05-06 January 2020 - Daily Current Affairs

05-06 January 2020 - Daily Current Affairs

1. ‘1917’ is Best Motion Picture (Drama) in ‘Golden Globe Awards 2020’

• The 77th Golden Globe Awards, which honor the movies and American Television were distributed on 6th January 2020 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
• Desi Girl Priyanka Chopra with husband Nick Jonas presented the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy - to Fleabag.
• Tom Hanks was honoured with the Cecil B deMille award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment, while Ellen deGeneres was honoured with the Carol Burnett Award for lifetime achievement in television.

Note:

• Golden Globe Awards were started in 1944, by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, in order to give recognition to the excellence in Film and Television.
• The revenue, which is generated from this annual ceremony is often donated to entertainment-related charities and is also used to fund scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals.

All the winners of the 77th annual Golden Globes from the world of TV and film are as follows:

1. Best film – Drama: 1917
2. Best actress in a film – drama: Renee Zellweger, Judy
3. Best actor in a film – drama: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
4. Best film – musical or comedy: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
5. Best score – film: Joker
6. Best director – film: Sam Mendes, 1917
7. Best song – film: I’m Gonna Love Me Again, Rocketman

2. Dubai-based Indian girl who can sing in 120 languages wins Global Child Prodigy Award

• Dubai-based Indian girl, Sucheta Satish was awarded Global Child Prodigy Award 2020 for being able to sing in 120 languages.
• The 13-year-old Sucheta Satish, known as the Dubai Indian High School's nightingale, won in the singing category.

Note:

• The Global Child Prodigy Award is a platform to celebrate children's talent and power in different categories such as dancing, music, arts, writing, acting, modelling, science, innovation, sports, etc.
•  The awards are supported by the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Oscar award-winning music producer AR Rahman to name a few.

National Affairs

3. Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma appointed as Chairman of National Medical Commission

• Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• He is Professor and Head of ENT – Head and Neck Surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
• Regarding this, an order was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• Health Ministry bureaucrat RK Vats, who has also been Medical Council of India (MCI) Secretary-General, has been named Secretary General of NMC.
• The appointments were done for a period of three years, or until the officials turn 70, or until orders are issued to reverse the appointments, whichever is earlier..

Note:

• The NMC has replaced the MCI, which was dissolved after countless allegations of corruption in medical education came up.

4. 2,636 EV Charging Stations sanctioned under Fame II scheme

• Department of Heavy Industries under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India has sanctioned 2,636 charging stations under the FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India) scheme phase II.
• These stations are spread over 62 cities across 24 States and Union Territories.
• The objective of this is to increase the electric vehicle users and also encourage Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to launch new electric models.
• Of these 2,636 charging stations, 1,633 Charging Stations will be Fast Charging Stations and 1,003 will be slow charging stations.
• In all, 317 EV charging stations have been allotted in Maharashtra, 266 in Andhra Pradesh, 256 in Tamil Nadu, 228 in Gujarat, and 205 in Rajasthan.

Note:

• To promote the Electric vehicle in the country Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi implemented the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME-II) scheme in India.
• Under the FAME India scheme, the Department of Heavy Industries invited the “Expressions of Interest (EoI) “from various cities across the country and received 106 proposals for 7000 EV charging stations.
• Out of which 2636 EV charging stations were selected with the help of Project Implementation and Sanctioning Committee (PISC).
• At least one charging station will be in 4km X 4km grid in selected cities.
• Prakash Javadekar is the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

5. KVIC opens first silk processing plant in Gujarat to boost Patola saree production

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has inaugurated the first silk processing plant at Surendranagar in Gujarat.
• This would help cut down the cost of production of silk yarn drastically and increase the sale and availability of raw material for Gujarati 'Patola' sarees locally.
• The plant has been set up by a khadi institution at a cost of Rs 75 lakh, in which KVIC has contributed Rs 60 lakh.
• Patola, the trademark saree of Gujarat, is considered to be very costly and worn only by royals or aristocrats.
• The reason the high cost of Patola sarees is that the silk yarn used to make them is purchased from Karnataka or West Bengal, where silk processing units are situated. This increases the cost of fabric manifolds.

Source: Business Today

6. Ministry of External Affairs formed New, Emerging and Strategic Technologies division

• The Ministry of External Affairs has announced the setting up of New, Emerging and Strategic Technologies (NEST) division.
• This will look into the issues pertaining to new and emerging technologies and will help in collaboration with foreign partners in the field of 5G and artificial intelligence which are in line with India’s security goals.
• The development comes close on the heels of the government allowing all network equipment makers, including Huawei, to participate in 5G trials.
• NEST will act as the nodal division within the ministry for issues pertaining to new and emerging technologies.
• NEST will negotiate technology governance rules, standards, and architecture, suited to India’s conditions, in multilateral and plurilateral frameworks.

Note:

• External Affairs Minister of India: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, He MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat constituency.

7. PESB picks Harjeet Kaur Joshi to helm Shipping Corporation

• Harjeet Kaur Joshi has been appointed as the Chairperson and Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), the country’s largest shipping company.
• Harjeet Kaur is currently the Director Finance at SCI and, since September 12, has been holding the additional charge of the Chairperson and Managing Director of the navratna PSU.
• Harjeet Kaur will become the first lady to head SCI, which is 63.75 percent owned by the government.
• She will take charge of SCI at a time when the government is planning to privatize the shipping company.

Source: BusinessLine

Banking and Economy

8. PNB MetLife and RevFin in partnered to offer life cover

• RevFin, a digital lending start-up has partnered with PNB MetLife India Insurance Company to provide life insurance to its customers by bundling life insurance cover on their loans.
• This partnership supports financial inclusion by helping to secure the families of the borrowers against loan repayment burden in the event of the unfortunate demise of the borrower during the loan term.
• RevFin customers who have taken a loan to buy an electric three-wheeler can take advantage of this tie-up, and cover their outstanding loan amount during the loan tenure.
• This insurance covers loans up to ₹3 lakh for a term of three years. The product is offered digitally through RevFin’s app (iOS and Android), so there is no additional paperwork needed.

Source: Business Line

 9. India extends USD 75 mn line of credit for solar parks in Cuba

• Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) has given a $75 million line of credit to Cuba for financing 75 MW Photovoltaic Solar Parks.
• Exim Bank is the premier export finance institution of India.
• Regarding this, the Exim Bank has entered into an agreement with Banco Exterior De Cuba on July 16, 2019.
• Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under the agreement, goods, works, and services of the value of at least 75 percent of the contract price can be supplied by the seller from India,
• Ans the remaining 25 percent of goods and services may be procured by the seller from outside India.

10. CSC inks pact with Paytm Payments Bank for sale of FASTags

• CSC e-Governance Services India Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) for sale of FASTags.
• The agreement will facilitate the sale of PPBL FASTags through the last mile network of 3.6 lakh CSCs, helping realize the government's vision of cashless and smooth transit at all toll plazas across the country.
• For this, CSC will integrate its platform with Paytm Payments Bank to carry out seamless transactions.

Note:

• FASTags, which work on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology -- have been made mandatory at toll gates on national highways.
• The FASTag process allows toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it, thus doing away with the need for waiting in queues, saving time and fuel.

International Affairs

11. 2020 Designated as “Year of Nurse and Midwife”

• The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the year 2020 as the “Year of Nurse and Midwife”, in the honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
• This year, WHO is to focus on nursing and midwifery in order to achieve Universal Health coverage.
• WHO will launch the reports prior to the 73rd session of WHO which is to be held in Geneva between February 3 and 8, 2020.
• Every year, the day is celebrated on May 12. The day is celebrated by the International Council of Nurses.

Note:

• The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Obituaries

12. Former Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi passes away

• Former Governor of Karnataka T N Chaturvedi (90-years) passed away at a private hospital in Noida.
• Chaturvedi was the 14th Governor of Karnataka (from 2002–2007).
• He also served as of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from 1984 to 1989.

Sports

13. All-rounder Irfan Pathan retires from all forms of cricket

• Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Pathan played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is.
• He was part of the victorious Indian team at the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the man-of-the-match in the final against Pakistan.
• He made his debut at the age of 19 in 2003.

14. Saurabh Chaudhary wins gold in men's 10 m air pistol at 63rd National Shooting C'ship

• Ace shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the men's 10 meters air pistol gold at the 63rd National Shooting Championship in Bhopal.
• Second-placed Sarabjot Singh of Haryana was well behind with a score of 243.9, while world number two Abhishek Verma settled for bronze in a high-quality final.
• Abhishek and Sarabjot together won the team gold for Haryana. Sarabjot also won the junior men's gold for a profitable day.

Source: News on Air

State Affairs

15. Tamil Nadu to appoint music, dance and art teachers in all schools

• Tamil Nadu government has decided to appoint music, dance and art teachers in all schools. State Cultural Development Minister K Pandiarajan said that the government has already been its in-principle approval to the proposal.
• Mr. Pandiarajan also disclosed that steps are being taken to prepare a quality index of all the cultural institutions in the country and abroad which are conducting courses or studies in Tamil language and culture.
• The function was attended by State Ministers Vellamandi N Natarajan and S Valarmathi among others.

Conference and Summit

16. Women Science Congress begins in Bengaluru

• On January 05, 2020, the Women Science Congress was inaugurated at the ongoing Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru.
• DRDO Aeronautical Systems Director General Dr.Tessy Thomas who is known as Missile Woman of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
• The women’s science congress aims to provide a single platform for women working in different arena of science and technology to showcase their achievements and experiences.
• It will also prepare a vision document or a road map for women in science and technology and recommend policies to enhance the role and utilize the full potential of women in science and technology.

Source: News on AIR