Daily GK Updates - 2nd December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   PM LAUNCHES INDIA PAVILION AT PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT:

The India Pavilion inaugurated at the Paris Climate Summit is where visitors can get a lot of information on India’s position with regard to climate change. The PM warned developed countries should assume more responsibilities in making alternative energy technologies affordable and accessible.

2.    INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE LAUNCHED:

India launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the CoP21 Climate Conference. The new body, which has invited all countries located fully or partly between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to join, is to function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in India, Gurgaon. The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a secretariat for the Alliance, and also support it for five years, the Prime Minister said at an event that was co-chaired with him by French President Francois Hollande.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   DECEMBER 02- INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ABOLITION SLAVERY:

The International Day for Abolition of Slavery is observed on December 2 every year since 1986. The day is organized by the United Nations General Assembly for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, and the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

2. SIR VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN ASSUMED PRESIDENCY OF ROYAL SOCIETY:

Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has assumed Presidency of the Royal Society in London. He was elected to the office in March 2015 by the society’s council and will serve for up to five years. With this appointment, he became the 61st president of the society. And, he joined the elite club that has included Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys, Isaac Newton, Joseph Banks, Humphry Davy, and Ernest Rutherford.

3.   CHINA HOSTS FIRST BRICS MEDIA SUMMIT:

China has taken the initiative for creating an alternative media platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping. A total of 25 media organisations are participating in the summit, which hopes to create a new institutional framework that would be tailored to benefit the media of five emerging economies, which have deep linkages with the Global South.

4.    R.M.C. KABORE ELECTED AS A PRESIDENT OF BURKINA FASO:

Roch Marc Christian Kabore has won presidential elections in Burkina Faso. Mr Kabore, a former prime minister, secured 53.5% of the vote after months of political unrest. It was the first election since last year’s popular uprising which toppled longstanding President Blaise Compaore.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.    INDIA’S THAKUR AROOP SINGH WON GOLD MEDAL IN WORLD’S BODYBUILDING AND PHYSIQUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

Indian bodybuilder, Thakur Anoop Singh earned the title of ‘Mr World’ by winning a gold medal in a world bodybuilding meet in Bangkok, Thailand. The athlete was competing against athletes from 47 countries and won a gold medal in the “fitness physique” category of the seventh WBPF (World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships). Back in 2008 when the world was hit by recession, Anoop was forced to leave his job as a pilot and that is when he turned to small screen. In the Mahabharata series that began in 2011, Anoop plays the role of Drithrashtra.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

2. INDIA’S RANK 131 ON GLOBAL INDEX OF ICT ACCESS:

India has been ranked 131 out of 167 countries by the ICT Development Index of the International Telecommunication Union, which measures countries according to their level of ICT (information, communication and technology) access, use and skills. Although India has made tremendous progress in raising its telecom density, the country remains far behind when it comes to providing internet access.

3. RBI INKS INFO EXCHANGE PACT WITH UK FINANCIAL BODY:

The Reserve Bank has signed an agreement with the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority for supervisory cooperation and exchange of information. The Reserve Bank signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information with Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), United Kingdom.

4. MAHARASHTRA IS THE  BIGGEST ECONOMY IN INDIA:

According to the latest report by credit rating agency Brickwork Ratings, Maharashtra is the biggest economy within India at Rs 16.87 lakh crore in terms of gross state domestic product (GSDP).The highest among the bigger states — followed by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

OBITUARIES:

5. SARANGI MAESTRO USTAD SABRI KHAN PASSED AWAY:

Renowned sarangi maestro Sabri Khan, who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, died at the age of 88. The critically acclaimed sarangi player received numerous honours and awards, including the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, UP Sangeet Natak Academy Award, National Sangeet Natak Academy Award and the prestigious Padma Shree (1992) and Padma Bhushan awards (2006).

6. KOODIYATOOM ARTISTE MARGI SATHI PASSED AWAY:

Margi Sathi, the doyenne of the exotic dance form of Nangiarkoothu, an offshoot of Koodiyattam. Breaking barriers, Sathi emerged as the leading woman artist, choreographer and teacher of the classical Koodiyattam theatre, recognised by the UNESCO as a unique artistic heritage of entire humanity.

AWARDS:

7. COLOMBIAN FILM EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT ADJUDGED BEST FILM OF THE 46^TH IFFI:

Colombian film Embrace of Serpent (Al Abrazo de la Serpiente) won the Golden Peacock Award at the finale of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Besides citation, the Golden Peacock award carries a sum of Rs 40 lakh. The only Indian name in the winner’s list was that of Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Ganguly, who was given the inaugural ICFT – UNESCO Fellini Medal for his movie Cinemawala.