NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi addresses ASSOCHAM Annual Conference: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the annual general meeting of
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in New Delhi. The theme
of the event was 'New India Aspiring for a USD 5 trillion economy'. The event
was organized on the completion of 100 years of ASSOCHAM. During which he says,
India's progress towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy will be strengthened
by investment of Rupees 100 lakh crore in infrastructure; also helped by an
investment of Rupees 25 lakh crore in the rural economy.
Note: Assocham
President: B K Goenka; Headquarters: New Delhi; Est: 1921.
2. National conference on ‘Uniformed Women in
Prison Administration’ begins: The National
Conference on ‘Uniformed Women in Prisons Administration’ (second edition) has
been organised in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The conference is being held in
collaboration of Madhya Pradesh Jail Department and BPR& D, New Delhi. The
uniformed women police and employees from the post of Jail Warden to Inspector
General Level of various states, members of non-government organisations,
representatives of academic institutions and officers of other government departments
are participating in the conference. The first conference was held in Delhi in
2017.
Note: Union
Minister of State for Home affairs: Nityanand Rai.
3. “Environmental Sustainability and Economic
Development” Summit held in Delhi: Summit on
“Environmental Sustainability and Economic Development” was held in Delhi.
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the summit
with the concerns about the depleting ozone layer and the emission of Cfcs and
Hfcs. He stated that there is the need of the hour to call upon a meeting to
control the minimum temperatures and to keep a check on the emissions.
Note: Union
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Prakash Javadekar.
4. Former HC Judge CV Ramulu appointed as
Lokayukta: The Telangana government has appointed Justice C
V Ramulu (former High Court judge) and V Niranjan Rao (former Law Secretary) as
Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta respectively. Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan has
issued the orders to this effect. The governor also appointed another former
judge Justice G Chandraiah as Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission.
This is the first time that the state government has constituted the Lokayukta
and Human Rights Commission since the state was formed in 2014.
Note: The
Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.
Once appointed, Lokayukta Can't be dismissed nor transferred by the government,
and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the state assembly.
CM of Telangana: K Chandrashekhar Rao; Capital: Hyderabad; Governor: Tamilisai
Soundararajan.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Ethiopia launched its first space satellite: Ethiopia launched its first satellite, a landmark achievement for the
country’s space program that caps a banner year for the African space industry.
The launch of the Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS) took place at a
space station in China. The launch makes Ethiopia the 11th African country to
put a satellite into space. Egypt was the first in 1998. Data provided by
Ethiopia’s satellite is expected to paint a fuller picture of the country’s
agriculture, forestry and mining resources and improve responses to flooding
and other disasters.
Note: Ethiopia
Capital: Addis Ababa; Currency: Birr.
2. Indian-American computer scientist to lead
National Science Foundation: US President
Donald Trump has picked Indian-American computer scientist Sethuraman
Panchanathan to lead the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) in
USA. The NSF is a US government agency
that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields
of science and engineering. Panchanathan would succeed France Cordova when her
six-year term as the NSF Director ends in 2020. Panchanathan is currently the
Executive Vice President and the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at
Arizona State University. He is also the Founding Director of the Centre for
Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at the ASU.
3. International Astronomical Union names new
star 'Sharjah': The International Astronomical Union (IAU)
announced the names of the newly discovered stars and planets, where the name
“Sharjah” was chosen for a star with "Barjeel" being the name of one
of its planets. The announcement was made on 20th December 2019 during a press
conference of the IAU in the French capital, Paris, celebrating the centennial
of the union. During the announcement, the organizers lauded the efforts and
contributions of the Emirate of Sharjah to the global scientific community.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Mirabai Chanu wins Gold in 6th Qatar
International Cup: Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the women’s
49kg category gold medal to open India’s account at the 6th Qatar International
Cup in Doha. She bagged gold with an effort of 194kg in the Olympic qualifying
event, with the points which will come in handy when the final rankings for
Tokyo 2020 cut are done. She lifted 83kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk
to finish on top of the podium.
In the men's
67kg category, India's Jeremy Lalrinnunga won the silver medal with a total
lift of 306kg (140kg in snatch and 166kg in clean and jerk).
Note: Qatar
Capital: Doha; Currency: Qatari riyal.
2. Belgium crowned FIFA Team of the Year: Belgium has been crowned FIFA ‘Team of the Year’ for the second
successive time after a record-breaking year for the global ladder. Roberto
Martinez's side will end 2019 at the top of the standings after winning all 10
of their international 'A' matches this year to secure qualification for Euro
2020. World champions France conclude the year in second place, with Brazil
third, England fourth and Uruguay fifth. World Cup runner-up Croatia and
Nations League Finals winner Portugal join Spain, Argentina, and Colombia in
the top 10. The Mover of the Year accolade goes to Qatar, which gained 138
rankings points over the course of 2019.
Note:
President of FIFA: Gianni Infantino; Founded: 21 May 1904; Headquarters:
Zürich, Switzerland.
3. ICC continues partnership with UNICEF for
Women’s T20 World Cup: The International Cricket
Council (ICC) has announced that it has extended its partnership with UNICEF
through to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 with the focus on empowering women
and girls through cricket. The money raised during the Women’s World T20 will
go to similar projects in cricket playing nations, including an innovative
program to promote girls” participation in cricket in Sri Lanka and build peace
in communities. The ICC and UNICEF partnership commenced in 2015, as part of
the ICC”s global community outreach program”Cricket 4 Good”. During the Men’s
50-over World Cup held in England and Wales earlier this summer, UNICEF raised
$180,000 as part of ‘One Day 4 Children’ and this money will go directly to
fund a girls’ cricket project in Afghanistan.
Note: ICC CEO:
Manu Sawhney; Chairman: Shashank Manohar; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI to buy and sell govt bonds worth Rs 10,000
crore: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will
simultaneously purchase and sell government securities worth Rs 10,000 crore
under a special Open Market Operation (OMO). On a review of the current
liquidity and market situation and an assessment of the evolving financial
conditions, the Reserve Bank has decided to conduct simultaneous purchase and
sale of government securities on December 23, 2019. The purchase will be for
government securities worth Rs 10,000 crore for the instrument ‘6.45 per cent
GS 2029’. The Reserve Bank reserves the right to decide on the quantum of
purchase/sale of individual securities and to accept bids/offers for less than
the aggregate amount.
2. Google searches for ‘Operation Twist’ surge in
India: Google searches for “Operation Twist” surged in
India after the central bank announced its version of the U.S. Federal
Reserve’s unconventional monetary policy. Most searches for the term came from
Delhi followed by Maharashtra. The central bank will buy long-term bonds, while
simultaneously selling short-term government securities in an effort to cheapen
long-term borrowing and boost bank lending. The Reserve Bank of India will buy
longer-tenor bonds while selling shorter debt. The concept is similar to
Operation Twist used by the Fed in 2011-2012 in an effort to cheapen long-term
borrowing and spur bank lending.
DEFENCE
1. 5th Edition of ARTECH to be held in New Delhi:
The 5th edition of ARTECH is being organised by
Indian Army on ‘Technologies for Non-Contact Warfare’ which will be organised
on 23 December 2019 at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment. The seminar is the
flagship event of the Indian Army which sets the agenda for focus areas of
harvesting indigenous capabilities in the Defence sector. ARTECH Seminar was
launched in 2016 as part of the overall vision of ‘Make in India’ of Hon’ble
Prime Minister and is conducted every year as part of events leading to Army
Day celebrations. ARTECH platform provides an opportunity to practitioners of
military operations, policymakers in Ministry of Defence, industry and academia
to put forth their contemporary Defence-related capabilities. It is also a
forum for innovators in uniform to showcase their products and offer these to
industry to refine & productions.
Note: Chief of
the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat; Headquarters: New Delhi;
Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind.
OBITUARIES
1. Former Kerala Minister Thomas Chandy passes
away: Nationalist Congress Party’s Kerala State
President and former Minister Thomas Chandy passed away. He represented
Kuttanad constituency in Alappuzha district in the state Assembly. He was
forced to quit as Kerala Transport Minister from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF
government in November 2017 after facing encroachment allegations.
No comments:
Post a Comment