INTERNATIONAL
Japan successfully launches solid fuel rocket
Japan’s space agency has announced successfully launched a 26- meter long rocket named Epsilon-2, which put a satellite that helps study radiation belts in orbit. Epsilon – 2 is part of a new generation of solid propellant rockets, which can reduce launch costs up to one – third reduction in cost can allow countries to put more communications and weather satellites in space.
India surpasses Britain to become world’s sixth largest economy: Forbes magazine
India has now surpassed its former colonial master, the united kingdom, making it self the sixth largest economy in the world. For the first time in more than 100 years, India has achieved this feat. The US, China, Japan, Germany and France make up the top five economies of the world.This advancement is primarily because of the rapid economic growth of India and Brexit fiasco
Ukraine Nationalized Nations largest private Bank “Privat Bank”
Privat Bank, Ukraine’s largest private bank, is being nationalized to protect country’s financial system and preserve an essential bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund. It was running out of money because of the recession in Ukraine and questionable loans. The central bank said 97% of its corporate loans had been made to companies to its share holders.
Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle crowned Miss World 2016
Puerto Rico’s 19-year-old Stephanie Del Valle has been crowned as the Miss World 2016 at an event held in Maryland, US. Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez was the first runner-up. Notably, Valle is the second Puerto Rican to hold the title after Wilnelia Merced won it in 1975. India’s Priyadarshini Chatterjee also reached the top 20.
China opens first fully-owned satellite ground station near North Pole
China has launched its first fully-owned overseas satellite ground station near the North Pole enabling it to collect satellite data anywhere on the Earth at fastest speed in the world. It is formally known as China Remote Sensing Satellite North Pole Ground Station. It is located about 200 kms north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden.
Indian-American woman elected as Mayor of Californian city
For the first time, an Indian-American woman has been elected as the new Mayor of the key Californian city of Cupertino, globally known for its Apple headquarters. Savita Vaidhyanathan, an MBA who worked as a high school Math teacher and an officer in a commercial bank as well as in non-profit management.
Rio Gets UNESCO World Heritage Status
The Marvelous City or Rio de Janeiro officially has entered into the UN’s list of world heritage sites. The UN cultural body, UNESCO given this status to Rio to highlighted the “extraordinary fusion” of man-made and natural beauty.
India becomes world’s 4th largest defense spender
India has outshone Russia, France, Japan and Saudi Arabia in the defense budget and has become world’s 4th largest defense spender . With an expenditure of over 3 lakh core in 2016, India is now behind the US, China and the UK. Furthermore, by 2018 India will surpass the UK.
Sushma Swaraj, Vineet Nayar in FP’s Global Thinkers 2016 list
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and philanthropist couple Anupama and Vineet Nayar are among the Indians who have been named in the Global Thinkers of 2016 List compiled by the Foreign Policy magazine. Swaraj was named in the ‘Decision-makers’ category along with the Democratic nominee for US President Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Attorney General Loretta Lynch among others.
Viola Desmond becomes first Canadian woman to appear on banknote
Viola Desmond will appear on the Canadian $10 bill – replacing the nation’s first prime minister John A Macdonald who will be moved to a higher bill – when new banknotes go into circulation in 2018, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced on Thursday morning.
China launches advanced weather satellite Fengyun-4
China has launched the first of its new generation weather satellites Fengyun-4.
The New technology on the satellite will improve the accuracy of weather forecasts just in time for the winter season.It was China’s First second-generation weather satellites launched as well as the country’s first quantitative remote-sensing satellite in the geostationary orbit.
Donald Trump is Time magazine’s Person of the Year
Donald Trump, the US President-elect who bitterly divided his nation by running a campiagn that close to half the US considered racist and sexist, has been named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year.Time magazine named President-elect Donald Trump its Person of the Year. Time editor Nancy Gibbs said on the programme that Democrat Hillary Clinton was the No. 2 finalist.The Time cover reads, “Donald Trump — President of the Divided States of America” and the cover image features a photograph of the President-elect sitting in his private residence at Trump Tower.
BRICS nations to share tax information automatically to eliminate tax evasion
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries have agreed to share tax information automatically as per their commitment to ensure the fairness of the international tax system. Decion in this regard was taken at the meeting of Heads of Revenue of BRICS Countries in Mumbai, Maharashtra.BRICS members will exchange tax information, both on request and on automatic basis, and to adopt global standards on tax transparency.They also reiterated their endorsement for global Common Reporting Standard for Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) on a reciprocal basis to prevent cross-border tax evasion.
Crown prince Maha Vajiralongkorn becomes Thailand’s new king
Thailand named its crown prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as its new king on 1 December 2016, 50 days after the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadei. Dressed in white, prince Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne and accepted his new responsibilities at the invitation of the National Legislative Assembly’s (NLA) President in his Bangkok Palace amidst the whole of Thai media.
Mercosur revokes membership of Venezuela
The South American economic bloc Mercosur has suspended Venezuela from it for violating the bloc’s democratic principles and failing to meet its basic standards. The membership was revoked by the Foreign Ministers of the four founding members of Mercosur — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
UAE-based Indian girl Kehkashan Basu wins 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize
UAE based Indian environmental activist Kehkashan Basu (16) has won 2016 prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize. She was bestowed with this prestigious award for her fight for climate justice and combating environmental degradation. She was presented with the award by Bangladesh’s Nobel peace laureate Mohammad Yunus at a glittering ceremony held in The Hague, Netherlands.
UNESCO includes Yoga in Intangible Cultural Heritage list
Yoga, India’s one of the ancient practices to keep oneself healthy, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It was inscribed on the list during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The declaration describing Yoga as a Human Treasure got unanimous support of the 24 members of the Committee.
Pak-China start direct rail and freight service
China and Pakistan have launched a direct rail and sea freight service with the first cargo train departing from China’s southwestern Yunnan province. The service was launched with the first cargo train loaded with 500 tonnes of commodities left Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, an inland province in south-west China departed for Karachi, state-run Xinhua.
Read more: Current Affairs Dec 2016 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/dec-2016-current-affairs-study-material/14889/#ixzz5TMBxOrQE
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