Business and Economy- Current Affairs
Another Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Initiative: DigiBoxx
NITI Aayog launched an indigenous digital asset management and storage platform called ‘DigiBoxx’ alternative to Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive. It comes with affordable pricing for individual users and includes different plans for businesses as well. The DigiBoxx team asserted that this application will store all the data within India and will encrypts the files at a database level. The service is available on Web and Android and will soon be available on iOS as well.
54 Million USD Coming to India
US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is likely to establish partnership with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in India by investing USD 54 million to support the development of critical infrastructure projects in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nation and Politics- Current Affairs
Well-known poet-activist Sughathakumari dies at the age of 86 years
Renowned poet of Malayalam language and environmental activist Sugathakumari dies of covid-19 complications. After getting infected of covid-19 she was suffering from pneumonia . In her life she received various honorable awards including Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, etc.
Green National Highway Corridors to be developed under USD 500 million project between India and World Bank
The Government of India signed a USD 500 million project with world bank on 22nd December 2020. Under this project, green national highway corridors will built in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The project will also be helpful in reducing GHG emissions in the construction and maintenance of highways.
Sports, Arts and Books- Current Affairs
Rourkela Selected as Second Venue for FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023
Odisha’s Rourkela has been chosen as the second venue for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 along with capital city Bhubaneswar. The FIH President Narinder Batra and state sports minister Tusharkanti Behera reviewed the existing infrastructure works in the city on December 11, 2020, and laid the road map for later actions.
Hockey India declared Odisha as the host of the 2023 Hockey World Cup for the second consecutive time in November 2019, after the successful hosting of the 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup.
Role of Women was Central at Tamil Subramanya Bharati’s Definition of Progression: PM Modi at International Bharat Festival
Prime Minister Narendra Modi admires Subramanya Bharati’s phenomenal work. Modi also stated that one can only marvel at his poems, works, philosophy and his life.
Prime Minister Modi also virtually addressed the International Bharati Festival, 2020 on December 11, 2020. The Vanavil Culture Centre organised the event in Chennai. Several international and national poets and artists participated in the event.
The Vanavil Culture Centre arranged this International Bharati Festival to applaud the national poet, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati on his 138th birth anniversary. PM Modi also conferred Bharati Award 2020 virtually to writer and author Seeni Vishwanathan who made a voluminous compendium on Subramanya Bharati in chronological order.
Devendra Fadnavis Releases Book ‘Ayodhya’ Written by Madhav Bhandari
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra former Chief Minister and present leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, has released the book ‘Ayodhya’. Madhav Bhandari wrote the book . The book will serve as a key reference document. Moreover, it will narrates the protests held for the cause of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. It also brings together various references which Ayodhya town in Uttar Pradesh associates with itself .
World- Current Affairs
UAE Islamic Body Allowed the Authorization of Vaccines Even with Pork
The UAE Fatwa Council is the United Arab Emirates’ highest Islamic authority. The council has ruled that coronavirus vaccines are permissible for Muslims even if they contain pork gelatin. This ruling increases tension among the Muslims. This is because the Muslim community consider the consumption of pork products ‘haram’ or forbidden under Islamic law. The use of pork gelatin, a common vaccine ingredient may hamper vaccination among Muslims.
As Covid Infections Hits a Record Figure, UK Mulls Even Tighter Curbs
More parts of the UK could be placed under the strictest level of lockdown. This is because the new strain of the virus is spreading at a vast rate. The largest daily number of infections recorded at any time during the pandemic is nearly 36,804 cases. Ministers hold talks on Wednesday after the country registered positive coronavirus cases. they are also planning to extend the lockdown in other areas.
Nepal’s Apex Court Forwards Petitions Against Parliament Dissolution to Constitutional Bench
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decides to abruptly dissolve the Parliament. On Wednesday Nepal’s Supreme Court forwarded all writ petitions challenging the Prime Minister’s decision. Moreover, the Constitutional bench will start the hearing on Friday. Chief Justice Rana leads the bench and will have four other justices who will be picked by him.
India and Russia Postponed Annual Summit Due to COVID-19
The India-Russia Annual Summit did not take place in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. The two Governments (India and Russia) agreed to this decision on mutual understanding. Last year the summit happened in Russia before that it happened in Delhi in 2018.
