1) What important decision pertaining to curtailing terrorism in the country was taken by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 17 December 2014 a day after his country was at the receiving end of the deadliest terror attack in its history that saw over 130 children being killed? – The moratorium on capital punishment was lifted for terrorists
Explanation: Nawaz Sharif announced lifting up of the moratorium on capital punishment and approval for the implementation of death penalty to any and all of captives who have been involved in terrorism or militancy. The announcement was made in an all party meet held in the Governor House that was led by the PM Nawaz Sharif and attended by all parties like PML-N, PTI, PPP, ANP, MQM and also Jamaat-e-Islami. 3 day national mourning is being observed in the country after Taliban militants killed over 130 people nearly all of them children, at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
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2) Which prominent country’s currency came under tremendous crisis on 16 December 2014 as the price collapsed almost 11% against US dollar on this day? – Russian Ruble
Explanation: Russian currency Ruble (also called Rouble) hit record low on 16 December due to numerous reasons – low oil prices, looming recession and Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. It lost almost 11% of its value against the US dollar on this single day, which was its steepest one-day fall since the Russian financial crisis of 1998. It has fallen 20% since the start of the week and more than 50% this year. The price however stabilized to some extent on 17 December. For the Russian economy, the currency crisis means a deeper recession is more likely next year as high interest rates will crimp growth. For businesses, it means more uncertainty and less access to funding. For the Russian central bank, it means a credibility crisis. It is also expected to shake President Vladimir Putin’s grip over power.
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3) The Lok Sabha on 17 December 2014 passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014 through a voice vote. This bill has proposed how many amendments to the existing company law enacted in 2013? – Thirteen
Explanation: While some amendments were intended at improving the ease of business, some were focused on addressing the drafting errors. There were also amendments being introduced to tackle the “oversight” issues and those provisions seen to be “oppressive” for doing business.
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4) Flight operations of cash-strapped SpiceJet were grounded on 17 December due to which reason? – Non-supply of jet fuel by oil marketing companies
Explanation: Not a single flight of SpiceJet could take-off in the morning of 17 December 2014 as PSU oil supply companies did not supplied fuel to airline’s planes. However, some flights took-off in the evening as oil companies resumed supply. Earlier on 16 December the airline had won a crucial reprieve from clamouring creditors after the government asked airport operators and fuel suppliers to give the carrier more time to pay its bills. The Civil Aviation Ministry had also said that airport operators would be asked to give the airline 15 days to make payments, while state oil companies would be ask to give credit for up to 15 days. SpiceJet, which has been in the red since last year, has already cut the size of its fleet by a third since September 2014 and cancelled more than 70 flights a day for the rest of this year.
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5) What punishment was given to Indian woman boxer Sarita Devi by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) on 17 December 2014 for refusing to accept Asian Games bronze medal during Asian Games 2014 held in South Korea? – Ban of one year
Explanation: The AIBA also handed down a two-year ban on India’s foreign coach B.I. Fernandez (Cuba), while clearing national coach G.S. Sandhu. Sarita Devi lost in the semifinals of the women’s lightweight competition at Incheon, and had tried to give her medal to her opponent at the presentation ceremony.
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6) Former Supreme Court judge KS Radhakrishnan was given PETA India’s People of the Year award by animal rights organisation PETA as announced on 17 December 2014. Why this award was conferred on him? – KS Radhakrishnan headed the bench which had imposed a ban on Jallikattu bull races
Explanation: Justice Radhakrishnan headed a bench that passed a landmark judgement in favour of PETA India and the Animal Welfare Board of India, clarifying that bulls must not be used in jallikattu, bull races, bullfights or any other type of performance and called for animals to be respected in many other ways. Jallikattu is the traditional bull-fighting festival held in Tamil Nadu during Pongal festivities. PETA on 17 December named Justice (retd) Radhakrishnan as ‘Man of the Year’ and actress Jacqueline Fernandez as ‘Woman of the Year’. In 2013, Fernandez took to Twitter to call for the release of a formerly abused elephant Sunder, who was finally moved from his life of misery to a forested park where he has room to roam and the companionship of other elephants.
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7) According to the latest report released by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 17 December 2014, which country has the best work-life balance in the World? – Denmark
Explanation: According to this OECD report, 2% of employees work very long hours in Denmark, much less than the OECD average of 9%. An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. The two main indicators used to determine work-life balance were ‘time devoted the leisure and personal care’ and ‘employees working very long hours’. In Denmark, full-time workers devote 16.1 hours, or 67%, of their day on average to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) – more than the OECD average of 15 hours. According to the report, Turkey has the worst work-life balance, according to the study. In Turkey 43% of the employees work very long hours. India is not among the 34 member countries of OECD.
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