03 December 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

03 December 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Ursula von der Leyen takes charge as the European Commission President

• German Ursula von der Leyen (60-years) took charge as the first female President of the European Commission (EC).
• Von der Leyen served in the federal government of Germany (from 2005 to 2019) as the longest-serving member of Angela Merkel's cabinet.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Ursula von der Leyen.
• Ms Leyen invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Brussels for the next India-EU Summit.

Note:

• The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union.
• The President of the Commission leads a cabinet of Commissioners, referred to as the college, collectively accountable to the European Parliament.

2. Masatsugu Asakawa elected 10th President of ADB

• The Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has unanimously elected Masatsugu Asakawa (61-year) as its new President.
• Currently, he is the Special Advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
• Masatsugu Asakawa will succeed Takehiko Nakao.
• Mr. Asakawa will assume office as ADB’s 10th President on 17th January 2020.

Note:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966.
• Now, ADB has 68 members.

3. Sub Lieutenant Shivangi becomes first woman pilot of Indian Navy

• Sub Lieutenant Shivangi has created history to become the first woman pilot of the Navy.
• Shivangi was inducted into the Indian Navy under the Short Service Commission Pilot entry scheme.
• She was commissioned into the Navy in June 2018.
• A batch of three trainee officers of the 7th Dornier Conversion Course including a lady officer qualified as Dornier pilots and were awarded at the coveted golden Wings ceremony held at INS Garuda.

Source: AIR News

4. Shri Hari Mohan appointed as Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board

• Shri Hari Mohan (1982-batch Indian Ordnance Factories’ Service officer) has been appointed as the Director-General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
• He has made significant contributions in improving the production of Armoured Fighting Vehicles like Ajeya Tanks, MBT Arjun, Bridge Layer and Trawls Tanks.
• He has also made a significant contribution to the modernisation of steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) during his tenure in Ministry of Steel & Mines.
• Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories is an industrial organisation, functioning under the Department of Defence Production of Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

 Note:

• OFB is engaged in research, development, production, testing, marketing and logistics of a comprehensive product range in the areas of air, land and sea systems.
• OFB comprises 41-Ordnance Factories, 9- Training Institutes, 3-Regional Marketing Centres and 4- Regional Controllerates of Safety, which is spread across the country.

Source: AIR News

Important Days

5. International Day of Persons with Disabilities being observed today

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on the 3rd of December every year to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness.
• The theme for this year is ‘Promoting the Participation of Persons with Disabilities and their leadership: Taking Action on the 2030 Development Agenda.
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations (UN) since 1992.

Source: UN.Org

State Affairs

6. Nagaland CM inaugurates Multi-Media Exhibition at World War II museum

• Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland Chief Minister) inaugurated the Multi-Media Exhibition at World War II museum, Kisama in Nagaland.
• For the first time in the history of Hornbill festival, Bureau of Outreach & Communication, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is organising a Multi-Media Exhibition commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The focus of the event is to present Gandhian values and principles both to the people and through the people in a contemporary idiom.
• Late Natwar Thakkar (known as Nagaland's Gandhi) was born in Maharashtra in 1932, made Nagaland his home and founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlang village in Mokokchung district in 1995 to propagate Gandhian philosophy and peace.

Note:

• Bureau of Outreach & Communication (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) is organizing a Multi-Media Exhibition commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Obituaries

7. Veteran actress Shelley Morrison passes away

• Former Hollywood actress Shelley Morrison (83-years) passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
• Morrison played Rosario Salazar, a maid from El Salvador, in the original run of 'Will & Grace' from 1999 to 2006, becoming part of a cast that won a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble in a comedy series.

International Affairs

8. NATO leaders meet today to mark 70th birthday of alliance

• The leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meet today to mark the 70th birthday of the organization in London.
• The summit includes receptions at Buckingham Palace and Downing Street plus a working session at a golf resort in outer London.
• The twenty -nine members alliance is the world's biggest military alliance.

Note:

• NATO was founded in 1949 for the collective defence of its members, linking the security of the United States with its European allies against the Soviet Union.
• It witnessed the end of communism, defeating the Soviet Bloc without firing a shot.

9. Saudi Arabia takes over the G20 Presidency from Japan

• Saudi Arabia has taken over the G20 Presidency from Japan.
• It is the first Arab nation to assume the G20 presidency.
• The Saudi G20 presidency is committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus."
• The G20 presidency (Saudi Arabia has taken over from Japan) will host world leaders for a global summit in its capital on 21-22 November in 2020.

10. 3-day Bharatnatyam dance festival begins today

• A three-day Bharatnatyam dance festival ‘Rongarpon’ with live Carnatic music ensemble has begun at Chhayanaut auditorium in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.
• It has been Organized by Kolpotoru, artistes Shudha Srimoyee Das, Shammy Akter and Zuairiyah Mouli will be presenting their solo recitals respectively on December 2, 3 and 4.
• Musicians are coming all the way from Bangalore, India for this festival.
• These dancers have performed in various dance festivals in Bangladesh, India and abroad.

Books & Author

11. Tony Joseph wins the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2019 for ‘Early Indians’

• English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th ‘Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize’ for his book, “Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From“.
• The book tells the tale of the people of South Asia through research in six disciplines, including path-breaking new DNA evidence.
• The award was instituted in 2008 and it carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh along with a trophy.
• Last year, the prize was awarded to Sujatha Gidla for her Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family And The Making Of Modern India.

Source: The Hindu

Sports

12. 13th South Asian Games formally begins in Kathmandu

• President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari declared 13th South Asian Games open in a glittering ceremony at Dasaratha Rangshala in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Over 2700 athletes from seven South Asian Countries participated in the march past.
• For 10 days biggest sporting event of South Asia, 2715 athletes (India - 487 athletes) compete for 1119 medals including 319 Gold in 26 game categories.
• The closing ceremony will be held on 10th December.

Note:

• The 2019 South Asian Games is a major multi-sport event which was originally slated to be held from 1–10 December 2019 in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur, Nepal.

Source: AIR News

13. Karnataka defeats Tamil Nadu to win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019-20

• Karnataka lifted the Syed Mushtaq Trophy 2019-20 (Cricket) after a thrilling one-run win over Tamil Nadu in the final.
• This is the second consecutive title win for Karnataka.
• Karnataka rode on skipper Manish Pandey’s 60 runs (45-ball) to post a total of 180/5 in 20 overs.
• The encounter went to the last over in which off-spinner K Gowtham was asked to defend 13 runs.

Finals Scores:

• Karnataka: 180 (5 wkts, 20 Ov)
• Tamil Nadu: 179 (6 wkts, 20 Ov)

14. Australian Steve Smith becomes the fastest Cricketer to reach 7,000 Test runs

• World No.1 Test batsman Steve Smith (30-year) has become the fastest cricketer to score 7,000 Test runs.
• Australian Steve Smith had gone past legendary Don Bradman's 73-year-old record to become the fastest batsman to score 7000 runs in just 126 innings.
• He has a mountain to climb to reach Ricky Ponting, who amassed 13,378 runs in his 168 Tests.
• India’s Virender Sehwag is the third fastest in 134 innings. 

15. Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

• British racing driver Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes racer) has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• He has claimed his 84th career victory and 11th in 21 races of this year.
• Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished 2nd in the race while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished 3rd in the race.

Note:

• The 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019) was a Formula One motor race held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.