Today's Current Affairs 20th December 2023

INTERNATIONAL

EU Expresses Disappointment as India Rejects Interim Arbitration in WTO Dispute

• The European Union (EU) has conveyed disappointment at India’s refusal to engage in interim arbitration to resolve the ongoing dispute concerning import duties on specific Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products.

About WTO:

Founded: 1 January 1995

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

President: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

 NATIONAL

IndiGo Becomes First Indian Airline to Carry 100 Million Passengers a Year

• Hindustan Times reported the achievement, signifying IndiGo’s entry into an elite global club of carriers with massive passenger traffic.

About IndiGo:

CEO: Pieter Elbers (2022)

Founders: Rahul Bhatia, Rakesh Gangwal

India Sees 112 Deaths in 2022 Due To Tiger Attacks

• In 2022 alone, a total of 112 deaths occurred in the country due to tiger attacks.
• The Union Minister for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Bhupinder Yadav, shared in Lok Sabha.

 SPORTS

Amitabh Bachchan Becomes Owner of Mumbai Team in Indian Street Premier League

• Amitabh Bachchan revealed his ownership of the Mumbai team in the upcoming Indian Street Premier League (ISPL).
• ISPL, India’s first tennis ball T10 cricket tournament played within a stadium, is set to kick off its inaugural edition from March 2 to March 9 in Mumbai.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Google Announces India-First AI-Powered Experience for Maps

• Google Maps, a ubiquitous navigation tool, is set to undergo a transformative upgrade in India with a host of new features leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). Miriam Karthika Daniel, Vice President of Google Maps Experiences, unveiled these innovations.

About Google:

CEO: Sundar Pichai (2 Oct 2015–)

CMO: Lorraine Twohill

Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin

Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Senior IPS Officer Maheshwar Dayal Takes Over as Director General of Prisons

• Senior IPS officer Maheshwar Dayal officially assumed the role of Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services on Monday, December 18.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

International Human Solidarity Day 2023:20th December

• International Human Solidarity Day 2023 is a significant observance held annually on December 20th. Recognized by the UN General Assembly.

About UN:

Founders: United States, India, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, MORE

Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States

Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, MORE

Secretary General: António Guterres

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Gaja Capital Business Book Prize ‘Against All Odds’, ‘Winning Middle India’ Declared Joint Winners

• Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, a prestigious annual recognition, has crowned two exceptional narratives in its 2023 edition.
• Against All Odds: The IT Story of India and Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs emerged as joint winners.
• Gaja Capital is founded in 2004.

 Israeli Film, ‘Children of Nobody’, Wins Golden Bengal Tiger Award

• Israeli film ‘Children of Nobody’ wins Golden Bengal Tiger Award.
• Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film, includes a record cash prize of Rs 51 lakh.
• Venezuelan director Carlos Daniel Malave honored as Best Director.
• Special Jury Award goes to Anjan Dutt for ‘Chalchitra Ekhon’.
• NETPAC Award for Best Film in the Asian Select section to ‘Broken Dreams.’
• The movie, written and directed by Erez-Tadmor from Tel-Aviv.

About Israel:

President: Isaac Herzog 

Capital: Jerusalem

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

13 States Raise Rs 19,692 Crore in State Government Securities Auction

• According to data RBI, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh emerged as the leading states, each successfully raising Rs 4,000 crore.