2nd January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs of 2nd January 2017

International Current Affairs

In order to check infiltration and terrorism, the Border Security Force (BSF) will be installing laser walls and smart sensors along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.
- The satellite-monitored smart sensors will have night and fog operability tools and will blip and alert the border guards.
- The laser walls are set to become operational from next year.
Scotland today launched a Baby Box Scheme, providing parents of newborn babies with maternity kits containing digital thermometers, blankets and baby clothes.
- The baby boxes, which newborns can also sleep in, were handed out by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
- Note : Finland, which introduced baby boxes in 1938, has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world.
Iceland ended the year 2016 without a government for two months following the Panama Papers scandal and a snap election in which none of the parties got a majority.
- Former Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson had resigned over revelations of his offshore holdings in a tax haven which prompted demonstrations with protesters calling for immediate elections.

National Current Affairs

Activist Irom Sharmila today formally announced that she will be contesting the 2017 Manipur Assembly election from Thoubal which is the constituency of Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh.
The government today announced that billing service charge in addition to taxes at hotels and restaurants is completely discretionary and if a customer is dissatisfied with the experience he/she can choose not to pay the service charge.
- This comes after the government received complaints from consumers that restaurants are charging 'service charge' in the range of 5-20%.
The Supreme Court today ordered that no politician can seek votes in the name of caste, language or religion.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held that death due to mosquito bite causing malaria is an accident and hence liable for the insurance claim.
- Adding that mosquito bite is something which no one expects, the commission said it would be very difficult to accept that malaria due to mosquito bite is a disease and not an accident.

Science & Technology

India today successfully conducted the final test of the nuclear-capable Agni-IV missile from a road-mobile launcher on Odisha's Abdul Kalam Island.
- The Strategic Forces Command, entrusted with India's nuclear weapons, conducted the test.
- The surface-to-surface missile can carry a 1-tonne nuclear warhead over 4,000 km. Earlier called Agni Prime, it has already been deployed by the army.
- Features of Agni-IV missile :
- Indigenously developed Agni-IV is a nuclear-capable strategic ballistic missile and can be fired using road-mobile launchers.
- With a range of around 4,000 km, it can be fired from deeper locations, making the missile difficult for the enemy to track and destroy it.
- The 20-metre-long missile is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology to correct itself for in-flight disturbances.

Tyrus Wong (106), the artist whose works inspired the visuals in the 1942 Disney film Bambi, passed away.
- The award-winning concept artist worked with Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hallmark.
Burundi's Environment Minister Emmanuel Niyonkuru was shot dead while on his way home in the country's capital Bujumbura.
- This is the first high-profile assassination since the African nation sank into political turmoil in 2015 after incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza sought re-election for the third time.

Awards & Honors

Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain today conferred the country's highest civilian honour 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz' on Army chief Qamar Bajwa and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Zubair Hayat in recognition of their services.
- The award is given to civilians based on their achievements towards world recognition for Pakistan or outstanding service for the country.

Business & Economy

The UK government is encouraging the public to return old £1 coins as the Treasury will be introducing a new 12-sided coin to replace it.
- The measure has been introduced to end counterfeiting, with reports suggesting nearly 2.55% of the 40 crore old coins in circulation are fake.
- The old coins shall become invalid by October next year.
After SBI on Sunday cut lending rates across maturities by 0.9%, other banks like Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India, have also brought down interest rates.
- PNB has cut its one-year marginal cost of funds-based lending rate by 0.7% and Union Bank has reduced it by 0.65%. Kotak Mahindra also cut lending rates by up to 0.45%.

Sports Current Affairs

The Supreme Court today removed BJP MP Anurag Thakur from the post of BCCI President.
- The court also sacked BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke.
Indian Sports Minister Vijay Goel has constituted a committee to suggest improvements in National Sports Development Code and functioning of Indian Sports Federations.
- The move has come after the ministry suspended the Indian Olympic Association for appointing Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala as life presidents.
- The committee is expected to submit its report within a month.

This is the end of today's Daily Current Affairs session friends. Good Day :)