In Malaysia, the cabinet decided to abolish the death penalty. Communications and multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo stated that the government decided to scrap capital punishment following strong domestic opposition to the practice.
Capital punishment in Malaysia is currently mandatory for murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms and drug trafficking, among other crimes.
Note: Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur, Currency: Malaysian ringgit.
Delhi government signed a twin-city agreement with the government of Moscow for cooperation in various fields like environment, culture and education, for the next 3 years.
The agreement was signed by Minister of the Moscow City government and head of its international relations Sergey Cheremin and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Note: Delhi CM: Arvind Kejriwal, Lt. Governor: Anil Baijal.
India has been elected to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council with the highest vote among all candidates. It secured 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India’s win with the highest number of votes reflects the country’s standing in the international comity.
The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot. India got the highest number of votes among all 18 countries in the five regional categories. In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 and Bangladesh 178 votes.
Note: India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.
The country’s first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial technology hub, was launched in Bengaluru. The IIIC is a significant step towards facilitating penetration of Israeli companies in India and aims to forge local partnerships and joint ventures between companies from the two countries.
It will provide an ecosystem to support entrepreneurship, partnership with vendors, mentoring and non-formal community development that will assist the growth of the companies in different verticals and covers business, technology, investors and customers.
Note: Israel Capital- Jerusalem, Currency- Israeli new shekel.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an MoU with the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) in Jammu for setting up of the Satish Dhawan Center for Space Science in the University.
Another MoU was signed between CUJ and the Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO) to create awareness about space research. This is the first of its kind institute coming up in Jammu and Kashmir and the building is proposed in an area of about 1,150 sq. m.
Note: Chairman of ISRO: Dr. K Sivan.
Headquarters of ISRO- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
NITI Aayog and IBM announced a first-of-its-kind internship programme for students selected by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
The internship will see 38 students receive a two-week paid internship, and 14 teachers from Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) across the length and breadth of the country including from states such as Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and others, to come together and ideate, collaborate and innovate.
Note: NITI- National Institution for Transforming India.
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman- Rajiv Kumar, CEO- Amitabh Kant.
State Bank of India has signed an MoU with Kathmandu-based National Banking Institute (NBI) for the development of human resources of the latter. Under the MoU, the strategic training unit of SBI will impart education, training and development to facilitate transformation of NBI’s HR department.
SBI signed the three-year MoU with NBI to establish a mutually beneficial strategic alliance for development of NBI’s human resources by imparting education, training and research.
Note: SBI Chairman- Rajnish Kumar, Headquarters- Mumbai.
Leading stock exchange NSE has signed a pact with the Uttarakhand government to provide access to capital to MSMEs, which will fuel the growth of such entities in the state. The bourse will play an active role in nurturing the SMEs and start-ups by increasing awareness along with the government on the opportunities to raise capital, SME exchange guidelines, listing processes, compliances with listing agreement among others.
Note: Uttarakhand State Governor- Baby Rani Maurya, CM-Trivendra Singh Rawat
The World Bank released the Human Capital Index (HCI) as part of the World Development Report 2019. Broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) this year is “The Changing Nature of Work”. As part of this report, the World Bank has launched a Human Capital Project (HCP). The HCI has been constructed for 157 countries. The HCI for India has been estimated at 0.44. The Index was released at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Bali, Indonesia.
Singapore topped the poll after it was highly rated for its universal health care system, education exams results and life expectancy figures. It is followed by South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Finland. India was ranked at the 115th position lower than Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The key observations regarding HCI for India in the Report are as follows:
10. Gender Differences: In India, HCI for girls is marginally higher than for boys.
Former Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who along with teammate Saeed Ajmal famously stunned England during a 3-0 defeat in 2012, announced his retirement from international cricket.
The spinner Rehman finished his 22-Test career just one short of a deserved hundred wicket mark, while he took 30 in 31 one-dayers and eight wickets in 11 Twenty20 Internationals.
Legendary musician Annapurna Devi has passed away in Mumbai. She was 91. She was suffering from age-related issues. Annapurna Devi was an Indian surbahar player of Hindustani classical music and she was the daughter and disciple of Allauddin Khan. She was married to sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.
