Current Affairs Headlines - 04 January 2019

Current Affairs Headlines - 04 January 2019 - Fifteen useful headlines - for all examinations

CA - 15 HEADLINES

---

News followed by its category

1. The first detailed images beamed back by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft after its historic flyby of Ultima Thule — the most distant and possibly the oldest space object ever explored — show that the icy ‘worldlet’ resembles a reddish snowman, the US space agency said on January 3. (Science and Technology)
   - - - - - -
2. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said that the FDI rules for e-commerce have not allowed FDI in the inventory-based model or multi-brand retailing. This puts a big question mark over the fate of the largest of e-Commerce players in India, including Flipkart, Walmart, Amazon etc., as they sell a lot of merchandise over their own sites (marketplaces) through subsidiary companies in which they hold equity. (Governance and Institutions / Indian Economy)
   - - - - - -
3. Rajya Sabha debates NCTE (Amendment) Bill. The Bill was to grant retrospective recognition to Central/State institutions that are conducting teacher education courses without NCTE approval. The NCTE Act, 1993, came into force in 1995. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on July 23, 2018. (Constitution and Law)
   - - - - - -
4. Parliament passed a Bill to abolish no-detention policy in schools. Under the current provisions of the RTE Act, no student can be detained till class 8. This is seen as another experiment in a long list of trial-and-error, while the New Education Policy for India hangs fire. (Constitution and Law / Education)
   - - - - - -
5. The SC agreed to hear on January 8 the appeal filed by Tamil Nadu government against the decision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to reopen the Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi, which was ordered to be closed due to environmental pollution. This issue witnessed violent protests and many deaths in police firing in 2018. (Constitution and Law)
   - - - - - -
6. The Bulandshahr police arrested main accused in instigating Bulandshahr mob violence in December 2018. Yogesh Raj, who is the Bulandshahr district convenor of the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), got arrested around 23:30 p.m. at a T-point near the Brahmanand College on the Khurja-Bulandshahr bypass. CM Yogi claims that in 2 years under him, UP witnessed no riots at all. (Governance and Institutions / Religion)
   - - - - - -
7. Saudi Arabia's attorney general sought the death penalty for five of 11 defendants charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as their high-profile trial opened in Riyadh. The crown prince Mohamad bin Salman (MbS) has been at the centre of this controversy from the start. (World Politics)
   - - - - - -
8. The Supreme Court agreed to hear on January 7 the West Bengal BJP’s plea against a Calcutta High Court order not allowing its Rath Yatra in the State. The BJP is in a tough battle against the TMC of Mamata Banerjee in the state for long. (Indian Politics)
   - - - - - -
9. Many of the first batch olive ridley turtles which chose Andhra Pradesh coast for the annual breeding season are dying before they reach the destination after being trapped in the fishing nets. This horrible massacre of marine life is a worldwide phenomenon now. (Environment Ecology and Climate Change)
   - - - - - -
10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Science Congress at Jalandhar, an annual congregation that witnesses deliberations by top scientific minds of the country. India lags behind other nations in cutting-edge scientific research, if the number of patents granted is any indication. The PM exhorted the scientists to work for daily solutions of citizen problems also. (People and Personalities / Science and Technology)
    - - - - - -
11. China’s lunar explorer makes first-ever landing on far side of moon. It also sent pictures. This will help understand many other aspects of Moon (for other nations also). (Science and Technology)
    - - - - - -
12. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) decided to seek explanation from the Tantri for closing the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple for performing purification rituals without obtaining the TDB’s permission, at the in the wake of the entry by two women in the restricted age group. It may be noted that as per Article 17 of Indian Constitution, practising untouchability in any form is outlawed. (Religion)
    - - - - - -
13. On the second working day of 2019, Lok Sabha saw the suspension of 19 members — 7 from the AIADMK and 12 from the TDP — for storming into the Well of the House. The Rajya Sabha took up the debate on resolution to impose President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, and approved the move by a voice vote. The next session will be the Budget Session in Jan-Feb 2019. (Indian Politics)
    - - - - - -
14. Global headwinds continued to hit Indian equities for the second consecutive session as the benchmark Sensex and Nifty lost more than 1% each with investors reeling under concerns of an economic slowdown. The Sensex lost 377.81 points or 1.05% to close at 35,513.71. The broader Nifty ended the day at 10,672.25, down 120.25 points or 1.11%. (Indian Economy)
    - - - - - -
15. The Supreme Court refused to give an early hearing on a plea of "continuous contempt" allegedly displayed by the Sabarimala temple chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru by closing the sanctum sanctorum after two women entered the temple in the wake of the court's September 28 verdict allowing women of menstruating age to undertake the pilgrimage. Kerala is witnessing violent protests by various groups over the issue.  (Constitution and Law)
    - - - - - -

[##link## Back to 365 Content]

~ Useful for UPSC / State PSC / MBA entrance / Govt. Exams / SSC-CGL / Banking / NET / RBI / Campus ~

---

[ ##thumbs-o-up##  Share Testimonial here - make our day!]

---

---

FREE  PT APP  |  CURRENT AFFAIRS Home  All Posts  Shrutis  Power of 10  | CIVILS TAPASYA  Home  Tapasya Annual Prep - TAP  GS-Study Mat.  Exams Analyses   Downloads  |  APTITUDE  Power of Apti  | TEST SERIES |  CONTRIBUTE  |  TESTIMONIALS  |  PREMIUM  PT GURUKUL  |  PRABODHAN Mastercourse  |  C.S.E.  Self-Prep  Online  | SANDEEP SIR  Site Youtube ===