State Affairs
UP government to set up Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) training centre
The Uttar Pradesh government has planned to set up a training center for Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) commandos in Deoband, Saharanpur
The government has allotted over 2,000 square meters of land for establishing the ATS training center in Deoband.
Deoband lies on the Uttaranchal- Haryana border and is an important place to help increase operational efficiency for the western parts of the state.
Quick Fact: Anandiben Patel is the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
Defense
INS Tabar participates in Naval Exercise Konkan 2021
The Indian Naval Ship ‘Tabar’ arrived at Portsmouth in England to undertake the annual bilateral drill ‘Exercise Konkan 2021’ between the Indian navy and Britain’s Royal Navy.
The bilateral naval exercise Konkan is being held annually since the year 2004 to enhance interoperability, synergy, and cooperation between the navies of the two countries.
HMS Westminster of the Royal Navy took part in the exercise from Britain’s side.
Quick Fact: The Indian Navy day is observed on December 4.
Miscellaneous
Ghaziabad ranked as the world’s second most polluted city of 2020
Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad was declared as the second most polluted city out of the list of 50 most polluted cities in the world in 2020.
The report was prepared by the British company HouseFresh.
Preceding Ghaziabad is the Chinese city of Hotan in Xinjiang province which is the most polluted city in the world.
Quick Fact: Judbury in Australia is the city with the cleanest air in the world.
Sports
Lionel Messi signs for Paris St. Germain after leaving FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi has joined the star-packed Paris St. Germain after leaving FC Barcelona, the club where he had begun, after 21 years.
Messi has signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year with the football club PSG.
Messi leaves Barcelona with 672 goals in 778 appearances and winning four Champions Leagues as well as 10 La Liga titles.
Quick Fact: Messi is a six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Sports
Indian GM Raunak Sadhwani wins 2021 Spilimbergo Open Chess Tournament
Raunak Sadhwani, a 15-year-old young Indian Grandmaster has won the 19th edition of the Spilimbergo Open Chess tournament in Italy.
Hailing from Nagpur, Sadhwani remained undefeated in the tournament with seven points from nine rounds claiming five wins and four draws.
In the final round, Sadhwani and Italian GM Pier Luigi basso finished level on seven points but the Indian was declared the winner on the basis of a better tie-breaker score.
Science and Technology
PROOF app launched by J&K Governor Manoj Sinha
The Lieutenant governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha has unveiled a mobile app named PROOF, to bring more transparency and accountability to the governance system.
PROOF stands for ‘Photographic Record Of On-Site Facility’.
The main objective of the app is to monitor the work of all the projects allocated to different departments of the UT and ensure the timely completion of these projects.
Quick Fact: The former state of J&K was bifurcated into two UTs ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘Ladakh’ under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
International Affairs
China’s new rules on anticompetitive practices by internet companies
China has issued new draft rules on the anti-competitive practices by Internet companies which would prevent practices like unfair blocking of rival platforms.
Guidelines include a detailed list of prohibited behaviors including controlling user traffic, blocking competitors’ products, and other harmful practices.
According to tp the market regulator, the new guidelines targeting internet companies seeks to clarify existing law on unfair competition.
Quick Fact: Renminbi is the currency of China.
Defense
Supreme Court allows women to appear for NDA exam
The Supreme Court of India has allowed women to appear for the National Defense Academy (NDA) exam held twice every year.
The decision by SC came following a writ petition filed by Kush Kalra which sought permission for women to sit in the NDA entrance exam.
NDA is the world’s first tri-service academy training institute of the Indian Armed Forces located in Khadakwasla in Pune, Maharashtra.
Quick Fact: The National Defense Academy was commissioned on December 7, 1954.
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