26th December, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
PM Modi Honoured with Kuwait’s Top Civilian Award

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Kuwait’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer, by Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. This prestigious accolade marks the 20th international honour received by PM Modi, symbolizing his contributions to fostering global partnerships and India’s growing influence on the world stage.
• The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer is Kuwait’s highest knighthood order.
• It is conferred upon Heads of State, foreign sovereigns, and members of royal families as a gesture of friendship and goodwill.
• Previous recipients include global leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush.
• The visit emphasized cooperation in trade, energy, and labour welfare, showcasing India’s role as a strategic partner.

Indore Airport Launches Waste Processing Unit In Green Initiative

• IndiGo’s CSR initiative, IndiGoReach, has launched the Zero Waste Airport Project at Indore Airport, in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and AAS Foundation, Indore. This project aims to create a sustainable and eco-friendly airport by utilizing the 4R strategy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover. By reducing the environmental impact of airport operations, the initiative sets a new benchmark for waste management in aviation, focusing on behavioral change, stakeholder engagement, and training.
• Objective: Minimize the environmental impact of airport operations and introduce sustainable waste management practices.
• Partnership: Collaboration between IndiGo, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and AAS Foundation, Indore.
• Strategy: Based on the 4R framework – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.
• Focus: Behavioral change, stakeholder engagement, and training for both airport staff and passengers.

V. Ramasubramanian Appointed NHRC Chairperson

• The post of Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) remained vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1, 2024. The appointment of former Supreme Court judge, V. Ramasubramanian, was confirmed by President Droupadi Murmu on December 23. Ramasubramanian’s appointment marks a new chapter in the NHRC, following Mishra’s tenure from June 2021 to June 2024.
• Since Mishra’s tenure ended, the NHRC was led by acting chairperson Vijaya Bharathi Sayani. On December 18, 2024, a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened to select the new chairperson. Ramasubramanian, a former judge of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, was appointed for the crucial role.

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INTERNATIONAL
Tonga Elects Aisake Valu Eke as New Prime Minister

• Tonga’s parliament has elected veteran politician Aisake Valu Eke as its new Prime Minister after Siaosi Sovaleni’s abrupt resignation. The political transition comes at a time of significant challenges, including strained monarchy-government relations, economic hardships, and the aftermath of natural disasters.
• Siaosi Sovaleni, Prime Minister since 2021, resigned two weeks ago, hours before facing a no-confidence vote led by Eke. His tenure witnessed escalating tensions with Tonga’s monarchy, particularly King Tupou VI, who retains considerable authority, including the power to dissolve parliament and veto legislation. The monarchy-government power struggle has been a recurring theme since Tonga’s 2010 constitutional reforms, which shifted political control towards elected representatives.
• Tonga recently won the bid to host the 2031 Pacific Games, offering a potential opportunity for economic and infrastructural revitalization.

AWARDS
Chennai-Born Caitlin Sandra Neil Crowned Miss India USA 2024

• Caitlin Sandra Neil, a 19-year-old Indian-American teenager born in Chennai, India, has been crowned Miss India USA 2024 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey. A second-year student at the University of California, Davis, Caitlin aspires to leave a positive impact on her community, with a focus on women’s empowerment and literacy. She aims to become a web designer while pursuing careers in modeling and acting.
• Caitlin Sandra Neil, a Chennai-born Indian-American, was crowned Miss India USA 2024.

Published date : 27 Dec 2024 12:49PM