Finland's Social Democrats elected former transport minister-Sanna Marin to the post of Prime Minister, making her the youngest head of govt in the country's history. She will succeed Antti Rinne who stepped down after several weeks of political crisis.
Finland Capital- Helsinki, Currency- Euro.
Ukraine and IMF have reached agreement on a new USD 5.5 billion programme to accelerate country's growth and to boost economic reforms. The decision was taken by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
Ukraine Capital- Kyiv, Currency- Ukrainian Hryvnia.
In a big boost to bilateral defence cooperation, Myanmar is commissioning its 1st-ever submarine after it is formally handed over by India. Transfer of INS Sindhuvir is part of India’s continuing policy to counter China’s strategic inroads into Myanmar.
INS Sindhuvir is a Russian origin submarine.
Zozibini Tunzi has crowned Miss Universe 2019 in Atlanta, US. She is the third woman from South Africa to win the Miss Universe title. Madison Anderson from Puerto Rico was announced as the first runner-up & Mexico's Sofia Aragon was the second runner-up.
She is also an activist & fights against gender-based violence.
India's real GDP growth in 2019-20 fiscal is expected to be slightly below 5% as the impact of stimulus measures will take time to filter through to the economy, IHS Markit has said. For the 1st half of 2019-20 fiscal, GDP growth slowed to a pace of 4.8%.
Latest GDP data for July-September quarter is 4.5%.
Govt has made Aadhaar seeding mandatory for the 4th tranche that to be transferred under the PM Kisan scheme which gives an income support of 6000 Rs per year. This will be the 1st time that the govt is insisting on mandatory condition of Aadhaar seeding.
Fund release is expected to inject 10,000 Cr into the economy.
The Centre has agreed to include three airports in Odisha- Jeypore, Rourkela and Utkela under the regional connectivity scheme. The decision was taken at a meeting b/w Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola & Odisha’s Chief Secretary A.K Tripathy.
Airports will be developed under UDAN-4(Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik).
Rene Auberjonois, a prolific actor best known for his roles on the TV shows Benson & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine & his part in the 1970 film M.A.S.H. playing Father Mulcahy, has died. He was 79. He died of metastatic lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles.
Much of his later career was spent doing voices for animation.
Vistara has signed a codeshare pact with Lufthansa. The 2 carriers already have an interline partnership. Code sharing allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers & provide seamless travel to destinations where it has no presence.
Lufthansa would add its 'LH' designator code to Vistara flights.
International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the UN Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
"United Against Corruption" is the multiyear theme for the day.