18 December 2018 - Daily Current Affairs
1. Philippines’ Catriona Gray Crowned Miss Universe 2018
- Catriona Gray (24-years) of Philippines has been crowned Miss Universe 2018 (67th) at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Thailand.
- Tamaryn Green from South Africa was named the first runner-up while Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez stood third at the pageant.
- Gray was born in Australia and studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the odds-on favourites going into the competition.
- Miss India 2018 Nehal Chudasama (22-years) represented India.
Note:
- Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the Miss Universe Organization.
| Final-result | Contestants |
| Miss Universe 2018 | Catriona Gray (Philippines) |
| 1st Runner-Up | Tamaryn Green (South Africa) |
| 2nd Runner-Up | Sthefany Gutiérrez (Venezuela) |
2. French Govt honours Ashok Amritraj with Order National Du Merite
- International filmmaker Ashok Amritraj (Hyde Park Entertainment founder) has been honoured with the French Knight of the National Order of Merit.
- Mr Amritraj has been the producer of Hollywood films such as Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with Nicholas Cage and 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield.
- He has produced over 100 movies in the span of his 30 years career.
Note:
- The Order of Merit is awarded to recognize eminent artists as well as people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.
Important Dates
3. International Migrants Day 2018 observed globally
- The UN’s (United Nation) International Migration Day (IMD) is being observed every year on 18th December to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families.
- The theme of this year is ‘Migration with Dignity’.
- In 2018, close to 3,400 migrants and refugees already have lost their lives worldwide.
Note:
- In Dec 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 Dec as International Migrants Day after considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world.
National Affairs
4. Cabinet approves construction of new 4- lane bridge across river Ganga at Patna in Bihar
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a new bridge across the Ganga river at Patna (Bihar).
- The project for construction of 5.634 km long new 4 lane bridge parallel to the existing Mahatma Gandhi Setu on NH-19.
- The project is likely to be completed by January 2023.
- The bridge is proposed to be built by the Union ministry of road, transport and highways utilizing an estimated outlay of Rs 2,961 crore.
- The Union Cabinet also approved the establishment of two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Bibinagar (Telangana).
5. Farm loans of over 16 lakh farmers waived in Chhattisgarh
- Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel has announced to waive off farm loans to the tune of 6,100 crore rupees of more than 16 lakh farmers.
- It has been decided to waive off all short-term loans availed by farmers from cooperative and Rural development banks.
- Chhattisgarh cabinet also decided to provide 2,500 rupees per quintal to farmers for their paddy being sold under Minimum support price (MSP) scheme.
6. India decides to extend 1.4 billion dollars aid to the Maldives
- India has decided to extend 1.4 billion dollars financial assistance to the Maldives as budget support, currency swap and line of credit for the social and economic development of Maldives.
- Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih reviewed efforts to promote bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries.
- India and Maldives need to increase bilateral cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the Indian ocean.
- India and Maldives inked four pacts, including one on visa facilitation.
- The two Countries also agreed to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region through coordinated patrol and aerial surveillance.
7. Shri Prakash Javadekar inaugurates Sangeet Kala Sangam in New Delhi
- The Human Resource Development Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated ‘Sangeet Kala Sangam’, at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
- It has been organized under the aegis of Human Resource Ministry, to provide a National Platform to the Art and Music Teachers of KVS.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navoday Vidyalaya Samiti are two sister organizations of HRD Ministry.
- The objective of KVS is to provide uninterrupted quality education to the wards of transferable employees of central government, while NVS provides quality education to talented students, especially from the rural background.
International Affairs
8. Nigerian military lifts ban on UNICEF operations in ravaged northeast
- The Nigerian military has lifted a ban on UNICEF operations in the ravaged northeast.
- Earlier, it had suspended the aid agency and accusing it of training spies supporting Boko Haram jihadists.
- The ban was revoked following an intervention by well-meaning and concerned Nigerians.
- Boko Haram's insurgency has killed more than 27,000 people since in 2009 in the country.
- The Nigerian army has accused UNICEF of 'aiding Boko Haram'.
Appointments
9. Ramphal Pawar appointed Diirector of NCRB
- The Union Government has appointed ‘Ramphal Pawar’ (IPS officer-1988 batch-West Bengal cadre) as the new Director of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB).
- Mr Pawar was Joint Secretary in NATGRID.
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- NCRB was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
10. Madhavi Divan appointed as Additional Solicitor General of India
- The union government has appointed advocate Madhavi Divan as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) to represent it in the Supreme Court (till 30th June 2020.).
- She is the third woman to be appointed as Additional Solicitor General in the court.
- Senior advocate Indira Jaising was the first woman to be appointed as the ASG.
Note:
- The Solicitor General and the Additional Solicitors General advise the Government and appear on behalf of the Union of India in terms of the Law Officers (Terms and Conditions) Rules, 1972.
- Additional Solicitor General of India is a law officer of India and is the third-ranking lawyer of the Government of India.
