Current Affairs - January 9, 2018 Current Affairs

World's largest Ice Festival 'International Ice and Snow Festival' was held in Harbin, China. This is one of China's coldest cities in the winter. It is the 34th annual Ice Festival in Harbin, north-east China. It features sculptures of Moscow's Red Square and Bangkok's Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Switzerland has won the 30th edition of the Hopman Cup tournament 2018 at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia. It is their 3rd third Hopman Cup title as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany's Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber 4-3 (3), 4-2 in the deciding mixed doubles, to secure a 2-1 victory in Perth. It was Federer's second Hopman Cup triumph after victory in 2001 alongside Martina Hingis.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has agreed to partner with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to promote cleanliness in Mumbai as part of the Swachh Survekshan 2018. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs commenced Swachh Survekshan 2018 survey o January 4, 2018. This survey It is being dubbed as the world's largest cleanliness survey. It will conclude in March 2018. Under Swachh Survekshan 2018, all 4041 cities and towns in India will be rated and ranked on various parameters of sanitation and cleanliness. This will be the first such pan-India exercise.

Indian Railways has announced that it will start using drone Cameras (UAV/NETRA) for various railway activities, especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure. All railway zones have been directed to procure these drone cameras. Drone/ Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a kind of a flying robot which can be remotely handled through software-controlled flight plans embedded in its system. It works in conjunction with Global Positioning System (GPS). NETRA is an Indian, light-weight, autonomous UAV jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IdeaForge, a Mumbai-based private firm.

Gujarat topped the logistics index chart, according to a Report released by Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi. The chart is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports in particular and economic growth in general. Among 22 states, Gujarat is followed by Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra on the index. The ranking is based on the analysis of perception with regard to eight parameters, including infrastructure, services, regulatory process and safety of cargo.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been bestowed with the 1st Mufti Mohammed Sayeed Probity in Politics and Public Life Award for his works and contributions in bringing probity in public life as well as his crusade against corruption in Bihar. The award was presented to the Bihar Chief Minister by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra at Mufti Mohammed Sayeed Commemoration day function held in Jammu on January 8, 2018.

Iran banned the teaching of English in primary schools after Islamic leaders warned that learning the language opened the way to a Western 'cultural invasion'. Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei teachers that it does not mean opposition to learning a foreign language, but a promotion of a foreign culture in the country and among children, young adults, and youths. The Western thinkers have time and again said that instead of colonialist expansionism the best and the least costly way would have been the inculcation of thought and culture to the younger generation of countries. The head of the state-run High Education Council, Mehdi Navid-Adham state that teaching English in government and non-government primary schools in the official curriculum are against laws and regulations. Interestingly, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is often criticized by Iran's Islamic leaders and was warned about the dangers of a cultural invasion.

According to Union Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman, the Defence Innovation Centre (DIC) will be set up in Coimbatore to assist small industries in manufacturing components for the defence sector. The Defence Ministry will release Rs 20 crore as an initial funding to the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) to set up the innovation centre. The small and micro units as well as startups that can manufacture components required for the defence production would be identified by the CODISSIA. The Association can design or test their products at the centre.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the Delhi Common Mobility Card in New Delhi. With this, Delhi has become first Metro city in the country to have a common mobility card which can be used by commuters in Delhi metro and DTC. The motive behind the launch of this card is to make cashless and convenient commuting for the daily commuters of the National capital. The commuters, who already have the metro card, will be able to use the same for commuting in DTC buses.

Indian-origin actor, comedian, and filmmaker Aziz Ansari became the first man of Asian descent to win Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an actor. Aziz Ansari has been awarded for his role as Dev Shah in Television series (Musical-Comedy) 'Master of None'.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is going to roll out National Programme for Control of Viral Hepatitis, is going to roll out National Programme for Control of Viral Hepatitis, a new scheme free treatment of Hepatitis C from the 2018-19 financial year. Under the new scheme, the focus will be on anti-viral treatment of Hepatitis C which will be provided free at all government health set-ups.

According to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Saudi Arabia given the green signal for India's decision to revive the option of sending Haj pilgrims through sea route also. The practice of ferrying Haj pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah by waterways was stopped in 1995. For the first time, Muslim women from India will go to Haj without "Mehram" (male companion). Separate accommodation and transport have been arranged for these women Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and women "Haj Assistant" will be deployed for their assistance.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the first Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Parliamentary Conference in Delhi on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The day is celebrated every year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India. It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9 January 1915. In the Conference, the biggest delegation was from Guyana with 20 members of parliament and three mayors. Established in 2003, and sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is held from 7-9 January every year.

Team Liverpool sold Brazilian football player Philippe Coutinho to Team Barcelona for 160 million Euros ($192 million). With this, transfer of Philippe Coutinho has become the 2nd Most Expensive transfer in World Soccer History. World's most expensive transfer is Brazilian football player Neymar's transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain team in 200 million pounds in 2017.

Uttar Pradesh State Government has directed all District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to take action against unauthorised loudspeakers and public address systems installed at religious and public places. The officials have been directed to conduct a survey for the same and submit a detailed report to State Government on January 10, 2018. Those using loudspeakers without approval should obtain permission by January 15, 2018, failing which, action will be taken against them under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.