VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 8^th, 2018

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 8^th, 2018

1.     (7th December) is International Civil Aviation Day.

a.      International Civil Aviation Day is annually observed December 7 to raise awareness of the importance of international civil aviation and the role that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plays in international air transport. The organization is a United Nations (UN) body responsible for developing international standards for aviation safety.

b.      Theme for 2015-18 : Working Together to ensure No Country is Left Behind

2.     Ukraine today approved a bill to terminate the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with Russia.

a.      Under the treaty, both nations pledged to not use one's territory to harm the other. 

b.      Note : Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been strained since the annexation of Crimea and tensions escalated after Russia seized Ukrainian Navy ships and sailors last month.

c.      About Ukraine :

i)      Capital : Kiev

ii)    Official Language : Ukrainian

iii) President : Petro Poroshenko

iv)  Prime Minister : Volodymyr Groysman

v)    Currency : Ukrainian hryvnia

3.     United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, a new framework to combat international terrorism by coordinating efforts across peace and security and humanitarian sectors, among others. 

a.      The framework, known as the 'Global Compact', is an agreement between the UN chief, 36 UN entities, Interpol and the World Customs Organisation.

4.     Today is Armed Forces Flag Day / Flag Day of India.

a.      This day is celebrated all over India every year on 7th of December in order to collect the funds from people all around the country for the wellbeing of the staff of the Indian Armed Forces.

b.      It was first celebrated in India on 7th of December in the year 1949.

c.      Since 1949, it has become a ritual in order to memorialize this day in the great honour of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the India.

5.     To promote and disseminate selected speeches of the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Directorate of Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting today launched 2 books “The Republican Ethic” and “Loktantra Ke Swar” (Selected Speeches of Shri Ram Nath Kovind, President of India) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

a.      These books have been launched by Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu (Vice President of India) in the presence of Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Minister of State (I/C) Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports). 

b.      Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

6.     4 Indians in Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list 2018 :

a.      Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Biocon Chairperson)

b.      Roshni Nadar Malhotra (HCL Tech Vice Chairperson)

c.      Shobhana Bhartia (HT Media MD)

d.      Priyanka Chopra (Bollywood Actress)

e.      Note : The list has been topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the eighth consecutive year. 

7.     With 14.8 million followers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the most popular global leader on social media platform Instagram. 

a.      Modi is closely followed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo with 12.2 million followers.

8.     Germany has offered ₹720-crore low-interest loan to support reconstruction of bridges and roads that were damaged in Kerala flood. 

a.      German Ambassador to India Martin Ney announced that the country has also offered a technical grant of ₹24 crore in infrastructure planning. 

9.     The Annual Startup India Venture Capital Summit 2018 was held in Goa.

a.      The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Government of Goa, is jointly hosting the summit.

b.      The event will showcase the Indian startup opportunity for funds from around the world.

c.      Theme of Startup India Venture Capital Summit 2018 : ‘Mobilizing Global Capital for Innovation in India.’

10.7-time national champion swimmer Arun Kumar Shaw (82) passed away.

a.      Shaw, who was the first swimmer from West Bengal to receive the Arjuna Award in 1967, bagged his maiden national championship in 1958 as a member of the Bengal team before joining the South Eastern Railway.

b.      Shaw won national championships in 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965-67 and set national records many times.

c.      He was also a national selector for several years.

11.Congress Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Kishanganj constituency, Asrarul Haque Mohammad (76) passed away.

a.      He was a founder-member of All India Milli Council and a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

12.China today launched the 1st-ever spacecraft that will attempt landing on far side of the Moon, which always shows the same face to Earth as it's close enough to be locked by the planet's gravitational field. 

13.German firm BigRep and NOWlab produced the world’s first fully functioning e-motorbike NERA using a 3D printer.

14.US President Donald Trump today nominated William Barr to be the new Attorney General. 

a.      He will replace the current acting Attorney General, Matt Whitaker. 

15.Trump also nominated State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as the US Ambassador to the United Nations.

a.      Nauert will replace Nikki Haley, who will be leaving the post by the end of the year.

16.Germany's ruling Christian Democrat Union (CDU) today elected Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to replace Angela Merkel as the party leader. 

a.      Note : Merkel announced in October that she would step down as CDU leader but will serve as the Chancellor for the remaining three years of her term.

17.Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge and Colombian long and triple jumper Caterine Ibarguen have been named Male and Female world athletes of the year 2018. 

a.      The pair were honoured by the IAAF (The International Association of Athletics Federations) at a ceremony in Monaco.

18.Paras Dogra, a 34-year-old batsman who currently plays for Puducherry, set a new record of having the most double tons in Ranji Trophy history after slamming his eighth double ton in the competition against Sikkim. 

19.Breaking an 82-year-old record, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah became the fastest bowler in the world to reach the milestone of scalping 200 Test wickets. 

a.      Earlier, the record was held by former Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett who had scalped 200 wickets in 36 Tests.