Morning Current Affairs: 6 December 2017

ISA to become treaty-based International Intergovernmental Organisation

India’s global initiative, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) will become a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation on 6 December 2017.

The ISA is an initiative that was jointly launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then President of France Francois Hollande on 30 November 2015 in Paris, on the sidelines of UN Climate Conference COP-21.

The ISA mainly aims at increasing solar energy deployment in its member countries. As of now, 46 countries have signed and 19 countries have ratified the Framework Agreement of ISA.

China temporarily stops funding 3 road projects in Pakistan

China has decided to temporarily stop funding three major road projects in Pakistan, which were being built as a part of the $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The decision follows reports of corruption. It is likely to impact over one trillion Pakistani rupees worth of road projects of Pakistan. The projects affected include a flagship project of China's One Road One Belt passing through PoK. It was supposed to link China's restive Xinjiang region with Pakistan's Balochistan province.

IOC bans Russia from next year's Winter Games

The International Olympic Committee on 5 December 2017 banned Russia from competing at next year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The ban follows an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Games hosted by Russia in Sochi. However, Russian athletes who can prove they are clean would be allowed to compete in the tournament but under a neutral flag. Their medals will not be considered in the overall Russian medal tally.