1.PM Modi, Uzbek President to hold first virtual summit on December 11
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding a virtual summit with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 11, 2020 to discuss the entire spectrum of the bilateral relationship of India and the Central Asian country.
This will be the first bilateral virtual summit meeting between India and Uzbekistan. This was informed by the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement on December 9, 2020.
During the summit, several agreements are expected to be concluded. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
2.DRDO’s protective carbine successfully completes user trials
DRDO’s protective carbine completed its final phase trials on December 7, 2020. This comes at a time when the Indian Army is hunting for a new carbine.
The carbine with a measurement of 5.56×30 mm reportedly met all the qualitative parameters.
The Indian Army has been looking for a carbine but its tender got stuck at the final stage in which a middle-Eastern weapon was selected.
The latest trial success paves way for the induction of the carbine into the Army’s services.
3.Covaxin to be available in the first quarter of 2021?
Bharat Biotech’s Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella informed that the COVAXIN will be available in the first quarter of 2021 to the priority population as per the vaccination plan of the Indian Government.
Ella further stated that a team of foreign heads of missions in India had visited leading biotech companies in Hyderabad involved in COVID-19 vaccine development.
The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine along with US drug giant Pfizer and the Serum Institute. The DGCI has reportedly asked them for more safety and efficacy data.
4.Italy’s Football legend Paolo Rossi passes away at 64
Paolo Rossi, who was the top scorer for Italy during the 1982 World Cup passed away at the age of 64 years on December 10, 2020.
Rossi was Italy’s star player during the nation’s world cup winning campaign in 1982 with 6 goals including a hat-trick against Brazil.
Rossi is the second World Cup winner to pass away in two weeks following the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona last month.
5.PM Modi lays foundation stone of new Parliament Building
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building today at Sansad Marg in Parliament Complex. Tata Trusts’ Chairman Ratan Tata, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Deputy RS Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and various religious leaders were present on the occasion.
The new Parliament building will be an intrinsic part of the centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Tata Projects Ltd has been given contract for the project.
Speaking after the Bhumi Pujan, PM Modi said that today is a historic day as the foundation of the New Parliament building has been laid and we the people of India together will construct this new building of the Parliament.
6.China activates nuclear-powered Artificial Sun:
China successfully activated its nuclear-powered ‘Artificial Sun’-HL-2M Tokamak reactor- for the first time on December 4, 2020. The fusion reactor was switched for a brief test.
The successful activation of the nuclear fusion reactor is being hailed as a significant scientific achievement, as it comes at a time when countries across the world are attempting to shift to safer, cleaner forms of nuclear energy.
The reactor is expected to fuel China’s energy ambitions for years to come if it is made more sustainable.
7.Lakshadweep declared first UT to become 100% organic
Lakshadweep after Sikkim has become the first Union Territory to become 100% organic as all the farming in the region is carried out without the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
The step to opt for organic farming was taken to provide access to safer food choices as well as for making agriculture a more environment-friendly activity. Secretary, agriculture, Lakshadweep, OP Mishra stated that UT can benefit much from marketing organic products such as coconut milk and desiccated coconut.
As per the Agriculture Ministry, only after going through the evidence and certificates provided by the administration of Lakshadweep, competent authority approved the proposal and declared the entire territory of UT as organic. Earlier in 2016, Sikkim was declared as the first organic farming state in India.
