Daily Current affairs - December 12th, 2017 for all competitive exams
Universal Health Coverage Day was commemorated on 12th December, 2017.
- It is the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere.
- Theme: Health for all – Rise for our right
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means everyone can access the quality health services they need without financial hardship. Universal health coverage has been included in the new Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.
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Indian economy likely to grow by 7.2% in 2018 & 7.4% in 2019: UN report
The ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018’ report unveiled by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) stated overall, economic outlook for South Asia is seen largely favourable and steady for the short term, notwithstanding significant medium-term challenges.
- On India, the report has projected a positive outlook despite the slowdown early this year and the lingering effects of demonetisation.
- The UN DESA report stated the GDP growth is projected to accelerate from 6.7 per cent in 2017 to 7.2 per cent in 2018 and 7.4 per cent in 2019.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the United Nations General Assembly
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The Indian economy is expected to witness cyclical growth recovery, with real GDP growth likely to accelerate from 6.4 per cent this year to 7.5 per cent in 2018 and further to 7.7 per cent in 2019, says Morgan Stanley report.
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Laqshya - Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative
The government has launched “LaQshya – Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative, a Safe Delivery Mobile Application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas.
- LaQshya is mobile app for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas. The goal of this initiative is to reduce preventable maternal and new-born mortality, morbidity and stillbirths associated with the care around delivery in Labour room and Maternity OT and ensure respectful maternity care.
- It aims to improve the quality of care that is being provided to the pregnant mother in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres, thereby preventing the undesirable adverse outcomes associated with childbirth.
- This initiative will be implemented in Government Medical Colleges (MCs) besides District Hospitals (DHs), and high delivery load Sub- District Hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). The initiative also plans to conduct quality certification of labour rooms and also incentivize facilities achieving the targets outlined.
Centre unveiled NIC – CERT
The Centre has unveiled the NIC-CERT centre that would monitor and help in early detection and mitigation of cyber attacks on government networks.
- It is a dedicated body to detect, prevent and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks on the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- NIC-CERT will work to ensure early detection and immediate mitigation of cyber attacks by monitoring data across the NIC platform, including communication between all the levels of government and between governments to citizens. NIC-CERT will operate in close coordination and collaboration with sectoral CERTs and more so with CERT-IN.
NIC, which comes under the IT ministry, has a key role in e-governance at the national, state and district levels. Almost all Indian-government websites are developed and managed by NIC.
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WCD Ministry launches logo & tagline contest for National Nutrition Mission
Women and Child Development Ministry has launched logo and tagline contest for National Nutrition Mission with prize money of one lakh rupees.
- It is an opportunity for citizens who aspire to see their design displayed on a National platform.
- Centre has approved the National Nutrition Mission to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children.
- The programme targets to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth rate.
- Participants can send either a logo or a tagline or both. In case the logo and tagline selected by the jury are from separate participants, then the prize money would be split.
- Last date to submit entries on nnm.mwcd@gmail.com is 17th of this month.
All new double-decker Uday express set to roll out next year
Railways are all set to roll out the Uday Express, its ambitious new long-distance double-decker train, from January next year.
- The trains will run on three routes-Coimbatore-Bengaluru; Bandra-Jamnagar and Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada.
- The first trial run of the train was conducted on August 10 with just three coaches, and the speed was then limited to just 80km per hour.
UDAY or Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri Express will be Double-decker train trains with 40% additional passenger capacity. They will run overnight on busy routes.
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National e-way bill likely from Jan. 1
The Central Government is expected to put in place the national e-way bill system for checking tax evasion by traders from January 1.
- The Centre had announced its readiness to introduce uniform system across the country for obtaining e-way bills during the secretary-level meeting held in New Delhi recently.
- The States will accordingly be given three more months till April 1 for putting in place systems for raising e-way bills for commodities within their respective jurisdictions.
- Telangana had been in the forefront in issuing computerised e-way bills and the system would be integrated into the national network without any loss of time once the Centre introduces the system.
President Ramnath Kovind to attend World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad
President Ramnath Kovind would be the chief guest at the valedictory function of the World Telugu Conference to be organised in Hyderabad by the Telangana government from December 15 to 19.
- Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will be the chief guest for the inaugural session of the Conference.
World Telugu Conference is a conference for furtherance of Telugu language.
It was held for the first time in Hyderabad in 1975. It was the then Minister of Education, Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao instrumental in starting it.
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Jammu & Kashmir government launches SAUBHAGYA to provide free electricity
The Jammu and Kashmir government has launched SAUBHAGYA (Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna) with an aim to provide free electricity connections to poor people in the state.
- SAUBHAGYA, an initiative taken by the prime minister, seeks to provide electricity to 4 crore families across the country by December 2018.
- The state’s Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh launched the scheme, and stated that electric connections would be given to poor people, identified by the Socio Economic and Caste Census of 2011 and others sections for Rs 500, payable in 10 installments in the bill.
- The scheme also promises on-the-spot registration of applicants.
“Safe City Surveillance” scheme
Bihar state government has approved a “Safe City Surveillance” scheme aimed at putting a check on eve-teasing and other crimes against women at public places across the state.
- The scheme will bring all major public places under the watch of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and improve the overall crime control in the state.
- This scheme is especially being launched for checking crime against women, such as eve-teasing and molestation, harassment, snatching incidents and roadside scuffles etc. It will also help in keeping a track of miscreants.
- The Bihar home department will be the nodal agency for implementation of the safe-city surveillance scheme.
SC agrees to examine plea to bar politicians from contesting from two seats
The Supreme Court has agreed to adjudicate on whether politicians could be barred from contesting from more than one seat in an election and has sought assistance from the Attorney General (AG) to decide the issue.
- A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 that allows a person to contest elections to Parliament and state assemblies from two constituencies and sought an end to the practice.
Section 33(7) of the Representation of People’s Act permits a candidate to contest any election (Parliamentary, State Assembly, Biennial Council, or bye-elections) from up to two constituencies.
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India proposes $1 billion credit for connectivity with ASEAN
Union minister Nitin Gadkari said India has proposed $1 billion line of credit to promote sea, air, and road connectivity projects with ASEAN.
- Apart from this, India has set up a project development fund of $77 million to develop manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
- He is addressing the ASEAN-India Connectivity Summit jointly organized by CII and ASEAN India Centre.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian states which promotes Pan-Asianism and intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-cultural integration amongst its members and Asian states. Since its formation on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
The organisation's membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
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Donald Trump tells NASA to send Americans to the moon
US President Donald Trump directed NASA to send Americans to the moon for the first time since 1972, in order to prepare for future trips to Mars.
- The last time US astronauts visited the Moon was during the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research
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On July 20, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon.
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Russia to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant
Russia and Egypt signed a deal to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant.
- The preliminary agreement between the two countries was signed in 2015 and the project is expected to be completed by 2028-2029.
- Russia would cover 85% of the construction costs and service the plant’s four reactors for 60 years.
Russia
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Egypt
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Capital
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Moscow
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Cairo
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Currency
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Russian ruble
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Egyptiamn Pound
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Presidnet
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Vladimir Putin
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Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
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EU to restore political relations with Thailand
The European Union agreed to restore political relations “at all levels” with Thailand, more than three years after putting them on hold in protest against the coup by the Thai military.
- Developments in Thailand, including the adoption of a new constitution and announcement to hold elections next year, meant it was “appropriate” to resume ties.
Mount Hope new tallest mountain in British Antarctic territory
Cartographers surveying Antarctica have discovered that Mt.Hope is the tallest mountain in the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) at 3,239 meters above sea level.
Until now, maps showed Mt Jackson as the tallest mountain in the territory at 3,184 meters.
- Mt Vinson remains the highest mountain in Antarctica standing at 4,892 meters.
The British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories, of which it is by far the largest by area. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 20°W and 80°W, forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole, overlapping the Antarctic claims of Argentina (Argentine Antarctica) and Chile (Chilean Antarctic Territory).
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ISRO developing a compact launcher for small satellites
A low-cost small satellite launcher could be the next item on the menu of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
- Its design will enable a handful of engineers to assemble it within a week. And the launcher should be able to put satellites of up to 500-600 kg in orbits close to the Earth.
- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC) has designed the vehicle using the rocket technology that it already has and is awaiting ISRO’s approval. “We are looking at having a demonstration launch in a year, in the 2018-19 time frame.
- Since 1999, ISRO’s PSLV rockets have launched 209 small satellites from 28 countries for a fee; they have been for experimental, university or remote-sensing uses. In February this year, a PSLV carried a record 104 satellites to space. The next one planned in January 2018 will carry some 30 small customer satellites to space — their weights ranging from 1 kg to 100 kg.
New form of matter ‘excitonium’
Researchers at the University of Illinois have announced an exciting finding — the discovery of a new form of matter: excitonium. The existence of this matter has been theorized for 50 years.
- It is made up of excitons – unusual particles made up of an escaped electron and the hole it has left behind in a material.
- This quirky quantum-mechanical pairing is possible because, in semiconductors, electrons on the edge of one energy level in an atom are able, when excited, to jump into the next energy level, leaving behind a “hole” in the previous level. This hole acts like a positively charged particle, attracting the negatively charged electron that escaped.
Six diplomats felicitated with Diwali ‘Power of One’ award at UN
Six top diplomats, including an Indian woman, have been felicitated with the inaugural Diwali “Power of One” award at the UN headquarters in New York for their contribution to help form a more “perfect, peaceful and secure world”.
- The awards were presented on the occasion of the first anniversary of the US Postal Service’s issuing of a forever Diwali stamp last year.
- The awardees include Indian head of the UN Women Lakshmi Puri, outgoing British Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft and Lebanese Ambassador to the UN Nawaf Salam, who was elected to the International Court of Justice last month.
Three-day media workshop on climate change reporting in Himalayas gets underway at Kohima
A three-day media workshop on climate change reporting in the Himalayas got underway at Kohima in Nagaland.
- The workshop is jointly organised by the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in collaboration with Nagaland Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Centre for Media Studies.
- Nagaland Chief Conservator of Forest and State Nodal officer for Climate Change, Supongnukshi presented the Nagaland state action plan on Climate change.
Priyanka Chopra honoured with Mother Teresa Memorial Award
Priyanka Chopra was honoured with the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice for her work in helping refugees with food, shelter and education.
- The award was received by her mother Dr Madhu Chopra.
- She has been often applauded for her efforts to help refugee kids and those in distress.
The Mother Teresa Awards are awards to honour individuals and organizations that promote peace, equality and social justice, and aim to encourage the cause of justice and peaceful coexistence, while providing a impetus for society to imbibe these values. The award is given in honour of Mother Teresa
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12-foot-tall statue of Diego Maradona unveiled in Kolkata
A 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of legendary Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona was unveiled at a club in Kolkata during his visit to the city.
- The statue features the 1986 World Cup-winning captain holding the trophy he helped Argentina win.
- The 57-year-old also gave out cheques to 11 cancer patients at the event, which was attended by around 1,000 people.
India bags 21 Medals at Asian Championship and 4 Youth Olympic Games quotas
India bagged 21medals at the 10th Asian Championship at Wako City Japan and also booked 4 Youth Olympic Games quotas.
- Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker booked quota places for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) by winning a gold and a silver each.
- Chaudhary won both the individual as well as the Team gold in the men’s 10m Air Pistol Youth event, while Bhaker clinched a silver in the women’s 10m Air Pistol Youth.
India to host 2023 World Cup, Champions Trophy in 2021
India will host the One Day International World Cup in 2023 as well as the Champions Trophy in 2021, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in its Special General Meeting (SGM).
- This is the first time India would be hosting an ODI World Cup completely.
- India has previously co-hosted ODI World Cup on three occasions (1987, 1996 and 2011).
- India has won the tournament twice (1983 and 2011) since its inception in 1975.
- Other than the Champions Trophy and ODI World Cup, India will also hosting Afghanistan for their first ever Test in 2019-2020 after they became full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June, 2017 along with Ireland.
