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.