Current Affairs December 25, 2017
Current Affairs December 25, 2017
NATIONAL
Maharashtra set to generate 25,000 MW Electricity through Solar Power
Maharashtra Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed that the government has set the target of producing 25,000 MW electricity using solar power.
It is number one state in producing power through renewable energy, with 7,500 MW generation capacity. The government wants to take to this capacity to 10,000 MW, It plans for about 4,000 MW solar energy projects and it will be given between March and December 2019.
Maharashtra
Capital: Mumbai
Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
Governor: C. Vidyasagar Rao
Agatti Airport to get India’s First Runway on ‘Sea Bridge‘
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been given a nod to extend Lakshadweep’s Agatti Airport. The task will be carried out by building an RCC platform on the beach and shallow area which will allow bigger ATRs to operate to the island
Agatti could be India’s first runway-on-sea bridge.The same plan was considered for Juhu airport in Mumbai and Kullu but, could not be initiated as it wasn’t found suitable.
INTERNATIONAL
South Korea ties up with Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea to enhance cooperation in the field of tourism, skill development, culture and farming.
It is signed for giving a new dimension to cooperation in the field of tourism, skill development, culture and farming, which will provide more employment opportunities and development.
Uttar Pradesh
Capital: Lucknow
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
Governor: Ram Naik
South Korea
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean Won
Prime Minister: Lee Nak-yeon
BUSINESS
Quicker Acquires HDFC’s Digital, Realty Units in all Stock Deal
India’s largest mortgage lender HDFC has sold its realty brokerage business HDFC Realty and its digital real estate business HDFC Developers which owns HDFC Red to online classifieds player Quikr. It has been valued at about Rs.357 crore.
Quikrs’ acquisition of HDFC Red and HDFC Realty is the second largest such deal, for the Bengaluru-based firm in the real estate vertical after it bought CommonFloor for about $120 million in 2015.
The deal will also form a commercial strategic partnership between the two companies, where Quikr will help HDFC increase the home loan business with user data on its platform while with HDFC Realty, which will be renamed Quikr Realty, an entry into the brokerage business will be made.
Amazon buys smart camera and doorbell startup Blink
Blink, the wire-free home monitoring system, has been acquired by Amazon. According to a release posted to Blink’s website, nothing will change for its customers at the moment. The company will continue to operate and support its products as per usual.
Blink, founded in 2014 via a successful $1 million crowdfunding campaign.
Amazon
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
CEO: Jeff Bezos
APPOINTMENTS
Uber Technologies appoints Barney Harford as Chief Operating Officer
Uber appoints former Orbitz CEO Barney Harford as chief operating officer( COO).Harford will be responsible for global operations, marketing and customer support for both the ridesharing business as well as Uber Eats.
The CEO of Uber is Dara Khosrowshahi, who replaced co-founder Travis Kalanick recently.
Jai Ram Thakur New Chief Minister to Himachal Pradesh
Jai Ram Thakur, 52-year-old will be the 13th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.
This is the first time in the state’s history that a leader from Mandi has become CM.
The swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 27, at Shimla Ridge Maidan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will be attending.
Belgium appoints first female ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Belgium is to become the first country to send a resident female ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Dominique Mineur, the country’s current ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, will take the position.
Dominique Mineur will move to Riyadh to head up the embassy from next year. Newly-appointed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has promised to modernise the kingdom and has abolished the law that prohibits women from driving
Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Charles Michel
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Book on Gauri Lankesh writings” The way i see It” was launched
A book containing selected writings by late journalist Gauri Lankesh was launched at the Mumbai Press Club. The Way I See It — a Gauri Lankesh Reader, has been edited by writer and sociologist Chandan Gowda.
SPORTS
Indian boxers claim 3 gold, 1 silver & bronze medal at Galym Tournament
Indian boxers have claimed three gold, a silver, and a bronze medal at the Galym Zharylgapov Boxing Tournament. The event was held in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
The Gold Medal winners from India were K Shyam Kumar in 49kg, Naman Tanwar in 91kg and Satish Kumar in the +91 kg category claimed gold medals. Tanwar was announced as the best boxer of the tournament.
IMPORTANT DAYS
Good Governance Day – December 25
Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday being celebrated as Good Governance Day. Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honor Mr Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the people of accountability in government.
He is the recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
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