Daily Current Affairs for app_20201213 - T.I.M.E. 4 Education

Daily Current Affairs
                                 for app_20201213
650 journalists killed in 2020: watchdog

Fifty journalists and media workers were killed in connection with their work in 2020, the majority in
countries that are not at war, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in report. The figure shows an
increase in the targeting of reporters investigating organised crime, corruption or environmental
issues, the watchdog said. It highlighted murders in Mexico, India and Pakistan. Eighty-four percent
of those killed this year were "deliberately targeted" for their work. The report listed 387 jailed
journalists, which it called a historically high number.
Mexico was the deadliest country, with eight killed. Links between drug traffickers and politicians
remain, and journalists who dare to cover these or related issues continue to be the targets of
barbaric murders.

Bangladesh sends 1,804 refugees to remote island

Seven Bangladesh Navy ships carrying 1,804 Rohingya refugees arrived at an isolated island where
they will be relocated despite concerns among human rights groups about their safety. They
reached Bhashan Char island, 21 miles from the mainland, after a four-hour naval journey from the
port city of Chittagong. It was the second group of Rohingya refugees transferred from crowded,
squalid camps in Cox’s Bazar district to the island. Authorities sent a first group of 1,642 on Dec. 4
despite calls for a halt by human rights groups.

Daily Current Affairs
Dr Harsh Vardhan nominated asfor  app_20201213
                              member on GAVI Board by Global Alliance for Vaccines &
Immunisation

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been nominated as a member on the
GAVI Board by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. Dr. Harsh Vardhan will represent
India for two years starting from 2021 to 2023. The GAVI Board oversees the operations of the
Vaccine Alliance and monitors programme implementation.

Newly designed Vistadome tourist coach successfully completes 180 km/hour during speed trial

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the newly designed Vistadome tourist coach successfully
completed 180 kilometre per hour during speed trial. In a tweet, Mr Goyal said these coaches will
make train journey memorable for the passengers and give further boost to tourism. He also
informed that Indian Railways has conducted successful trial run of electric loco on newly electrified
line between Bangaon-Petrapole in West Bengal.

Daily Current Affairs
                              for
Rajinikanth announces he will not takeapp_20201213
                                      political plunge; cites frail health

Tamil actor Rajinikanth has announced that he will not take the political plunge and start a party as
announced earlier, citing his frail health. Discharged from a Hyderabad hospital after being treated
for blood pressure fluctuations, the actor expressed fears over those accompanying him in his
possible political journey facing "mental and economic" problems in the due course.
Earlier, he had said he will float his own outfit in January and face the 2021 Assembly polls. He
however said that he will serve people in whatever ways he can without entering electoral politics.

Dr Harsh Vardhan releases report - Action Agenda for an Atma Nirbhar Bharat prepared by TIFAC

Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan released the report - Action Agenda for an Atma
Nirbhar Bharat prepared by Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council, TIFAC in
New Delhi. Dr Harsh Vardhan said the ideas contained in the report should be taken forward with
the implementing agencies. He said, the ultimate outcome of the report has to be addition to quality
of life and how our efforts can contribute to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Daily Current Affairs
                               for
President Kovind to confer Digital Indiaapp_20201213
                                        Awards 2020

President Ram Nath Kovind will virtually confer the Digital India Awards 2020 through video
conference. In line with Digital India’s vision, this is the first time that the entire process of the
Digital India Awards is being conducted online from nominations to screening to the final awards
ceremony. National Informatics Centre under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
has been conducting the biennial Digital India Awards to promote innovation in eGovernance and
digital transformation of government service delivery mechanism.

INCOIS launches ‘Digital Ocean’

Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan launched the ‘Digital Ocean’ platform of
Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS) as a one stop-solution for all data
related needs of a wide range of users, including research institutions, operational agencies,
strategic users, academic community, maritime industry, and the public.

Daily Current Affairs
                             for app_20201213
Govt proposes to make airbag mandatory for front passenger seat

In a significant measure to boost passenger safety, the union government has proposed to make
airbag mandatory for the passenger on the front seat of a vehicle seated next to the driver. The
proposed timelines for implementation are 1st April next year for new models and 1st June for
existing models. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has put a draft notification in this
regard on its website.

Army conducts outreach webinar for startups in emerging technologies

In a major push to support Atmanirbhar Bharat and to promote an innovation ecosystem, the Indian
Army has conducted an outreach webinar for startups in emerging technologies. As many as 89
startups pitched their indigenously developed innovations, ideas and proposals to Indian Army
through virtual presentations in webinar format from 17th to 28th of this month.
The proposals focused on the field of Drones, Counter Drones, Robotics, Autonomous Systems,
Artificial Intelligence, Quantum computing, Blockchain technology, 3D printing, Nanotechnology and
Medical applications.

Daily Current Affairs
                             forinapp_20201213
States borrow 43% more, get deeper debt

At Rs. 5,55,900 crore, the States whose finances have been ravaged by the pandemic, have snapped
up as much as 43.5% more debt from the market during the first nine months of the current fiscal
with the conclusion of the last auction on Tuesday when 13 of them borrowed Rs. 18,900 crore.
According to an analysis by rating agency Icra, states had borrowed ₹3,87,400 crore in the first nine
months of FY20.
Over 65 per cent of these Rs 5.55 lakh crore borrowing have been lapped up by just five top
borrowing states with Maharashtra borrowing Rs 39,500 crore more, Karnataka Rs 25,900 crore
more, Tamil Nadu Rs 16,600 crore more, Andhra an additional Rs 15,300 crore and Telangana
drawing down Rs 13,400 crore more during these months.

Govt mops up Rs 8,965 cr till Nov from auctioned, allotted coal blocks

The Union government mopped up Rs 8,964.75 crore till last month from the auctioned and allotted
mines, according to the coal ministry. These revenue figures consist of upfront amount and monthly
premium only, while royalty and taxes or cess are payable over and above these payments, the coal
ministry said in its E-Booklet on reforms. Apart from 204 coal mines covered under the Coal Mines
(Special Provisions) Act, the remaining blocks are allocated under the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Act.

Daily Current Affairs
Vedanta raises $1.4 bn to retirefor
                                 debt app_20201213

Promoters of Vedanta have pledged their holding in the company to raise $1.4 billion, mostly for
repaying the debt that was coming up for maturity. Vedanta said its promoters raised $1 billion debt
by issuing equivalent notes to Citicorp International. Separately, a unit of Vedanta Resources will
issue $400 million in notes to an entity under Oaktree Capital Group.

The funds raised from Citicorp will be used to fund the tender offer for any and all of Vedanta
Resources’ (VRL) outstanding $900 million 8.25% bonds due 2021, the company said in the filing.

Tax tribunal upholds tax-exempt status of Tata Trusts; censures Mistry

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has upheld the tax-exempt status of three Tata Group
trusts, quashing a revision order of the Income Tax Department that sought to cancel tax exemption
on grounds that they held shares of Tata Sons. It also censured former Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus
Mistry for supplying documents to the tax department soon after his unceremonious exit as the
head of the salt-to-software group.

Daily Current Affairs
                               for
Tatas pay $37.7 mn, raise AirAsia stakeapp_20201213
                                       to 83.67%

Tata Sons acquired an additional 32.67% stake in AirAsia India (AAI) from AirAsia Group Berhad for
$37.7 million (Rs 276.6 crore), thereby reducing the Malaysian carrier stake to 16.33%. Tata Sons
earlier held a 51% stake in AirAsia India, and the Malaysian flagship budget carrier – AirAsia Berhad –
owned 49% of the stake in Indian business.

Suryoday Small Finance Bank gets SEBI nod to float IPO

Markets regulator Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) has granted the go-ahead to small
lender Suryoday Small Finance Bank to float its Initial Public Offering (IPO). This IPO comprises fresh
issuance of 1,15,95,000 equity shares and an offer for sale of up to 84,66,796 equity scrips by
existing shareholders.

Daily Current Affairs
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane guides for
                              India toapp_20201213
                                      series-levelling victory against Australia in 2nd Test at
Melbourne

Stand in Skipper Ajinkya Rahane guided India to level the Test series against Australia by 1-1 by
registering an eight wicket victory in the second match at Melbourne. Chasing a low target of 70
runs, Shubman Gill and Rahane kept their cool and achieved the meagre target with ease. Ajinkya
Rahane who hit 112 runs in the first innings to craft the win for the Indian side was adjudged Man of
the Match.

South Africa registers a thumping win

South Africa wrapped up victory by an innings and 45 runs shortly after lunch on the fourth day of
the first Test against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park. The visitors, needing 225 runs to avoid an innings
defeat, were bowled out for 180.

Daily Current Affairs
                             forNikhilapp_20201213
Former Olympian, Indian defender       Nandy passes away

Nikhil Nandy, a prominent member of the 1956 Indian football team that finished a creditable fourth
in the Olympics, is no more. He was 88. Regarded as one of the first names in the country to play as
a ‘half-back’. He was also a part of the side that notched-up a semi-final finish in the 1958 Asian
Games in Tokyo, Japan.
 On the domestic front, Nandy was part of the triumphant Bengal squad which won the Santosh
Trophy in 1955. He had also won the Calcutta Football League with Eastern Railways back in 1958.

Former New Zealand Cricketer John F Reid Dies At 64

Former New Zealand cricketer John F Reid, who played a key role in their success in the 1980s, has
died in Christchurch at the age of 64. In the 19 Tests he played, Reid scored 1296 runs at an average
of 46.28, including six centuries; with his highest coming in the blazing heat of Colombo in 1984,
when he scored 180 in 685 minutes against Sri Lanka.