Daily Current Affairs, 19th December 2018

1) International Migrants Day:18 December

•The UN’s (United Nation) International Migration Day (IMD) is observed every year on 18th December to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. The theme for this year’s IMD is ‘Migration with Dignity’.

•In Dec 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 Dec as International Migrants Day after considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world.

2) ISRO Launched GSAT- 7A Communication Satellite

•The GSLV F 11 carrying GSAT 7A was successfully launched from the Space research Centre Sriharikota by ISRO. The last launch of this year is a dedicated mission for updating and increasing the capability of the Country’s defence forces. GSLV F 11 carries the 2250 kilogram GSAT 7A from Sriharikota. 

•The rocket spewed out the satellite within 20 minutes after lift off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The rocket, GSLV F 11 is the fourth generation launch vehicle with three stages.

3) 9th India-ROK Joint Commission Meeting Held In New Delhi

•External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Affairs Minister of South Korea Kang Kyung-wha co-chaired the 9th India-ROK Joint Commission meeting. Ms. Kyung-wha arrived in New Delhi on a two-day visit to India.

•Mrs. Swaraj and her Korean counterpart reviewed the progress in multifaceted cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries. It includes follow-up action on decisions taken during the visit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to India in July this year.

4) Textiles Minister Gives Away Handicrafts Export Awards

•Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, presented awards to handicrafts exporters for their outstanding performance in exports for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 at a function at India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR.

•Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta and Development Commissioner [Handicrafts], Shantmanu, were also present on the occasion. The awards for outstanding performance of handicrafts exports were given under different categories to 136 exporters. 

5) UAE Declares 2019 As the Year Of Tolerance

•UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance, an extension of the Year of Zayed which has run this year.

•The leader stated that 2019 would highlight the UAE as a global capital for tolerance, instilling the values of co-existence and peace in local, regional and international communities. In 2016, the UAE Cabinet introduced the first post of the Minister of State for Tolerance and launched the National Tolerance Programme.

6) Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel Resigns

•Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has resigned amid pressure on his government over his support for the UN global compact on migration. The pressure increased after his biggest coalition partner, the right-wing N-VA party, quit the government over the issue.

•Michel lost the backing of the party over his support for the UN migration pact, a cause celebre for European anti-immigration parties. Belgium holds the modern European record for going the longest time without a government, a whopping 541 days in 2010-2011.

7) Sonam Kapoor Named PETA India’s 2018 Person of the Year

•Actress Sonam Kapoor, a vegan, has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s Person of the Year for 2018.

•Sonam has been feted as she sings in praise of vegan eating and because she keeps animal skins out of her handbag line for her fashion brand Rheson, apart from taking other action for the welfare of animals.

8) WEF Gender Gap Index 2018: Iceland Tops, India Ranks 108th

•India has been ranked 108th in World Economic Forum (WEF) gender gap index 2018, same as 2017 while recording improvement in wage equality for similar work and fully closing its tertiary education gender gap for the first time.

•As per the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2018, Iceland topped the list having closed more than 85.8% of its overall gender gap. The Report was published for total 149 countries. Norway and Sweden were on 2nd and 3rd position, respectively.