Top 5 Current Affairs: 12 December 2017

Union Government launches new initiatives on Universal Health Coverage Day 2017

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on 11 December 2017 launched various initiatives to observe Universal Health Coverage Day 2017.

The initiatives include the LaQshya Initiative, Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and safe delivery application ‘mHealth’ for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas.

Saudi Arabia lifts ban on movie theatres after 35 years

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that a resolution was passed on 11 December 2017 that lifted the decades-old ban on providing licenses to commercial movie theatres.

The decision will pave way for the opening of the country’s first public cinemas after more than 35 years. The lifting of the ban will help develop a broader cultural sector in the kingdom and enrich its entertainment options. It will also create new employment and training opportunities.

The licensing process for cinema operators would start within 90 days and the first cinemas are expected to open in March 2018.

Union WCD Ministry launches logo and tagline contest for National Nutrition Mission

The Ministry of Women & Child Development on 11 December 2017 launched a contest inviting people to design a logo and suggest a tagline for prestigious 'National Nutrition Mission'.

The ministry also proposed to award a prize money of Rs 1 lakh to the winner of the contest. In case the logo and tagline selected by the jury are from separate participants, then the prize money would be split.

India’s Lakshmi Puri among six diplomats felicitated with Diwali 'Power of One' award at UN

Six top diplomats including one Indian were felicitated with the inaugural Diwali ‘Power of One’ award at the UN headquarters in New York for their contribution to help form a more perfect, peaceful and secure world.

The awards were presented on 11 December, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the issuance of a ‘forever Diwali stamp’ by the US Postal Services. Lakshmi Puri, the Indian head of the UN Women was one among the top six.

Priyanka Chopra conferred Mother Teresa Memorial award for social justice

Indian actor, Priyanka Chopra has been bestowed with the 2017 Mother Teresa Memorial award for her contribution towards lending her support to social causes such as her recent visit to Syria where she met and interacted with refugee children.

The 35-year-old is also UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador and is known for supporting various philanthropic activities. The award was received by her mother Madhu Chopra, on her behalf. The award has been conferred to several famous personalities in the past such as Malala Yousafzai, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Oscar Fernandes, Sudha Murty, Sushmita Sen and Bilquis Bano Edhi.