Current Affairs - December 18, 2017 Current Affairs

As per a report by United Nations, nearly 15.6 million people from India live overseas, thus making Indian Diaspora, the largest in the world.

North Korea threat is becoming stronger and the situation is taking difficult turns, Japan is also trying to boost its defence as much as possible. The country has planned a record 5.19 trillion yen defence budget for the next fiscal year to strengthen its missile defence. This amount is approximately 70 billion yen (about $ 625 million) more than the last year. The current defence budget of the country is 5.12 trillion yen for this fiscal year. If defence increases the budget for next fiscal year also, then it will mark the sixth year of increase. Most of the money will be allocated for protection of Japan from North Korean missile development and nuclear nukes.

Global Partnership Summit (GPS) 2017 was held in New Delhi from 11th to 14th December 2017. The Summit was organised by India Center Foundation (ICF). ICF is a not for profit and non-governmental organisation working to bring about socio-economic development in India. The Global Partnership Summit (GPS) has evolved from the India Japan Global Partnership (IJGP) initiative. GPS serves as a platform for global partners to share knowledge, expertise and experience for creating a development model which focuses on empowerment and sustainability.

Top Indian shuttler P V Sindhu won the Silver medal in women's singles summit clash of the Dubai World Super Series Final in Dubai. She went down fighting against World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. In the prestigious season-ending tournament finale, Sindhu lost in three games, 21-15 12-21 19-21, to Yamaguchi in the final.

Iran opened its first museum dedicated to Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, a solo female artist who has garnered widespread international attention during decades of exile. 'Monir Museum', which opened in Tehran, displays 51 works, including her signature mirror mosaics, reverse glass paintings inspired by geometric patterns and abstract monotypes. This museum is being managed by Tehran University.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh research and development projects in horticulture crops have yielded encouraging results, as a result, the production of horticulture crops have been more than food grains irrespective of adverse climatic conditions. After China, India is the second largest producer of horticultural crops and fruits. The Agriculture Minister said more than 9 crore metric ton of fruits on 63 lakhs hectare land were produced during 2015-16. According to an estimate, a production of 30 crore metric ton horticulture crops on 2.5 crore hectare land is expected during 2016-17 in which contribution of fruit is significant. The record achievement includes 42 million ton of fruit production on 65 lakh hectare land. In terms of area in India, the citrus fruits hold second position (10.37 lakh hectare) and third (12 million tonnes) in production.

Online cab aggregator, Ola entered into an agreement with Bajaj Allianz to offer a comprehensive insurance programme for its driver partners. This programme has been named 'Chalo Befikar'. Under this programme, Ola's driver partners can avail an insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has formed a 30-member central advisory panel, which will advise government on implementation of the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) and will play an important role in protecting the interest of consumers. The panel is headed by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister and comprise Central and State government secretaries, real estate research organisations and representatives from home buyers associations.

Double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in South Africa. In Johannesburg, Sushil defeated New Zealand's Akash Khullar via a pinfall in the final of the 74kg freestyle category to clinch the medal. Parveen Rana also won a bronze medal in the same category. Another Olympic medalist, Sakshi Malik also clinched a gold medal in the championships. Sakshi defeated New Zealand's Tayla Tuahine Ford in the final of the 62kg women's freestyle category.

Samsung India has partnered with UNESCO MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development) to launch 360-degree video and Virtual Reality (VR) content of Sun Temple in Konark and Taj Mahal. First 360-degree video and VR content on the Sun Temple was unveiled on December 16, 2017 at the Transforming Education Conference for Humanity (TECH) 2017 in Visakhapatnam. TECH 2017 was organized by UNESCO MGIEP. The video was unveiled at a specially set up Samsung Smart Class at TECH 2017 venue.

Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet approved a scheme to provide a pension of Rs 1500 to transgenders in the state. Transgenders above 18 years of age, residing in Andhra Pradesh can avail pension under this scheme. Currently, there are 26000 eligible transgenders in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh state government has decided to provide ration cards, plots and scholarships, as well as to impart skill development training for financial stability transgenders in the state.

Switzerland unveiled world's steepest funicular railway link to the alpine resort of Stoos. Funicular is a type of cable railway (a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails) on an inclined pane of cliff. The latest funicular unveiled in Switzerland rises 743 metres along gradients as steep as 110% and has a track length of 1720 metres.

Haryana government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India. The MoU aims at the development of an International Aviation Hub at Hisar. The state reserved 4,200 acres of land adjoining the pre-existing airstrip, to be utilized for the project. A joint working group has also been comprised to guide the State Government in developing the Aviation Hub. Advisor of the Civil Aviation Department Ashok Sangwan signed the MoU on behalf of the state government while head of business management Anil Kumar Gupta signed on behalf of the AAI.

Maharashtra government in a circular directed not to spend government funds on religious and social functions organized by private institutions. According to the circular, the local bodies will not spend money on Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Ramzan, Eid, Chhath Puja, Gudi Padva, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti and Dr BR Ambdedkar Jayanti. The judgment further reads that the Municipal Corporation must also bear in mind that secularism is part of the basic structure of the Constitution and the municipal funds are primarily required to be spent on civic amenities.

The seven-day International Herbal Fair started in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the International herbal fair at the Lal Parade Ground. Delegations from Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and other countries are taking part in the fair. 300 stalls of rare herbs collected from various districts of Madhya Pradesh is put up in the fair.