Daily Current Affairs - 10th October 2014

1) Who won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Literature as announced by the Swedish Academy on 9 October 2014? – Patrick Modiano of France

Explanation: Patrick Modiano’s works have primarily centered around the Nazi occupation and its effect on France. He is the 11^th person from France to win the literature prize, the last being Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio in 2008. He, however, is relatively unknown outside of France and hence his declaration came as surprise for many. Modiano has already won France’s prestigious Goncourt prize in 1978 for his work. Some of his 30 literary works include “Missing Person” (1980), “Trace of Malice” (1988) and “Honeymoon” (1992).

2) What is the name of the new global service launched by the World Bank on 9 October 2014 which aims at mobilising the private sector to help tackle the massive infrastructure deficit facing developing countries? – Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)

Explanation: GIF was launched by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at Washington D.C. This facility basically aims to ensure that billions of dollars are channelised to develop world-class infrastructure in emerging markets like India and developing economies. Through GIF, the World Bank plans to work with regional banks and financial entities like Asian Development Bank (ADB), the New Development Bank (NDB) of BRICS countries and the proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

3) Which country of the middle-east witnessed massive suicide bombings on 9 October 2014 after newly appointed Prime Minister of the country was forced to step down due to political crisis? – Yemen

Explanation: The two suicide bombings were targetted at country’s powerful Shi’ite Houthi group in capital Sanaa and an army camp in eastern Yemen resulting in the death of 67 people. The attacks occurred just hours after a showdown between the Houthis and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour forced Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, whose appointment on 7 October 2014 under a power-sharing deal signed last month had angered Houthi leaders, to turn down the post. The Houthis have emerged as Yemen’s main power brokers since their paramilitary forces seized the capital on 21 September 2014 after huge anti-govt. protests.

4) Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg came to India on 9 October 2014 on two day visit. The big reason for his visit is giving a push to his dream project that aims to bring affordable Internet access to everybody. What is the name of this project? – Internet.org

Explanation: Internet.org is the dream project of Mark Zukerberg which involves six global mobile phone companies. The project aims to bring the whole world under affordable Internet access by making mobile services more affordable and increasing efficiency of them. Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera Software, and Qualcomm are the six phone companies involved in the project, which was launched on 20 August 2013. Zukerberg participated in a summit on Internet.org held at New Delhi on 9 October.

5) The state govt. of Madhya Pradesh on 9 October 2014 organised Global Investors Summit 2014 (GIS 2014), a huge summit of top corporate houses. This meet is held at which city of MP? – Indore

Explanation: GIS is a biennial summit organized by Madhya Pradesh government in Indore with the aim of attracting domestic and foreign investment for development of state. Indore is perceived as the commercial capital of central India.

6) M.V. Kamath who passed away at the age of 93 on 9 October 2014 was associated with which field? – Journalism

Explanation: Kamath was former Editor of ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’ and former Chairman of Prasar Bharati Board. He also served as Editor of ‘The Sunday Times’.