Daily GK Updates - 11th December, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Delhi will host 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI: The external affairs ministry is organising the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI in New Delhi during December 13-14. For the first time, these two events will be held consecutively. The theme for the Indian Ocean Dialogue is “Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded Geography”, while the theme for the Delhi Dialogue is “Advancing Partnership in Indo-Pacific”. The themes are intended to build on the ‘growing recognition of the Indo-Pacific concept in strategic and academic circles within the region and beyond.

2. Odisha to set up 45 new fast track courts: 45 new fast track courts will be set up in Odisha. The 21 courts would be dedicated to cases of rape and sexual harassment of women. The remaining 24 fast track courts will specifically deal with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases. The State government’s action comes after Centre’s decision to formulate a scheme for setting up 1,023 fast track special courts for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases.

Note: Odisha CM: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

3. Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 bridge inaugurated in Rajouri: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the 72-metre long Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 Bridge in Rajouri. The bridge spans over Draj nallah and connects Draj Area to Tehsil Kotranka area under District Rajouri. The bridge has been built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The Draj bridge is an important bridge for military as well as for socio-economic development of the Rajouri District as a whole. This bridge will facilitate all weather and speedy movement of Army troops as well as locals.

4. West Bengal govt organizing two-day Business Conclave: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated the two-day Business Conclave at Digha in East Midnapore District to attract more industrial investments in the State. Leading industrialists from the country and 35 foreign nations are likely to be present at the meet. This time conclave is being organized at Sea Town Digha to facilitate investment in Tourism besides promoting the industry in the region. Number of MoUs are likely to be signed between the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and Multinational companies for spreading industrial growth in the State.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. C. Sugandh Rajaram appointed as India’s next envoy to the Republic of Ghana: C. Sugandh Rajaram has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana. He will replace Birender Singh Yadav as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana. C. Sugandh Rajaram is presently the Consul General, Consulate General of India to Southern Germany.

2. India among top 10 in 2019 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI): The 2019 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has been presented at the ongoing COP25 climate summit in Madrid, Spain. The index is jointly presented by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network. For the first time, India has emerged among the top 10 countries with higher climate performance. India has been ranked at 9th spot in the index for its Climate Policy performance among 57 countries and the European Union. The authors of the report noted that as none of the countries assessed is already on a path compatible with the Paris climate targets, the first three places of the ranking remain unoccupied. While some EU countries such as Sweden (4th) and Denmark (5th), one of the best climbers, achieve overall high or very high ratings, the performance of EU countries varies largely. While only two G20 countries, the UK (7th) and India (9th), are ranked in the high category, eight G20 countries are remaining in the worst category of the index.

Note: None of the countries is on a path compatible with the Paris climate targets, to implement strategies to limit global warming below 2 or even 1.5°C.

3. International Mountain Day: 11 December: International Mountain Day is being observed every year on 11th December globally. This day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to encourage sustainable development in mountains. The theme for 2019 IMD is “Mountains Matter for Youth”. International Mountain Day is a chance to highlight that for rural youth, living in the mountains can be hard. This year, youth will take the lead and demand that mountains and mountain peoples become central in the national and international development agendas; receive more attention, investments and tailored research.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India’s R. Praggnanandhaa wins London Chess Classic: India’s R. Praggnanandhaa (14-year) has won the FIDE Open category of the London Chess Classic held in London. He won the tournament with a tally of 7.5 points out of nine rounds. R. Praggnanandhaa finished joint first with Anton Smirnov of Australia both scoring 7.5 points.

Note: The London Chess Classic is a chess festival held at the Olympia Conference Centre, West Kensington, London.

2. Wasim Jaffer becomes first Indian to play 150 Ranji matches: Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer (41 years) has become the first player in Indian cricket to feature in 150 Ranji matches. Overall, Jaffer has played 253 first-class games, scoring 19,147 runs at an average of 51.19. He has scored 57 hundred and 88 fifties with 314 being his highest score. Jaffer is followed by Madhya Pradesh batsman Devendra Bundela (145 matches) and Amol Muzumdar (136 matches), who have played for Mumbai and Assam. Now, Wasim Jaffar is just 853 runs away from completing 20,000 runs in first-class cricket.

3. Suniel Shetty signed as anti-doping brand ambassador NADA: Actor Suniel Shetty has been selected as the brand ambassador of National Anti-Doping Agency NADA. The country’s anti-doping body is hoping that his celebrity status helps its efforts to clean up sports in the country from the menace. More than 150 athletes have failed dope tests this year though bodybuilders make up more than one-third of these offenders. This is not a welcome sign with less than eight months to go for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The suspension of National Anti-Doping Laboratory by the WADA earlier this year is another issue facing the country now that dope samples collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency from the athletes will have to be tested outside India.

4. India finishes top with 312 Medals at 2019 South Asian games in Nepal: The 2019 South Asian Games, (officially, XIII South Asian Games) was held in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur). Thousands of sports lovers witnessed gala closing ceremony held at historic Dasaratha Rangshala in Kathmandu. India finished the 13th edition of the tournament way ahead of other teams in the tally with 312 medals (174 Gold, 93 Silver, 45 Bronze). Host Nepal remained second and Sri Lanka got third place. During the 10 days long biggest sporting event of South Asia, over 2700 athletes from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives competed for 1119 medals.

Note: Nepal Prime Minister: K P Sharma Oli; Capital: Kathmandu; President of Nepal: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Currency of Nepal: Nepalese rupee.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Gulu Mirchandani bags CEAMA Lifetime Achievement Award: Gulu Mirchandani has been conferred with “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association. Gulu Mirchandani is the founder chairman of Mirc Electronics Ltd. (Onida). He has been awarded for his extensive contribution to the consumer electronics industry. He has been associated with consumer electronics industry for more than 3 decades.

Note: Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) is an all-India organisation in the consumer electronics and durables sector. It has been in existence for over three decades.

2. Ethiopia's PM receives Nobel Peace Prize 2019: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize (100th) for his efforts to achieve international peace and co-operation. The Nobel Committee announced in October it was honouring Abiy Ahmed for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with neighbouring foe Eritrea. On July 9, 2018, following a historic meeting in Eritrea's capital Asmara, Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki formally ended a 20-year-old stalemate between their countries in the wake of the 1998-2000 border conflict.

Note: The Nobel Peace Prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a cheque for nine million Swedish kronor (850,000 euros). The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the King of Norway on 10 December each year (the anniversary of Nobel's death).

Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa; Currency: Ethiopian birr.

OBITUARIES

1. ICSSR Chairman Braj Bihari Kumar passes away: Braj Bihari Kumar, the Chairman of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) passed away. He was appointed as the chairman of the ICSSR in May 2017. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country. It provides grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, survey, publications etc. to promote research in social sciences in India.