UTTARAKHAND

Security being a prime factor for determining the number of the footfalls of tourists, Uttarakhand is now well-placed, adjudged as the second best State next to Nagaland of the country by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). Now, winter in its thick, the State- lauded as the abode of the gods- hemmed in by the serene, majestic Himalayas and the dense wilds, is beckoning tourists/pilgrims from across the country and abroad. Haridwar and Rishikesh-two of the most famed centres of pilgrimage the State is endowed with-are no exception. The upcoming International Yoga Festival is expected to see a congregation of yoga enthusiasts from across the world. Last year, it saw over 1000 participants from 88 countries and this time the figure might further move up.
Visitors throng these twin places, particularly Haridwar, as nearly every month, two major snans (holy dips) on Somavati Amavasya and Ekadeshis are held which see thousands of people flocking to the fabled Har Ki Pauri (gateway to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the cosmos).
Besides, jungles abound in the state which fascinates the jungle lovers from across the world. Their association with the legendary Jim Corbett adds to the charm.

INTERNATIONAL

· China successfully tested its first Photovoltaic road

China successfully tested its first photovoltaic (solar) highway based on home-grown technology in country’s eastern Shandong province.
With this, China became the second country in the world to construct a photovoltaic highway.
China’s photovoltaic highway is constructed using solar panels which have a thin sheet of transparent concrete on top of them, protecting the surface.

· George Weah Elected Liberian President

Former football star George Weah elected as Liberia’s president.
The closest rival of Mr. Weah was his opponent Joseph Boakai.
Weah won the elections with more than 60% of the vote.
He succeeded Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, in Liberia’s first democratic handover in decades.

Despite the unrest in the last one year, there is an atmosphere of peace in 93rd countries.

In the ranking released by the Institute of Economics and Peace named Positive Peace Index 2017, India has been ranked 90th among 163 countries.

Sweden, Switzerland and Finland are the top three countries respectively In the index.

NATIONAL

Haryana is all set to become the first state in the country to fix a protected price for vegetable crops.

The farmers will be ensured of protected price for their vegetables under the ‘Bhavantar Bharpai Yojna’ or the price deficit compensation scheme.

Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said the primary objective of this scheme is to ensure that the farmers must not face the distress sale of their produce.

Cryptocurrency dealer‘Pluto Exchange’announced the launch of India’s first mobile application for transacting in virtual currencies.
The Pluto Exchange mobile app offers a solution to the coordination problem between payment processors, financial gateways and banks.
The app would permit a range of transactions, including payments, remittances, business-to-business commerce, supply chain finance, asset management and trading.

ISRO has announced that it would launch 31 satellites, including India’s Cartosat-2 series earth observation space craft, in a single mission onboard its Polar rocket on January 10.

The mission will be the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August.

The mission’s main payload would be India’s Cartosat-2 series earth observation satellite.

Coming to the rescue of ailing banks, the Centre has pumped in capital of ₹7,577 crore in various weak public sector banks.

The government has released Rs. 2,257 crore to Bank of India, which was recently placed under prompt corrective action by the Reserve Bank of India.

The other big beneficiary of the latest capital infusion round is IDBI Bank, which has received Rs.2,729 crore, sources said.

Viswanathan Anand lifted the World rapid chess championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The genial genius from Chennai, who defeated Magnus Carlsen of Norway earlier in the tournament, went on to finish on top with 10.5 points at the end of the 15th and final round.

In the final, Anand beat Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev to reclaim the title he had won in 2003.

State-run Gas (India) Limited (GAIL) placed orders for another 400-km natural gas pipeline project under ambitious Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG).
With this, the total pipe supply orders for 2,100 km of Jagdishpur-Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) projecthave been placed.