Morning Current Affairs: 8 December 2017

Wassenaar Arrangement to admit India as its new member

Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), key export control regime, on 7 December 2017 decided to admit India as its new member. The decision was taken during the two-day plenary meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement grouping in Vienna.

India's entry into the export control regime will enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

India will become the Arrangement's 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed. The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India's entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

President Ram Nath Kovind to present Presidential Colours to Submarine Arm of Navy

President Ram Nath Kovind, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will present the Presidential Colours to the Submarine Arm of the Navy at the Command headquarters in Vishakhapatnam on 8 December 2017.

The proud Submarine Arm of Indian Navy celebrates 50 glorious years of its service to the Nation. It was on 8 December 1967, when the tricolour was unfurled onboard first INS Kalvari. The first Kalvari has since been decommissioned.

Indian navy awaits the reincarnation of new INS Kalvari that will be commissioned on 14 December 2017.

President Kovind on 7 December 2017 inaugurated the Naval Maritime Aircraft Museum in Vishakhapatnam, featuring the maritime patrol aircraft Tupolev-142M, which served the Navy for almost three decades.

Oscar body adopts Code of Conduct as Hollywood reacts to harassment issue

In United States, the Academy of Motion Pictures, the body that presents the Oscars, has adopted a code of conduct and warned the members that it reserves the right to expel any who flout the new rules.

The code of conduct states that there is no place for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency.

As per the Code, if any member is found violating the Code of Conduct or compromising the integrity of the Academy by their actions, the Board of Governors may take any disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

The Code of Conduct, sent to more than 8000 members, follows the  expulsion of film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, who was accused of sexual harassment by more than 50 women. Weinstein is only the second person in the Academy's 90-year history to be thrown out.