NEWS 20-12-2023. News For 22nd-Dec (Friday) Summary of November *INTERNATIONAL* 1. India and Australia held the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 20th Nov, focusing on enhancing defence cooperation and expanding the strategic relationship in trade, investment, and critical minerals sector. 2. Israeli forces have cut off northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory; death toll has passed 15000 since the Israel- Palestine issue. 3. India and Italy have signed *Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement* to facilitate movement of workers & students. 4. India voted in favour of a resolution in the UN General Assembly that condemned the Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. *NATIONAL* 1. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in collaboration with Wadhwani Al has developed Krishi 24/7, first-ever Al-powered solution for automated agricultural news analysis. 2. Govt of India has for the first time rolled out subsidised *'Bharat Atta'* at Rs 27.50/kg to make Food accessible for all. 3. IIT Madras Zanzibar, the Africa Campus, was inaugurated on 7th Nov '23. 4.SATHEE-(Self-Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) online coaching platform has been launched by the Govt and the IIT-Kanpur. The portal uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interact with students, and can be customised for each student’s pace of learning. 5. India has begun work on development of biofortified seeds for pulses, wheat, mustard and millets as well as fruits and vegetables. *SPORTS* 1. The 13th edition of ICC men's cricket world cup was won by Australia by defeating the host nation India to claim their 6th trophy. 2. Qatar defeated India by 3-0 in the ongoing second round of Fifa world cup Asian qualifiers leaving India at 3rd position in their group. 3. VIRAT KOHLI broke the record of Indian cricket legend SACHIN TENDULKAR by making 50 ODI centuries. 4. India has dethroned Japan to gain the title of *WOMEN'S ASIAN CHAMPIONS HOCKEY TROPHY.* 5. In Asian Archery Championships, held at Bangkok, India won 7 medals (3 gold, 1 silver & 3 bronze). *DEFENCE* 1. 14th edition of *“Vajra Prahar 2023”*, a joint exercise of India & U.S. forces was conducted in Meghalaya. 2. India successfully test-fired its surface-to- surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) *'Pralay'* off Odisha coast. 3. The IAF phased out one more MiG-21 fighter squadron, the No. 4 squadron based at Uttarlai, and is re-equipping it with SU-30MKIS. 4. The Indian Navy's Ilyushin-38 Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft bid farewell after 46 years of glorious service to the nation. *ECONOMY & CORPORATE* 1. India's applications for patenting have jumped by 31.6%, as per the study released by the *World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).* 2. India’s Retail Inflation Dropped To 4.87 %, in Oct '23. 3. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has raised India’s economic growth forecast for 2023 to 6.6%, up from the 6% predicted earlier < < Back