ever financial audit will cost more than тВ╣5,700 crore. 
тЧП    Around 1,200 auditors will be tasked with examining the Defence Department's estimated $2.4 trillion assets.
тЧП    Defence Department comptroller is David Norquist.

Current Affairs 15th JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

Virat Kohli fastest player to hit 53 international hundreds

тЧП    Indian captain Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 53 international hundreds.
тЧП    He made his 21st Test hundred against South Africa.
тЧП    After Sachin Tendulkar, he is the only Indian to score multiple Test centuries in South Africa.

Racing legend Dan Gurney dies after pneumonia complications

тЧП    Dan Gurney, died on 14th January.
тЧП    He was 86.
тЧП    He was the first driver with victories in each of the Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR Cup series. 
тЧП    Gurney began racing in 1955.
тЧП    He won almost every race.

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Important Current Affairs 14th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 14th January 2018

Current Affairs 14th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

108 year old Mono Rail is now operational in National Rail Museum, New Delhi.

тЧП    The rich heritage of Indian Railways has now been opened in the National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi for viewers.
тЧП    The main center of attraction in the museum is the 108-year-old monorail which used to be used by late Shri Bhupindr Singh, Maharaja of Patiala.
тЧП    This monorail run by steam engines is unique in its kind in the world.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways signed with Transport for London

тЧП    Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today signed an MoU with Transport for London (TFL) in New Delhi.
тЧП    Its aim is to use the expertise of TFL to bring new life into the public transport infrastructure.
тЧП    TFL is the agency that manages the transportation system in Greater London.

5-day National Youth Festival begins on January 12, 2018

тЧП    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Youth Festival through video conferencing on January 12, 2018 and address the present.
тЧП    This festival will commence on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the young heart of India's lord Swami Vivekananda.
тЧП    The inauguration ceremony was co-chaired by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Col Rajyavardhan Rathore.
тЧП    On this occasion, the Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Mr. Mahesh Sharma will be a special guest.
тЧП    It will be held from 12th to 16th January 2018 at Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Greater Noida.

Railway Ministry launches Smart Freight Operation Optimization and Real Time Information (PURCH)

тЧП    Railway Ministry has launched Smart Freight Operation Optimization and Real Time Information (PURCH) application to help in the flow of rail traffic and the best freight operations scheme.
тЧП    This application is for freight managers and its features are supported by monitoring and management of freight business using Geographic Information System (GIS) Views and Dashboard.
тЧП    This app can see the movement of cargo on the Geographic Information System (GIS) view.
тЧП    In a single GIS view in Zone / Mandal and sections, both the carriage and carriage cart can be monitored.
 

Ministry of Tourism launches Incredible India Digital Calendar and Wall and Desk Calendar of 2018

тЧП    In pursuance of Government's Digital India initiative, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Shri K. J. Alfons launches 'Incredible India Digital Calendar - 2018' here today.
тЧП    He also released the Incredible India wall and desk calendar of 2018.
тЧП    The Incredible India digital calendar application will provide the user with information about all the festivals and festivals of India simultaneously.
тЧП    Digital calendars can be downloaded on Android and iOs platforms.

Ministry of Water Resources signed MoU with Bihar and Jharkhand

тЧП    In order to fulfill the remaining works of the estimated North Kole reservoir project of Rs. 1622.27 crores, the MoU has been signed between the Water Resources, River Development and the Ganga Protection Ministry, Bihar and Jharkhand State Government of India.
тЧП    The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 12 January 2018 during a meeting chaired by Water Resources, River Development and Secretary, Ganga Protection, Shri Upendra Prasad Singh.
тЧП    On this occasion Shri N. D. D.D., Director General, Shri Sanjay Kundu and Deputy Managing Director, NABARD, Shri H.R. Dave was also present.

Seventh edition of 'National Culture Festival -2018' will be held in Karnataka from January 14-20, 2018

тЧП    To commemorate the idea of unity in diversity, the Ministry of Culture is organizing the seventh edition of National Culture Festival in Karnataka from January 14, 2018.
тЧП    Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar and Union Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) and Environment Minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma will inaugurate the festival on January 14, 2018 in the Jnan Jyoti Auditorium, Palace Road, Gandhi Nagar and Bangalore.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the project work of Barmer Refinery on January 16, 2018

тЧП    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the project work of Barmer Refinery in Pachapadra, Rajasthan on January 16, 2018.
тЧП    The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhara Raje and Central Petroleum and Natural Gas, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and other dignitaries will also be present on this occasion.
тЧП    Project cost - 43129 crores
тЧП    The goal of concluding the engineering - 4 years
тЧП    Refinery capacity 9 MMTPA
тЧП    HPCL's equity share - 74 percent
тЧП    Equity share of Rajasthan Government - 26 percent

Indian Railways launches 'new online vendor registration system' in its research department RDSO

тЧП    Keeping in mind the priority of making systems and processes digital and transparent, the research arm of Indian Railways - Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO, Headquarters Lucknow) launched the new online vendor registration system.
тЧП    This new system has been developed after reviewing the RDSO's working system by the Union Railway and Coal Minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal.
тЧП    Various changes have been made for registration under the new system.
тЧП    RDSO has invited letter of interest for all over 600 items and services.

The third meeting of the Business Development and Promotion Council was held today in New Delhi.

тЧП    The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu chaired the third meeting of the Business Development and Promotion Council in New Delhi today.
тЧП    On this occasion, he called upon the states to find ways to tap the world trade of 5 trillion dollars (trillion) by promoting service exports.
тЧП    At the same time, he also laid special emphasis on organic farming, value addition of agricultural products, use of benefits received by Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and creation of employment.


To increase safety and efficiency in the operation of trains, Railways decided to deploy drone cameras in all its zones / divisions

тЧП    Indian Railways have decided to deploy the drone cameras to monitor their activities, especially the monitoring of the tracks, the tracks and the railway structure.
тЧП    Railways have issued instructions to do all of their boards to do this. With the help of railway technology, it is trying to make the operations of trains more secure and better.
тЧП    Drone cameras will help in monitoring relief and rescue operations as well as important actions, track status and inspection work will be monitored.

Current Affairs 14th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The Cabinet approved the consent memorandum between India and Canada for cooperation in science and technology.

тЧП    Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the consent memoranda with Canada for cooperation in science and technology.
тЧП    An arrangement will be made from the Memorandum of Understanding and will help in enhancing scientific cooperation between research and development and academic institutions of India and Canada.
тЧП    Under the consent memorandum between the Department of Science and Technology and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), innovative models of research and development cooperation between India and Canada will be implemented.

Current Affairs 14th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Organized fifth bilateral meeting between India and Malaysia for cooperation in traditional medicine systems

тЧП    The fifth bilateral meeting between India and Malaysia was held here today to cooperate in traditional medicine systems.
тЧП    This meeting was convened in 2010 under the agreement between the two countries.
тЧП    The meeting was presided over by Mr. Pramod Kumar Pathak, Joint Secretary, AYUSH Ministry, and on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Director, Public Health (Medicine), from the Ministry of Health.
тЧП    In his concluding statement, Secretary, AYUSH, Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said that steps taken for the promotion of traditional medicine systems and homeopathy from Malaysia are welcome.
 

Current Affairs 14th JANUARY 2018: DAYS AND DATES

Home Minister inaugurated 43rd Anniversary Day of MES Builders Association of India

тЧП    Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has assured that there will be no shortage of funds for border infrastructure.
тЧП    While inaugurating the 43rd Anniversary Day of the MES Builders Association of India here today, he said that the government will accelerate the issues related to forests and environment clearance, which has been consistently hampering strategic projects.
тЧП    Shri Rajnath Singh said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also emphasized that and clearance will be received to complete the projects in the interest of the nation.
тЧП    He said that private-public partnership (PPP) model for strategic structure will be important.

Home Minister will inaugurate International Workshop on Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

тЧП    The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh will inaugurate a two-day International Workshop on Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure here on Monday, 15th January, 2018.
тЧП    This workshop was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
тЧП    This workshop will bring together different parts of the world - from Chile to Australia and Japan to Sri Lanka - for various social, economic backgrounds and geographical features.
тЧП    This workshop will be a good opportunity to learn from the experiences of these countries towards the creation of disaster-resistant infrastructure.

Army Air Defense Corps celebrated its 25th Raising Day

тЧП    25th Foundation Day of Army Air Defense Corps (AAD) was celebrated on January 10, 2018.
тЧП    On this occasion, on the occasion of 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the AAD's Adjutant General and Senior Colonel Commandant Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar and Lt Gen PS Jaggi paid tribute to the martyrs and presented a floral circle.
тЧП    On this occasion, Aad pledged to be dedicated to the nation service and its motto 'Akash Shatru Jahi' by selflessly for the soldiers of all ranks.
тЧП    The establishment of AAD was done on January 10, 1994 and since then its role has increased greatly and it has proved its worth in all previous major wars.

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Important Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 13th  JANUARY 2018

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

K'taka smart city to have poles to charge electric vehicles

тЧП    Citizens living the Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City project will be able to charge their electric vehicles from smart poles.
тЧП    These poles will also act as wifi spots.
тЧП    Each smart pole is of Rs 10 lakh.
тЧП    It will also be equipped with telecommunications infrastructure that will support 4G and 5G. 

Tamil Nadu Assembly passes bill hiking MLAs' salary by 91%

тЧП    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has introduced a bill to increase the salary of MLAs in the state Assembly.
тЧП    The Tamil Nadu Payment of Salaries (Amendment) Bill proposes to increase the monthly salary to Rs 1.05 lakh from Rs 55,000 presently.
тЧП    Hike is of 91%.

India Tops Domestic Air Traffic Demand

тЧП    India's domestic air passenger traffic grew by 16.4 percent in November 2017.
тЧП    It was announced by global aviation body, the International Air Transport Association.
тЧП    The IATA, comprising major air carriers, said India continued to witness double-digit growth for the 39th consecutive month.

India should avoid China-like urbanisation: NITI Aayog VC

тЧП    NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar has said that the India should not copy China for urbanization.
тЧП    He also said that the country needs to use less resources per unit of GDP.
тЧП    India still does not have empowered cities.
тЧП    He stressed at the need of resurrecting the old tradition of having strong mayors in cities.

Cabinet approves continuation of MPLADS

тЧП    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) till the term of the 14th  Finance Commission. 
тЧП    The Scheme would entail an annual allocation of Rs. 3,950 crore and a total outlay of Rs. 11,850 crores over the next three years.
тЧП    The MPLADS funds are released to the nodal District Authorities on receipt of requisite documents and as per provisions of Guidelines on MPLADS.
 

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO workhorse PSLV-C40 puts 31 satellites in space

тЧП    ISRO workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) successfully placed 31 satellites in two different orbits.
тЧП    It was one of the longest mission.
тЧП    With this launch ISRO demonstrated multiple-burn technology.
тЧП    This is 40th successful launch of PSLV.

NASA demonstrates space navigation using X-rays for 1st time

тЧП    a team of NASA engineers has demonstrated fully autonomous X-ray navigation in space.
тЧП    It has been tried for the first time. 
тЧП    The SEXTANT experiment showed pulsars (rotating neutron stars) could be used to track fast-moving objects in space, like GPS satellites. 
тЧП    With this engineers located a satellite orbiting Earth at 17,500 mph within a 10-mile radius.

Rajesh Murthy steps down as Infosys President

тЧП    Rajesh Murthy has resigned from the post of President of Infosys.
тЧП    This happened after Salil Parekh took over as chief executive officer. 
тЧП    Murthy has been with Infosys for over 25 years has left the company for 'personal reasons'.
тЧП    His last day at Infosys will be at the end of the January.

ISRO to perform 'bungee jump' test on Chandrayaan-2

тЧП    Scientists at ISRO will conduct a stunt at Mahendragiri hills in Tamil Nadu. 
тЧП    A bungee jump is being planned for Chandrayaan-2 craft.
тЧП    It is being planned as a part of soft landing tests using a 100-metre tall crane.
тЧП    Chandrayaan-2 is India’s most ambitious project.
тЧП    It will land on the moon.

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Chinese transgression increased by 53% in 2017: Reports

тЧП    In a fresh event in Ladakh Chinese PLA troops entered almost 6 km deep inside Indian territory.
тЧП    They entered near the scenic Pangong lake area.
тЧП    This led to another stand-off between security personnel of the two countries.
тЧП    Chinese transgression increased by 53% in 2017.

Saudi allows women to attend men's soccer match for 1st time

тЧП    Saudi Arabia has allowed women to spectate at a football match.
тЧП    It has happened for the first time.
тЧП    Saudi Arabia has taken many steps to stop gender separation.
тЧП    Women from this June will be allowed to drive vehicles also.
тЧП    Women special showroom has been opened in Saudi Arabia.

America First' and 'Make in India' are compatible: US

тЧП    United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster put emphasis on economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
тЧП    "America First" and "Make in India" are not incompatible. 
тЧП    He said that investing in each other's markets will be mutually beneficial.
тЧП    The US envoy to India further emphasized on the "many" benefits of growing the bilateral economic relationship and making India a regional hub for U.S. business.

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: ECONOMY

IDFC Bank announces merger with Capital First

тЧП    IDFC Bank and Capital First announced a merger of the two businesses.
тЧП    Capital first is a non-banking finance company.
тЧП    After merger it will form a combined entity of assets under management of Rs 88,000 crore and distribution network of 194 branches. 
тЧП    IDFC Bank will issue 139 shares for every 10 shares of Capital First.

Zuckerberg loses 4th richest person's spot to Zara Founder

тЧП    Facebook CEO has lost the position of world's fourth-richest person.
тЧП    Now Zara Founder Amancio Ortega is the fourth richest person.
тЧП    Zuckerberg's fortune fell by $3.3 billion.
тЧП    This happened after his announcement of shifting users' News Feed towards content from family and friends, instead of content from publishers and businesses. 

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

S Korea proposes joint women's ice hockey team with N Korea

тЧП    South Korea has proposed fielding a joint women’s ice hockey team with North Korea at next month’s Winter Olympics.
тЧП    It happened after Pyongyang agreed to send a large delegation to the Games.
тЧП    South Korea’s vice-minister for sport is Roh Tae-kang.
тЧП    North Korea has not responded to the joint-team proposal.

Current Affairs 13th JANUARY 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India, Indonesia hold 1st sec. Dialogue

тЧП    India and Indonesia held their first security dialogue.
тЧП    They agreed on operational cooperation in security and counter-terrorism.
тЧП    The dialogue was led by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs H Wiranto.
 

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Important Current Affairs 12th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 12th January 2018

Current Affairs 12th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Mumbai to get a new International Cruise Terminal

тЧП    Mumbai will soon have an international cruise terminal at its port.
тЧП    A new cruise terminal being planned at the port.
тЧП    It will be 10 times the size of the existing one and will have all the facilities available at airports.
тЧП    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister for Shipping and Ports Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for the international cruise terminal.

Current Affairs 12th January 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Saudi allows women to visit country without a male companion

тЧП    Saudi Arabia has decided to give more power to the women.
тЧП    It is planning to give them freedom for education, travel and medical  treatment.
тЧП    Now women can move to other countries for education and all without any male companion.

India grants тВ╣288 crore to develop Sri Lankan port

тЧП    India has granted 288 crore for upgrading Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour in Sri Lanka.
тЧП    It has to be upgraded into a commercial port.
тЧП    Sri Lanka’s ministry of finance and Exim Bank of India signed an agreement for this on January 10.
тЧП    It will make KKS Harbour a full- fledged commercial port.

GIA -PM Modi named No.3 world leader, ahead of Trump, Putin

тЧП    An international survey has ranked PM Modi among the top three leaders of the world. 
тЧП    It has been declared in Gallup International in its annual survey.
тЧП    Survey was conducted across 50 nations.
тЧП    First rank went to the French President Emmanuel Macron.
тЧП    Second position went to German chancellor Angela Merkel.

‘India’s vote at UN not an issue’

тЧП    Israel's Ambassador to India is Daniel Carmon.
тЧП    He said that India's vote against Israel at the UN General Assembly will not influence the bilateral ties.
тЧП    Earlier India has voted against Israel on the issue of Jerusalem.
тЧП    Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive on a six-day visit to India on January 14.

China’s Silk Road hits hurdles

тЧП    China has planned for a modern Silk Road of railways, ports and other facilities.
тЧП    It is going to link Asia with Europe.
тЧП    Pakistan has now said no to plans for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
тЧП    Pakistan rejected it on the ground of being against the national interest.

Kazakhstan beats Iraq to be OPEC's biggest oil over-producer

тЧП    Kazakhstan has became biggest over-producer in the pact between OPEC and its allies.
тЧП    It has overtaken Iraq.
тЧП    This will curb oil output.
тЧП    Country’s total oil production increased by 10.5 percent to 86.2 million metric tons in 2017.


Saudi Arabia Gets Its First Women-Only Car Showroom

тЧП    A Saudi private company opened the first car showroom for women only.
тЧП    This has came into existence just before a decision allowing females to drive takes effect.
тЧП    It has opened up in the western Red Sea port city of Jeddah.
тЧП    Recently King Salman gave Saudi women the right to drive.

Bill For Increasing Allotment Of Green Cards Introduced In Us

тЧП    A legislation to push for a merit-based immigration system by allotment of Green Cards by 45 per cent annually has been introduced in the US.
тЧП    It may benefit Indian software professionals.
тЧП    It is called 'Securing America's Future Act'.
тЧП    It will reduce the overall immigration levels from currently 1.05 million to 260,000 a year.

Current Affairs 12th January 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India confirms NSAs met in Bangkok

тЧП    Ministry of external affairs has confirmed that the NSAs of the two country met in Bangkok. 
тЧП    It was confirmed by the spokesperson of MEA Raveesh Kumar.
тЧП    The National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India and Pakistan met on December 26.
тЧП    The talk decision was taken after attack on the Pathankot airbase, when New Delhi cancelled the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue.

U.S. could return to Paris climate deal, says Trump

тЧП    President Donald Trump gave a sign of returning back to the Paris climate accord.
тЧП    Paris climate accord is a global efforts to limit warming to under two degrees Celsius.
тЧП    Trump declared himself as a champion of environmentalism.
тЧП    A complete back off of US from this accord could put global efforts at back foot.

Current Affairs 12th January 2018: ECONOMY

Retail inflation in December hits 17-month high of 5.21%

тЧП    India's annual retail inflation reached 5.21 per cent in December 2017.
тЧП    December's inflation was predicted to rise to 5.10 percent from November's 4.88 percent.
тЧП    It is because of increased prices for some foods and the impact of higher pay for government employees.

Foreign students boost U.K. economy

тЧП    U.K. has a positive impact on the economy because of foreign students.
тЧП    It comprises of a total of £20 .3 billion to the British economy.
тЧП    This has put tremendous amount of pressure on the British Govt. which is planning to change rules for the international students.
 

Current Affairs 12th January 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists discover 18 spider-eating pelican spider species

тЧП    Scientists were conducting research in Madagascar.
тЧП    They have discovered 18 new spider-killing spider species.
тЧП    They are called pelican spiders.
тЧП    Entomologist Hannah Wood, authored the paper.

NASA finds ice buried under Mars' surface

тЧП    NASA spacecraft have detected eight ice deposits near the Martian surface.
тЧП    It is a potential source of water.
тЧП    It could help future human outposts.
тЧП    Scientists already knew that about a third of the surface of Mars contains shallow ground ice.
тЧП    The researchers used images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

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Important Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 11th  JANUARY 2018

Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Supreme Court to form SIT to probe 186 anti-Sikh riot cases

тЧП    The Supreme Court will appoint a new SIT to probe 241 cases from the 1984 riots.
тЧП    SIT will have a retired high court judge and two IPS officers, one serving and the other retired. 
тЧП    These 241 cases were closed by an earlier SIT. 
тЧП    Riots took place in 1984 as a response to the killing of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
тЧП    Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the riot.

Maritime focus for India, ASEAN

тЧП    The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit is going to take place on January 25.
тЧП    It is likely to focus on maritime security for the region.
тЧП    Secretary in-charge of eastern affairs in the MEA is Preeti Saran.
тЧП    This is meeting is called every year to discuss different topics to improve Maritime power of India.

PM sets targets for 115 backward districts

тЧП    Prime Minister ordered all ministries to report on the initiatives taken by them for 115 backward districts.
тЧП    Ministries have been asked to come up with an action plan for these districts.
тЧП    In November 2017, Niti Aayog appointed officials as prabhari or in-charge to coordinate these plans.

Female lawyer directly recommended as SC judge for 1st time

тЧП    Indu Malhotra is the first woman lawyer who has been directly recommended from the Bar to Supreme Court judgeship.
тЧП    Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra unanimously recommended the name.
тЧП    If she gets appointed she would be the seventh woman judge in the Supreme Court's history.

Telecom tycoon becomes Zimbabwe's first billionaire

тЧП    A London-based businessman has become Zimbabwe's first billionaire.
тЧП    He is the 14th richest man in Africa.
тЧП    His name is Strive Masiyiwa.
тЧП    He is 56 years old.

Comic book titled 'The Wall' releases on Dravid's 45th b'day

тЧП    Rahul Dravid is the latest addition to the list of comic heroes. 
тЧП    Dindigul-based KS Divakar, 23, has come up with a comic book 'The Wall'.
тЧП    It was launched online on January 11.
тЧП    It was launched at www.sportwalk.com.

Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

UK govt now has highest number of Indian-origin ministers

тЧП    UK parliament now has a minister of state (Alok Sharma) and three junior ministers (Rishi Sunak, Shailesh Vara and Suella Fernandes). 
тЧП    Sunak is the son-in-law of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy.
тЧП    Till now the only Indian-origin minister to hold a cabinet position was Priti Patel.
тЧП    Sunak was appointed in the ministry of housing, communities and local government, while Vara.
тЧП    He previously held junior posts in the department of justice and works and pensions

GI tag for ‘Gulbarga Tur Dal’ in a month

тЧП    The Kalaburagi red gram, “Gulbarga Tur Dal”, which is known internationally for its superior quality.
тЧП    It will soon be added to the list of Karnataka producers with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
тЧП    Dean of Agriculture College Jayaprakash R. Patil and senior agriculture scientist Raju Teggalli, announced it.

China to fund base in Afghanistan

тЧП    China will fund construction of an Afghan counter-terrorism base in Afghanistan.
тЧП    It will be setup in Badakshan.
тЧП    The decision to build the facility was taken during last month’s visit to China by Afghan Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami.


Sri Lanka lifts ban on liquor sales to women after 60 years

тЧП    Sri Lanka allowed women over the age of 18 to buy alcohol legally.
тЧП    It has happened for the first time in 60 years.
тЧП    The government is amending a 1955 law.
тЧП    Sri Lanka has been criticised for this .

US lists Russia among world's most dangerous countries

тЧП    The US State Department has listed Russia as one of the most dangerous countries to visit in 2018.
тЧП    The department's latest travel advice, released on 10 January.
тЧП    Nearly 250,000 US citizens travel to Russia each year.

Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Sivan K named new chairman of ISRO

тЧП    Dr. Sivan will take over as the new ISRO chief on 14th January.
тЧП    He will replace A.S.Kiran Kumar.
тЧП    He will be the 9th chairman of the organisation.
тЧП    He is a Rocket scientist and is currently Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018: DEFENSE

PSLV all set to ferry 31 satellites tomorrow

тЧП    The PSLV rocket will be launched from Sriharikota on 12th January.
тЧП    Last launch was failed on August 31. 
тЧП    The launch will take place at 9.28 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. 
тЧП    The main payload is 710-kg Cartosat-2F.

Current Affairs 11th JANUARY 2018: ECONOMY

Chhattisgarh gets тВ╣696-crore assistance for Naxal districts

тЧП    The Union Government sanctioned Rs 696 crores to eight Naxal affected districts of Chhattisgarh.
тЧП    It has been given for 3 years under its Special Central Assistance Scheme.
тЧП    Chief Minister of the state is Raman Singh.
тЧП    Each of these districts will get an assistance of about Rs 29 crores per year.

In FDI push, Centre allows 49% foreign ownership in AI

тЧП    Indian Govt.allowed overseas airlines to own up to 49% of Air India. 
тЧП    The Union Cabinet allowed foreign airlines to invest up to 49% under the approval route in Air India.
тЧП    The changes to the FDI norms would trigger significant interest in the carrier from foreign airlines.
тЧП    Kapil Kaul is the CEO, Indian subcontinent & Middle East, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

World Bank projects 7.3% growth in 2018

тЧП    India's growth rate in 2018 will be 7.3%.
тЧП    It will grow to 7.5% in next two years.
тЧП    World bank announced these predictions.
тЧП    India is estimated to have grown at 6.7 per cent in 2017.

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Important Current Affairs 10th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 10th January 2018

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Vizag could be India’s new scuba diving hotspot

тЧП    A 200-year-old shipwreck has been found in village of Bheemunipatnam.
тЧП    It is about 45 km from Visakhapatnam.
тЧП    This is now becoming the next big scuba diving destination of the country.
тЧП    The wreck is located six metres below the sea surface.
тЧП    It was first spotted by scuba divers Balaram Naidu and dive master Anil Kumar on December 21. 

PIOs make ‘mini-world Parliament’

тЧП    The 1st PIO-Parliamentarian Conference got inaugurated by Narendra Modi.
тЧП    India reached out to lawmakers of Indian origin spread across the world.
тЧП    The PIO Parliamentarian forum was planned last year.
тЧП    It was brainchild of Sushma Swaraj.

Goa bird festival to offer pelagic avian tour

тЧП    The second edition of the Goa Bird Festival will be held from January 12 to 14.
тЧП    It will be held at Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Canacona.
тЧП    The State Forest department is organising the event.
тЧП    It is being done with the help of Goa Tourism, the Goa Bird Conservation Network (GBCN) and Birderpics.com.
тЧП    It was announced by said Ajai Saxena, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. 

Two Indian-origin MPs join Theresa May's Cabinet

тЧП    Narayana Murthy’s son-in-law Rishi Sunak and Goan-origin MP Suella Fernandes have been made ministers in Theresa May’s Cabinet. 
тЧП    Mr. Sunak entered Parliament in 2015.
тЧП    Ms. Fernandes will become a minister in the Department for Exiting European Union.

New industrial policy in a few months, says Suresh Prabhu

тЧП    The new industrial policy will be launched in few weeks.
тЧП    It was announced by Commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu.
тЧП    This policy seeks to promote emerging sectors.
тЧП    It will revamp the Industrial Policy of 1991. 

PNB Ties up with NSFDC

тЧП    Punjab National Bank tied up with National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC).
тЧП    This tie up has been done to provide financial assistance for economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC) families below Double Poverty Line (DPL).
тЧП    Corporate General Manager, B.M.Padha and General Manager, NSFDC, Devanand signed MoU.
 

India owns three research stations in the Antarctic

тЧП    Indians reached Antarctica for the first time 30 years ago. 
тЧП    There have been over 30 explorations by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research of India.
тЧП    Programme was initiated in 1981.
тЧП    It was started by a team of 21 members. 
тЧП    The expedition started from Goa on December 6, 1981.

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: DEFENCE

Army satisfied with Akash missile

тЧП    Indian Army has Expressed satisfaction over the performance of Akash missile.
тЧП    It is a Made-in-India supersonic missile.
тЧП    Army Air Defence (AAD) Director General Parminder Singh Jaggi expressed his  views.
тЧП    The Army successfully carried out trial in December 2017.
тЧП     It is a Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM).

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

Infosys signs pact with U.S. Internal Revenue Service

тЧП    Infosys signed an Advance Price Agreement (APA) with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in January 2018.
тЧП    This APA will enable it to reverse tax provisions of about $225 million.
тЧП    It will boost consolidated basic earnings per share for the three months.
тЧП    Initial discussions with the IRS started in 2015. 
 

World's Busiest Air Routes: Tiny Island Beats London, New York

тЧП    The world's busiest air route is between Seoul and a tiny island in South Korea.
тЧП    Planes made 65,000 trips between the Korean capital and Jeju island.
тЧП    It is a trip of around an hour.
тЧП    Busiest North American routes are Los Angeles to San Francisco.
тЧП    It sees 35,000 trips in a year.

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO mulls launching 65 satellites

тЧП    ISRO was going to launch around 65 satellites. They are planned to be realised over the period from 2017 to 2021.
тЧП    Satellites made in India over the last 40 years has gone above 100.
тЧП    M. Annadurai is Director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC).
тЧП    ISAC was set up in 1972.


ISRO To Launch Its 100th Satellite

тЧП    India will be launching its 100th satellite.
тЧП    It will launched on 12th January.
тЧП    It will have 30 satellites, including 28 from six other countries.
тЧП    Launch will take place at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
тЧП    It will be ISRO's 40th space mission.

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: ECONOMY

CIL raises non-coking coal price; stock surges 5.6%

тЧП    Coal India Ltd. increased prices of non-coking coal from January 9.
тЧП    It may result in a 15-paise increase in power price for distribution companies.
тЧП    CIL projected annual increase in revenue at Rs. 6,421 crore.

World Bank Says India Has "Enormous Potential", Projects 7.3% Growth Rate In 2018

тЧП    India is likely to have growth rate around 7.3% in 2018.
тЧП    It has been predicted by World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects.
тЧП    The World Bank report projected China’s economy to slow down to 6.4% in 2018 from 6.8% in 2017. 

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: AWARDS

India bags its first-ever international medal in skiing

тЧП    Aanchal Thakur made history by winning India's first ever international medal in skiing.
тЧП    She is 21-year-old.
тЧП    She is from Manali.
тЧП    Roshan Thakur is her father and the secretary general of Winter Games Federation of India.

Current Affairs 10th January 2018: DAYS AND DATES

5-day National Youth Festival begins on January 12, 2018

тЧП    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Youth Festival through video conferencing on January 12, 2018 and address the present.
тЧП    This festival will commence on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the young heart of India's lord Swami Vivekananda.
тЧП    The inauguration ceremony was co-chaired by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Col Rajyavardhan Rathore.
тЧП    On this occasion, the Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Mr. Mahesh Sharma will be the special guest.

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Important Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 9th  JANUARY 2018

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

The Central Government notifies the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017

тЧП    The Central Government notified the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017.
тЧП    Section 53 of the Companies Act, 2013 prohibited issuance of shares at a discount. 
тЧП    Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013 required approval of the company in a general meeting for payment of managerial remuneration in excess of 11 percent of the net profits. 

India unveils Pratyush, its fastest supercomputer yet

тЧП    India unveiled Pratyush.
тЧП    It is India’s fastest supercomputer till now. 
тЧП    It was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr.Harsh Vardhan.
тЧП    Pratyush costs over Rs. 450 crores.

Bihar government bans electronic cigarettes in state

тЧП    Bihar has banned e-cigarettes. 
тЧП    E-cigarette is smoked through electronics nicotine delivery system (ENDS).
тЧП    State drug controller (SDC) Ravindra Kumar Sinha issued ordered the new rule.
тЧП    The state has already banned all tobacco products and items containing nicotine not approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).


Snowfall in Sahara Desert's Ain Sefra for 3rd time in 37 yrs

тЧП    Snowfall has been recorded in the Sahara.
тЧП    It happened in Ain Sefra.
тЧП    It has made a layer of 16 inches.
тЧП    Ain Sefra has seen record lows of -10.2C in winter.
тЧП    In 1979, a snowstorm lasting half an hour stopped traffic. 
 

AR Rahman appointed Sikkim's brand ambassador

тЧП    Music composer A R Rahman became the brand ambassador of Sikkim.
тЧП    It was announced by Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.
тЧП    Sikkim witnessed approximately 12 lakh tourist footfalls in 2017.
тЧП    It was 7.5 lakh domestic and 62,000 foreign tourist footfall in 2016.

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: DAYS AND DATES

Army Technology Seminar: 2018

тЧП    The second edition of Army Technology Seminar was organised at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi.
тЧП    It was organised by Indian Army on 08 January 2018. 
тЧП    The theme of the seminar was ‘Technology as a Key Enabler to Overcome Challenges of Military Operations in High Altitude’. 

January 9 observed as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

тЧП    Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is annually celebrated on January 9
тЧП    It is celebrated to remember the contribution of NRI community towards India.
тЧП    This began in 2003.
тЧП    On January 9, 1915 Mahatma Gandhi left South Africa and returned to India.

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

China agrees to stop road construction in Arunachal Pradesh

тЧП    China agreed to stop road construction in Arunachal Pradesh.
тЧП    The Chinese labourers have been called off after Indian Army intervention.
тЧП    Both countries had meeting on January 6.
тЧП    Stand-off between both the troops started on 16 June.
тЧП    The stand-off ended on August 28.

Kannur airport to be fully solar-powered

тЧП    Kannur International Airport (KIAL) would be fully solar powered airport.
тЧП    This airport has been commissioned by the govt. recently.
тЧП    Decision was taken in the director board meeting of the airport board.
тЧП    The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.


UK's ban on plastic microbeads takes effect

тЧП    UK banned making any product with microbeads.
тЧП    It is a tiny plastic particles which are used in the manufacturing of cosmetics to shampoo and toothpaste.
тЧП    Barack Obama in his presidency signed a bill to outlaw microbeads in rinse-off products in 2015. 


Jeff Bezos now worth more than Bill Gates ever was

тЧП    Jeff Bezos’s net worth has crossed $105.1 billion.
тЧП    Amazon shares have gone up by 6.6 percent this year.
тЧП    It has  captured 89 percent of online spending among all the retailers.
тЧП    Bill Gate has given away almost 700 million Microsoft shares and $2.9 billion of cash and other assets since 1996.


World's oldest known wild bird aged 67 lays egg

тЧП    The world's oldest known wild bird has laid an egg.
тЧП    She has done it at an age of 67 years.
тЧП    The lifespan of Laysan albatrosses around 50 years.
тЧП    Wisdom was first given an identification tag in 1956, by ornithologist Chandler Robbins.


N Korea agrees to participate in Winter Olympics in S Korea
 
тЧП    North Korea will send athletes and cheerleaders Winter Olympics in South Korea.
тЧП    Both countries ended their first official talks.
тЧП    Winter Olympic Games are going to start from 9 February.
 

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: SPORTS

22-yr-old Rabada becomes world's highest-ranked Test bowler

тЧП    Kagiso Rabada has become the number-one ranked bowler.
тЧП    He scored this rank in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings.
тЧП    He was one in South Africa’s campaign in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.
тЧП    It was in the UAE in 2014.

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO made тВ╣289 cr from foreign satellite launches in 2016-17
 
тЧП    ISRO's earned тВ╣288.75 crore by launching satellites for other countries in 2017.
тЧП    ISRO’s commercial arm, Antrix earned this revenue.
тЧП    ISRO has launched over 200 foreign satellites.
тЧП    It includes 101 Nano satellites in its record launch in February 2017.

Current Affairs 9th JANUARY 2018: AWARDS

HG Khorana is the only India-born Medicine Nobel Laureate
 
тЧП    Biochemist Har Gobind Khorana jointly won the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
тЧП    He was born in Punjab on January 9, 1922.
тЧП    He got Nobel for "interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis".
тЧП    He generated first artificial gene in 1972.
тЧП    He died in 2011.

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