AWARDS AND HONOURS

Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation awarded Digital India Silver Award

The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has been selected for Digital India Award instituted by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The corporation will receive the Digital India Silver Award in the category of “Most Innovative Citizen Engagement” and also installing and implementing free WiFi Scheme in its various offices.

APPOINTMENTS:

 Lt Gen Bipin Rawat appointed army chief, Air Marshal BS Dhanoa is new air force chief

The government appointed vice-chief of army staff Lt Gen. Bipin Rawat as the new army chief, superseding his two senior officers, while vice chief of air staff Air Marshal BS Dhanoa has been made the new chief of the Indian Air Force. Rawat will replace General Dalbir Singh, while Dhanoa will take over from IAF chief Arup Raha. Lt Gen Rawat, an infantry soldier, superseded senior most army commander Lt Gen. Praveen Bakshi, who headed the Eastern Command and was next in line to be the army chief, besides Southern Command Chief PM Hariz.

Govt appoints Anil Dhasmana as new raw chief, Rajiv Jain as IB chief

Jharkhand cadre IPS officer Rajiv Jain has appointed as the new chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) while Anil Dhasmana will head external intelligence agency RAW. Jain, who is at present serving as the Special Director in the IB, will take over on 1 January after the incumbent Dineshwar Sharma completes his two-year tenure on 31 December.

 INDIAN AFFAIRS:

 Himachal Pradesh becomes sixth in India to attain 100% Aadhaar saturation

Himachal Pradesh has achieved 100 percent Aadhar saturation on the basis of population of year 2015, making it the sixth state after Delhi, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to have achieved this milestone.

• In this small hill state Aadhaar numbers have been generated for 72, 52,880 residents.
• In order to maintain this achievement in future, special arrangements have been made under which services of Anganwari workers and health services will be taken to cover different age groups.

Asia Pacific countries resolve to adopt Urban Plus approach to take planning beyond city limits

Asia Pacific countries that account for over 55% of global urban population have resolved to adopt ‘Urban Plus’ approach taking urban planning and development beyond city limits to prevent  unmanageable and unsustainable  urban expansion. This was contained in the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ adopted here today on the conclusion of three day deliberations of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD). The theme of the conference was ‘Emerging Urban Forms-Policy Reforms and Governance Structures in the Context of New Urban Agenda’.

Department of Telecom to launch portal on mobile radiation: Manoj Sinha

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is set to launch a portal — Tarang — with data on all mobile towers and transmitters across the country in a month that will allow a user to check the radiation compliance status. The government is responsible and concerned for public health but some misconceptions prevail and they need to be addressed by awareness.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:

India, Tajikistan ink four agreements

India and Tajikistan have signed four agreements, including one on exchange of financial intelligence, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering, related crimes and financing of terrorism.
• The two sides signed a protocol amending avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion.
• Another MoU was signed regarding cooperation on broadcasting in exchange of audio-visual programmes.
• The two sides also initialled a document on bilateral investment.

Grand Palais in Paris opens giant ice rink for winter revelers

The Grand Palais in Paris put on an eye-catching party on ice to open their 2,700 square metre rink to the public. It the world’s largest non-permanent indoor ice rink, with more than 100 workers involved in laying the ice over the concrete floor at the French landmark, organisers said at the opening. The third edition of the Grand Palais des Glaces runs until Jan. 2.

Kyrgyzstan President arrives in Delhi today on 4-day visit to India

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev will arrive in New Delhi on a four-day visit during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to deepen ties in areas of defence, security, trade and connectivity. It will be first presidential visit from the key central Asian nation to India in 13 years and Atambayev’s first trip here as President.

BANKING AND FINANCE

State Bank MobiCash Mobile Wallet launched

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched ‘Mobicash Mobile Wallet’ in association with state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). It will provide a mobile wallet to the masses and works with smart as well as normal feature phone. The special feature of Mobicash is that users can deposit cash with BSNL retail outlets and can also withdraw cash from his/her account. The bank said the wallet will initially be available in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar. 

SPORTS:

Vijender Singh beats Francis Cheka by TKO to retain WBO Asia Pacific title

Vijender Singh takes just three rounds to knockout Francis Cheka and retains his WBO Asia Pacific title with ease in New Delhi. Vijender was off to a watchful start against the experienced opponent but switched to offensive mode in the second round where he landed some heavy blows. The Indian boxer was alert in defence and made sure to land his punches when they mattered.