Latest Current Affairs – December 01 2018
1. India to host G20 summit in 2022, 75th year of Independence
India will host the G20 summit in 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th year of Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday. “Come to India, the world’s fastest growing large economy! Know India’s rich history and diversity, and experience the warm Indian hospitality,” PM Modi tweeted. Italy was to earlier host the international forum in 2022.
2. Govt clears military equipment procurement worth ₹3,000 cr
The Ministry of Defence cleared the proposal for procurement of military equipment worth ₹3,000 crore. The approved deal includes procurement of indigenous BrahMos missiles for two Indian Navy ships that are to be built in Russia. The Defence Acquisition Council also approved the procurement of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) for the Indian Army’s main battle tank, Arjun.
3. ‘Nomophobia’ declared People’s Word of 2018 by Cambridge Dictionary
The Cambridge Dictionary has declared ‘nomophobia’ as the People’s Word of 2018 after running a public poll to choose between four shortlisted words by the dictionary’s editors. ‘Nomophobia’ refers to the fear or worry at the idea of being without your mobile phone or unable to use it. The other shortlisted words were ‘gender gap’, ‘ecocide’ and ‘no-platforming’.
4. Apple approves TRAI’s DND app, avoids iPhone ban in India
Apple has agreed to add the Do Not Disturb (DND) app by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on its App Store. The iPhone maker was in a conflict with the regulatory body for around two years, citing user privacy concerns. TRAI in July had imposed a deadline of January 2019 to avoid a ban on iPhones in India.
5. India, Russia, China hold trilateral summit
PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for the second Russia-India-China ‘RIC’ Trilateral Summit at the leaders’ level after 12 years. The meeting took place on sidelines of the G20 Summit. “President Putin, President Jinping and I discussed a wide range of subjects that would cement the friendship between our nations,” PM Modi tweeted.
6. UK amends new weapons bill to allow Sikhs to carry kirpan
The UK government has confirmed an amendment to a new weapons bill going through the Parliament to ensure that it does not impact the right of the British Sikh community to possess and supply kirpans, or religious swords. The Offensive Weapons Bill 2018 has now been sent to the House of Lords for approval.
7. Microsoft dethrones Apple as world’s most valuable company
Microsoft dethroned Apple as the world’s most valuable company after its market value was above Apple’s at the close of trading at $851.2 billion, compared to Apple’s $847.4 billion. Microsoft’s valuation surpassed multiple times this week during intraday trade but Apple beat Microsoft at market close. Apple’s stock plummeted in November after lower than expected fourth-quarter earnings.
8. Former US President George HW Bush passes away aged 94
The 41st President of the US, George HW Bush passed away at the age of 94, his son 43rd US President George W Bush announced. Bush, the last veteran of World War II to serve as President, was officially the longest living President in US history. He had also served as the US Vice President for eight years.
9. Four Indian-origin women in Forbes US top 50 females in tech
Four Indian-origin women have been named in Forbes ‘America’s Top 50 Women In Tech’ list, released on Thursday. The list featured Former Cisco Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Padmasree Warrior and Founder, CEO of identity-management company Drawbridge Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan. Co-founder, CTO of streaming platform Confluent Neha Narkhede and Senior Director at Uber Komal Mangtani were also named.
10. CRZ approved the construction of Pulicat bridge
Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment approved a proposal by the Highways Department for the construction of the bridge for the people of Pasiyavaram island on Pulicat Lake to the mainland.
The committee, while granting Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the bridge, with a width of 7.5 m to meet the IRC requirements, and costing Rs. 18.2 crore, noted that it was informed that the Pulicat Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), that starts from the inter-state boundary of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, is about 2 km away from the proposed bridge site.
11. First Global Aviation Summit to be held in Mumbai
Supported by ICAO, IATA, ACI and CANSO, the 1st Global Aviation Summit will be held on January 15 and 16, 2019 at The Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.
It aims to focus on the celebration of ‘Flying for All’ and to provide a platform to the aviation fraternity to highlight the challenges of the sector in the newly-developing growth spots.
12. EU sets goal to be climate neutral by 2050
The European Union sets a goal to become the first major economy to be ‘Climate Neural’ by 2050 after that the emissions of greenhouse gases need to be offset by planting trees or burying the gases underground. As per the European Union, this target can be achieved by using Solar and Wind Energy for electricity generation.
13. Chidaoba wrestling, Jamaican reggae, Irish hurling got UNESCO heritage tag
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Mauritius until 1 December, inscribed six elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The newly inscribed elements are:
♦ Chidaoba, wrestling in Georgia,
♦ Ireland – Hurling-Hurling is a field game played by two teams using a wooden stick (hurley) to strike a small ball (sliotar) between the opposing team’s goalposts,
♦ Reggae music of Jamaica,
♦ Japan – Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes,
♦ As-Samer in Jordan,
♦ Traditional spring festive rites of the Kazakh horse breeders.
14. Indian Owl Festival, Indias first owl fest, held in Pune
The Indian Owl Festival, India’s first owl fest, was held at Pingori village in Purandar taluka of Pune, Maharashtra. The festival was organized by Ela Foundation. It created awareness on owl conservation and feature art forms like pictures, paintings, lanterns, lamp shades, posters, origami, stitched articles, poems and stories on owls.
15. Union Government launches Bhasha Sangam to introduce school students to 22 Indian languages
The Government launched ‘Bhasha Sangam’, a unique initiative to introduce school students to 22 Indian languages. Bhasha Sangam launched under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. It is a programme for schools and educational institutions to offer multilingual exposure to students in Indian languages. The main aim is to improve linguistic tolerance and respect and promote national integration.
