1) Odisha CM Launches 'Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana'
••Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Jojana’ (MMKSJ) – an assistance scheme for Artists in the state. Around 50,000 artists will be benefited from this. The government has decided to give Rs 1,200 per month as artist assistance.
•The CM confirmed that the government has also changed the eligibility criteria for availing MMKSJ. Under the new scheme, a male artist can avail assistance after attaining the age of 50 years instead of the existing 60 years. The age criteria for female artists have been reduced to 40 years from 50 years.
2) India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable ICBM Agni-V
•India test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has a strike range of over 5,000km. It was test fired successfully from Abdul Kalam island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha.
•The ICBM can reach the northern-most parts of China. Agni-V was last tested in December 2016, in what was described as the fourth and final experimental test of the three-stage ICBM.
3) Israel PM Addresses India-Israel Business Summit in Mumbai
•Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mumbai during the final leg of his visit to India. Mr Netanyahu addressed the India-Israel Business Summit at the iconic Taj Mahal hotel in south Mumbai.
•Later in the day, Mr Netanyahu will attend the ‘Shalom Bollywood’ event at the Taj hotel. A monthly magazine titled ‘Namaste Shalom’ will also be launched to mark Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Mumbai visit. The magazine is planned to carry forward the great initiative of Mr Modi and Mr Netanyahu to strengthen India-Israel relations.
4) India Attends its 1st SCO Military Cooperation Meeting in Beijing
•India, for the first time, took part in a two-day meeting of the international military cooperation departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Beijing, China. An Indian delegation was led by Major General Ajay Seth. The meeting discussed issues of practical cooperation among SCO nations.
•This is the first meeting attended by India in the field of defence cooperation under the SCO framework. India and Pakistan were admitted in 2017 into the grouping in which China plays an influential role.
5) President Presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2016
•President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2016 at a function held in New Delhi.
•The Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are recognised as among the most coveted national honours bestowed on performing artists as well as teachers and scholars of performing arts.
6) North and South Korea Agree to Jointly March Under Unification Flag in Winter Olympics
•North and South Korea have agreed to march together under a single unified Korea flag at Winter Olympics in the South. They also agreed to field a joint women’s ice hockey team after rare talks at the truce village of Panmunjom.
•These are the first high-level talks between the two Koreas in more than two years. The Games will take place in February 2018 in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
