Portugal announces Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize

1.International Human Solidarity Day: 20 December

The United Nations’ (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity.It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

On International Human Solidarity Day, governments are reminded of their commitments to international agreements on the need for human solidarity as an initiative to fight against poverty.

2.International Astronomical Union names new star as ‘Sharjah’

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced the names of the newly discovered stars and planets, where the name “Sharjah” was chosen for a star with “Barjeel” being the name of one of its planets.The announcement was made during a press conference of the IAU in the French capital, Paris, celebrating the centennial of the union.

During the announcement, the organisers lauded the efforts and contributions of the Emirate of Sharjah to the global scientific community.

3.Trump becomes third US president in history to be impeached

Donald Trump has become the third US President in history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, setting up a trial in the Senate that will decide whether he remains in office.The House voted on two charges – that the President abused his power and that he had obstructed Congress.

Nearly all Democrats voted for the charges and every Republican against.

President Trump’s Republicans control the Senate, so it is highly unlikely he will be removed from power.

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were two former Presidents who had been impeached.

4.Upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system, QR-SAM successfully test fired

India had successfully test-fired two missiles from Chandipur in Odisha.The upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system was test-fired from the DRDO’s Proof and Experimental Establishment firing test range while the all-weather tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) tested from a mobile launcher at a launch complex of the Integrated Test Range.

The indigenously developed Pinaka and QR-SAM weapon system test achieved the desired accuracy by hitting the intended target with a high degree of precision and met all mission objectives.

Pinaka system has a maximum range of 75 km for Mark-II variant and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in less than 45 seconds.

5.Exercise ‘Apharan’

The Indian Navy, in collaboration with Indian Coast Guard, Cochin Port Trust conducted a large scale Anti Hijacking Exercise “Apharan” off the Port of Kochi.This was the first time that such a large scale exercise involving all stakeholders has been conducted in Kerala.

The Exercise ‘Apharan’ was aimed at streamlining the response mechanism/ preparedness to any attempt by Anti-National Elements to hijack a merchant vessel or attempt forced entry of a rogue/commandeered merchant vessel into Kochi harbour.

6.Tripura gets its first SEZ

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the setting up of the first ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tripura.The SEZ is being set-up at Paschim Jalefa,, South Tripura District, which is 130 km away from Agartala.

It will be a Sector Specific Economic Zone for Agro-Based Food Processing.

The estimated investment in the project will be around 1550 Crore.

The SEZ is estimated to generate 12,000 skilled jobs.

Rubber based industries, textile and Apparel Industries, bamboo and Agri-food Processing Industries will be set-up in the SEZ.

After it is set up, 100 percent Income Tax exemption will be provided on export income for SEZ units under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act for the first 5 years.

7.Former HC Judge CV Ramulu appointed as Lokayukta of Telangana

In Telangana, former High Court Judge Justice CV Ramulu has been appointed as the Lokayukta.Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan has issued the orders to this effect.

Former Law Secretary V Niranjan Rao has been appointed as Upa Lokayukta.

The governor also appointed another former judge Justice G Chandraiah as Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission.

This is the first time that the state government has constituted the Lokayukta and Human Rights Commission since the state was formed in 2014.

8.Devesh Srivastava appointed GIC chief

The government has appointed Devesh Srivastava as chairman and MD of national reinsurer General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re).The government has also appointed Malay Kumar Poddar as chairman and MD of Agriculture Insurance Corporation of India.

The appointment comes nearly four months after the Banks Board Bureau made its recommendation on appointments to the government.

Srivastava succeeds Alice Vaidyan, who retired in July 2019.

9.Portugal announces Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize

Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa has announced that, Portugal will be launching a Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize, each year inspired by his different thoughts and quotes.The first edition of this prize will be dedicated to animal welfare as Mahatma Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

Mr. Antonio Costa was addressing the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

10.Zeena Khitta wins women’s national 10m Air Rifle

Himachal’s Zeena Khitta stunned West Bengal’s Mehuli Ghosh and World No.3 Apurvi Chandela to emerge as the new national champion in the Women’s 10 metres Air Rifle event.He won at the ongoing 63rd National Shooting Championship Competitions Rifle/Pistol in Bhopal.

Mehuli had to settle for the silver while Apurvi won the bronze.

11.Pat Cummins becomes most expensive overseas IPL player

Pat Cummins, with a base price of two crore rupees, became the most expensive overseas buy as he was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping 15.50 crore rupees.Glenn Maxwell was sold to Kings XI Punjab for 10.75 crore rupees while Aaron Finch was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for 4.4 crore rupees in the Indian Premier League auction at Kolkata.

Yusuf Pathan remained unsold while India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara also failed to find any bidders in Kolkata.

England captain Eoin Morgan will be playing for KKR in the upcoming IPL season as he was bought by KKR for 5.25 crore rupees.

Robin Uthappa, who was released by KKR, has been bought by Rajasthan Royals for 3 crore rupees.