NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1.Sonam Kapoor named PETA India’s 2018 Person of the Year
: Bollywood actress ‘Sonam Kapoor’ has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
India’s Person of the Year for 2018. Sonam Kapoor has been feted as she sings in praise
of vegan eating and because
she keeps animal skins out of her handbag line for
her fashion brand Rheson, apart from taking other action for the welfare of
animals. In 2016, Sonam was named PETA India's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity. Earlier, Delhi Minister Imran Hussain has been recently awarded PETA ‘Hero to Animals’ Award.
2.Indian Railways: 1st AC local train in north India next
year : According to
the ICF (Integral Coach Factory) General Manager Sudhanshu Mani,
The first AC local train in north India will hit the tracks in
February 2019.The MEMU (mainline electric multiple units) trains will cater to
the Uttar Pradesh cities within 200-300 km from Delhi. The upgraded
MEMU air-conditioned trains can run at a speed of 130
kmph (earlier-100 kmph). It has been manufactured at a cost of Rs 26
crore and has a capacity to carry 2,618 passengers.
3. Assam govt approves debt relief scheme for farmers
:The Assam state cabinet headed by
Chief Minister ‘Sarbanand Sonowal’has
approved the debt relief scheme for the
farmers of the state. The state cabinet decided to waive 25% of loan amount to the farmers. The maximum
relief per farmer would be capped at 25 thousand
rupees. The cabinet also decided that a farmer could avail
a Kisan Credit Card(KCC) loan at 0%
interest.
4.Goa celebrating 57th Liberation day today : Goa is celebrating
its 57th Liberation Day. The state
was liberated on this day (19th December) in 1961 from Portuguese control after almost 450 years of colonial rule. The state-level Goa Liberation Day programme to be held
in Panaji in North Goa. Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known
as the Konkan in Western India, bounded by
Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to
the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its
Western coast.
5.SEBI gets first full-time chief vigilance officer : Arti
Chhabra Srivastava (Indian
Ordinance Factory Services officer-1990-batch) has been appointed as the SEBI’s first full-time Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO). The appointment was duly approved by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).CVOs
are considered an extended hand of the CVC, which is tasked with detecting
graft by officials holding public office.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
1.New Zealand to phase out plastic shopping bags : In New Zealand, regulations
for mandatory phase-out of single-use plastic shopping bags will
take effect from 1st July 2019.
Retailers will no longer be able to sell or give away single-use plastic
shopping bags from July next year. Plastic shopping bags are a hazard for nature,
particularly marine wildlife.
2. Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel resigns over migration spat : Belgian Prime
Minister Charles Michel has
resigned due to ongoing upheaval within his minority Government over the
signing of UN's migration treaty. Earlier,
his biggest coalition partner (the
right-wing N-VA party) quit the government over the issue. Michel lost the
backing of the party over his support for the UN migration pact, a cause celebre for European
anti-immigration parties.
OTHER
UPDATES:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
1.ISRO launches communication satellite GSAT-7A : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
has launched GSLV F 11 carrying GSAT-7A from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. GSAT 7A is a
geostationary communication satellite weighing 2250 kilogram. It will provide communication services in Ku Band over the Indian
region. GSLV F 11 with indigenous cryogenic
upper stage has a total of three stages before reaching the destined orbit
using the onboard propulsion system.
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