VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMPER 12^th&13^th , 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER  12^th &13^th, 2019

1.     India has joined Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) hub as a new member.

a.      By partnering with the hub, India looks forward to work with all partners and to boost their existing capabilities, resources and also to collectively focus on new research to address drug-resistant infections.

2.     Canadian PM Justin Trudeau today called for general elections on October 21 and formally kicked off a six-week re-election campaign.

a.       "We've done a lot these past four years, but the truth is we're just getting started," Trudeau said.

3.     Anglo-Caribbean country Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the 79th country to join India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA). 

a.      The initiative was launched by France and India during the Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in November 2015. 

4.     The 24th World Energy Congress was held in Abu Dhabi, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9-12 September 2019.

a.      It was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE.

b.      Theme : ‘Energy for Prosperity’. This theme also represents ambitious and dynamic energy transition of UAE.

5.     To provide state ration card holders two kilograms of two different varieties of pulses available at prices much lower than the market rate, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today launched a scheme called ‘Mukhya Mantri Dal Poshit Yojana’. 

a.      Under the scheme State government will offer a subsidy of Rs.15 per kilogram on variety of pulses identified, including chana, malka and masur.

6.     The Payippad Boat Race (also known as the Payippad Vallamkali or the Jalotsavam)  is being held in Payippad Lake in Kerala. 

a.      It is one of the most colourful festivals of the region with the largest participation of chundan vallams (snake boats). 

b.      The boat race pays homage to Lord Sree Ayyappan and Lord Subramanya.

7.     Union Minister of state for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Mahendra Nath Pandey laid the foundation stone for Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) at Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

a.      The concept of IIS was envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he had visited Vocational Education and Training Centre in Singapore.

b.      Note : Union Cabinet had given its nod to set up Indian Institute of Skills (IISs) in 3 cities namely, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kanpur to give wings to the Skill India Mission. 

c.      These institutes will be constructed and operated on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and on a not-for-profit basis.

8.     Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Artificial Insemination Programme at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

a.      This programme was launched on sidelines with ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ Programme, 2019 and National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) at Mathura.

9.     The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired indigenously developed Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM) from a firing range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

10.Russia has terminated its 1st life-sized humanoid robot to space, Fedor (Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research). 

a.      Fedor was launched on August 22 aboard a Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft, which docked successfully with the International Space Station (ISS) five days later. 

11.The World's 1st malaria vaccine is being rolled out in parts of Kenya after debuting in Ghana and Malawi earlier this year. 

a.      More than 300,000 children are expected to receive the vaccine over the next three years. 

b.      Note : Malaria infected about 219 million people in 2017, killing around 435,000 of them, most of them babies and children in parts of Africa.

12.Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development has prepared a module to introduce study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the school level. 

a.      The announcement for the initiative was made by Union Human Resource and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishak while addressing Central Board of Secondary Education’s Teachers Awards 2018-19. 

13.Bank of Baroda (BoB) has put up for auction the headquarters of erstwhile Dena Bank in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex at a reserve price of ₹530 crore. 

a.      This follows the merger of Bank of Baroda with Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank. 

14.At least three lots of MDH's sambhar masala were withdrawn from the United States last week after the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) found 'salmonella' in it. 

a.      Note : Salmonella is a bacteria that causes salmonellosis, a foodborne illness with symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever. 

15.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) spokesperson Gerry Rice has said that the recent economic growth in India is "much weaker than expected".

a.      He said that it's weaker mainly due to "corporate and environmental regulatory uncertainty" and "lingering weakness in some non-bank financial companies". 

16.During his 3 day visit to the country, President of India Ram Nath Kovind, addressed the India-Iceland Business Forum in Reykjavik, (capital of Iceland).

17.Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under Department of Commerce, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Government of Punjab, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a GeM Organizational Transformation Team (GOTT) Project Management Unit (PMU) in the state.

18.Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva (78), a pro-democracy and climate change campaigner, passed away.

a.      Pohiva was credited with helping bring democratic reforms to Tonga and reduce the influence of the monarchy.

19.Indonesia's ex-President B J Habibie (83), who served during the country's transition to democracy in 1998, passed away.

a.      Habibie oversaw economic and democratic reforms during 17 months in office, after ex-President Suharto stepped down after 32 years.

20.The National Basketball Association (NBA) has appointed Rajesh Sethi as the Managing Director of NBA India. 

a.      As a manager, he will oversee the league's basketball and business development initiatives in India.

21.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Lieutenant General (retired) Abhijit Guha as Chair of Redeployment Coordination Committee and head of the UN Mission in support of Hudaydah Agreement. 

a.      Guha, who retired from the Army in 2013, has 39 years of national and international military experience. 

b.      He's tasked with leading the UN oversight of a ceasefire agreement in the Yemeni city.

22.6-time world champion boxer Mary Kom, shooter Yashaswini Singh Deswal and shuttler Sai Praneeth were among 12 top sports persons who were included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) of the government today.