Current Affairs Daily Digest – December 20 2019
1. Abhinav Lohan wins Bengaluru Open Golf Championship
Abhinav Lohan lifted PGTI title securing a narrow one-shot triumph at the Bengaluru Open golf championship. Lohan shot four-under 68 to take his four-day total to 13-under-275 with seven birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey to show on his card.
2. Mirabai Chanu wins gold at Qatar International Cup
Former world champion, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won the women’s 49kg category gold medal to open India’s account at the 6th Qatar International Cup in Doha.
Chanu bagged gold with an effort of 194 kg in the Olympic qualifying event, with the points which will come in handy when the final rankings for Tokyo 2020 cut are done.
3. Zeena Khitta wins women’s national 10m Air Rifle
Himachal’s Zeena Khitta stunned West Bengal’s Mehuli Ghosh and World No.3 Apurvi Chandela to emerge as the new national champion in the Women’s 10 metres Air Rifle event at the ongoing 63rd National Shooting Championship Competitions Rifle/Pistol in Bhopal today.
Mehuli had to settle for the silver while Apurvi won the bronze.
4. Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty named ITF World Champions for 2019
Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Australian Ashleigh Barty have been named International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) World Champions for 2019. Nadal, who’s currently the world number one, this year won his 12th French Open and a fourth US Open.
Barty, who’s also on top in women’s rankings, won her maiden Grand Slam title this year after defeating Marketa Vondrousova in French Open.
5. India’s first 3D ‘trick art’ museum is located in Chennai
India’s first interactive three-dimensional art museum is located in Chennai and houses paintings designed to ‘trick’ the eye. Called ‘Click Art Museum’, it holds 3D paintings such as ‘Mona Lisa’ reaching outside the frame to grab someone’s shirt, a chimpanzee taking selfies and Charlie Chaplin poking a visitor with his cane. The museum was created by renowned artist AP Shreethar.
6. Anand Mahindra to become Non-Executive Chairman of M&M from April
Billionaire Anand Mahindra will transition to the role of Non-Executive Chairman at Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) with effect from April 1, 2020, to comply with SEBI guidelines. Managing Director Pawan Goenka will be re-designated as MD and CEO from April 1. Anish Shah, the Group President (Strategy), will succeed Goenka as MD and CEO after his term ends in 2021.
7. Portugal sets up Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced the setting up of a Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize in order to help promote Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. The announcement was made while he was addressing the second meeting of National Committee for Commemoration Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary chaired by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
8. Apharan: Indian Navy’s largest anti-hijacking exercise
On Decebmer 18, 2019, the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard at Cochin port conducted large scale anti-hijacking exercise. The exercise was called Apharan. Multiple agencies participated in the exercise. It included 12 ships and helicopters of Cochin Port trust, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. This is the first time an anti-hijacking exercise is being conducted at a large scale in India and in the port of Cochin.
9. Pinaka missile successfully test fired by DRDO
The Pinaka missile was successfully test fired from Odisha coast on December 19, 2019 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. The Pinaka missile is a modified version of Pinaka Mk-II rocket. The rocket was added with integrated navigation, control and guidance system in order to improve the end accuracy. The missile navigation will be aided by the IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System).
10. International Human Solidarity Day 20 December
The Sustainable Development Agenda is centred on people & planet, underpinned by human rights and supported by a global partnership determined to lift people out of poverty, hunger and disease. It will, thus, be built on a foundation of global cooperation and solidarity.
11. Cuba to name first prime minister in 40 years
Cuba is to resurrect the position of prime minister in a parliamentary session at the end of the week, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel nominating a candidate to the post which has remained dormant for more than 40 years. The last time Cuba had a prime minister, it was revolutionary hero Fidel Castro.
12. Volvo Group, Isuzu ink $2.3 billion deal for next-gen truck technology
The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors on Wednesday signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the intent to form a strategic alliance within commercial vehicles in order to capture the opportunities in the ongoing transformation of the industry.
13. Telangana: Former HC Judge CV Ramulu appointed as Lokayukta
In Telangana, former High Court Judge Justice CV Ramulu has been appointed as the Lokayukta. Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan has issued the orders to this effect. Former Law Secretary V Niranjan Rao has been appointed as Upa Lokayukta.
14. FIFA rankings: India static at 108
The Indian men’s football team remained static at 108th spot in the year-ending FIFA rankings issued. India, however, lost 11 places throughout the year. With 1187 total points, India is placed at 19th spot among Asian countries headed by Japan 28th.
15. Sweden hands India 4-0 thrashing to win U-17 tri-nation tournament final
Sweden Under-17 combined with ease and despite missing a penalty-kick, were good enough to win the final of the Tri-nation Tournament 4-0 on the strength of first-half goals against India Under-17 in Mumbai.
