Current Affairs 2nd December 2018

Current Affairs 2nd December 2018 - Important Points

• Former US President George H.W. Bush passed away on - 30th November 2018
• India to Chair Kimberley Process from January 2019 by - European Union

Current Affairs 2nd December 2018 - Details

Former US President George H.W. Bush passed away on - 30th November 2018

The 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush who helped steer America through the end of the Cold War, passed away on  30th November 30, 2018. He is survived by four sons Neil and Marvin,George W Bush, Jeb,and a daughter Dorothy Bush LeBlond.

He  was suffering with Parkinson's disease and was using a wheelchair in recent years, and he had been in and out of hospitals in recent months because of rapid declining of his health.

Before this, he was admitted to a hospital with a blood infection on 23rd April 23, 2018, just after a day of the funeral of his wife Barbara Bush, and remained there for 13 days.

India to Chair Kimberley Process from January 2019 by - European Union

India was handed the Chairmanship of the KPCS (Kimberley Process Certification Scheme ) by the European Union during the KPCS Plenary 2018, held in Brussels, Belgium between 12th to 16th  November 2018. India will  be taking over the role from  1st January 2019.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice- President of the European Commission officially handed over the KPCS Chairmanship to India during the  Plenary conclusion . Indian Commerce Secretary, Dr. Anup Wadhawan was also present during the occasion.

Important Highlights

•  India as a KPCS Chair will be committed to make the KPCS a stronger process in terms of strengthened administration , inclusiveness, and implementation.
• It will also commit to make it more efficient in terms of delivery of what it promises, more transparent and empathetic towards the living standards of people who are dependent on the trade, production  and manufacture of diamonds.
• In addition to that, recognising the issues and challenges of ASM(Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining), India is aiming to support the ASMs with technical assistance, capacity building and education on valuation, differentiation between natural and  diamonds of lab-grown and the importance of legal and formal mining practices.
• The 4-day KPCS Plenary has witnessed discussion on environmental challenges in industry responsibility and diamond mining .
• India held  its bilateral meetings during the event with Botswana, US, Russian Federation and the World Diamond Council to discuss on various issues related to KPCS and its working groups.