Current Affairs December 17, 2017
Current Affairs December 17, 2017
NATIONAL
PM Inaugurates Tuirial Hydro Power Project in Mizoram
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 60-megawatt Tuirial hydroelectric power project in Aizawl, Mizoram. Now, Mizoram had become the third power- surplus state in the north-east after Sikkim and Tripura.The project has been built at a cost of ₹ 1,302 crore.
Tuirial HEPP has been constructed as a central sector project and implemented by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
The Prime Minister will also launch ‘MyDoNER App’ and inaugurated the Shillong – Nongstoin Rongjeng Tura road.
Mizoram
Capital: Aizawl
Chief Minister: Lal Thanhawla
Governor: Lt. General (Retd.) Nirbhay Sharma
President of India Lays Foundation Stone of ‘NYAYA GRAM’ Project of High Court of Allahabad
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, laid the foundation stone of the Nyaya Gram project of the High Court of Allahabad.
It is necessary to strengthen judicial infrastructure and Nyaya Gram project would prove to be a milestone in fulfilling the requirements of the Allahabad High Court.
Indo-Maldives joint military exercise in Belagavi
The 14-day Indo-Maldives joint military exercise, ‘EKUVERIN-2017,‘began at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, Belagavi, Bengaluru. It’s the eighth Indian joint military exercise with the Maldives.
The bilateral annual exercise is a joint military training between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The seventh edition of the exercise was held at Kadhdhoo, Lammu Atoll, Maldives.
Maldives
Capital: Male
Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
President: Abdulla Yameen
INTERNATIONAL
Cabinet Signs MoU between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
The MoU is valid for five years and shall be extended for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it.
Under the MoU, a Joint-Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to prepare/finalize Work Plan for the next two years while specifying task/ activities to be undertaken during that period.
Colombia
Capital: Bogota
Currency: Colombian peso
Prime Minister: Stefan Lofven
AIIB approves $335 mn loan for Bangalore Metro Rail Project
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a USD 335 million loan to finance a 100-percent electric metro rail project in Bangalore.
investment in the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Reach 6 (R6) is AIIBs first metro project and its first joint financing partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
AIIB
Headquarters: Beijing, China
President: Jin Liqun
ADB lowers India’s GDP forecast for FY18 to 6.7%
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered India’s GDP forecast for the current fiscal by 0.3 percent to 6.7 percent.
Due to the effects of demonetisation in November 2016, transitory challenges of a new tax system, and some risks to agriculture stemming from a spotty monsoon in 2017, the economy is now expected to grow by 6.7 per cent, slower than the 7 per cent forecast in the last update.
ADB
Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
President: Takehiko Nakao
‘Youthquake’ named word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries
Oxford Dictionaries declared “Youthquake” as the word of the year for 2017, owing to what it calls a “political awakening” among young voters.
Youthquake is defined by Oxford Dictionary as “a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people”.
Last year Oxford named “post-truth” as the word of the year, after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election.
BUSINESS
Disney buys 21st Century Fox
Disney is buying most of 21st Century Fox. The $52.4 billion deal will combine two of the biggest players in Hollywood.Disney gets 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Searchlight movie, television studios and Majority control (60%) of Hulu.
Disney is also buying cable channels FX and National Geographic. In owning these properties, Disney will be in a better position to compete with Netflix.
APPOINTMENTS
R Hemalatha takes Charge as Director of National Institute of Nutrition
R Hemalatha has been appointed as the new Director of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad. She is a medical graduate of Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad.
She has served as secretary of the Nutrition Society of India, is a fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences and a fellow of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences.
FIH chief Batra elected as IOA President
Narinder Batra formally took over as the new president of the Indian Olympic Association after winning elections at the Annual General Meeting.
Rajeev Mehta was re-elected secretary general for a four-year term.
The Indian Olympic Association headquartered in New Delhi is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Joy Goswami gets Moortidevi Award 2017
Eminent Bengali poet Joy Goswami will be given the 31st Moortidevi Award for the year 2017. It is the first time the award will be given to a Bengali poet.
The committee, headed by poet and scholar Satya Vrat Shastri decided to confer the award upon Goswami for his poetry collection titled ‘Du Dondo Phowara Matro’.
The Moortidevi award consists of a Saraswati Statue, a Citation Plaque and cash award of Rupees 4 lakhs. The Moortidevi Award is an India literary award annually presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith.
SPORTS
Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic named USA Player of Year
Midfielder Christian Pulisic (19-year) has been named as the U.S. male Player of the Year. He also belongs to U.S. Men’s National Team.
Christian Pulisic recorded six goals and four assists in nine matches, and was involved in 13 of the 17 goals.
India clinched 10 gold Medals at Commonwealth Wrestling Championship
India clinched 10 golds at Commonwealth Wrestling Championship, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The India Greco Roman Style Wrestling Team that represented the nation at the championship won gold and silver medals in all ten weight categories.
The Gold medal winners are-Rajender Kumar in 55 kg, Manish in 60 kg, Vikas in 63 kg, Anil Kumar in 67 kg, Aditya Kundu in 72 kg, Gurpreet in 77 kg, Harpreet in 82 kg, Sunil in 87 kg, Hardeep in 97 kg, and Naveen in 130 kg category.
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