Current Affairs - December 20, 2024 Current Affairs

The World Tennis League Season 3 is set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi from December 19 to 22, 2024. The competition will feature a single round-robin format, with each team playing against the others, and the top two teams advancing to the final. The league boasts participation from prominent players like Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and defending champions Team Eagles, including Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. This prestigious event underscores Abu Dhabi's growing role as a hub for international sports.

Telangana is setting up a 200-acre AI City in Hyderabad to transform the city into India’s AI capital and a global hub for innovation. Collaborations with 26 prominent entities, including Microsoft, Nvidia, AWS, and Meta, aim to focus on AI infrastructure, generative AI, and skill development. The initiative is expected to boost investments, generate employment, and contribute significantly to Telangana’s vision of a $3 trillion economy. This ambitious project underscores the state’s commitment to leveraging AI for economic and technological advancement.

Thailand hosted the 24th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), where Jaideep Mazumdar represented India. The meeting focused on progress in sustainable development, connectivity, and security since March 2023. India's participation aligns with its strategic policies such as Neighbourhood First, Vision SAGAR, and Act East. Additionally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted India's commitment to enhancing maritime and digital connectivity within the BIMSTEC framework, reflecting the importance of regional collaboration.

NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) plans to expand UPI services to 6 additional countries in 2025. This move aims to broaden UPI's global reach, which already includes countries like Nepal, Bhutan, UAE, and France. The expansion targets nations such as Qatar and Thailand, along with several Southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, collaborations in regions like Peru, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago are in progress to establish sovereign payment systems, enhancing the adoption of UPI on a global scale.

On March 14, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned 18 OTT platforms for hosting obscene, vulgar, and pornographic content. This action emphasized compliance with the IT Rules, 2021, requiring adherence to the Press Council’s 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' and the Cable Television Programme Code. Among the banned platforms were Bolta Hindustan and National Dastak, which highlighted the government's focus on regulating digital content to ensure ethical standards and public decency.

The "Banglar Bari" housing scheme was launched by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at the Nabanna Secretariat. This state-funded initiative aims to provide affordable housing to the rural population, with an estimated cost of ₹14,773 crore. The first instalment of ₹60,000 was distributed to 42 beneficiaries from 21 districts, emphasizing the government's commitment to improving rural living conditions through direct financial assistance.

The 4th Asian Roll Ball Championship is being hosted at the Manohar Parrikar Stadium in Margao, Goa. This vibrant location has gained international attention for organizing the event, which highlights the growing prominence of Roll Ball as a sport. Key figures such as Mr Chetan Bhandwalkar (Chairman), Mr Rohit Khandekar (General Secretary), and mentor Mr Tapan Acharya have significantly contributed to the championship's success and the development of Roll Ball at an international level.

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has projected a 6.6% GDP growth rate for the Indian economy in FY 2025-26, an increase from 6.4% in FY 2024-25. This forecast reflects optimism about reversing the cyclical slowdown seen over the past three quarters, starting from December 2024. The anticipated growth is attributed to a recovery in investments and easing monetary pressures, signalling a stable economic trajectory despite existing challenges.

NTPC announced plans to establish a nuclear power project in Bihar, as revealed by CMD Gurdeep Singh at the 'Bihar Business Connect 2024' summit. This initiative will be carried out under the ASHVINI joint venture, where NPCIL holds a 51% stake, and NTPC holds 49%. NTPC, with an installed capacity of 76,531 MW spanning thermal, solar, and wind energy, is expanding into nuclear energy, marking a significant milestone in its diversification and contribution to India’s energy sector.

Real Madrid claimed the Intercontinental Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Pachuca in Lusail, Qatar. This marked their fourth win in the competition's history, having previously triumphed in 1960, 1998, and 2002. Carlo Ancelotti celebrated his 15th title with Real Madrid, further cementing his legacy as the club's most decorated manager. This achievement also came shortly after Ancelotti was honoured as FIFA’s Men's Coach of the Year.