Today's Current Affairs 18th December 2023
INTERNATIONAL
Israel Appoints Reuven Azar as New Ambassador to India with Expanded Diplomatic Role
- The Israeli government recently greenlit the appointment of Reuven Azar as the new Ambassador to India.
- Reuven Azar currently serves as the Ambassador of Israel to Romania.
NATIONAL
PM Modi to Inaugurate of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
- Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a crucial 402 km stretch linking New Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction.
PM Modi Unveils Varanasi’s Swarved Mahamandir, World’s Largest Meditation Center
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic moment on Monday as he inaugurated the Swarved Mahamandir in Umaraha, Varanasi.
- Prime Minister Modi, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, toured the meditation center.
SPORTS
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023
- In a historic turn of events at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, Haryana emerged victorious in the 2023 Vijay Hazare Trophy, securing their first-ever title with a 30-run triumph over Rajasthan in the summit clash.
SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY
India’s Akash Missile Achieves Global First: Engages Four Targets Simultaneously at 25km
- India has achieved a global first by demonstrating the capability of its indigenous Akash missile system to engage four aerial targets simultaneously at a range of 25 kilometers.
- The remarkable feat took place during the ‘Astrashakti’ military exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force on December 12.
Kerala-Based Startup, Genrobotics Ranks Top 3 in Global AI Summit For Indian Startups
- The prestigious event, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi from December 12-14, witnessed Genrobotics securing its place in the spotlight.
- The General Hospital in Kerala became the first government hospital to deploy G Gaiter.
Bhashini AI Translates PM Modi’s Speech in Indian languages
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi utilized an AI-powered Indian language translation tool, ‘Bhashini’, during a recent speech in Uttar Pradesh.
- ‘Bhashini’ operates as an AI-driven language translation system, facilitating conversations between speakers of different Indian languages.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Migrants Day 2023: 18th December
- International Migrants Day 2023, observed annually on December 18.
- The theme for International Migrants Day 2023 is “Promoting Safe Migration.”
BANKING AND ECONOMY
Kotak Mahindra Bank Partners with IITK to Launch Kotak School of Sustainability
- The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT) and Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) have joined forces to establish the Kotak School of Sustainability.
- Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, graced the launch event as the chief guest.
IndusInd Bank Introduces ‘Indus Solitaire Program’ for the Diamond Industry
- IndusInd Bank has recently launched the ‘Indus Solitaire Program,’ an innovative community banking initiative.
- Primarily through IndusInd Bank’s flagship branches, with a focus on Mumbai and Surat.