Today News on 8 December 2021

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crashChief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crash

Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, was killed in a chopper crash near Ooty on Wednesday. According to the Air Force, General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons died. Union defence minister Rajnath Singh is likely to give a statement on the accident in Parliament tomorrow.

The crash occurred in the Nilgiris district, at a hilly area between Coimbatore and Sulur. The name of the accident site was given as Katteri-Nanchappanchathram.

96 civilians, 366 terrorists killed in Kashmir post Article 370 repeal: Govt96 civilians, 366 terrorists killed in Kashmir post Article 370 repeal: Govt

At least 96 civilians have been killed in Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 while 366 terrorists have been neutralised by security forces, the government informed Rajya Sabha.

Air version of BrahMos supersonic missile test-fired successfullyAir version of BrahMos supersonic missile test-fired successfully

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the air version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the integrated test range of Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, sources in the DRDO said. Describing the mission as a "major milestone" in the development of BrahMos, the sources said that the air version of the missile was test-fired from supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I at 10.30 am.

New Zealand forces warn of rising threat from China in Indo-PacificNew Zealand forces warn of rising threat from China in Indo-Pacific

​​Growing strategic competition between China, which is New Zealand's biggest trading partner, the United States and other powers will also boost potential for confrontation and conflict in the region, a defence assessment report for 2021 said.

Navy a preferred security partner for maritime neighbours: PresidentNavy a preferred security partner for maritime neighbours: President

Speaking at the ceremony where the Navy's 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was presented the President's Standard honour for its service, Kovind said the naval squadron has been deployed for a multitude of operations.

Militant gunned down by security forces in J&K's ShopianMilitant gunned down by security forces in J&K's Shopian

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday, police said here. A cordon-and-search operation was launched in Chack-i-Cholan village of Shopian following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

'President Standard' presented to Navy's 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron'President Standard' presented to Navy's 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron

The year also marks the fifty years since the inception of the Missile Vessel Squadron, also known as the 'Killers' who over the past five decades have maintained the capability of delivering a credible offensive punch from the sea.

$300 mn for Ukraine, mention of China in massive US defence bill$300 mn for Ukraine, mention of China in massive US defence bill

The fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, authorizes $770 billion in military spending, including provisions such as a 2.7% pay increase for the troops, reforms of the military justice system to combat sexual assault and initiatives to address geopolitical threats.

GK Snapshots on 8 December

International Civil Aviation Day 2021 – December 7

The United Nations(UN)’s International Civil Aviation Day(ICAD) is annually observed across the globe on December 7th to create awareness about the importance of international civil aviation towards the social and economic development of the states and its importance in creating a globally transit network.

The theme of ICAD 2021 is “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”.

ICAD theme:

i.Every 5 years, coinciding with the anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) (2014, 2019, 2024, etc) the ICAO council establishes a special anniversary theme for International Civil Aviation Day.

ii.Council representatives select a single theme for the full four-year intervening period.

iii.To mark the 75th anniversary, the council selected the theme “75 Years of Connecting the World” for the 2019 celebrations and

iv.The theme of ICAD 2020 – 2023 will be “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”.

Armed Forces Flag Day 2021 – December 7th

Armed Forces Flag Day is annually observed across India on 7th December to honour the martyrs and the armed force personnel who fought and continue to fight to protect the honour of the country.

• The flag day highlights the commitment of the public to look after the soldiers who were affected by the war, Veer Naris and the families of the martyrs who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Observance:

i.The Kendriya Sainik Board Ministry of Defence raises the funds through the distribution of token flags, Booklets, and brochures, and collection of contributions by volunteers among the staff of the ministry to support the families of the martyrs, disabled former servicemen and their dependents.

ii.Flags in red, deep blue, and light blue signifying the three services (Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy) are distributed in exchange for the donation.

Highlights of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on December 6, 2021

President of the Russian Federation H.E. Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to India, New Delhi on 6 December 2021 for the 21st India–Russia Annual Summit.

-21st India – Russia summit

i.Putin and PM Modi held the 21st India-Russia summit, to further enhance the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.

• The Annual Summit was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19. Both sides exchanged views over the bilateral cooperation over COVID-19 especially with respect to ‘Sputnik-V’ vaccine.

• The summit marks the first face to face meeting between Putin and PM Modi, after the meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Brasilia in November 2019.

ii.Both of them discussed things related to terrorism and drug trafficking, including the situation in Afghanistan.

iii.The Russian side has welcomed the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan of National Security Advisors/Secretaries of Security Council in New Delhi (i.e. the Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan). 

HAL, BEL, Indian Ordnance Factories Ranked among SIPRI Top 100 Arms-Producing Companies 2020

As per the report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) titled ‘Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies, 2020’, 3 Indian defence manufactures companies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Indian Ordnance Factories, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) ranks among the top 100 manufacturers globally.

• The HAL, ranked 42nd, and BEL, ranked 66th, and Indian Ordnance Factories ranked 60th.

• The arms sales of HAL, BEL, and Indian Ordnance Factories increased by 1.5 percent, 4.0 percent, and 0.2 percent respectively in 2020 when compared to 2019.

Honduras Elected its 1st Female President – Xiomara Castro

Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, a presidential candidate, won the Presidential election of Honduras, after defeating her close competitor, Nasry Asfura in the General Election. She will succeed previous President Juan Orlando Hernandez.

• With this victory, Xiomara Castro became the 1st female president of Honduras.

About Xiomara Castro:
i.Xiomara Castro, a former 1st Woman of Honduran, is the wife of Manuel Zelaya, who ruled the country from 2006 to 2009.
ii.Xiomara Castro, also known as Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, is a Honduran politician. She will take charge of the office on 27 January 2022.

• She will be the first president not to be a member of either the Liberal Party or the National Party since democracy was restored in 1982.

iii.She has represented the left-wing Libre Party in 2013, 2017 and 2021 as Presidential Candidate for Honduras and as Vice President candidate in 2017.
 

Ujjivan SFB appoints Ittira Davis as MD & CEO for 3 years

On 6th December 2021, The Board of Directors of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) appointed Ittira Davis as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of 3 years.

• The bank has also appointed Rajesh Kumar Jogi, Harish Devarajan and Umesh Bellur as additional directors.

• Ittira Davis is succeeded by former MD and CEO Nitin Chugh

India Wins Test & T20 Series Against New Zealand; Ajaz Patel bowls Historic 10 Wicket Test Innings

Indian Cricket Team has made a historic sweep win against the New Zealand team that visited India for a 3 match T20 (Twenty-20) series & a 2 match Test series. India defeated New Zealand with a 372 run difference in the 2nd Test to claim a 1-0 series win. Previously, India also defeated New Zealand in the T20 series by a 3-0 win.

India secures 3-0 T20 Series win against New Zealand

In the 3 match T20 series, which was captained by Rohit Sharma, wins a T20 series by defeating New Zealand in all the 3 matches. This is the 1st series captained by Rohit Sharma, after Virat Kohli stepping down from the post & the appointment of Team India’s new Head Coach – Rahul Dravid.

• The 3rd & final T20 match was held at the Eden Gardens cricket ground in Kolkata, West Bengal, where India won by a 73 run difference, its highest against New Zealand.

Player of the Series – Rohit Sharma (India), for scoring 159-runs from the 3 matches.

Indian Shuttler PV Sindhu Won Silver at HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021; S.Korea’s An Se-Young Won Gold

Indian Shuttler and 2-time Olympic medalist Pusarla V Sindhu (PV Sindhu), world’s number 7, won the silver at the 2021 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals, officially known as the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021, the final tournament of the Women’s Singles 2021 BWF World Tour.

• The 2021 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals was held from 1st to 5th December 2021 in Bali, Indonesia.

2021 BWF World Tour: 2021 BWF World Tour is the 4th season of BWF World Tour of badminton, a circuit of 23 tournaments that led up to the World Tour Finals tournament. It was organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia with sanctions from the BWF.

Men’s Single title: Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, world’s number 1, won the BWF World Tour Finals 2021 Men’s Single title defeating Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in Bali, Indonesia.
Men’s double Title: Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi (ranked 6th in the world), won the Men’s doubles title at BWF World Tour Finals 2021 defeating Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. They became the first Japanese Men to win the doubles title at the World Tour Finals.

Women’s Double Title: South Korea’s Kim So-yeong and Kong Hee-yong won the Women’s doubles title at BWF World Tour Finals 2021 defeating Japanese second seeds Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida.

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