Title Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 14th December 2019 - wifistudy

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title 2019
     14th December

Mongla and Chattogram declared as Ports of Call under the “Coastal Shipping Agreement’

The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) announced that Mongla and Chattogram (Both in Bangladesh) have been
declared as Ports of Call under “Coastal Shipping Agreement” between India & Bangladesh.

      The Port of Mongla is declared as Port of Call under PIWT&T (Protocol on Inland Water Transit and
       Trade ) and Chattogram port is not part of PIWT&T.
      An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), agreement and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the
       use of Chattogram Port & Mongla Ports for goods movement between India and Bangladesh has been
       signed between both the nations.
      The Ports of Call in India are Kolkata (West Bengal), Haldia (West Bengal), Pandu, Karimganj (Assam),
       Silghat (Assam), Dhubri (Assam).

Union Cabinet authorises NHAI to set up Infrastructure Investment Trust

The Union Cabinet recently authorizes the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to set up the
Infrastructure Investment Trust based on the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

      This will enable NHAI to monetize completed National Highways that have a toll collection track record
       of atleast 1 year and the NHAI reserves the right to levy toll on identified highway.
      InvIT Trust will be under Indian Trust Act, 1882 and Securities and Exchange Board of India
       (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.

French firm Suez to rehabilitate Mangaluru’s drinking water at Rs 565.79 cr

Suez, a leading French multinational corporation headquartered in Paris with operations primarily in water,
electricity and natural gas supply and waste management, has won the €72 million (Rs 565.79 crore) contract for
the extension, rehabilitation and operation of the drinking water distribution system of the entire city of
Mangaluru, Karnatak.

      This 11.5-year contract is to ensure a 24/7 water supply for the city's 550,000 inhabitants.
      The objective of this 24/7 water supply project, financed by the Asian Development Bank, is to upgrade
       the entire distribution system to cater to demand as per the needs of the year 2036.

Puducherry Govt introduces Rs 10 crore Innovation & Startup Policy 2019

The Government of Puducherry launched an “Aspiring Puducherry-Innovation & Startup Policy 2019” to create
a corpus fund of Rs 10 crores to support start-up incubators and to develop co-working spaces.

   The policy was launched by M.O.H.F Shahjahan, Minister for Industries and Revenue, Puducherry.
      The Puducherry Start-up Cell will be the nodal agency for implementing the policy and will facilitate
       filing of patents, trademarks and designs.

Indian Passports to have lotus symbol

Lotus will be on Indian Passport according to MEA.

      Ministry of External Affairs said it was part of the enhanced security features to identify fake passports
       and involves using other national symbols as well on rotation.
      Apart from the lotus, other national symbols will be used on rotation.
      Right now it is lotus and then next month there will be something else.

Govt to sell 100% stake in Air India

The government has decided to sell its entire 100 per cent stake in Air India under the proposed disinvestment
process.

   The national carrier, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore, has been making a loss for
       long and as part of revival efforts, the government has decided on disinvestment.
      Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) has been reconstituted and the re-initiation of the
       strategic disinvestment of Air India has been approved.

Graeme Smith appointed as South Africa’s first acting director of cricket

Former South African captain Graeme Smith has been appointed as the nation’s first acting director of cricket.

      He has been appointed to the post by Cricket South Africa.
      Graeme Smith will be holding the position temporarily for a period of three months.
      He has already committed to serve as a commentator for the 2020 IPL season.

Defending champion PV Sindhu eliminated from BWF World Tour Finals

Defending champion P.V. Sindhu was knocked out of the year-ending BWF World Tour Final after losing to
China’s Chen Yufei.

      Sindhu lost 22-20, 16-21, 12-21.
      With this loss Sindhu had ended the second part of the year on a disappointing note.

Shooter Ravi Kumar, four others banned for doping

Three weightlifters, a boxer and a shooter have been banned by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) -
from two to four years - for various doping offences.

      Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan was also found positive in the dope test.

Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson dies at 61

Marie Fredriksson, half of the Swedish pop-rock duo Roxette, died at 61.

      The Swedish band had huge hits in the 1990’s, including “The Look”, and “It Must Have Been Love.”
      According to a report, the 'Roxette' singer battled cancer for 17 long years.