Current Affairs 25th december 2015

• India, Russia ink 16 pacts to expand cooperation in various sectors

India and Russia have inked 16 cooperation agreements to expand cooperation in various sectors to give a major push to their strategic ties.

These agreements were signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two days official visit to Russia. The agreements were signed in the nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, solar energy, railways and visas sectors.

Some of the signed agreements are

• Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Helicopter Engineering: It includes joint manufacture of Kamov 226 helicopters on the lines of Make in India campaign.
• Programme of Action Agreed Between for Localization of Manufacturing in India for Russian-Designed Nuclear Reactor Units: It would felicitate construction of 12 atomic plants with involvement of local companies in India under the ‘Make-in-India’ programme.
• The cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a cornerstone of the Russia-India strategic partnership.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation in railway sector
• MoU for construction of solar energy plants in India: It was signed between Solar Energy Corporation of India and Russian Energy Agency regarding.
• MoU for Cooperation for geologic survey, exploration and production of hydrocarbons onshore and on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation. Similar agreement was also signed between Rosneft Oil Company of Russia and Oil India Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Apart from this, extensive talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for the world to unite against terrorism without distinction and discrimination between terrorist groups. Russia conveyed its strong support to India’s bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

• North India’s first cable bridge named Atal Setu inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir

North India’s first cable-stayed bridge named Atal Setu was inaugurated on Dunera-Basohli-Bhadharwah road in Basohali town in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

It was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar along with Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

About Basohli Cable-Stayed Bridge

• Basohli Cable-Stayed Bridge is 592-metre long and has been constructed over Ravi River on Dunera- Basohli-Bhadharwah road.
• The work of bridge started in September 2011. It has been constructed by Border Roads Organization (BRO) at a cost of Rs 145 crore.
• It is a joint venture (JV) of Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) and SP Singla Construction group.
• It will provide close connectivity among the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. It would boost connectivity and tourism among the three states.
• The bridge is strategically important from the defence point of view as well. It is fourth of its kind in the country and first in North India and Jammu and Kashmir.

Other three major cable-stayed bridges in the country are: (i) Vidyasagar Setu – Over the Hoogly River in Kolkata (West Bengal). (ii) Bandra-Worli Sea Link (Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link) – Mumbai (Maharashtra). (iii) New Yamuna Bridge- Over Yamuna River in Allahabad (Uttar Pradeh).

• Steve Smith named ICC Test cricketer of Year for 2015

Australian cricketer Steve Smith has been namedCricketer of the Year for 2015 at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards ceremony in Dubai.

With this, Smith became the 4th Australian and 11th overall player to win the prestigious award named after Sir Garfield Sobers. He was also adjudged theTest Cricketer of the Year for 2015.

During the voting period, which ran from September 2014 to September 2015, Steve Smith has finished as the leading run-scorer in Tests with 1,734 runs in 25 innings of 13 matches at an average of 82.57. This included seven centuries and six half-centuries.

In One-Day Internationals format for same voting period, Smith had scored 1,249 runs at an average of just under 60 with four centuries and eight half-centuries in 26 matches.

South Africa’s ODI captain AB de Villiers was named the ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2015 for the second time in a row.

Other Categories ICC awards

• ICC Emerging player of the year: Josh Hazlewood (Australia).
• Best T20 performance of the year: Faf du Plessis (South Africa).
• Spirit of Cricket award: Brendon McCullum (New Zealand).
• ICC Associate player of the year: Khurram Khan (UAE).
• Umpire of the year: Richard Kettleborough (England).
• Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year: Meg Lanning (Australia).
• T20I Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Stefanie Taylor (West Indies).

About ICC Awards

The ICC Awards is a set of sports awards for the game of cricket recognising and honouring the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months. The Awards has been institutionalised by International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2004 and since then awarded annually.

• Syed Kirmani nominated for 2015 Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award

India’s former wicket-keeper batsman Syed Kirmani has been nominated for prestigious BCCI-instituted Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award 2015.

He was conferred with the award for his contribution to Indian cricket. He was a member of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 1983 for the first time.

Background

Syed Kirmani was selected for this prestigious award by the Awards Committee of BCCI consisting of BCCI President Shashank Manohar, Secretary Anurag Thakur and N Ram, former Editor-in-chief of The Hindu Group.

About Syed Kirmani

• Kirmani was one of India’s finest wicket keepers and had played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs for India.
• He holds distinction of 198 dismissals as a wicket keeper in 88 Tests and had scored 2759 runs including two centuries, at an average of 27.04
• Kirmani had played 49 ODIs for India and scored 373 runs. The main highlight being the 126-run rearguard partnership he shared with Kapil Dev in the World Cup game against Zimbabwe in Turnbridge Wells.
• He had served as chairman of the national selection committee in 2000 and also vice-president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after his playing career.
• Union Government has conferred Padma Shree award on him for his contribution to sports.

About Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award

The award has been instituted by BCCI to celebrate the birth centenary of Col. Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, the country’s first Test captain. The annual Lifetime Achievement Award honours individuals for their unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket on and off the field. The Award comprises a trophy, citation and cheque for 25 lakh rupees.

• 25th December: National Good Governance Day

In India, National Good Governance Day is being observed every year on 25th December on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In order to mark the occasion of this day on the 91st birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee several programmes were organized nationwide and new initiatives were announced.

It should be noted that this day is also being observed as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Divas.

Background

Earlier in December 2014, Union Government had announced that National ‘Good Governance Day’ will be observed on the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee i.e. 25th December each year. It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held New Delhi.

• UN designates 5th November as World Tsunami Awareness Day

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution to designate 5th November every year as World Tsunami Awareness Day.

• The observance of the day would help to spread awareness among people across the world in matters related to the dangers of tsunami and shall stress on the importance of early warning systems in order to mitigate damage from the devastating natural calamity.
  The proposal in this regard was first mooted by the Government of Japan after the 3rd UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai (Japan) in March 2015.
  Japan had suffered heavy losses as a result of tsunamis in the past and the most recently Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on 11 March 2011. It had claimed over 15,000 lives and also had disrupted the nuclear power industry and left many thousands homeless.
  While on 26 December 2004 i.e. on Boxing Day, the Indian Ocean tsunami had claimed arounf 230000 lives. The devastating tsunami was formed due to earthquake with its epicenter off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.  It had affected lives and the natural environment in six countries in the region including India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Somalia and Thailand.