Nation and Politics- Current Affairs
Highest Meteorological Centre of the Country Launched in Ladakh
India Meteorological Department on 29th December 2020 launched the country’s highest meteorological centre in Ladakh. The centre is situated at 3500 metres above sea level in Leh district of Ladakh. With this centre, IMD will be able to provide specialized weather forecast beneficial for traffic movement on highways, tourists, defense personnel and agricultural activities.
India’s First Pollinator Park Inaugurated in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Forest Department inaugurated country’s first pollinator park in Haldwani of Nainital district of the state. Having more than 40 pollinator species, the park covers an area of 4 acres. Renowned lepidopterist Peter Smetacek launched the park. Mechanism of pollination of plant species by different species of birds, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, honeybees will be on display in the park.
Science and Technology- Current Affairs
Country’s First Remote Monitoring System for Oil Refineries Turbines Launched by IOC
Indian Oil Corporation, India’s largest fuel retailer launched the remote monitoring system for oil refineries turbines, first such facility in the country. Oil minister inaugurated this system in Hyderabad. This system will allow Gas Turbine Operational Data flowing in digitally from 27 turbines and Hyderabad to be analyzed 8 refineries from them.
Sports, Arts and Books- Current Affairs
Ravindra Jadeja in the Same Bracket as Ben Stokes
India’s Ravindra Jadeja is for now in the same bracket as England’s Ben Stokes as an all-rounder, says former India wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta. Moreover, Jadeja played an integral role in India’s win against Australia in the second Test, returning with figures of 1/15 and 2/28 and scoring 57 in India’s first innings. Dasgupta also told Sports Today that He had got a couple of triple hundreds in domestic cricket.
Pierre Cardin, an Iconic French Fashion Designer Passes Away at 98
Pierre Cardin’s ‘Space Age’ collection of 1964 still remains a landmark in fashion history with its knitted catsuits, cut-out dresses, close-fitting helmets, tight-leather pants, and batwing jumpers. Cardin, a renowned fashion designer,passed away at the age of 98 on December 29, 2020. He was popular for his avant-garde styles in the 1960s and 70s. Moreover, He was born in Venice, Italy on July 7, 1922, but raised in Central France.
Cardin moved to Paris in 1945 while eventually working for Christian Dior who had just opened a business. His family mentioned that he left France and the world a unique artistic heritage in fashion. This official statement confirmed the news of his death
Late Justice Rajindar Sachar’s Autobiography: ‘In Pursuit of Justice’
Sachar’s family launched the autobiography of late Justice Rajindar Sachar. They launched the book on the occasion of his birth anniversary on 29 December 2020. The title of the autobiography is “In Pursuit of Justice: An Autobiography”. Justice Rajindar Sachar was also socialist, an egalitarian, a defender of civil liberties. Moreover, he was a good and honest citizen of India, and, above all, a humanist.
He joined the Delhi High Court in 1970, but he transferred out of Delhi for voicing his opposition to the Emergency. During those dark days, he shared a close bond with justice H.R. Khanna, the lone voice of dissent in a Supreme Court that chose to side with Indira Gandhi. Brought back to Delhi after the Emergency, he rose to become the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
World- Current Affairs
Kamala Receives First Dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris took the vaccine one week after President-elect Joe Biden received his. She has received the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine live on television. Although, getting vaccinated live is a part of efforts to build public trust in the inoculation. This effort of Kamala urged Americans to get vaccinated for the virus. Moreover, Harris with her husband Doug Emhoff administered the vaccine at United Medical Center in Washington, DC.
US Spy Pollard Arrives in Israel After 30-yr Jail
Jonathan Pollard, who spied for Israel and spent 30 years in US prison, now came back to his own country. He arrived in Israel early Wednesday with his wife. When he exited the aircraft he triumphantly kissed the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Pollard at the international airport. The Prime Minister also presented him and his wife Esther with Israeli ID cards granting them citizenship.
Yemen: Bomb Blast at Aden Airport Kills 22 and Wounds 50
On Wednesday, an explosions rocked Yemen’s Aden airport and killed around 22 people. The explosion occurs moments after a new unity government flew in. The blast injured more than 50 people. Although, all government ministers are safe from the attack. However, it was not immediately clear what had caused the explosions.
European watchdog does not permit the authorization of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine
A top European drug official has claimed that the vaccine is not even ready for conditional approval at the moment. The Serum Institute of Pune is manufacturing the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine for India. The company named the vaccine Covishield and expressing their hope at the possibility of this vaccine. However, Noel Wathion, number two at the European Medicines Agency, told that the approval for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is still “unthinkable”. He also said that Europe is not going to approve the vaccine with a “winning formula” for the time being.
