NATIONAL NEWS
S Korean Foreign Minister arrives in India
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha arrived in New Delhi on a two-day visit to the country. She is in India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to co-chair the ninth meeting of India-Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Commission.
- The two foreign ministers will review the progress in multifaceted cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
- Extra info.:
South Korea Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won
ISRO launches GSAT-7A from Sriharikota
ISRO launched its military communication satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite GSAT-7A is the 35th Indian communication satellite weighing 2,250 kg. GSAT-7A will be the first satellite built primarily for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to qualitatively unify its assets and improve combined, common intelligence during operations.
- Hailing the launch, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said, GSLV-7A would enhance the networking and communication capabilities of the Air Force.
Railways launches new EMU train with 130 kmph speed
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) rolled out the mini version of Train 18 as it launched the new generation Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) with underslung equipment and some features from the Train 18.
- Train 18, a creation of the ICF is India's first modern semi-high speed train set which is currently under speed trials. MEMUs cater to short distance intercity day travel. The coaches of the new MEMU underslung are longer at 23.1m against 21.3m in the older MEMU.
- These new MEMUs which are capable of running at around 130 kilometres an hour also equipped with a CCTV surveillance system both inside the coaches and outside the driver's cab, a Talk Back system to enable passengers to talk to the driver in case of emergency and a GPS based passenger information and announcement system.
Government Forms Committee For Cadre Review, Restructuring Of Income Tax Department
A fresh cadre review and restructuring of the Income Tax department has been ordered by the government with an aim to create a "caring but strict" direct taxes regime in the country.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), that frames policy for the I-T department, ordered creation of a 12-member committee of senior officials to accomplish the task within the next three months.
- The committee, chaired by Delhi-based Principal Director General of Income Tax, S K Dash, will also suggest ways to "bring about rationalisation of the organisational structure for enhancing the effectiveness of the department through improved efficiency and morale of its workforce".
India ranks 108th in WEF gender gap index 2018
India has been ranked 108th in World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Global Gender Gap Report 2018, same as 2017, while recording improvement in wage equality for similar work and fully closing its tertiary education gender gap for the first time.
- The global list was topped by Iceland having closed more than 85.8 per cent of its overall gender gap. Iceland holds the top spot in the index for the 10th consecutive year.
- Extra info.:
World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
India retains highest aviation safety ranking
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communicated that India is adhering to safety standards of International Civil Aviation Organization and India's International Aviation Safety Assessment rating remains Category 1.
- FAA conducted an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in July this year to confirm India's adherence to the standards laid down by ICAO and oversight of Indian airlines. FAA is an operating mode of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Extra info.:
FAA Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
9th India-ROK Joint Commission Meeting Held In New Delhi
The ninth meeting of the India-Republic of Korea (ROK/ South Korea) Joint Commission will be held in New Delhi during the South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha's official two-day from December 18 to 19 in New Delhi.
- Kang will be co-chairing the meeting with her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj during her two-day visit. They will review the progress in multifaceted cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
India, South Korea agree on redoubling trade to 500bn USD by 2030
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj agreed to redouble bilateral trade to 50 billion USD by the year 2030. Both the leaders met here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan and reviewed multifaceted cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
- While co-chairing the ninth Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi, both the ministers expressed satisfaction over the growth in bilateral trade and investment over the past two years.
Jammu and Kashmir to come under President's rule from 20th December
President's rule will be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir from 20 December with President Ram Nath Kovind signing a proclamation to give effect to the recommendation of the state Governor Satya Pal Malik. Kovind has signed the proclamation based on the proposal sent by the ministry following a report by the state governor.
- The term of Governor's Rule, imposed in the state in June this year, comes to an end.
- Under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, Governor's rule can be imposed for six months, but with consent of the President. The Constitution grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Haryana Govt launches mobile app 'Shiksha Setu'
Haryana Government has started mobile app ‘Shiksha Setu’ which would have all information related to attendance, fee, online admission and scholarships in all government colleges of the state besides having details of lecturers of government colleges and officers of the Directorate.
- Director, Higher Education Department, A. Sreenivas said that during admissions, the students would be able to check through this app the status of seats or course in every college in the state. Now, students would also be able to get all information of scholarships such as details of scholarships, eligibility conditions and details of applying students.
Chuppi Tod app launched in Bihar against child marriage, sexual harassment
A mobile application "Chuppi Tod" (break your silence) was launched in Patna to fight the rampant social evil of child marriage and sexual harassment. Launched by noted women rights campaigner Prashanti Tiwari, the application will educate women and girls on the evils of sexual harassment and child marriage.
- The app will provide a platform where the victims' voices will be heard and their stories shared. It has a Chuppi Tod button through which instant alerts can be sent by women and girls.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Belgium's PM Charles Michel resigns
Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel announced his resignation from the post. Calls for his resignation were made on December 16 when over 5,500 anti-migration protestors took to the streets in Brussels to demonstrate against Belgium being a signatory to the non-binding UN pact, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration'.
- The far-right N-VA party had pulled out from the coalition government in protest of the Prime Minister's decision to sign the UN pact on migration, leaving the Michel-led government in jeopardy.
- Extra info.:
Belgium Capital: Brussels
Currency: Euro
Merriam-Webster selects ‘Justice’ as its 2018 Word of the Year
Merriam-Webster has declared ‘Justice’ as the 2018 Word Of The Year. As per Merriam-Webster says, the word ‘Justice’ is used in many phrases like racial justice, social justice and obstruction of justice.
- Every year Merriam-Webster, the American dictionary-publishing company, publishes the list of Words of the Year. The company started publishing the list in 2003 and have been publishing at the end of every year since then.
Gender pay gap will take 202 years to close: Report
It could take 202 years for women to earn as much as men because the global pay gap is so vast and the pace of change so slow, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has said in a report.
- The annual report from WEF found that women on average make 63 per cent of what men earn. There was not a single country out of 149 assessed where women on an average made more or as much as men. Laos, in south-east Asia, is the closest to achieving parity with women earning 91% of what men are paid.
- The WEF, which organises the annual meeting of business and political leaders in Davos, said the global gender pay gap has narrowed slightly over the past year, but the number of women in the professional workplace has fallen. In 2017, the WEF estimated that it would take 217 years to close the pay gap.
- Iceland was the most equal country in terms of political roles, but there was still a 33 per cent gap that widened compared to last year.
BANKING & FINANCE
Capital First merges with IDFC Bank to create IDFC First Bank
New generation private sector IDFC Bank and non-banking financial company Capital First announced completion of their merger, creating a combined loan asset book of Rs 1.03 trillion for the merged entity IDFC First Bank.
- The board of IDFC Bank approved the appointment of V Vaidyanathan, founder and chairman of Capital First Ltd, as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the merged entity.
APPOINTMENTS
Government Appoints Interim CBI Head Nageswara Rao As Additional Director
The interim chief of Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) M Nageswara Rao was promoted to the rank of an Additional Director by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
- Rao was appointed as interim chief of the CBI after the government stepped in between the fight of CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana that took place at midnight of October 24.
AWARDS
Late rights activist Asma Jahangir wins UN Human Rights Prize for 2018
Late lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir has been awarded the UN Human Rights Prize for 2018. Her daughter Munizae Jahangir received the prestigious award on behalf of her mother.
- The award is given to individuals and organisations in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights. The ceremony was held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
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