Current Affairs Headlines - 05 January 2019

Current Affairs Headlines - 05 January 2019 - Fifteen useful headlines - for all examinations

CA - 15 HEADLINES

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News followed by its category

1. Personal data and documents on hundreds of German politicians and others have been posted online. Authorities are examining as to how the information was obtained and leaked. The dangers of an online-always world are becoming clearer! (Science and Technology / World Politics)
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2. Pakistan and the U.S. are discussing plans to hold a maiden meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Donald Trump but it hinges on the “positive outcome” of the Pakistan-brokered talks to strike a peace deal in Afghanistan. Trump's so-called "Af-Pak" policy 2017 didn't achieve much, and his recent aggression against India was aimed at drawing India to agree on sending troops on ground to Afghanistan. (Defence and Military / Regional Politics)
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3. The Centre told the Supreme Court that they are facing difficulties in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13 as there was no blueprint of the 355-feet well and it was located near a river and seepage of water is hindering the rescue operation. The seriousness of this effort is in question, as is the lackadaisical approach of the State govt. in having allowed many such mines to operate freely.(Infrastructure / Social Issues)
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4. China has named the lunar rover, successfully deployed to carry out a string of experiments on the far side of the moon, as "Yutu-2". The state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the Yutu-2 touched the lunar surface at 10:22 pm local time on January 3, 2019. The satellite is named "Chang'e-4", and the relay satellite linking Chang'e-4 with Earth is named "Queqiao". (Science and Technology)
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5. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s bid to push her Brexit plans through Parliament was dealt another blow when a survey showed that most of her own party’s members oppose the deal and would prefer to leave the European Union (EU) without a deal. May was initially opposed to Brexit, but is lending all her weight to pull through a deal, which is stuck at multiple points now. (People and Personalities / Regional Politics)
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6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Integrated Check Post at Moreh on Myanmar border in Manipur. Overall, the eight projects inaugurated were – Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh, Dolaithabi Barrage Project in Thoubal, FCI Food Storage Godown at Sawombung Imphal East, Buffer Water Reservoirs at Shirui Village in Ukhrul district, Improvement and Upgradation of Water Supply for Churachandpur zone-III, Eco-tourism complex at Tupul in Noney District and Water Supply Scheme at JNV, Lambui and its surrounding villages. Total cost is more than Rs.1500 crores. (Indian Politics / Infrastructure)
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7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his government would be atoning for the wrong done during Partition by getting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, passed in Parliament. This Bill makes is easier for minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to secure citizenship in India (except for Muslims) and has been opposed bitterly by ethnic Assamese people, among others. (Constitution and Law / Religion / Social Issues)
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8. The Kerala Police claimed that they had stopped the escalation of Sabarimala-related hartal violence. However, they admitted that there were still some hotspots of disquiet in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts. So far, 3 women in age group 10-50 yrs have entered the temple, as per SC verdict 2018 allowing all women the freedom to do so. (Constitution and Law / Governance and Institutions / Religion)
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9. Seeing rising adoption of tech such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud, Intel Corporation is betting big on India for the growth of its data centre business, driven by increasing adoption of technologies such as cloud, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). (Science and Technology)
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10. Days after Congress president Rahul Gandhi had asked PM N. Modi to clarify whether or not Defence Ministry officials had objected to his government changing the terms of the contract in the Rafale deal, his party released what it claimed to be “file notings objecting to the new deal”. The Rafale deal related controversy took a new turn when Ericsson moved S.C. over arrest of Anil Ambani, who is at the centre of the Rafale controversy also. (Defence and Military / Indian Politics)
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11. Women members in the Rajya Sabha urged the Government to ensure the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. The Bill, which proposes 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures, was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but has been stuck in the lower house for nine years. (Constitution and Law / Social Issues)
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12. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad told that the government had finalised the data protection law and it would soon be introduced in Parliament. However, it would be more logical to present it 'before' presenting the Aadhar Amendment Bill in the Parliament, in light of the Right to Privacy verdict, and the Aadhar verdict by the Supreme Court. (Constitution and Law)
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13. Government has launched the 100% Digital Swachh Survekshan 2019. This to be conducted in 4237 urban local bodies from Jan 4 to 28. Under Modi govt., cleanliness has been given a seriously high priority, a positive sign! (Governance and Institutions / Indian Politics)
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14. India's foreign exchange reserves rose marginally to US $393.40 billion in the week ended 28 December 2018. The foreign exchange reserves had stood at US$ 393.29 a week ago. In the past 1 year, these have fallen below the mark of US $400 billion, as RBI stepped in to support a rapidly depreciating rupee. (Indian Economy)
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15. The UN observed the first World Braille Day on Jan 4. It is marked annually on Jan 4 after the Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly last November.  (UN)
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