National
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches Nafed’s Honey FPO Programme
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched five Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for producing honey which will be set up with the help of NAFED in East Champaran (Bihar), Morena (Madhya Pradesh), Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) and Sunderbans (West Bengal).
These FPOs will be one of the first sets of 2,200 FPOs approved by the government for the current financial year.
The task of creating these FPOs has been entrusted mainly to Nabard (600 FPOs), Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (500), National Cooperative Development Corporation (500) and NAFED which will support 50 commodity specific FPOs.
The World AIDS Day is observed across the globe on 1 December every year since 1988 to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection
The theme for the World Aids Day 2020 is ‘Ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic: Resilience and Impact.’.
The Border Security Force (BSF), is observing its 56th Raising Day on 01 December 2020.
BSF was formed on December 1, 1965 as a unified central agency, after the Indo-Pak and India-China wars, for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected there with.
It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India and stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
BSF Director General –Rakesh Asthana.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UAE becomes first Arab Country to generate electricity from coal
The United Arab Emirates is set to become the first Arab Gulf country to generate electricity from coal.
The first coal-based power plant of Arab Gulf country is being developed in Saih Shuaib, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 2,400MW Hassyan clean coal power station will be built at an estimated cost of $ 3.4 billion.
The project will comprise four units of 600MW each, which are expected to start operations in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively. The power plant is expected to produce sufficient electricity to power approximately 250,000 households.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
UBS Projects India’s GDP at -10.5% for FY21
The UBS has projected India’s real GDP to contract 10.5% in FY21, in its Global Economics & Markets Outlook 2021-2022 report.
For the fiscal 2021-22 (FY22) UBS expect India’s real GDP growth to rebound to +10% in FY22. UBS also estimates India’s GDP to stabilise at 6.2 per cent YoY in FY21.
SPORTS
Virat Kohli becomes fastest to reach 22,000 international runs
Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli scripted another record in the game.The 32-year-old batsman has become the fastest to 22,000 international runs.He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Ricky Ponting who took 493, 511, and 514 innings respectively to record the same feat.
Kohli achieved this feat during the second ODI between Australia and India at the SCG.The ODI legend scored a superb 89-run knock for India in their pursuit of 390.
Notably, Kohli has become the eighth batsman overall and the third Indian to surpass 22,000 international runs.
He also registered his 105th career fifty as well.
APPOINTMENTS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed senior IAS officer Utpal Kumar Singh as Secretary General of the Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat.
His appointment will come into effect from December 1, 2020. He will succeed incumbent Snehlata Shrivastava.
Mr Singh is a 1986 batch IAS officer of Uttrakhand Cadre, and has been appointed as Secretary General of the Lok Sabha in the rank and status of Cabinet Secretary.
OBITUARIES
Legendary Bangladeshi actor, Liberation War fighter Aly Zaker passes away
Eminent Bangladeshi actor and cultural personality Aly Zaker passed away in Dhaka. He was 76.
Aly Zaker was a towering figure of Bangladesh in theatre, Television and films.
Aly was involved in the Liberation War movement of Bangladesh against Pakistan. He was also a founder trustee of the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
He was awarded the second highest civilian award of Bangladesh ‘Ekushey Padak’ in 1999 for his contribution in the field of theatre.
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