12 December 2017 Current Affairs
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ICAN receives 2017 Nobel Peace Prize
The Geneva-based International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize at ceremony held in Oslo, Norway. The award was received by Beatrice Fihn, leader of ICAN and Hiroshima nuclear bombing survivor Setsuko Thurlow. ICAN, a coalition of 468 grassroots non-governmental groups has been in forefront of pushing for end to use of nuclear weapons through United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted by 122 nations in July 2017.
Sumitra Bhave to get Kalamaharshi Baburao Award
Noted Marathi filmmaker Sumitra Bhave will be honoured with the Kalamaharshi Baburao Painter Sanman, instituted by the Kolhapur International Film Festival. Sumitra is a filmmaker working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. Bhave along with Sukthankar have made 14 feature films, more than 50 short films, and 4 TV serials.
Australia wins Gold of Hockey World League final
Australia beat Argentina 2-1 to win the second straight gold of Hockey World League Final (HWLF) final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. For the bronze play-off India defeated Germany 2-1 to finish the HWLF tournament at third place.
Vice President confers ‘Yerarignar’ Award to Prof. M.S. Swaminathan
Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu conferred the ‘Yerarignar’ Award to Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, in Chennai. The award is given by New Delhi-based Agricultural Scientific Tamil Society in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TNVASU) and Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (TNFU). The award was conferred on eminent agricultural scientists and father of green revolution in India MS Swaminathan for his lifetime contribution for the betterment of Indian farming community.
Ola appoints Viraj Chouhan as its CCO
Ola has announced appointment of Viraj Chouhan as its chief communications officer (CCO). As CCO, Chouhan would be reporting to co-founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal. Chouhan brings over 20 years of experience across global brands like MTS, Coca-Cola and Bharti Airtel.
Saudi Arabia to allow movie theaters
Saudi Arabia will allow movie theaters to open in the conservative kingdom next year, for the first time in more than 35 years. Movie theaters were shut down in the 1980’s during a wave of ultraconservatism in the country. It’s the latest move as part of the young crown prince’s efforts to socially reform the country. The first cinemas are expected to open in March 2018.
Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu wins 10-m air pistol Bronze at 10th Asian C’ship
Pistol ace Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu bagged a bronze medal each to continue India’s medal charge at the 10th Asian Airgun Championship in Wako City, Japan. Jitu won an individual bronze in the men’s 10m Air Pistol, which also helped the Indian team comprising Shahzar Rizvi and Omkar Singh, besides Jitu, to bag the team gold in the event. Heena claimed an individual bronze in the women’s 10m Air Pistol. Her effert, along with teammates Shri Nivetha Paramantham and Harveen Srao, helped the team finish with Silver.
Mount Hope named UK’s new highest peak
British authorities have named Mount Hope as the country’s new highest peak. Hope, which is sited in the part of the Antarctic claimed by the UK, was recently re-measured and found to tower above the previous title holder, Mount Jackson.
World’s largest automated container terminal opens in Shanghai
China started trial operations of the world’s biggest automated container terminal – the Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port – in the country’s commercial hub. The port will help consolidate Shanghai port’s standing as the world’s busiest container port and further support Shanghai’s efforts to become a world shipping centre.
Govt launches mobile app to ease child deliveries in peripheral areas
With the motto to improve labour room quality, the government has launched LaQshya, a safe delivery mobile application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in peripheral areas. The initiative will be implemented in Government Medical Colleges besides district hospitals, and high delivery load sub-district hospitals and Community Health Centres.
BCCI lifts ban on RCA
Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to lift the ban on the Rajasthan Cricket Association provided former IPL chief Lalit Modi stays away from its functioning. RCA was suspended by the Indian cricket board in May 2014 when ex-Indian Premier League Commissioner Modi was re-elected its president. Since its suspension in 2014, RCA’s cricket affairs are being looked after by BCCI.
Finance Minister holds 5th Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting
The Finance Minister of India Arun Jaitley holds his 5th Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting with the leading Economists in New Delhi. According to the Finance Minister, India recorded an average growth of 7.5% from 2014-15 to 2016-17, significantly higher as compared to the growth in the previous two years. The fiscal deficit as a ratio of GDP stood at 3.9% in 2015-16 and 3.5% in 2016-17 and is budgeted to be 3.2% for the Current Financial Year 2017-18.
Indian Economy likely to Grow by 7.2% in 2018, 7.4% in 2019: UN Report
Indian economy is likely to grow by 7.2 percent in 2018 and go up further to 7.4 percent in 2019 on the back of strong private consumption, public investment and the ongoing structural reforms, according to a UN report. The ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018’ report unveiled by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). In India, the report has projected a positive outlook despite the slowdown early this year and the lingering effects of demonetisation. The UN DESA report said the GDP growth is projected to be 6.7 percent in 2017.
India to host 2021 Champions Trophy, 2023 World Cup
India is all set to host the 2023 World Cup, the global cricketing event’s 13th edition after the BCCI confirmed the host nation. India will also host the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2021. The ICC World Cup 2019 will be held in England and Wales. This will be the first time that the event will be held entirely in India: the nation on three occasions previously, hosted the World Cup partially (1987, 1996 and 2011).
Saurabh Chaudhary claims Youth Olympics Games spot with Gold
India’s Saurabh Chaudhary qualified for the Youth Olympics Games with a gold medal and a junior world record in 10m air pistol at the ongoing Asia Youth Olympics Games qualification tournament in Wako City, Japan. He became the third Indian to bag quota places for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at the 10th Asian Airgun Championship. The 15-year-old shot a record score of 243.1 in the final to storm to the top of the podium, after finishing third in the qualification round with a score of 573.
UP and Maharashtra tops in highest number of cyber-crimes
Uttar Pradesh stands on top of recording highest number of cyber crimes in India followed by Maharashtra. While Assam stands on the fifth position, as per latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 696 cybercrime cases were reported during 2016 in Assam, which is an increase of over 44 percent compared to the previous year. In 2015, there were 483 such cases in the State. Nationally, a total of 12,317 cases of cybercrimes were reported in 2016 compared to 11,592 in 2015, which is an increase of over six per cent.
India bags 21 medals including 6 gold at Asian Airgun Shooting C’ships
India bagged a rich haul of 21 medals including six gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals at the 10th Asian Airgun Shooting Championships which was concluded in Wako City, Japan. India added four medals to their kitty on the final day of the competition to finish with a total haul of 21 medals over four days, besides four Youth Olympic Games quotas.
Lakshmi Puri among six diplomats felicitated with ‘Power of One’
Six top diplomats including one Indian were felicitated with the inaugural Diwali ‘Power of One’ award at the UN headquarters in New York for their contribution to help form a more perfect, peaceful and secure world. The awards were presented on the occasion of the first anniversary of the issuance of a ‘forever Diwali stamp’ by the US Postal Services.
List of Awardees:
- Matthew Rycroft: The outgoing British Ambassador to the UN
- Nawaf Salam: The Lebanese Ambassador to the UN. He was also elected to the International Court of Justice in November 2017.
- Lakshmi Puri: She is the Indian head of the UN Women.
- Maged Abdelaziz: The former Permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN.
- Ion Botnaru: The former Permanent Representative of Moldova to the UN.
- Yuriy Sergeyev: The former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN.
Nakul Chopra elected as BARC India Chairman
Nakul Chopra, President of AAAI and Senior Advisor, Publicis Communications, has been elected as the next Chairman of BARC India. Nakul succeeds Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats. Nakul will be the third Chairman of BARC India. He had joined the BARC India Board in September 2016.