INDIA
– Lok Sabha passes two bills to extend the tenures of directors of CBI and ED up to a maximum of 5 years from the present 2 years
– IMO (International Maritime Organization) Council awards Certificate of Commendation to Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Master along with crew members of tugboat Ocean Bliss for ‘exceptional bravery at sea’
– Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint platform of protesting farm unions, accepts Centre’s proposal to resolve pending demands; calls off year-long agitation on the borders of Delhi
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
– Parliament passed National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021
– MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) issues advisory for general public on rooftop solar scheme; no vendor authorized by the ministry for setting up rooftop solar plants
– Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman virtually participates in G20 International Seminar hosted in Bali by Indonesia
– ADB approves Rs 2,645-crore loan to improve urban services in India
– Commercial international flights to remain suspended till Jan 31, 2022
– Power Ministry celebrating Energy Conservation Week from Dec 8 to 14
WORLD
– NASA launches X-ray space telescope to unlock secrets of black hole
– Jailed Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan wins Lin Zhao Freedom Award by US-based NGO ChinaAid
– US: President Joe Biden opens first White House Summit for Democracy
– Italy fines Amazon $1.3 billion, alleging harm to outside sellers
– China is world’s biggest captor of journalists: RSF (Reporters Without Borders) report
– UK, Canada and Australia announce diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after US
– International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime observed on December 9
– International Anti-Corruption Day observed on Dec 9; theme: ‘Your right, your role: say no to corruption’
