1. International Anti-Corruption Day observed on December 9
i) The International Anti-Corruption Day is annually observed on December 9 to create awareness about the adverse impacts of corruption across the world and prevent it. The theme of this year was ‘Break the corruption chain.’
ii) The UN General Assembly established this day on 31st October, 2003. On this day, UNGA established the United Nations Convention against Corruption and designated United Nations office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) as the secretariat for this convention.
iii) A joint international campaign this year focusses on how corruption destabilizes democracy and disrupts holistic progress of the human society.
2. BWF best player awards conferred on Carolina Marin & Chen Long
i) Spaniard Carolina Marin recently won the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) Female Player of the Year’ award.
ii) Carolina Marin is currently world number one as per BWF’s latest rankings. Chen Long, a two-time world champion & two-time All-England Champion has retained the Male Player of the Year award he bagged last year.
iii) At the award ceremony that was held in Dubai, Eddy Choong Award for the Most Promising Player of the Year was received by world junior champion in mixed doubles & men’s doubles Zheng Si Wei.
iv) For the first time ever, BWF has honoured para-badminton players with year-end awards. Lee Sam Seop (Korea) & Helle Sofie Sagoy won the Male & Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year awards respectively.
3. Union govt. signs MoU with NTC to establish technology centre
i) The Union Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has signed a memorandum of understanding with National Textile Corporation (NTC) to establish a technology centre (tool room) at Kanpur.
ii) The aim is to support manufacturing of quality tools to improve productivity of MSMEs. Also, this centre will provide trained manpower & consultancy in related areas.
iii) While the Ministry of MSMEs will fund this project, while land will be provided by NTC.
4. MSDE & DHI sign MoU for skill development in manufacturing sector
i) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) & the Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) have signed an MoU to promote skill development in the manufacturing sector, especially in the capital goods and automotive sectors.
ii) The objective of this MoU is to establish centres of excellence to teach manufacturing skills and a multi-location national institute of manufacturing technologies.
iii) Central PSUs such as HMT, BHEL & Instrumentations Ltd. will invest around 20% of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for such centres.
iv) This MoU will also enable private partnership in the entire value chain of skill traning through targeted interventions.
5. International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of Victims of Crime of Genocide observed
i) International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of Victims of Crime of Genocide was observed on December 9.
ii) This day has been chosen to mark the anniversary of the signing of the 1948 Genocide Convention, the first convention by the UN to mark repercussions of the atrocities committed during World War II.
6. DGCI approves Hepatitis drug developed by Hetero
i) Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs became the first Indian company to get the Drug Controller General of India’s approval (DCGI) to launch the fixed-dose anti Hepatitis-C combination drug Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir.
ii) It will launch the medicines for Indian patients under the brand name Ledisof. Hetero had signed licence agreement with US-based Gilead Sciences in September, 2014 to manufacture and market chronic hepatitis medicines..
iii) Hepatitis C is a major disease in developing countries. In India, around 12-18 million people are infected with Hepatitis C, which is many times greater than the total number of HIV/AIDS patients.
7. Yes Bank to mobilise $5 billion for climate action by 2020
i) YES Bank recently announced to mobilise $5billion by 2020 for climate action in India. The announcement came amid the ongoing 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference. It will also aid India to achieve its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs),
ii) The bank has declared a target funding of 5,000 MW of clean energy, besides contributing towards creating a carbon sink by planting two million trees, benefitting 100 million lives through its safe and clean drinking water program and offsetting carbon emissions of the its operations.
iii) This initiative will help India achieve its target of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022.
8. Noted entrepreneur Frank Islam receives Uttar Pradesh Ratna Award
i) Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Islam will be conferred with the Uttar Pradesh Ratna Award in January 2016 on the inaugural UP Pravasi Diwas, at Agra.
ii) Frank Islam is known for his achievements and contributions in a foreign country. He heads the FI Investment Group and was the founder of QSS Group. He has also authored books, namely Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again, and Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage.
iii) UP Ratna Award is conferred on NRIs who hail from Uttar Pradesh and have made major contributions in the field of science, technology, culture, medicine, education, public service and commerce in foreign countries.
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