Current Affairs-GK December 10, 2015

Current Affairs-GK December 10, 2015


10 December: Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day (HRD) is celebrated annually on 10th December to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations (UN) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Theme for this year is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.

First Human Rights Day was celebrated in 1950.

Angela Merkel become Time ‘Person of the Year’
Time Magazine has named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its “Person of the Year”. The magazine has saluted her way to managed the economic crisis over the summer, and the way she’s currently handling the refugee crisis and terrorism threat looming over Europe.

India-Russia to sign landmark deal for Kamov 226 choppers during PM Modi’s visit
India and Russia are set to sign a landmark deal to jointly manufacture new generation of light military choppers under the Make in India initiative during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow later this month.

While the inter governmental contract for producing over 200 of the Kamov 226choppers will be signed, a top Russian official has said that other details, including the selection of the Indian partner for the $ 1 billion deal will be decided later.

Banks need $140 billion to comply with Basel III norms by FY19
According to Fitch Ratings agency Banks in India will need about USD 140 billion to ensure full compliance with the Basel III norms. The governments expected capital injection of around USD 11 billion into its banks is critical but may be insufficient to support sustainable lending growth to achieve Basel III requirements and cushion against balance-sheet stress, all at the same time.

Basel III released in December, 2010. It deals with risk management aspects for the banking sector. Basel III is the global regulatory standard (agreed upon by the members of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision) on bank capital adequacy, stress testing and market liquidity risk.

Veteran CPI Leader AB Bardhan's Health Condition still Critical
Veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan is still under critical health condition, after he suffered a major paralytic stroke on Monday. He is currently in GB Pant Hospital and has been diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. He was hospitalized after he complained about breathlessness.

India and Pakistan decide Resumption of Comprehensive Dialogue
India and Pakistan have put Ufa talks back on track in Islamabad by announcing Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. The development came during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s Two-day visit to Pakistan for attending ‘Heart of Asia conference’.

DB released Asian Economic Integration Report 2015
Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 8 December 2015 released a report entitled Asian Economic Integration Report 2015: How Can Special Economic Zones Catalyze Economic Development? The report examined current trends in trade, finance, migration, remittances and other economic activities in the region, with a special chapter on the role of special economic zones (SEZs).

India’s Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain won 2016 Queen's Young Leaders Award
Two Indians, Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain, have won the 2016 Queen's Young Leaders award in the United Kingdom which will be presented by the British monarch in Buckingham Palace in June 2016. Sawhney and Swain have won the prestigious award for their exceptional work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.

Kartik Sawhney was born blind and Neha Swain is a youth facilitator and co-founder of NGO Rubaroo.

IISc Banglore bagged solar panel research and development contract from US Military
The prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Banglore on 9 December 2015 bagged a US military contract for research and development on solar powered micro-grid. It is one of the rare instances that an Indian scientific institute has been awarded a federal contract by the US military.