ASSAM

Territorial integrity of Northeast states won’t be hit by Naga pact, says Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the territorial integrity of the northeastern states will not be compromised while concluding the final agreement on Naga insurgency issue.
He was replying to a question about the possibility of hampering the territorial integrity of three northeastern states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, getting affected by the peace agreement between the central government and Naga insurgency group NSCN-IM.

The insurgent group’s key demand is to integrate the Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, which is strongly opposed by the three states.

Interestingly, the three states are currently ruled by the BJP.

The NSCN-IM has been engaged with peace talks with the interlocutor of the central government since 1997 when they announced a ceasefire agreement after a bloody insurgency movement which started in Nagaland soon after country’s independence.

INTERNATIONAL

· Azar A.H.Khan Appointed Next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan

Shri Azar A.H.Khan, presently Consul General in the Consulate General of India,Istanbulappointed as the next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan.
He is expected to take up his assignment shortly.

· Kerala’s Alappuzha in Top 5 UN Clean City List

The waste management system being implemented in Kerala’s coastal town of Alappuzha recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the five models across the world for fighting the pollution menace.
Alappuzha, often called “the Venice of East”,has been listed in the UNEP environment report entitled, ‘Solid approach to waste: how five cities are beating pollution’ alongside cities like Osaka in Japan, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Penang in Malaysia and Cajica in Colombia.

NATIONAL

India, Israel to open centre for floriculture in Tamil Nadu

India and Israel are coming together to set up a centre for excellence in floriculture at Thally in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.

The centre, the first agro-technology development centre to be set up with Israel’s assistance in the State, was officially inaugurated on 7 December.

These centres would not only develop agricultural practices suitable for selected geographical regions, but would also transfer the best practices to farmers in and around.

Aamir Khan’s Dangal Wins Best Asian Film at Australian Gala
Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal was on Wednesday named the Best Asian Film at the 7th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.

Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is a biographical sports drama film.

It is inspired by the lives of the Phogat family members, telling the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, an amateur wrestler, who trains his daughters Geeta and Babita to become India’s first world-class female wrestlers.

Unesco recognizes Kumbh Mela as India’s cultural heritage

The Kumbh Mela has been recognized by Unesco as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity”.

The intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage under the UN body inscribed the Kumbh Mela on the “representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity” at its 12th session in Jeju, South Korea.

The Kumbh Mela, held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, represents a syncretic set of rituals related to worship and cleansing in holy rivers.

· Kanchanmala Pande Wins Indias 1st World Para Swimming Championship Gold

Nagpur’s Kanchanmala Pande created history as she became the first Indian to secure pole position at the World Para-Swimming Championship in Mexico. The 26-year-old Reserve Bank of India employee won gold in the 200-metre medley event in the S-11 category and was also the only Indian to qualify for the women’s category. Unfortunately, she missed a podium finish in the 100 metres freestyle and came fifth in the breaststroke and backstroke category.

· Kerala to Raise Minimum Liquor Drinking Age from 21 to 23

The Kerala government lead by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has decided to raise the legal drinking age from 21 to 23 years.
The State Cabinet in a meeting decided to introduce a new ordinance raising the minimum age for liquor consumption from 21 to 23.
The Ordinance will amend the Abkari Act. The previous UDF regime had adopted a policy in favour of prohibition by shutting down bars and closing doors on state-run liquor vending outlets.

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