05 December 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

05 December 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

Legendary actor Shashi Kapoor Passes away at 79

• Bollywood legend Shashi Kapoor passed away yesterday at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He was 79 years old.
• Shashi Kapoor was born on 18^th March 1938. He is the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor. His elder brother was – Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.
• In 1961, he made his debut in the film ‘Dharmputra’ and went on to appear in more than 116 films during ‘70s and until the mid ‘80s.
• In the late 40’s he started acting in films as a child artist.
• Some of his unforgettable films include Deewar, Kabhie Kabhie, Namak Halal, Kaala Pathar and others.
• In 2011, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2011 and received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2015.
• The unforgettable dialogue of film ‘Deewar’ 'Mere Paas Maa Hai' makes Shashi Kapoor immortal.

Shamli district of UP included in NCR region

• The Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh has been included in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• The decision was taken by the 37th meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board.
• Now there are total 23 districts which come under the National Capital Region.

Fitch lowers India’s GDP growth rate to 6.7% for 2017-18

• International rating agency Fitch has lowered the India’s GDP growth projection for 2017-18 to 6.7 percent from its earlier forecast of 6.9 percent.
• It also reduces the GDP growth forecast for 2018-19 fiscal year to 7.3percent from 7.4 percent.

US withdraws from UN Migrant & Refugee pact.

• The United States has withdrawn itself from a United Nations Migrant & Refugee pact. to improve the handling of migrant and refugee situations.
• Last year, the UN General assembly unanimously adopted the New York declaration for refugees and migrants. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the United States would continue its generosity in supporting migrants and refugees around the world.
• In August 2017, the United States pulled out of the Paris-based culture and education body.
• The US has also withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and UNESCO, the UN organisation which aims to improve education and preserve cultural heritage worldwide.

Venezuela to launch new cryptocurrency ‘Petro’

• According to the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the country is set to launch a digital currency called the “petro” to combat US -led financial "blockade,".
• In recent time, Venezuela is struggling to make payments toward the $120 billion worth of debt it owes to foreign lenders and bondholders, most of them are in the US.
• The ‘Petro’ a cryptocurrency will be backed by Venezuela’s oil, mineral and gold reserves. It would help Venezuela to make financial transactions and overcome the financial blockade.

International Conference on Climate change begins in Nepal

• An international conference on climate change started in Nepal. The main objective of the conference is to explore holistic solutions for adaptation to change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.
• More than the 200 scientist’s policymakers, government officials and parliamentarians from countries including India participate in the conference.
• President Bidya Devi Bhandari has inaugurated the event.

6th International Tourism Mart 2017 begins in Assam

• The 6th International Tourism Mart 2017 begins in Guwahati, Assam.
• The three- day program has been organized by Ministry of Tourism in association with all North Eastern states.
• The International Tourism Mart is inaugurated by the Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam.
• The main objective of the mart is to highlight the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets. 

World Soil Day observed today

• The World Soil day observed on 5^th December 2017.
• The theme of 2017 Soil Day is ‘Caring for the Planet starts from the Ground’.
• The day is observed to aware the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human and as a mitigator of biodiversity loss and climate change.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization,

• The Soil holds three times as much carbon as the atmosphere and can help us meet the challenges of a changing climate.
• 95% of our food comes from the soil.
• 33% of our global soils are already degraded

International Volunteer Day observed today

• The International Volunteer Day (IVD) observed every year on 5^th December.
• The theme of 2017 for the day is: ‘Volunteers act first, Here, Everywhere’.
• The theme recognizes the contributions of volunteers as first responders in times of crisis.
• Volunteers are present, all around us, answering calls in times of need, helping save lives today, and supporting those who want to continue living their lives with dignity tomorrow.

India & Germany sign Govt. to Govt. Umbrella Agreement

• India and Germany signed an agreement on the Government to Government Umbrella Agreement concerning the Financial Cooperation in 2016 (II) under the Indo-German Development Cooperation.
• The agreement was signed to formalize an amount up to Euro 200 million for the Financial Cooperation in form of loan for the project ‘Climate Friendly Urban Mobility III’ and Euro 11 million Accompanying measures in form of a grant for four projects.