NATIONAL NEWS

Peace Agreement with Central and Manipur Government

• The government of India and the Manipur government have signed an Operation Agreement with an insurgent group of Manipur, Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) in New Delhi on 27 December 2022.

• The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) was established in 2011.

• The group claims its objective is to safeguard the interest of 'Zeliangrong Naga tribes in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

• Under the agreement the ZUF has agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land.

• The agreement provides for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres of ZUF.

Power ministry and DRDO

• Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the implementation of an early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations.

• It aims to jointly work towards developing appropriate mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other land hazards.

• DRDO's expertise will also be utilized in developing a comprehensive Early Warning System (EWS) for vulnerable hydroelectric power stations in hilly areas.

• EWS is an adaptive measure to climate change, which uses integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for dangerous climate-related events.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NTPC Inks Pact with Italy

• India's largest power generation company 'National Thermal Power Corporation Limited' (NTPC) has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Technimont Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Italy-based Maire Tecnimont Group.
• The objective of this MoU is to jointly evaluate and explore the possibility of developing a commercial scale green methanol production facility at NTPC's project in India.
• This green methanol project involves capturing carbon from NTPC's power plants and converting it into green fuel.
• This agreement will make a significant contribution to the energy transformation in India.

Serbia Bars Visa-Free Entry for Indians

• From 01 January 2023, Indian passport holders will no longer have the luxury of traveling to Serbia without a valid visa.
• With an intention to control illegal immigration and follow the requirements of the European visa policy, the government of Serbia has decided to end visa-free travel for Indians.
• Earlier, diplomatic and official Indian passport holders were allowed to visit the country for 90 days without any visa, while the duration was 30 days for ordinary passport holders.
• The existing arrangement of visa-free entry into Serbia for all Indian passport holders for staying in Serbia up to 30 days has been withdrawn by the Government of Serbia.

BANKING

ADB to Provide $125 Million Loan to Improve Urban Services

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide USD 125 million loan to India to develop climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.

• In 2018 ADB agreed to provide USD 500 million loan to build priority water supply, sewerage and drainage infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in Tamilnadu.

• The loan amount was to be provided in three tranches.

• Under the third tranche $125 million will be provided and the amount will be used to build priority water supply, sewerage and drainage infrastructure in Coimbatore, Madurai and Thoothukudi.

'MSME Prerana 'in Rajasthan

• Government of India owned Public Sector Bank, Indian Bank has launched its flagship business mentoring program for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entrepreneurs -‘MSME Prerana’ in the state of Rajasthan.

• “MSME Prerana”, is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the MSME sector in the country by any bank.

• It aims at empowering MSME Entrepreneurs through skill development and capacity building training in their local languages, assisting them in acquiring necessary financial and managerial skills, capacity to handle crisis in business, understanding of dynamics of credit rating and risk management.

SPORTS

Australian Test Award Named After Shane Warne

• Australia's men's Test Player of the Year award will be named in honour of Shane Warne.

• The Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year award will be presented annually at the Australian Cricket Awards.

• It is the second most prestigious award for men behind the Allan Border Medal.

• Warne himself won the award once, in 2006 after an incredible year that included a record 40 wickets in the famous 2005 Ashes series in England.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Advisor to the Gujarat Chief minister

• Former finance secretary, Government of India Hasmukh Adhia and former retired bureaucrat SS Rathore has been appointed as the Chief advisor and advisor respectively to the chief minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel.
• SS Rathore is a former secretary of the roads and buildings department of the Gujarat government.
• Hasmukh Adia is a former Gujarat-cadre IAS officer. He was made the secretary in the Department of Financial Services, Union Ministry of Finance when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014.

Chairman Of NHAI

• Government of India has appointed senior IAS officer Santosh Kumar Yadav as the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

• A 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Santosh Yadav is currently additional secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

• Government has also appointed Ganji Kamala V Rao as the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constituted by the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Jio Launches 5G services in Andhra Pradesh

• Reliance Jio has launched 5G services in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 6,500 crore starting with the cities of Tirumala, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur.
• Jio 5G services will be available throughout the state by the end of next year 2023.
• Andhra Pradesh Information and Technology Minister Gudivada Amarnath and Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy launched the Jio True 5G and Jio True 5G Powered wi-fi services on 26th December.
• In addition to its existing investment of Rs 26,000 crore, Jio has invested over Rs 6,500 crore for the deployment of 5G network in Andhra Pradesh, towards the development of the state.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

• International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed every year on 27 December.

• The purpose of this day is to create awareness about the pandemic.

• The day aims to facilitate exchange of information, dissemination of scientific knowledge and ensure exchange of best practices at the international level.

• The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to emphasize pandemic prevention, preparedness and cooperation.