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Current Affairs Today – 10th December 2019
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime observed on 9 December
- International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this crime observed on the 9th of December.
- The adoption of the 1948 Convention.
- This year marked the 70th anniversary of the Convention.
- The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the Genocide Convention and its role in combating and preventing the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention and to commemorate and honor its victims.
Human Rights Day observed on 10 December
- Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December.
- This Day came into existence on December 10, 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations.
- This day is observed every year across the world, as it empowers us all.
- The day also acknowledges the advocates and defenders of human rights around the world.
- Theme “Youth Standing Up for Human Rights”.
BANKING CURRENT AFFAIRS
Loans worth over Rs10 lakh cr sanctioned under PMMY
- Union Government informed that loans worth over 10 lakh crore rupees have been sanctioned till 1st November this year under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PMMY.
- As per the findings of the PMMY survey, around five crore persons were working in the establishments for which MUDRA loans were availed between April 2015 to March 2018.
- The survey reveals that these loans enabled beneficiaries to sustain the economic activities they were engaged in.
FINANCE AND ECONOMY
NSE launches interest rate options on 10-yr govt bonds
- National Stock Exchange launched interest rate options on ten-year Government bonds.
- The exchange recorded a turnover of 5,926 contracts on the first day of its launch.
- The exchange has added one more instrument to the fixed income derivatives asset class.
- Interest rate options will provide institutional investors with the ability to manage risk through a non-linear product.
- These interest rate options are based on 10-year government bonds maturing in 2029 with a coupon rate of 7.26 per cent and 6.45 per cent.
- Presently, interest rate futures are available on seven government bonds for residual maturity ranging from 4 years to 15 years.
Extra Shots:
NSE: The National Stock Exchange of India Limited is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai. The NSE was established in 1992 as the first dematerialized electronic exchange in the country.
- Owner: National Stock Exchange of India Limited
- Founded: 1992
Airtel launches Wi-Fi calling service in Delhi-NCR
- Bharti Airtel launched the Wi-Fi calling service for its subscribers.
- The service is currently rolling out in Delhi-NCR, gradually implemented in other cities.
- This service will significantly enhance indoor calling services without incurring any extra charges.
- Airtel Wi-Fi to enhance voice calling experience for Airtel smartphone customers, especially when they are indoors.
- The ‘Airtel Wi-Fi Calling,’ customers with Wi-Fi at home or office will get excellent signal quality indoors.
- There will be no extra charge for calls made over ‘Airtel Wi-Fi Calling,’ and the application consumes minimal data.
- The service is currently available to Airtel customers in Delhi NCR.
Extra Shots:
Airtel: Bharti Airtel Limited, also known as Airtel, is an Indian global telecommunications services company based in Delhi, India. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, and also in the Channel Islands.
- CEO: Gopal Vittal
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Parent organizations: Bharti Enterprises (64%), Singapore Telecommunications Limited (36%)
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Walmart to train 50,000 MSME entrepreneurs
- US retail major Walmart will train 50,000 entrepreneurs from the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
- The objective will be fulfilled by opening 25 institute hubs in India in next five years which would train the MSME entrepreneurs.
- The institutes will be opened under the ‘Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Programe‘ across the nation.
- These institutes would be strategically located near the manufacturing clusters and will be the part of Walmart’s “long-term commitment to India”
Extra Shots:
Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969.
- Owner: Walton family
- CEO: Doug McMillon
NMR conducted a special service for foreign tourists
- The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) conducted a special service for foreign tourists on 9 December.
- 71 tourists from countries including the US, the UK, and France travelled by a special steam engine service from Coonoor to Ooty.
Ministry of Tourism sanctioned a project in Sri Anandpur Sahib under its Swadesh Darshan Scheme
- The union government formulated a special action plan for the development of tourism in Sri Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
- Ministry of Tourism, under its Swadesh Darshan scheme, sanctioned a project Development of Heritage Circuit: Anandpur Sahib – Fatehgarh Sahib – Chamkaur Sahib – Ferozpur –Amritsar – Khatkar Kalan – Kalanour – Patiala in Punjab for Rs.99.95 crore in the year 2018-19.
- The execution of the project on the ground started.
EEPC celebrates 50th year of Engineering Exports Awards
- Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Minister of State Independent Charge of Civil Aviation and Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, gave away the Engineering Export Promotion Awards (EEPC) for the year 2017-2018 at a function in New Delhi.
- The next year India’s engineering exports will reach the target of USD 1 trillion.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Draj Bridge for all-weather connectivity inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir Rajouri
- Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Shri Girish Chandra Murmu opened 72-metre-long Bridge to the Nation in Rajouri.
- The bridge over Draj nallah connects Draj Area with Tehsil Kotranka area under District Rajouri and is constructed to bear heavy load up to 70 tons.
Extra Shots:
Jammu & Kashmir:
- Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
- National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Malaysia reported the first polio case in 27 years
- Malaysia reported the first polio case in 27 years.
- The health authorities reported that a three-month-old Malaysian infant has been diagnosed with polio.
- This is the first case reported in the Asia-Pacific country in 27 years.
- Polio: Polio is also is known as poliomyelitis.
- It is is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Poliovirus. It attacks the nervous system.
Extra Shots:
Malaysia (Capital/Currency): Kuala Lumpur/ Malaysian dollar
- Prime Minister: Mahathir Mohamad
Sri Lanka appointed as a military officer as spy chief
- Sri Lanka, a military officer, appointed as head of the country’s main intelligence agency. Brigadier Suresh Sallay, former director of Military Intelligence appointed as head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS).
- It is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka that a military officer appointed as head of the SIS.
- His appointment comes three weeks after former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected president promising greater security.
Extra Shots:
Sri Lanka(Capitals/Currency): Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan rupee.
- Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
- President: Maithripala Sirisena
RANKS AND INDICES
India ranked 129 in the Human Development Index
- India ranked 129 in the Human Development Index (HDI) for the year 2018.
- The index was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- The report said that India has improved marginally by a notch.
- The overall index showed that India scored 0.647 in 2018, as against 0.643 in 2017.
- The score is calculated in the range of 1 to 0.
- Norway, Switzerland, Ireland are the top three nations on the index.
Extra Shots:
UNDP: The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves.
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founded: 22 November 1965, United States
- Head: Achim Steiner
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
NSIC, Aramco Asia signs MoU for the development of Ministry of MSME
- A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and Aramco Asia.
- The MoU was signed by Sh. P. Udayakumar, Director (P&M) from NSIC and Mr. Mohammed Al Mughirah, President, Aramco Asia.
- The MoU is aimed for the development of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector.
- The MoU will pave a way for accredited Indian MSMEs to carve out a space as vendors in the Global space.
Extra Shots:
- NSIC: NSIC functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. NSCI acts as the nodal agency for various schemes of Ministry of MSME including Single Point Registration, Performance and Credit Rating, National SC-ST Hub, MSME Databank, etc. Founded on: 1955
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- Chairman & MD: Vijayendra
APPOINTMENT
News Broadcasters Federation elects Arnab Goswami as governing board president
- The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), the country’s largest association of over 78 news channels, has elected editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami as the President of its governing board.
- The body of 78 news channels in 14 languages, representing broadcasters from 25 states.
Extra Shots:
NBF: The News Broadcasters Association is a private association of different current affairs and news television broadcasters in India. It was established by leading Indian news broadcasters in 3 July 2007.
- President: Rajat Sharma
- Founded: 3 July 2007
- Main organ: Board of directors
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
WADA bans Russia from international sporting events for 4 years
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), banned Russia for 4 years, from participation in global sporting events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Extra Shots:
WADA: The World Anti-Doping Agency is a foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee based in Canada to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Purpose: Anti-doping in sport
- Founder: Dick Pound
- Founded: 10 November 1999
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
UAE, US joint military exercise ‘Iron Union 12’commences
- Iron Union 12’, a joint military exercise between the ground forces of the UAE and the United States, commenced.
- ‘Iron Union 12′ will see the two sides take part in joint military cooperation to enhance combat and tactical capabilities.
- The joint military exercises of the UAE Armed Forces with fraternal and friendly countries takes place in a manner consistent with latest developments and reflects the UAE Armed Forces’ determination to stand firmly against all threats and challenges facing the region.
Extra Shots:
UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/Dirham
- President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
USA (Capital/Currency): Washington, D.C./ United States Dollar
- President: Donald Trump
AWARDS
Abu Dhabi selected as world’s leading sports tourism destination
- Abu Dhabi (UAE) has been selected as the world’s leading Sports tourism Destination at the 26th edition of the World Travel Awards (WTA) being held in Muscat, Oman.
- This is the 7th time in a row that Abu Dhabi has been selected for this coveted award.
Extra Shots:
UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/Dirham
- President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
4 eminent diplomats honoured with 2019 ‘Diwali – Power of One Award’
- The 4 prominent diplomats have been honoured with ‘The Diwali – Power of One’ award 2019 in recognition and celebration of their work, especially at the United Nations, for a secure and peaceful world.
The diplomats who were honoured are:
- Former foreign minister and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to UN: Kairat Abdrakhmanov.
- Former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to UN: Nicholas Emiliou.
- Former Chef de Cabinet to President of 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to UN: Frantisek Ruzicka.
- Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN: Volodymyr Yelchenko.
Extra Shots:
The awards which have now come to be known as ‘Oscars of Diplomacy’ were established by Diwali Foundation USA, Inc in 2017
