24 December 2018 Current Affairs
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Trump Replaces Defence Head Mattis With Deputy Patrick Shanahan
US President Donald Trump announced that he would replace Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan as acting Pentagon chief. Shanahan will assume charge of Acting Secretary of Defense. Mattis resigned in protest after Trump announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria over the strong objections of Mattis and others on the national security team.
Gitega named as the new capital of Burundi
The government of Burundi has declared Gitega as the country’s new political capital on 22nd December 2018. Bujumbura, the previous capital of Burundi will serve as the economic capital of the country. President Nkurunziza had made this promise of shifting the capital in 2007 which has been implemented now.
NITI Aayog releases Sustainable Development Goals Index
The NITI Aayog has released a first-of-its-kind Sustainable Development Goals index. According to the SDG Index, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have been ranked on top 3 positions and are on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
India successfully test-fires Agni-IV ballistic missile
India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable long-range Inter Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-IV, with a strike range of 4,000 km. The test was part of a user trial by the Army. The strategic surface-to-surface missile was flight tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.
Odisha government announces Rs 10,000 crore KALIA scheme
Odisha Cabinet headed by CM Naveen Patnaik announced the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme to empower small, marginal & landless farmers as well as landless labourers. The Rs 10,000 crore scheme, which would be executed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode, covers 92% (over 30 lakh) of cultivators, loanee and non-loanee, share-croppers & landless labourers.
India’s Vedangi Kulkarni becomes Fastest Asian to Cycle the Globe
Vedangi Kulkarni, a 20-year-old cyclist from Maharashtra’s Pune, achieved the feat by completing the 29,000-km distance required to qualify as bicycling across the globe in 159 days. She reached Kolkata after pedalling up to 300 km a day in 14 countries across the 159 days.
‘Nightingale of Assam’ Dipali Borthakur Passes Away
Legendary Assamese singer Dipali Borthakur popularly referred to as the “Nightingale of Assam” passed away. She was 77. Borthakur had been suffering from a motor neuron disease for the last four decades. For her outstanding contributions to the field of arts, Borthakur was honored with the Padma Shri award in 1998.
Suresh Prabhu conferred with Skoch Award 2018
Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has conferred the Skoch Golden Jubilee Challenger Award at the 55th Skoch Summit in New Delhi. The Skoch Challenger Awards are the highest independently instituted civilian honours.