Current Affairs 21st December 2015

Important points : 

• Name the Famous German conductor who has passed away - Kurt Masur
• Who has been crowned Miss World 2015 - Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo 
• Who has been crowned Miss Universe 2015 - Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach 
• Who became the first-ever Kiwi batsman to top ICC Test rankings - Kane Williamson
• Miss Iraq beauty pageant held for the first time after - 1972
• Which state has approved proposal for formation of 5 new districts - West Bengal Government 
• Who has won the Spain election - Conservative People’s party 
• Who has won 2015 FIFA Club World Cup - FC Barcelona
• Migration and Remittances Factbook 2016 released by - World Bank 
• Who has won the top AIFF honours - Eugenson Lyngdoh and Bala Devi

Details : 

Name the Famous German conductor who has passed away - Kurt Masur

On 19th December 2015, one of the world's greatest conductors, Kurt Masur passed away at the age of 88 in United States.

From 1991 to 2002, he was best known for serving as the music director of the New York Philharmonic (NYP). In the corollary of the 11th September 2001 terrorist attacks, he led the Philharmonic in a performance of Brahms's Deutsches Requiem.

In 1989, he was accredited with helping prevent violence after the fall of communism. 

Who has been crowned Miss World 2015 - Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 19th December 2015, Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo was crowned Miss World 2015. This is for the first time that Spain has won this title.

At the end of the event, Mireia Lalaguna was crowned by Rolene Strauss of South Africa as her successor. 

On 24th October 2015, she was crowned Miss World Spain 2015, after participating at the 2015 edition of Miss World Spain held in Malaga, Spain.

Who has been crowned Miss Universe 2015 - Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 20th December 2015, Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015 at the 64th edition of Miss Universe.

Paulina Vega of Columbia, Miss Universe 2014 crowned her with the title.

About Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

• At present, Pia is a stylist and writer for the lifestyle section of a leading newspaper in the Philippines.
• Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is a Filipino-German actress, model and beauty pageant. 

Who has became the first-ever Kiwi batsman to top ICC Test rankings - Kane Williamson 

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 21st December 2015, Kane Williamson became the first cricketer from New Zealand to top the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) Test rankings after guiding the Black Caps to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Most Test Runs by New Zealand Batsmen in a calendar year

• Ross Taylor 866 (2013)
• John R Reid 871 (1965)
• Williamson 929 (2014)
• Brendon McCullum 1164 (2014)
• Kane Williamson 1172 (2015)

Miss Iraq beauty pageant held for the first time after - 1972

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 20th December 2015, Miss Iraq beauty pageant was held for the first time after 1972 at a hotel in the capital Baghdad.

Shaymaa Qasim Abdelrahman was crowned Miss Iraq in the final event. 

The eight finalists of the event also visited a camp for displaced people in Baghdad and also participated in a tree-planting ceremony near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon.

Significance of the Contest

• The contest was held successfully Even after the death threats from ISIS, the contest concluded successfully.
• From nowonwards, Iraq will also send its contestants for the international Miss Universe contest.

Which state has approved proposal for formation of 5 new districts - West Bengal Government 

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 18th December 2015, The West Bengal Government approved the proposal for the formation of five new districts that will increase the number of districts of West Bengal to 25.

The five new districts will be:

• Jhargram: It will be formed out from Paschim Midnapore district.
• Basirhat: It will be formed out from North 24 Parganas district.
• Burdwan (Industrial) and Burdwan (Rural): it will be bisected from the existing Burdwan district into Burdwan (Rural) and Burdwan (Industrial).
• Sunderbans: It currently stretches across parts of the North and South 24 Parganas districts.
• Kalimpong: It will be formed out from Kalimpong subdivision of the State’s Darjeeling district.

Who has won the Spain election - Conservative People’s party 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 20th December 2015, Governing conservative People’s Party (PP) of Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won the  general elections of the country by winning the maximum seats.

Although, Conservative People’s party failed to attain absolute majority which can be achieved if any party wins minimum 176 seats in the 350-member Parliament. They have secured only 123 seats in the lower house of Parliament.

Therefore, PP will have to rely on other parties, for forming a government.

Percent of votes won 

• Liberal Ciudadanos party - 13.8 %
• Anti-austerity Podemos - 20.6 %
• The Socialists - 22 % 
• Popular Party - 28.7 %

Who has won 2015 FIFA Club World Cup - FC Barcelona

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 20th December 2015, the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup was won by FC Barcelona by defeating Argentina’s River Plate. 

From Barcelona, Luis Suárez of Uruguay scored two goals, while the remaining goal was made by Lionel Messi of Argentina.

The Player-of-the-Tournament and Golden Boot awards were presented to Luis Suárez.

Migration and Remittances Factbook 2016 released by - World Bank 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 18th December 2015, the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2016 was released by World Bank Group’s Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD).

Highlights of the report

• People from other parts of the developing world are moving towards the Fast growing developing countries.
• South-North migration is much less in comparison to South-South migration.
• India, Mexico, Russia, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and United Kingdom are the top 10 migrant source countries.
• The United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, France, Canada, Spain and Australia The top 10 migrant destination countries were are the top 10 migrant destination countries.
• In 2015, while the developing countries will receive 441 billion US dollars, International migrants will send 601 billion US dollars to their families in their home countries.

Who has won the top AIFF honours - Eugenson Lyngdoh and Bala Devi

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 20th December 2015, the 2015 All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player-of-the-Year and woman Footballer-of-the-Year award was presented to Bengaluru FC (BFC) midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi respectively. 

Some other awards : 

• AIFF Award for Best Referee won by CR Srikrishna won 2015
• Pyari Xaxa won the 2015 AIFF emerging Woman Footballer of the Year award which is initiated this year only by AIFF.
• 2015 AIFF Award for Best Grassroots Programme awarded to Football Association of Odisha (FAO).
• 2015 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year was awarded to Pritam Kotal.
• Coca Cola received the the 2015 AIFF Award for long time contribution to Indian Football.
• 2015 AIFF Award for Best Assistant Referee was awarded to Sapam Knnedy.