Current Affairs Headlines - 26 January 2019

Current Affairs Headlines - 26 January 2019 - Fifteen useful headlines - for all examinations

CA - 15 HEADLINES

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News followed by its category

1. The CBI’s FIR alleging criminal conspiracy and cheating in loans extended by the ICICI Bank to the Videocon Group does not appear to have factored in a key point flagged by the central bank in its initial probe into the allegations of misdemeanour in extending the loans. As pointed out by the RBI then, ICICI Bank was just one of 20 banks that were part of a consortium led by the State Bank of India that extended loans to the Videocon Group. The bank’s share in the consortium’s loans to the group, which were declared non-performing assets in 2017, was less than 6%. (Governance and Institutions / Indian Economy)
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2. The Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM) said that the agriculture sector should be bolstered through increased credit flows and schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The Council also added that it strongly felt that the government should not deviate from its fiscal consolidation path. (Agriculture / Indian Economy)
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3. On a day when stocks of Essel group (ZEE) companies got hammered, its chairman Subhash Chandra admitted to making strategic mistakes that led to piling up of debts, and asked lenders to have patience till the stake sale of Zee Entertainment materialises. He blamed the IL&FS crisis for the cash crunch and ‘negative’ forces for share price fall. At the same time, he reassured that all operating companies, including Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), were ‘performing exceptionally well’ and not under stress. Essel group shares tanked more than 30%  in a single day after a news report in portal thewire.in  (Indian Economy / People and Personalities)
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4. According to government data released, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) added 73.5 lakh subscribers between September 2017 and November 2018. The EPFO is a retirement fund for employees in the formal sector. All firms employing more than 20 workers are required to subscribe to the scheme. Experts say that EPFO is not the perfect tool to assess "fresh new formal sector jobs created", but the government is steadfast in its belief in EPFO data. (Governance and Institutions / Indian Economy / Social Issues)
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5. President Ram Nath Kovind has approved awards of 411 Gallantry and other Defence decorations  to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 70th Republic Day Celebrations. The awards  include one Ashoka Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras, 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 3 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 51 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Bar to Yudh Seva Medal, 9 Yudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals. (Defence and Military / Social Issues / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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6. In a rare gesture, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service on the eve of the 70th Republic Day. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani has been posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peace time gallantry award.  (Defence and Military / People and Personalities / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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7. Roger Stone, U.S. President Donald Trump's longtime ally and presidential campaign adviser, was arrested on January 25, charged with obstruction, witness tampering and making false statements, according to a grand jury indictment made public by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office. This development can be a big setback to President Trump himself. (People and Personalities / World Politics)
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8. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he struck a “very fair deal” with India by making it cut the tariffs on the iconic motorcycle Harley-Davidson by half in just about two minutes, but rued the “high” Indian duties on American whisky. India in February last year slashed the customs duty on imported motorcycles like Harley-Davidson to 50 per cent after Trump called it “unfair” and threatened to increase the tariff on import of Indian bikes to the US. (World Economy / World Politics)
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9. Venezuela’s powerful military threw its weight behind Nicolas Maduro on Jan 25 as the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority, and the fate of the crisis-wracked country hung in the balance. As the death toll from days of street protests jumped to 26, a defiant Mr. Maduro announced the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the United States, a day after President Donald Trump's administration declared his regime “illegitimate.” (People and Personalities / World Politics)
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10. Pranab Mukherjee, India's 13th President and one of the Congress' tallest leaders for decades, has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour. Along with Mr Mukherjee, social activist and one of the BJP's senior-most leaders Nanji Deshmukh and music maestro from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika, have been awarded posthumously. (People and Personalities / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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11. The poet and short story writer Jayant Kaikini has beaten internationally acclaimed writers including Kamila Shamsie and Mohsin Hamid to win the DSC prize for south Asian literature. Kaikini’s No Presents Please, a collection of stories set in Mumbai, was originally written in the southern Indian language of Kannada and translated into English by the award-winning translator Tejaswini Niranjana. (Art Culture Literature / People and Personalities)
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12. India and South Africa will boost ties in key areas such as defense, maritime security, information technology and trade under a three-year strategic exchange program, their leaders Jan. 25. The plan was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after they met in New Delhi. Two-way trade is expected to rise to $10.65 billion in 2018-19 from $9.38 billion in 2017-18. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the Chief Guest for this year's Republic Day. (Indian Politics / People and Personalities)
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13. Himachal Pradesh is celebrating its 49th full Statehood day with much fanfare and great enthusiasm throughout the state day. National Voters day is celebrated on Jan 25. It was on this day in 1971 when Himachal Pradesh was carved out as the 18th State of the country. (Indian Politics / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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14. National Voters day is celebrated in order to encourage more young voters to take part in the political process. It has been started from January 25, 2011 to mark Election Commission's foundation day. (Indian Politics / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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15. India on Jan 24 night opened the year's space campaign by putting into orbit defence imaging satellite "Microsat R" for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in a copy book style. The notable aspects of this space mission are flying of a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44), switching off and on of the fourth stage engine couple of times, and use of fourth stage as an orbital platform carrying Kalamsat. (Science and Technology / Trivia and Miscellaneous)
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