Important Current Affairs of December 11, 2015

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 11, 2015

• On 10th December Human Rights Day was observed.
• This day is observed to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
• Themes of Human Rights Day
• Theme of 2015 : Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always
• Luxembourg has became the 10th country to ratify the Articles of Agreement (AoA) that will lay the legal framework for the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• Apart from Luxembourg, Australia, Austria, Brunei Darussalam, China, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom ratified the 60-article agreement so far.
• The Union Cabinet has gave ex-post facto approval for signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on cooperation in the energy sector.
• The MoU will provide an enabling framework for technical assistance, including in-kind grant, and other support, as mutually agreed, through relevant projects initiated by the United Kingdom.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill, 2015.  
• The Bill will provide uniform regulatory environment to ensure speedy adjudication of disputes and orderly growth of the real estate sector. 
• Bombay High Court on 10th December acquitted bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case, and quashed his conviction and 5-year sentence.
• The court said that on basis of evidences produced by the prosecution, the appellant cannot be convicted, no matter how differently the common man thinks.
• U.S. based healthcare IT firm eClinicalWorks is going to invest $30 million as part of its expansion plans for the digital healthcare market in India.
• The investment will focus on developing cloud-based technology infrastructure here.
• Homegrown auto components major Bharat Forge on 10th December signed a long-term agreement with Rolls-Royce for supply of aero engine parts.
• The pact follows a period of collaboration over the last 18 months to define and secure the necessary level of stringent quality and process approvals.
• India ranks 4th in black money outflows with a whopping USD 51 billion according to  Global the Financial Integrity’s (GFI’s) Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013 Report.
• China topped the list with USD 139 billion average outflow of illicit finances per annum, followed by Russia (USD 104 billion per annum) and Mexico (USD 52.8 billion per annum). 
• The World’s first dengue fever vaccine Dengvaxia was cleared by Mexico for public use.
• Note : It took 20 years and more than 1.5 billion euros (USD 1.6 billion) in research and development to create Dengvaxia. 
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel was named as Time Magazine Person of the Year 2015. 
• The magazine cited her role in Europe’s crisis over migration and Greek debt.  
• Two Indians, Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain have won the Queen’s Young Leaders award in the U.K. for their exceptional work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.
• The Indian leg of this year’s International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) began at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on 10th December.
• The first match was played between Japan Warriors and UAE Royals.
• Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been awarded honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in recognition of his "stellar career".
• Note : Jayawardene becomes the 14th Sri Lankan to be honored with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Honorary Life Membership, joining former teammates Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas on the list.
• Maharashtra has won the 2015 National Wheelchair Basketball Championship by beating Punjab.