Daily Current Affairs 14th December 2014

1) Germany beat Pakistan 2-0 to win Champions Trophy Hockey 2014: Germany emerged victorious in the Hockey Champions Trophy, beating Pakistan 2-0 in a pulsating final at a packed Kalinga stadium, Bhubaneswar on 14 December 2014. Christopher Wesley (18th minute) and Florian Fuchs (56th) scored for Germany to lift the trophy for the 10th time. Germany had won the title for the last time in 2007. Earlier, a tired and lacklustre India was beaten 2-1 by World champion Australia in the battle for third place.

2) Shinzo Abe re-elected as Japan Prime Minister: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a comfortable re-election on 14 December 2014 in a snap poll that he had billed as a referendum on his economic policies. But a low turnout from unenthusiastic voters beset by a heavy snowfall across much of the country could cast doubt on the endorsement he will claim for “Abenomics” — his signature plan to fix the country’s flaccid economy. Media exit polls shortly after voting showed his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito had swept the ballot, with an unassailable two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament that will give them the power to override the upper house.

3) South African woman wins Miss World beauty pageant 2014: A 22-year-old South African woman, Rolene Strauss, won the Miss World 2014 beauty pageant in London on 14 December 2014. Hungary's Edina Kulcsrr came second and Elizabeth Safrit, representing the United States, came third. This year's pageant, the 64th, was marred by tragedy after a Honduran beauty queen was found shot dead in a suspected crime of passion days before she was due to take part.

4) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan felicitated at Miss World 2014: Aishwarya Rai was on 14 December 2014 felicitated by the Miss World Organisation at the 64th edition of the international beauty pageant for her commitment to "beauty with a purpose" since winning the crown two decades ago. Described as an embodiment of beauty with purpose, Aishwarya is also seen as the most successful Miss World so far, a title that she won in 1994. "I stand here overwhelmed by this honour. I thank Miss World Organization for such an incredible honour that I have received..." she said in her acceptance speech.

5) Lima climate change talks reach global warming agreement: International negotiators at the Lima climate change talks have agreed on a plan to fight global warming that would for the first time commit all countries to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. The plan, agreed at United Nations talks on 14 Dec 2014, was hailed as an important first step towards a climate change deal due to be finalised in Paris next year. The proposals call on countries to reveal how they will cut carbon pollution, ideally by March next year.

6) Shriti Vadera set to become first woman to head major British Bank: Indian-origin Shriti Vadera has been appointed as chairman of Santander UK, becoming the first woman to head a major British bank. 52-year-old Vadera, former minister in the UK's finance ministry, will join the board of Santander UK as joint deputy chairman in January, before succeeding Terence Burns in March next year.

7) National Energy Conservation Day observed: National Energy Conservation Day was observed on 14 December 2014. The National Energy Conservation Day was celebrated every year in India by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The celebrations were marked by giving out of National Energy Conservation Award by the Ministry of Power, Government of India. The award was given to companies from different industry groups for creating benchmarks in energy conservation.

8) Government calendar to have mobile app version: For the first time, the new government calendar, brought out every year by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, may come in a mobile phone app avatar also. The calendar which has 'Clean Green India' as its theme and will highlight the government's flagship schemes and initiatives will be launched in the coming days.

9) Jairam Ramesh named member of board providing policy advice to UNEP: Former Union minister Jairam Ramesh has been appointed as a member of a board which provides strategic policy advice to a key UN agency on environmentally-sound technologies for developing nations. Ramesh said he has accepted the offer to serve as a member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) which gives strategic policy advice to the Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

10) A R Rahman, Hindi film 'Jal' in Oscars' probable list: India's music maestro A R Rahman may end up getting his third Oscar nomination in the best original score category after making it to the list of 114 probables, while Hindi film 'Jal' also features in the long list of best picture Oscar hopefuls. Rahman, who has previously been nominated for '127 Hours' and 'Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won two Oscars.

11) Anerood Jugnauth is Mauritius PM: Mauritius President named veteran politician Sir Anerood Jugnauth as Prime Minister, after the 84-year-old won a landslide taking nearly three-quarters of the seats in Parliament. Mr. Jugnauth, a former President and Prime Minister, was handed his letter of appointment at a meeting at State House, a statement from the office of President Kailash Purryag said.

12) Drug menace a national pain, says PM Modi in 'Mann ki Baat': Voicing concern over the "devastating" drug addiction menace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said society as well as the government will have to work together to fight this problem and that a helpline would be set up soon to assist those seeking solutions. In his third 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on radio, he said the menace is a "national pain" but instead of the youth mired in the problem, drugs should be shunned.