1) International Day of Democracy: 15 September
•The International Day of Democracy is observed across the world on 15 September. The theme for the year 2017 is‘Democracy and Conflict prevention’.
•This year's theme focuses on the critical need to strengthen democratic institutions to promote peace and stability. It is organized by the United Nations.
2) India Launches ‘Operation Insaniyat’ to Help Bangladesh
•India has started 'Operation Insaniyat' to provided assistance to Bangladesh in response to the humanitarian crisis being faced on account of the large influx of Rohingya refugees into that country from Myanmar.
•The first tranche of India’s relief aid for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh arrived and was handed over by the Indian envoy Harsh Vardhan Sringla to the General Secretary of ruling Awami League, Obaidul Quader.
3) Government Launches Wood is Good Campaign
•Environmental Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a two-day conference on “Sustainable landscapes and forest ecosystems: Theory to Practice”.
•Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the “Wood is Good” campaign on the occasion. Wood is a climate-friendly material, as it is a renewable resource, having zero carbon footprint.
4) Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Elected as Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission
•Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was elected as Chair of Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a four-year term. Ban succeeds Youssoupha Ndiaye of Senegal whose term has come to an end.
•His appointment was proposed by the IOC Executive Board and was approved during the IOC Session in Lima with a 74-4 majority.
5) Global Human Capital Index: India at 103, Norway Tops
•India has been placed at a low 103 rank, the lowest among BRICS economies, on the World Economic Forum's Global Human Capital Index. The list has been topped by Norway.
•The list takes into account "the knowledge and skills people possess that enable them to create value in the global economic system" to measure the 'human capital' rank of a country. India is ranked lower than its BRICS peers, with Russian Federation placed as high as 16th place, followed by China at 34th, Brazil at 77th and South Africa at 87th place. The report measures total 130 countries.
6) 74th Venice Film Festival Awards 2017
•Guillermo del Toro’s 'The Shape of Water' was awarded the Golden Lion at the 74th Venice Film Festival. The film, a romantic monster movie starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon, premiered on the Lido on August 31, declared as the best movie.
•It’s also the first English-language movie to win Venice’s top prize since Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere in 2010.
•List of Awards are as follows-
1. Golden Lion - Best Movie
The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro
2. Grand Jury Prize
Foxtrot, directed by Samuel Maoz
3. Silver Lion - Best Director
Xavier Legrand (for Jusqu’Ã la Garde)
4. Volpi Cup - Best Actress
Charlotte Rampling (for Hannah)
5. Volpi Cup - Best Actor
Kamel El Basha (for The Insult)
