12 December 2014 Current Affairs
Delhi-Born Akhil Sharma’s Book In New York Times Top 10 Books In 2014
Delhi born Indian-American author Akhil Sharma’s second novel “Family Life” has been selected by The New York Times Book Review as one of the ten Best Books of 2014. The book was earlier quoted amongst the Times list of 100 Notable Books of 2014 in the Fiction and Poetry section.
ICICI Bank Launches ICICI Bank Coral American Express Credit Card
ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, on 12 December announced the launch of India’s only credit card with a unique transparent design and a distinctive look. The credit card named ICICI Bank Coral American Express Credit Card. The card is a part of Gemstone Collection of ICCI Bank in association with American Express.
United Nations Declared June 21 As International Day of Yoga
The UN General Assembly adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as “International Day of Yoga”, recognising that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being. The resolution on “International Day of Yoga” was introduced by India’s Ambassador to UN Asoke Mukerji and had 175 nations joining as co-sponsors, the highest number ever for any General Assembly resolution. It is also for the first time that such an initiative has been proposed and implemented by any country in the UN body in less than 90 days. Through the resolution, adopted under the agenda of “Global Health and Foreign Policy,” the 193-member General Assembly decided to proclaim June 21 every year as “International Day of Yoga”.
Fidel Castro Awarded China’s Confucius Peace Prize
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was awarded the Confucius Peace Prize China’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was praised for his ‘important contributions’ to world peace. Castro now 88-years-old, rarely makes appearances in public. He did not attend the Confucius Peace Prize award ceremony. A Cuban exchange student accepted the award on his behalf. The Confucius prize was launched in 2010 as an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize, which had just honored imprisoned Chinese dissident writer Liu Xiaobo.