Current Affairs Quiz: December 18, 2019

Notes:
Around 850 Indian peacekeepers who are serving in South Sudan were awarded with the prestigious UN medal for their service and contribution to promote peace in the strife-torn nation. India is among the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations.

Notes:
Apple, Microsoft and Google’s parent Alphabet are among the tech giants who were named in a case that is currently looking into the death of child labourers in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest producer of Cobalt, a rare metal and a vital raw material for batteries used in mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Notes:
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed houbara bustard as “vulnerable” species. IUCN states that these species are currently at a high risk of extinction. These birds are constantly under threat due to hunting and trapping. Current estimates state that there are about 50,000 to 10,000 left.

Notes:
Surya Kiran is an annual bilateral military exercise between India and Nepal. It is conducted in alternative basis. This year it was held in Salijhandi of Rupendehi district of Nepal. Its aim is to conduct battalion-level combined training to increase interoperability in jungle warfare and counter-terrorist operations in mountainous terrain, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, medical and environmental conservation.

Notes:
In December, the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) launched ‘Khadi Rumal’ from the militancy affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir. These are handkerchiefs made of khadi cloth and stitched by the women of the affected region. This is an effort to create employment in the region.