CURRENT GK
1.Welcome to the restoration of Hotline between North and South Korea :-
The United Nations welcomed the restoration of hotline between North Korea and South Korea. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guererez has expressed hope that more diplomatic initiatives will be taken in the direction of removing nuclear deadlock in the Korean peninsula.
2.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the charge officials in the transformation of more than one hundred districts in New Delhi :-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a conference on the transformation of districts in New Delhi on Friday. It is being organized by the Policy Commission. In this, the Prime Minister will interact with the Charge Officers engaged in the transformation of more than one hundred districts.
This conference is being done by 2022 in view of the vision of the new India of the Prime Minister. The Center has initiated major policy initiatives for rapid change in the districts which have remained behind due to several development standards.
3.The United States has imposed a ban on all types of security assistance offered to Pakistan till the decisive action has been taken against terrorist groups :-
The US has banned Pakistan’s $ 1 billion security assistance from Pakistan for taking decisive action against various terrorist groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
US State Department spokesman Heather Norrt said that the Trump administration will stop all aid payments, but this money will not be allocated in any other item. Ms Noert said that despite four months of President Donald Trump’s speech, and despite the continuous high-level negotiations with the US administration and the Pakistani government, Pakistan remained a safe haven for the Taliban and Haqqani terror network. President Donald Trump in a tweet on New Year’s Day accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists and in lieu of doing nothing in lieu and fighting for terrorism in lieu of American cooperation.
4.The Ministry of Defense approved the agreements for the purchase of arms for the Navy and the Army 24 billion and 20 million rupees :-
The Ministry of Defense has approved the provisions of 24 billion and 20 million rupees for the purchase of P-8i training solution and low-intensity conflict of electronic warfare for the Navy and the Army.
These aircraft are equipped for long-range anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and monitoring of beach beaches. At the same time, it is able to answer the enemy’s attacking action and keep an eye on the immediate and expanded areas of the country. Apart from this, less than the cost of Rs.4070 crores from the Bharat Electronics Limited will be bought Conflict Electronic Warfare – LICESWS
5.Lok Sabha Jadhav’s video to protest against the propaganda of Pakistan: India :-
India has strongly criticized Pakistan for promoting the forced statements of Kulhushan Jadhav, a resident Indian prisoner in Pakistan’s jails. India has issued a strong response after the release of video of Mr. Jadhav by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ravish Kumar said that there was no surprises from this move by Pakistan. Pakistan’s habit of releasing videos of forcible statements continues. The spokesman said that it is time for Pakistan to realize that there is no faith in such kind of publicity.
Mr. Jadhav said in the video that the Pakistan government is taking good care of him.
6.The proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament adjourned indefinitely :-
The proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament have been postponed indefinitely. On the last day of the winter session, the Lok Sabha disposed of the general work involved in the agenda on Friday. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that 12 bills were passed during the session, including three Divorce and Bankruptcy Code Amendments. Referring to the 15 hours that wasted due to the activities in the proceedings, he said that the House has worked out an extra eight hours to deal with the work.
Overall, 12 bills were passed. Some important bills passed are as follows. Central Road Fund Amendment Bill 2017, The Requisition and Execution of Immewable Property Bill 2017, The National Capital Territory of Delhi Law Special Provision, Second Employment Bill, Goods and Service Tax Compensation to States Amendment Bill, Assessment and Bankruptcy Code Bill, The Muslim Women’s Marriage Rights Bill Protection of Rights of Marriage Bill, High Court and Supreme Court Judge Salary And service condition bill.
7.Rajya Sabha resigns for three members who retire :-
The Rajya Sabha on Friday gave emotional farewell to three of its retired members. Doctor Karna Singh, Mr. Jarnadan Dwivedi and Mr. Parvez Hashmi are retiring on 27th of this month. These three members representing the National Capital Territory of Delhi belong to the Congress. Speaker M. Venkaiah Naidu said that these members’ contribution in the House and Parliamentary Committees were important, which helped in strengthening parliamentary democracy.
Responding to the praise of the members, Dr. Karan Singh said that the level of consultation and debate has declined in the House and the functioning in the proceedings has also increased greatly.
8.The government has strongly criticized the Opposition for obstructing the passing of the three Divorce Bill in the Rajya Sabha :-
Criticizing the opposition for obstructing the passing of three Divorce Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar alleged that Congress is doing injustice to Muslim women just like in the case of Shah Bano. Mr. Kumar accused Congress of adopting double standards about this bill, saying that it should take lessons from history.
Union Minister Smriti Irani also criticized the Congress for this issue.
The Opposition’s expulsion of this bill in the Rajya Sabha, the correct perception of the Opposition, reveals what is against Muslim women. The Congress party has been especially exposed in front of women across the country that when it comes to reinforcing and empowering women, then Congress then works to create obstacles.
9.After implementation of NRC in Assam, the North Eastern States increased the vigilance to prevent possible infiltration :-
After the implementation of the National Citizen Register (NRC) in Assam, the North-Eastern states have increased vigilance to prevent possible infiltration. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur have also taken measures to prevent infiltration of illegal migrants in their states.
According to the official release, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed about the situation in border areas in the interaction with the Director General of Police yesterday.
Meghalaya’s Director-General of Police, SB Singh said that the state police had increased the monitoring of the areas covered by the Assam border.
Special police forces have been deployed around the Barak river along the Mizoram border in Manipur.
Nagaland has also increased the vigil in the areas covered by the border.
10.A Delhi court has declared liquor trading Vijay Mallya a fraud in the case of Fera :-
A Delhi court has declared liquor businessman Vijay Mallya as a hate crime in order to avoid the issue of violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sherawat passed the order on Thursday after the note that Mallya did not appear in the court even after the summons were issued, and no representative from his side also came to the court, hence it is declared as Bhagora.
The court had issued non-bailable warrant against Mallya in April last year.
