DECEMBER 17 CURRENT AFFAIRS: Appointments: 1. US Senate confirms Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta as a federal judge. • Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta has been confirmed by the US Senate as a federal judge in the District of Columbia, becoming the first Asian Pacific American to occupy this important position. Awards & Honours: 1. SCR receives four energy efficient awards • The South Central Railway (SCR) has bagged four laurels at the National Energy Conservation Awards-2014. • The SCR has consistently got the best energy efficiency awards for the past five years, but it is the first time it is getting four awards in a year. 2. Xu Youyu of China wins Olof Palme Human Rights Prize for the year 2014. • Pro-democracy activist of China Xu Youyu won the Olof Palme Human Rights Prize for the year 2014. • The award given annually by the Stockholm-based Olof Palme Memorial Fund of Sweden. • 75000 US dollars granted by the Olof Palme Memorial Fund as money Prize. 3. Ex-SC judge ‘Man of the Year’ by PETA India • Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez and former Supreme Court judge KS Radhakrishnan have been given PETA India’s People of the Year award for their contribution towards the protection of animals. • The animal rights organisation named Ms. Fernandez as ‘Woman of the Year’ and justice (retd) Radhakrishnan as ‘Man of the Year’. • PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 4. Jacqueline Fernandez and KS Radhakrishnan to get PETA India’s People of the Year award. • Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez and former Supreme Court judge KS Radhakrishnan have been given PETA India’s People of the Year award for their contribution towards the protection of animals. Banking: 1. Existing account enough to avail Pradhan Manthri Jan Dhan Yojana benefits • A person who is already having a bank account with any bank, will just have to get issued a RuPay card in his existing account to get benefit of accidental insurance • Accidental insurance of Rs 1 lakh will be available to all RuPay card holders between 18-70 years. They will need to use their RuPay card once in 45 days of receipt of the card to get the benefit. • The accidental claim intimation should be given to bank within 30 days from the date of accident. Deaths: 1. IMPAL Chairman S. Narayanan passed away • S. Narayanan (89), chairman of India Motor Parts & Accessories Ltd (IMPAL), part of the TVS group, passed away. Economy: 1. India on track to 5.5 % GDP growth, says ADB • India is on track to reach the growth forecast of 5.5 per cent in financial year ending March 31, 2015 after expanding by 5.7 per cent in the first quarter and 5.3 per cent in the second quarter. • The ADB (Asian Development Bank) said India must extend its efforts to reach the forecast of 6.3 per cent GDP growth in 2014-15. • Head Quarters of ADB – Manila • Chief Economist - Shang-Jin Wei International: 1. U.N. Security Council renews cross-border Aid Delivery to Syria for a Year. • The U.N. Security Council renewed for 12 months its authorization for humanitarian access without Syrian government consent into rebel-held areas of Syria at four border crossings from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan • The resolutions authorized aid deliveries across Al Yarubiyah on the Iraq border, Al-Ramtha from Jordan and Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa from Turkey 2. U.S. slaps Sanctions on oil trading firms of Switzerland, Netherlands Companies over Syria • The United States slapped sanctions on Dutch and Swiss oil trading firms for their dealings with the Syrian government, which has been engaged in bloody civil war with rebel forces • The U.S. Treasury put Netherlands-based Staroil B.V. as well as two Swiss-based firms, Rixo International Trading Ltd and Bluemarine SA, on its list of sanctioned entities, which effectively cuts them off from the U.S. financial system. National: 1. Companies Act amendments passed by Lok Sabha • The Lok Sabha passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014, after Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that some of the original provisions were only posing hurdles to doing business in the country. 2. GoI Calendar for 2015 launched by Arun Jaitley • Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley launched the Government of Indias calendar for 2015. • Launching the calendar Jaitley said that it provided a platform for converging the two key flagship schemes of the government – Swachh Bharat and Digital India. • The calendar combines the conventional and technological modes of communicating the initiatives of the government and while the theme of ‘Swachh Bharat’ was portrayed visually in the conventional mode, the mobile application of the calendar reiterated the government’s vision of taking the idea of ‘Digital India’ forward. •Theme of this calendar is : ‘Clean India Green India. Persons in News: 1. Twin sisters Tashi, Nungshi Malik first siblings to scale seven tallest peaks in 7 continents • Dehradun twin sisters Tashi and Nungshi Malik created history by becoming the first ever siblings to scale seven tallest peaks in seven continents. They achieved this distinction by successfully climbing Mt Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. • They also hold the record for being the worlds first twin sisters to summit mountain Everest on May 19, 2013. 2. USAID head Rajiv Raj Shah Resigns • The head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rajiv Raj resigned from his position. • The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the United States Government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. Places in News: 1. Historic Geeta Press announced lockout for indefinite period. • The historic Geeta Press in December announced its lockout for an indefinite period after talks between its management and employees over wage issues failed. • Geeta press was founded in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyandka for promoting the principles of Sanatana Dharma by propagating the holy scripture Bhagavath Gita. Science and Technology: 1. Lens-free microscope can detect cancer at the cellular level. • UCLA(University of California, Los Angeles) Institute researchers have developed a lens-free microscope that can be used to detect the presence of cancer or other cell-level abnormalities with the same accuracy as larger and more expensive optical microscopes. • The study was conducted by the team of researchers including Aydogan Ozcan, professor of electrical engineering and bioengineering at University of California. Sports: 1. BWF Super Series Tournament: • Badminton World Federation Super Series Final Tourney is starting from 17th December. • It is an event among world top 8 players in badminton • The winners will be crowned as the World Champions and awarded gold medals. However, it does not offer any prize money. • Super Series tournament hosted by Dubai. 2. US Decides to bid 2024 Olympics • International Olympic Committee (IOA) President Thomas Bach has welcomed the U.S. decision to bid for the 2024 Games and says whichever city is chosen will be a “very strong” contender. • The U.S. Olympic Committee board voted in favour of a bid, but must still decide which city to put forward among four candidates Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington. States: 1. Proposal to set up textile parks in five districts, says Chinchansur(Karnataka). • Textile and Ports Minister Baburao Chinchansur said that there is a proposal to set up textile parks at Ilkal in Bagalkot district, Waghavade in Belagavi district, Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, Yadgir and Shahpur in Yadgir district, and in Ballari. 2. Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves draft CRDA Bill. • The State Cabinet approved the draft Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) Bill with four changes. • The Cabinet approved transfer of assets and liabilities of Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority to the CRDA. • The Chief Minister will be chairman of the 14-member CRDA and the Municipal Administration Minister vice chairman. The CRDA will have Rs. 1000 crore as development fund and Rs. 250 crore as working capital.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:14:10 +0000
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