Current Affairs Update – 18 Dec, 2014

Finance/Business/Economy News

1. RBI increased RTGS
business hours to 12 hours on weekdays

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 15 December 2014
    increased RTGS (real time gross settlement) business hours from 7.30 hours to
    12 hours. With this, now the business hours for RTGS will be 8 am to 8 pm on
    weekdays as against the earlier 9 am to 4.30 pm.
  • Further on Saturdays, the RTGS business hours has been
    increased from earlier 5 hours to 7.30 hours, that is, now a consumer will be
    able to transfer fund online between 8 am to 3.30 pm as against the earlier
    timings of 9 am to 2 pm.
  • The decision will promote electronic payments and it will
    be effective from 29 December 2014.


Back ground
  • In 2013, RBI launched RTGS system, to keep enhancing the
    systems and procedures to meet the growing needs of markets or customers, and
    to cater to the expanding volume and to provide liquidity.
  • The current minimum amount that can be transferred
    through RTGS channel is 2 lakh rupees. The amount below 2 lakh rupees can also
    be transferred online via NEFT (National Electronic Fund Transfer).
  • The RBI revised the RTGS business hours to meet the
    market expectation. There has been demand for extending business hours of the
    RTGS system to facilitate customer and inter-bank transactions and also to
    facilitate other market obligations to settle in the RTGS system.

2. RBI imposed monetary
penalty on ICICI and Bank of Baroda for violating KYC/AML Instructions

  • The Reserve Bank of India on 17 December 2014 imposed
    monetary penalty on ICICI bank and Bank of Baroda for violation of its
    instructions regarding norms on Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money
    Laundering (AML).

Penalty details of the
two banks
  1. ICICI Bank – 5 million rupees
  2. Bank of Baroda – 2.50 million rupees

  • RBI imposed the penalties on these organizations in
    exercise of powers vested under the provisions of Section 47(A)(1)(c) read with
    Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • Apart from this, RBI also cautioned State Bank of India,
    Axis Bank and State Bank of Patiala for violating KYC or AML instructions.
  • RBI took the action on the basis of a complaint from a statutory
    organization in August 2013 through which details of a fraud committed in these
    five banks, namely, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank Ltd., Bank of Baroda, Axis
    Bank Ltd. and State Bank of Patiala, with the participation of certain
    officials of the statutory organization were brought to the Reserve Bank’s
    notice.
  • The complaint mentioned that fraudsters managed to open
    fictitious accounts in the name of the statutory organisation in the above five
    banks and operated the accounts mainly for encashing cheques/demand
    drafts/postal orders of which they were not the rightful owners, for periods
    ranging from one month to two years, without being detected by the banks.

3. Empays Instant
Money Transfer service received RBI nod
  • Empays, a provider company of multi-bank payment systems,
    on 17 December 2014 announced that its Instant Money Transfer (IMT) service has
    received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • The company was awarded the IMT payment system certificate
    of authorisation under the Payments and Settlements Act 2007.
  • The certificate issued to Empays enables its IMT payment
    system to access clearing and settlement arrangements between member-banks
    directly under the RBI, making it work across banks.

IMT payment system
  • The IMT payment system is a multi-bank mobile transfer
    solution and it combines mobile phones and ATMs to reach the unbanked making it
    a unique milestone in money transfers, payments and financial inclusion in
    India.

Payments and
Settlements Act, 2007 (PSS Act, 2007) 
  • The PSS Act, 2007, that came into force on 12 August
    2008, provides for the regulation and supervision of payment systems in India
    and designates the RBI as the authority for that purpose and all related
    matters. The Act also provides the legal basis for netting and settlement
    finality.

4. IRDA slaps Rs. 31
lakh penalty on Canara HSBC Oriental Life Insurance
  • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)
    has imposed Rs. 31 lakh penalty on Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life
    Insurance Company Ltd for setting policies in favour of master policy holders
    under non-employee/employer groups.
  • “The practice of issuing claim payments in favour of
    Master Policy Holders (Self Help Groups in this case) but not in favour of the
    beneficiary of the group insurance policy has a potential of jeopardising the
    financial interests of the dependents of the deceased policyholder,’’ the
    regulator said in a circular issued here on Thursday.
  • The regulatory had also warned the company citing many
    other lapses in adhering to the norms in many cases.

5. HAL bags PSE
Excellence award
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been conferred
    the PSE Excellence Award 2014 for ‘Corporate Governance & Innovation in
    Business’ by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) at the 5th Summit on “India:
    Public Sector Agenda” organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce with the
    support of Department of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Heavy Industries.
  • HAL Chairman, R. K. Tyagi, received the award from Uttar
    Pradesh Ram Naik in New Delhi on Wednesday.
  • PSE Excellence Awards constituted in 2010, is an
    initiative to salute the industry game changers and recognise contributors to
    the Indian economy in view of the positive role played by the PSEs in
    addressing global demands.
  • A conclave was also organised to take view of PSEs space
    from a global perspective, highlight the achievements and check readiness of
    PSEs in global supply chain.

6. Esaf Microfinance
in running for European award
  • Thrissur-based Esaf Microfinance has been shortlisted for
    the European Microfinance Award 2014 for its ‘clean energy for the poor’
    initiative.
  • Esaf, along with two other finalists, were picked for
    ‘contributing directly to improving the lives of the clients.’
  • Esaf Microfinance operates in six States, covering 34
    districts and reaches out to more than seven lakh members.
  • Dia Vikas Capital, a subsidiary of Opportunity
    International, Australia, and Manaveeya Holdings, a subsidiary of Oiko Credit
    Netherlands, are major social investors in Esaf.
  • Esaf is now in the process of applying for a small bank
    licence, a company spokesman said without disclosing details.
  • K Paul Thomas, Managing Director, said Esaf has supported
    more than 70,000 clients with clean energy solutions in the form of solar
    energy products, smart cooking stoves, and water filters.

News Related to India and Indian Polity
7. DAC approved proposals to buy military
equipment worth 4444 crore rupees
  • The
    Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
    on 17 December 2014 approved proposals to buy military equipments worth 4444
    crore rupees.

These proposals include
  1. Purchase
    of four helicopters for survey vessels for the Indian Navy would cost 2324
    crore rupees.
  2. Upgradation
    of Indigenous Samyukta Electronic Warfare systems (EWS) would cost 1682 crore
    rupees. EWS would be modernised along with a maintenance contract for the next
    10 years. Samyukta consists of vehicles with equipment for surveillance,
    interception, monitoring and jamming of all communication and radar signals
  3. Proposal
    relating to purchase of P-7 Heavy Drop Platform and the naval survey vessels
    would cost 402 crore. This will extend the life of airbags fitted under the
    platform for damage free touchdown of payload weighing less than 7 tonnes from
    eight to fifteen years.
  4. Proposal
    to acquire propeller engine for offshore patrol vessel of the Coast Guard would
    cost 36 crore rupees.

  • However,
    DAC could not reach on a conclusion on the joint bid of Tata Sons Ltd and
    Airbus to replace the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Avro transport fleet though the
    tender floated by IAF was cleared by DAC in its meeting on 19 July 2014.
  • Tata
    Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space had made a joint bid
    for 56 medium-transport aircraft of IAF valued at 20000 crore (3 billion US
    dollars).
  • Avro
    transport fleet is a twin-turboprop tactical military aircraft of six to eight
    tonne class which has a cruise speed of 800 kms per hour and a range of
    2500-2800 kms.
  • Earlier on
    22 November 2014, DAC had cleared a proposal to buy 814 artillery guns for the
    army at a cost of 15750 crore rupees to fill gaps in India’s defence
    capabilities. The army has not bought a single artillery gun since the Bofors
    scandal exploded in the late 1980s.
  • The
    artillery guns would be bought under the government’s “Buy and Make” procedure
    introduced in 2013 to strengthen the indigenous defence sector. The plan is to
    go in for off-the-shelf purchase of 100 guns and manufacture the remaining in
    the country.
  • With the
    passage of this 4444 crore rupees proposal and including the 15750 crore rupees
    proposal of November 2014, NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
    had cleared defence projects of more than 140000 crore rupees since it was
    voted into power in May 2014.

8. ISRO successfully launched GSLV Mark-III-X
from Sriharikota

  • The Indian
    Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s heaviest
    rocket GSLV Mark-III-X carrying Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment
    (CARE) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 18 December 2014. It weighs 630
    tonnes.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

  • Objective
    behind the test of the 155 crore rupees mission was to check the atmospheric
    stability around four tonne luggage and study the re-entry characteristics of
    the crew module.
  • The GSLV
    Mark-III-X lifted off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space
    Centre carrying the human crew module CARE and separated the crew module at an
    altitude of 126 km for re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.
  • The module
    controlled by 3 parachutes safely splashed down into the Bay of Bengal off
    Andaman and Nicobar Islands and was recovered by coast guards near Indira
    Point, the southernmost point of India.
  • The
    experiment lasted for about 20 minutes saw all the events as pre-planned. The
    successful completion of the experimental test will boost India’s mission of
    sending human to the space. It will also double the capacity of payloads India
    can carry into space.
  • The full-fledged
    launch of the rocket will take place in two years and is likely to be held in
    another two years.
  • A few years
    back ISRO had carried out a similar experiment on a smaller scale in which the
    module had orbited around the earth for 15 days before entering back.

Importance of GSLV MK – III-X
  • It will
    help India become self-reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of
    INSAT-4 class weighing 4500 to 5000 kg.
  • It would
    also enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the
    multimillion dollar commercial launch market.
  • It will
    double the capacity of payloads India can carry into space boosting India’s
    mission of sending human to the space.

9. Druzhba-Dosti: A Vision for Strengthening
the Indian-Russian Partnership over the Next Decade

  • Druzhba-Dosti
    is a term used for vision statement of India and Russia over the next decade
    released during the 15th Indo – Russia Annual Summit held in New Delhi on 11
    December 2014.
  • The joint
    statement was released by during the visit of Russian President Vladimir V
    Putin to India at the invitation of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Mod to
    hold the annual summit.
  • The vision
    statement focused on strengthening the partnership over the next decade through
    concrete initiatives in diverse areas so as to make the bilateral institutional
    dialogue architecture more result-oriented and forward-looking. Both the
    counties also resolved to continue to meet on the margins of multilateral events.

10. SC directed Union Government to not appoint
CVC without its approval
  • Supreme
    Court (SC) on 17 December 2014 directed the Union government to not appoint the
    Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and Vigilance Commissioner (VC) without its
    approval.
  • The apex
    court asked the Union to constitute a panel comprising of 15 names to select
    the CVC and submit it in a sealed envelope by 15 January 2015.
  • Although
    the court allowed the Union government to continue with the selection process
    but asked it to submit the details of the selection process. To which, Attorney
    General Mukul Rohtagi informed the court that he will submit the relevant
    details in sealed cover.
  • The
    direction was given by a SC bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Justice
    H L Dattu and Justice Madan B Lokur.
  • The
    direction was given by the SC while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
    filed by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Centre for Integrity, Governance
    and Training in Vigilance Administration.
  • In the
    PIL, the NGO alleged that the selection process for the CVC being done by the
    Union is opaque as vacancies related to the post of CVC and one VC has not been
    widely publicized keeping the door closed to common man. The post of CVC and
    VCs has been lying vacant since the completion of tenure of the then CVC Pradip
    Kumar and the then VC J M Garg on 28 September 2014 and 7 September 2014
    respectively.
  • The NGO
    further contended that Union government ought to have similar procedure for
    making appointment of CVC and VCs as is being done in the case of filling up
    one post of chairperson and eight posts of members in the Lokpal under the
    provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.

11. Arun Jaitley to adopt villages in Gujarat

  • Union
    Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has decided to adopt Karnali group panchayat
    villages in Gujarat’s Vadodara district as part of the ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna’,
    a senior official has said.
  • Four
    villages of Karnali, Pipaliya, Vadiya and Baglipura are covered under Karnali
    group panchayat of Dabhoi taluka.
  • Vadodara
    District Collector Vinod Rao told PTI that he received a letter in this regard
    from Jaitley yesterday.
  • “The
    district administration will develop various facilities in the villages and
    make Karnali a tourist spot as lakhs of devotees of Lord Shiva visit the Kuber
    Bhandari temple located in this village every year,” Rao said.
  • The total
    population of the four villages is 2,506 — Karnali (736), Pipaliya (717),
    Vadiya (631) and Baglipura (422), sub-divisional magistrate L B Bambhaliya
    said.
  • The
    Karnali village’s ancient Kuber Bhandari temple, having mythological
    importance, has the potential to emerge as a major tourist spot as lakhs of
    devotees visit it to offer prayers on the day of ‘amavasya’, a local priest
    said.

12. Tashi-Nungshi became world’s 1st twin to
climb highest peaks of seven continents

  • Tashi
    Malik and Nungshi Malik from Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 16 December 2014 became
    the world’s first twin and sibling to climb the highest peaks of the seven
    continents.
  • They
    achieved the feat after scaling Antarctica’s highest mountain, Mount Vinson at
    4892 meters during their Mission 2 for 7. The two sisters dedicated Mission 2
    for 7 to the cause of the Indian girl child.

Journey of
Tashi Malik and Nungshi Malik in Mission 2 for 7
  • February
    2012: Conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (Africa continent)
  • May 2013:
    Conquered Mount Everest in Nepal (Asia continent)
  • August
    2013: Conquered Mount Elbrus in Russia (Europe continent)
  • January
    2014: Conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina (South America continent)
  • March
    2014: Conquered Mount Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (Oceania continent)
  • June
    2014: Conquered Mount McKinley in Alaska (North America continent)
  • December
    2014: Conquered Mount Vinson of Antarctica (Antarctica continent)

13. Ghanta Chakrapani appointed as the first
Chairman of TSPSC

  • Academician
    and journalist Ghanta Chakrapani was on 17 December 2014 appointed as the first
    Chairman of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). He will hold
    the TSPSC office for six years.
  • Chakrapani
    is presently the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at B.R. Ambedkar Open
    University (BRAOU).

Ghanta Chakrapani
  • Born in
    Yaswada village of Telangana, Ghanta Chakrapani did his post-graduation in
    Sociology and Communication and Journalism from Osmania University.
  • He worked
    in all the popular Telugu newspapers including Udayam, Andhra Jyothi before
    moving into academics.

Background
  • Earlier in
    August 2014,  Telangana government
    notified a Government Order (GO No 43) for constitution of the Telangana State
    Public Service Commission (TSPSC).
  • According
    to the Article 315 of Indian Constitution and Section 83(2) of the Andhra
    Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, 2014 (Central Act.6/2014), it is provided for
    constitution of a Public Service Commission in the Successor State of Telangana
    after its bifurcation from Andhra Pradesh.

14. SC directed Union government to complete
fencing along Indo-Bangladesh border in 3 months
  • The
    Supreme Court (SC) on 17 December 2014 directed the Union Government to
    complete fencing work along Indo-Bangladesh border within three months.
  • The
    direction was given to check cross-border influx of illegal Bangladesh
    nationals into Assam. It also asked the government to streamline the process to
    deport them back.
  • The court
    also asked the Union government why even after 67 years of independence, the
    eastern border is left porous while border with Pakistan is properly fenced. It
    further said that it would monitor the steps taken by the government and sought
    periodic status report after every three months.
  • The apex
    court, taking note of the existing mechanism for deportation and international
    protocol, also asked the government to hold discussions with the Bangladesh
    government for ensuring that illegal migrants are sent back.

15. Union government notified Approach Paper
for e-auctioning of 92 cancelled coal mines in first phase
  • Union
    Ministry of Coal on 17 December 2014 notified the draft rules for e-auction of
    92 cancelled coal mines in first phase. For this, government fixed a floor
    price of 150 rupees per tonne for sectors like captive power, steel, sponge
    iron and cement.
  • The draft
    notification was issued in accordance with the Coal Mines (Special Provision)
    Ordinance 2014 wherein the Nominated Authority was required to prepare a tender
    document. Accordingly, Union government prepared an approach paper for public
    consultation and has sought comments from stakeholders by 22 December 2014.


As per the draft notification
  • The
    e-auction may be conducted on forward/reverse basis, depending on the end-use
    industry.
  • The
    forward bidding will be used for production of iron and steel, generation of
    power for captive use and cement while reverse bidding will be used for
    generation of power.
  • Applications
    will be sought from intending companies in these sectors for pre-qualifications
    and only the top 50 per cent of the pre-qualified bidders will be allowed to
    submit their bids.
  • The
    indicative price offer shall be bid price per tonne of the coal produced. Such
    bid price shall be above the floor price in case of forward bidding or below
    the ceiling price in case of reverse bidding.
  • The
    Intrinsic Value of the coal block will be calculated by computing its Net
    Present Value, based on the Discounted Cash Flow method. 10 per cent of the
    Intrinsic Value will be payable upfront.
  • On fixing
    the ceiling price for coal mines to be auctioned for power projects having
    cost—plus power purchase agreements, a ceiling price of the prevailing CIL
    notified price for each coal mine will be fixed and the bidder will be mandated
    to quote lower than this ceiling price.
  • A fixed
    reserve price of 100 rupees per tonne of coal shall be payable, as per actual
    production by the mine allottee.
  • For power
    plants having uncontracted capacity, the bidder shall be restricted to cap its
    merchant capacity at 20 percent of the installed power capacity linked to the
    alloted coal mine. The reserve price in such cases shall not be less than 150
    rupees per tonne.

The draft
notification will pave the way for auction and allotment of 214 coal blocks
cancelled by the Supreme Court in September 2014.

International News

16. Pakistani court
grants bail 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

  • India on Thursday reacted very strongly on the bail
    granted to Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the
    masterminds behind 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
  • Earlier on Thursday, a Pakistani antiterrorism court
    Lakhvi, who is charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The decision of
    the court to grant Lakhvi bail caused outrage in India which comes just a day
    after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said there is no “good and
    bad” Taliban after the Pakistani Taliban carried out the massacre in a
    Peshawar school that saw 131 schoolchildren and 9 teachers dead.
  • The antiterrorism court granted the bail on a bond of
    Pakistani Rs 500,000.
  • Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor
    disagreed with the bail request. However, advocate Rizwan Abbasi, representing
    Lakhvi, appeared before the court as the bail pleas was granted, Dawn online
    reported.
  • LeT operations commander Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar
    Iqbal, Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum were arrested in
    2009 for their alleged role in the attacks in which 166 people were killed and
    over 300 injured.
  • Lakhvi and six others had filed bail applications on Wednesday
    even as lawyers were observing strike to condemn the terrorist attack on the
    army-run school in Peshawar that left 148 people, mostly children, dead.
  • The Indian government said that it is working with its
    mission in Pakistan to prepare a strong response against granting of bail to
    LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

17. Minorities Rights
Day observed across the world on 18 December
  • Minorities Rights Day on 18 December 2014 was observed
    across the world to create awareness on rights of minorities. On this day,
    governments and NGO’s conduct debates on the recent developments in policies
    and practices in Minority Rights both in India and at the global level.
  • In India, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is the
    statutory body that observes Minorities Rights Day on18 December every year.


About Minorities Right Day
  • On 18 December 1992, United Nations (UN) promulgated the
    Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious
    and Linguistic Minorities, to strengthen the cause of the minorities.
  • UN proclaimed that States shall protect the existence of
    the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of
    minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the
    promotion of that identity.

18. Marathi film Kapus
Kondyachi Goshta nominated for Oscar Award in Best Picture Category

  • The Marathi film Kapus Kondyachi Goshta (The Unending
    Story) in the second week of December 2014 was nominated in the Best Picture
    Category of the 87th Academy Awards, popularly known as Oscars.
  • The film is based on the real-life story of four sisters in
    a small village near Nagpur.
  • The American Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences
    recently disclosed the list of 323 films that have been nominated in the Best
    Picture category.
  • The final nominations shortlist for the Oscar awards will
    be announced on 15 January 2015 while the awards will be given on 22 February
    2015.

About Kapus Kondyachi
Goshta (The Unending Story)
  • The film directed by Pune-based director Mrunalini
    Bhosale is about the daily struggles of four sisters against the backdrop of
    farmer suicides in Vidarbha in Maharashtra. The film depicts the story of
    triumph over tragedy, where the strong will of simple village girl wins over
    all odds to become an inspiration for many. The film also details the social
    ostracism and poverty rife among Vidarbha’s cotton growers.
  • The film is produced by Ravindra alias Nitin Bhosale and
    written by Prasad Namjoshiand. Lead actors of the film are Makarand Anaspure,
    Samidha Guru and Bharat Ganeshpure.

The movie has been
screened at many film festivals and received a lot of awards and appreciations.
These include:

Dada Saheb Phalke Film
Festival
  • 2014: Best Film – Women Empowerment – Mrunalini Bhosale

International Indian
Film Festival of Queensland in Brisbane
  • 2014: Best Feature Film – Kapus Kondyachi Goshta

Sahyadri Cine Awards
2014
  • 2014: Best Feature Film – Kapus Kondyachi Goshta

Maharashtra State Film
Awards 2014
  • 2014: Best Actress Award – Samidha Guru

Mrunalini Bhosale is a specialist in the agricultural
documentary and had created and directed about 50 films. All her films focus on
the pitfalls and triumphs of men and women who work the soil.
19. ‘The Lunchbox’
honoured by Toronto film critics

  • Indian film director Ritesh Batra’s ‘The Lunchbox’ has
    been named best first feature at the 18th annual Toronto Film Critics Association
    (TFCA) awards in Toronto.
  • It’s the only Indian movie to win a TFCA award, voted by
    the members of the association, which includes Toronto-based journalists and
    broadcasters who specialise in film criticism and commentary.
  • The 2013 love story, featuring Irrfan Khan with Nimrat
    Kaur, has had its share of rounds at international movie festivals, including
    the Cannes International Film Festival.
  • The awards, to be hosted by Cameron Bailey, artistic
    director of the Toronto International Film Festival, will be presented at a
    gala dinner here Jan 6, next year, said their official site
    torontofilmcritics.com.
  • Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age drama “Boyhood” has won
    three top prizes at the 2014 awards of the TFCA.
  • In addition to the film’s best picture award, Linklater
    has won best director, and Patricia Arquette has been named best supporting
    actress.

20. China developed
invisible pain beam weapon Poly WB-1 to break-up riots
  • China in the third week of December 2014 developed a long-range
    and non-lethal Pain Beam weapon named Poly WB-1. The weapon can be used to
    break up riots or protests from a distance.
  • The Poly WB-1 was unveiled at an air show in China and it
    uses a millimeter-wave beam that can travel distances of up to One kilometer.
  • China developed the weapon for naval applications to deal
    with confrontation in non-lethal ways. The WB-1 will be mounted in ships,
    majorly in those patrolling disputed waters.
  • Poly WB-1 is similar to the Active Denial System (ADS)
    created by Raytheon, which was sent to Afghanistan with the United States
    military, but was not used in combat and recalled in 2010.
  • Once the beam comes in contact with a person, the beam
    disperses the crowd through heating up water molecules just below the skin
    causing intense pain resulting into recoiling of the person. But if longer
    busts are made at certain frequencies, it will cause the flesh to burn and
    blister.

21. Reverend Libby
Lane appointed as first female bishop of the Church of England

  • Reverend Libby Lane was on 17 December 2014 appointed as
    the first female bishop of the Church of England. She will become the new
    Bishop of Stockport, a post that was vacant since May 2014.
  • Libby will succeed the Reverend Robert Atwell, who is now
    the Bishop of Exeter. The nomination of Libby as the new Bishop of Stockport
    was approved by the Queen of England.
  • As Bishop of Stockport, she will serve as a suffragan
    (assistant) bishop in the Diocese of Chester. Presently, Lane is the vicar at
    St Peter’s Hale and St Elizabeth’s Ashley.
  • Lane will be consecrated as the eighth bishop of the town
    at a ceremony at York Minster on 26 January 2015. Her appointment will end
    centuries of male leadership of the Church.

Reverend Libby Lane
  • Libby Lane was ordained as a priest in 1994 and has
    served a number of parish and chaplaincy roles in the North of England in the
    Dioceses of Blackburn, York and Chester.
  • She has been the vicar at St Peter’s Hale and St
    Elizabeth’s Ashley since 2007. Later in 2010, she became the Dean of Women in
    Ministry for the diocese since January 2010.

22. USAID head Rajiv
Raj Shah resigned from his position

  • The head of the United States Agency for International
    Development (USAID) Rajiv Raj Shah on 17 December 2014 resigned from his
    position.
  • Rajiv will leave the office in February 2015. However,
    the reason behind his resignation was not revealed.
  • Shah joined the office of USAID on 24 December 2009.
    Being the head of USAID, Shah led more than 9600 professionals in 80 missions
    around the world, and managed an annual budget of over 22 billion US dollars.

Rajiv Raj Shah

  • Shah served as Under Secretary of Agriculture for
    Research, Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the US Department of
    Agriculture in 2009.
  • He worked in a range of leadership roles at the Bill
    & Melinda Gates Foundation including Director of Agricultural Development,
    Director of Financial Services and manager of the Foundation’s 1.5 billion US
    dollars commitment to the Vaccine Fund.
  • He co-founded Health Systems Analytics, a health care
    consulting firm and the Project IMPACT for South Asian Americans.

23. US slapped
sanctions on Oil trading firms of Switzerland and Netherland for dealing with
Syria
  • The United States (US) on 17 December 2014 slapped
    sanctions on oil trading firms of Netherland and Switzerland countries. These
    oil firms are Staroil B V of Netherlands and Rixo International Trading Ltd and
    Bluemarine SA of Switzerland.
  • The US Treasury put sanctions on the firms due to their
    dealings with the Government of Syria, which has been engaged in bloody civil
    war with rebel forces. As a result, these firms were effectively cut from the
    US financial system.
  • The US Treasury also put sanctions on several officials
    from the Syria-based firms, as well as on companies from Syria and another from
    the United Arab Emirates.

24. Amit Priyavadan
Mehta appointed as Federal judge in the district of Columbia
  • Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta was on 17 December
    2014 appointed  as a federal judge in the
    district of Columbia by the US Senate. He is the first Asian Pacific American
    to occupy this position.
  • He was nominated for the post by President Barack Obama
    in July 2014.

Amit Priyavadan Mehta
  • Mehta is a graduate of Georgetown University and the
    University of Virginia School of Law, Order of the Coif.
  • He had served as a clerk for judge Susan Graber, US court
    of appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Mehta has represented plaintiffs and defendants in
    federal civil matters, including antitrust and a Securities and Exchange
    Commission enforcement action.

25. Victory Day
celebrated in Bangladesh on 16 December
  • Victory Day was celebrated in Bangladesh on 16 December
    2014.  The day observes liberation of
    Bangladesh from the Pakistan forces in 1971 War of Liberation in which about
    three million people were killed.
  • On this day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister
    Sheikh Hasina paid their homage to the 1971 Liberation War martyrs at the
    National Memorial in Bangladesh.
  • The day was celebrated with 31-gun salute at National
    Parade Ground in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Bangladesh. Many leaders of Bangladesh
    and diplomats of many countries also paid their homage to the martyrs.


About Victory Day

  • Victory Day observed on 16 December annually commemorates
    the surrender of Pakistan forces to allied Indian and Bangladeshi forces in the
    Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In Bangladesh this day is a national holiday
    and is known as Bijoy Dibosh in Bangladesh.

26. Priyanka Chopra
Signs deal with American TV network

  • After releasing three singles off her first music album
    in the US and voicing an Indian character in Disney Toon film Planes, Priyanka
    Chopra is all set to take her Hollywood stint to the next level.
  • According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Mary Kom actress
    has been signed on for a talent holding deal with American TV network ABC.
  • As part of the one-year pact under the network’s
    diversity casting program, ABC will either incorporate Chopra in an existing
    show or launch a new project starring her.
  • This is a first of its kind deal for Chopra, who became
    the first Indian celebrity to have been signed on as the global face of Guess
    last year.
  • Chopra’s Hollywood journey began with the release of her
    first single In My City, that was also used as the theme song to the 2013
    season of the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football.
  • Subsequent singles — Exotic and I Can’t Make You Love Me
    — gained popularity upon release too.
  • According to reports, ABC executive Keli Lee, who
    spearheads the network’s diversity casting program, traveled to Mumbai to sign
    Chopra.
  • Other notable stars to have been signed on under the same
    program are Kerry Washington for Scandal and Sandra Oh for medical drama Grey’s
    Anatomy.


Sports News

27. Rory McIlroy named
2014 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of Year
  • Rory McIlroy of Ireland on 16 December 2014 was named as
    the 2014 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year. He won the award for
    the second time in three seasons. Earlier he won the award in 2012.
  • Having been named Golfer of the Month in May 2014, July
    2014 and August 2014, he was unanimously voted the top player for 2014
  • He defeated Henrik Stenson, the 2013 European Tour Player
    of the Year, and became the first player to top both the PGA Tour and European
    Tour money lists in the same year on two different occasions.
  • Currently, he is the World Number One and a four-time
    major champion. His major triumphs in 2014 came at the 143rd British Open
    Championship and US PGA Championship, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the
    BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship event.

28. Paul McGinley of
Ireland won Sports Personality Coach of the Year 2014

  • Paul McGinley won Sports Personality Coach of the Year
    2014 at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Glasgow. He was
    awarded for guiding the European team to win the Ryder Cup of Golf at
    Gleneagles in UK in September 2014.
  • Under his guidance Europe defeated the United States by
    16.5 points to 11.5 points.
  • In December 2014, McGinley was appointed as captain of
    the Irish golf team for the Rio Olympics scheduled to be held in 2016.
  • The Sports Personality of the Year Awards is presented by
    the BBC Sports annually in December.


Other Sport
Personality awards
  • Sports Personality of the Year: Lewis Hamilton of Britain
    (F1 Driver)
  • Young Sports Personality of the Year: Italy-born Claudia
    Fragapane of Britain (Artistic gymnast)
  • Lifetime Achievement:
    Sir Christopher Andrew “Chris” Hoy of Britain (Racing driver
    and former track cyclist)
  • Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: Cristiano
    Ronaldo of Portugal (Footballer)
  • Get Inspired Unsung Hero: Jill Stidever of Leicestershire
    (Swimming coach)
  • Helen Rollason award: Invictus Games competitors of
    London
  • Team of the Year: England women’s rugby union team

29. Hariom Singh won
Gold in Men’s 50-metre Rifle Prone event at 58th National Shooting champions
  • Hariom Singh on 17 December 2014 won Gold medal in the
    Men’s 50-metre Rifle Prone event at the 58th National Shooting Championships
    held in Pune. Representing Indian Army Hariom won the Gold with a total of 205
    in the finals.
  • Aditya U Singh of Air Force won Silver with 204.8 poits
    and Beijing Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra won Bronze with 183.8 points.
    Olympic Bronze medalist Gagan Narang finished at fourth place in the eight-man
    final.

Men’s 50m Rifle Prone
Team Event
  • Gold: Army Marksmanship Unit 1855.3 (Chain Singh 625.7,
    Surendra Singh Rathore 616.4, Sushil Ghaley 613.2)
  • Silver: Air Force 1845.2 (Aditya U Singh 617.8, Ravi
    Kumar 614.6, Deepak Kumar 612.8)
  • Bronze:  Uttar
    Pradesh 1842.4 (Ishan Goel 622.4, Anubhav Pratap Singh 615.9, Ajit Kumar Singh
    604.1).

30. Former Olympic
wrestling champion suspended for one year

  • Former Olympic wrestling champion Steeve Guenot was
    suspended for one year on Thursday by the French anti-doping agency for missing
    doping tests.
  • The French wrestling federation said Guenot, who won gold
    in the 66-kilogram category at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze in London
    four year later, failed to give details about his whereabouts and was twice
    absent from his house for out-of-competition tests between February and July
    this year.
  • The French federation said he never tested positive
    despite being regularly targeted since he won Olympic gold six years ago.
  • Guenot, who has been suspended until July 30, 2015, will
    not appeal the decision, meaning that he won’t be able to compete at the European
    Games in Baku next June.
  • The 29-year-old Guenot is currently sidelined following
    surgery on his right hip and hopes to return at the world championships in Las
    Vegas in September and then to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

This post was last modified on November 27, 2017 9:03 am