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Daily Current Affairs Capsule
International Anti-Corruption Day: 09 December
Every year, December 9 is celebrated as the International Anti-Corruption Day.
The day emphasises the need for the eradication of corruption and intends to create awareness on the ways through which it can be reduced.
The day is observed to make people aware of the disadvantages of corruption, to spread awareness about it, and to maintain transparency.
2020 theme: 'United Against Corruption.
UN makes December 27 ‘Epidemic Preparedness’ day
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution proclaiming December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
The day mainly aims to prevent COVID-19 like situations and to equip the world to fight such scenarios.
The day will be marked to facilitate exchange of information, transmission of scientific knowledge and best practices locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. This will help to prevent and respond to the epidemics.
It asked the World Health Organization to facilitate the observance of the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness to ensure the transmission and exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices on preventing and responding to epidemics locally, nationally, regionally and internationally.
China successfully activates nuclear-powered ‘artificial sun’
China has successfully activated its so-called “artificial sun,” a nuclear fusion reactor that could fuel its energy ambitions for years to come — if they can make it more sustainable.
China’s Atomic Energy Authority fired up its HL-2M Tokamak reactor for the first time. The reactor is often called an “artificial sun” because of the enormous heat and power it produces
The reactor generates power by applying powerful magnetic fields to a contained loop of hot plasma, which can reach temperatures of more than 150 million C.
That’s up to 10 times hotter than the core of the sun, but magnets and supercooling technology keep it contained.
Fusion generates power by fusing the nuclei of atoms together, without generating large amounts of nuclear waste.
The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy observed the 53rd Submarine Day on 08 December.
Submarine Day is observed to remember and honour submariners who made supreme sacrifice in their service.
The 53rd Submarine Day commemorates the maiden unfurling of the naval ensign on the erstwhile INS Kalvari at Riga, Latvia.
Argentina to levy 'millionaires tax' to pay for COVID-19 relief, expenses
Argentina has introduced a new tax, passing it on the country's wealthiest people to pay for medical supplies and relief measures in context to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to the new tax, people whose assets amount to more than 200 million pesos (approximately Rs. 18 crore) - about 12,000 in number - will have to pay for the said accommodations.
Those included will pay a progressive rate of up to 3.5 per cent on wealth in Argentina and up to 5.25 per cent on that outside the country.
Argentina has recorded close to 1.5 million infections and almost 40,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
MoS Muraleedharan inaugurates website for 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2021
V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs inaugurated the website for the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2021, marking the commencement of online registration for participation in the convention.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas marks the day to celebrate the contribution of the overseas Indian community into the development of India.
January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion.
On this day 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa.
In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the 16th PBD Convention will be held in virtual format on January 9.
India in top 10 performers on climate change index
India is ranked at 10th place in the ‘Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021’.
It is for the second time in a row that India emerged among the top 10 countries with higher climate performance from among 58 economies.
India was at 9th spot last year in the index.
The first three places in 2021 ranking also remain unoccupied, since none of the countries is on the path compatible with the Paris climate targets, to implement strategies to limit global warming below 2 or even 1.5°C.
Sweden (4th) United Kingdom (5th), Denmark (6th), Morocco (7th), Norway (8th), Chile (9th) were among the top 10 rankers in the index.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 2.5 million (about Rs 18 crore) technical assistance to support advanced biofuel development in India.
The grant is funded from the Asia Clean Energy Fund, financed by the Government of Japan under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility, and the Republic of Korea''s e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund.
The technical assistance (TA) will support development of advanced bioethanol, bio-compressed natural gas, and biodiesel plants to demonstrate the best practices for suitable feedstock, efficient conversion technology, and sustainable biofuel value chain.
It will also support incorporating gender main-streaming design in the feedstock value chain to promote the empowerment of rural women in agriculture.
Using novel technology, advanced (or second-generation) biofuels could be produced from non-edible sources like agricultural residue, municipal solid waste, and used cooking oil.
Kuwait's Emir reappoints Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as PM
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has reappointed Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as prime minister.
Sheikh Nawaf has asked Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled to nominate members of a new Cabinet for his approval.
The Kuwaiti prime minister had submitted his Cabinet’s resignation to the Emir following parliamentary polls in the country.
This will be Sheikh Sabah’s second Cabinet following the one he formed on Dec 17, 2019.
Raj Kamal Jha wins Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020
Writer and chief editor of The Indian Express, Raj Kamal Jha, has won the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020 for his book, The City and the Sea.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winner of the $5,000 prize was announced online in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jha’s book, which is based on the December 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case, was chosen from ten shortlisted books including Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island, Nirmala Govindarajan’s Taboo and Ranjit Hoskote’s Jonahwhale.
Founded in 2018 by US-based publisher Peter Bundalo, the award serves as a platform to celebrate world peace, literature, art, education and human rights.
