1. China launched its First Satellite for Space-based Broadband Services

China has launched its first communication satellite on 22nd December 2018 to offer broadband internet services

to users worldwide.

The communication satellite was launched using a Long March 11 carrier rocket which took off from the

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China. It is CASIC’s (China Aerospace Science and

Industry Corporation) first satellite launch under China’s Hongyun project.

Changing the way of learning…

Daily Current Affairs

Capsule 24th December 2018

The satellite aims to rival Google and other companies which have similar plans for providing Internet

services worldwide.

Points to Remember

China started the Hongyun project in September 2016. Under this project, China plans to give broadband

internet connectivity to users all over the world by building a space-based communications network.

It is to be noted that CASIC is the main contractor for Chinese space programs and a state-owned

company.

2. Gitega: New capital of Burundi

The government of Burundi has declared Gitega as the country’s new political capital on 22nd December 2018.

Bujumbura, the previous capital of Burundi will serve as the economic capital of the country.

The government has decided to hold future Cabinet meetings in Gitega and to establish five ministries in

Gitega from the start of 2019. Gitega’s population is around 30 000 as compared to Bujumbura’s 1.2

million.

Points to Remember

Burundi is a resource-poor, underdeveloped landlocked African country which shares its borders with

Rwanda in the north, Tanzania in the east and south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the

west.

Burundi was ranked as the world’s least happy nation in the World Happiness Report 2018.

3. 50-day Countdown begins for Unani Day 2019

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), has launched a 50-day countdown for Unani

Day 2019. During the next 50 days, the CCRUM and its regional institutes / centres would organize a host of

activities and events as a run up to Unani Day which is celebrated on 11th February every year.

Unani Day is a great occasion for the Unani fraternity which is celebrated in a great way throughout the

country.

Unani Medicine has been playing an important role in public health especially in combating NCDs,

lifestyle disorders and various chronic diseases by providing cost effective Unani treatment and quality

products for patient healthcare.

Points to Remember

11th February, the birthday of Hakim Ajmal Khan, was adopted as Unani Day by the Ministry of

AYUSH, Government of India in 2016 in recognition of his contribution as an eminent Indian Unani

physician.

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) celebrated first Unani Day in Hyderabad

and second in New Delhi in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

4. ‘Hand-in-Hand’ counter-terrorism military exercises concluded in China

India and China concluded the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise on 22nd December 2018 in China’s Chengdu

city. This was the 7th edition of the ‘Hand-in-Hand' military exercise.

The previous edition of ‘Hand-in-Hand’ that was held in 2016 in Pune had focused on counter-terrorism

drills in non-urban areas.

This year’s exercise, which began on 11th December, focused on urban terrorism in which Indian and

Chinese armies conducted the drills while living and dining together to build up a sense of camaraderie.

Points to Remember

The ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military exercise did not take place last year due to prevailing tensions between both

sides after 73-day military standoff at Doklam.

The Indian contingent headed by Col Puneet Tomar took part in the exercises to foster closer ties between

the two militaries which guard the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).

5. Tamil Nadu: India’s first music museum to be set up in Thiruvaiyaru

The country’s first music museum will be set up with assistance from the Central government in Thiruvaiyaru,

Tamilnadu, and the birth place of Saint Tyagaraja, one of the Trinities of Carnatic music.

The Tyagaraja Aaradhana Music Festival which is held annually in January in Thiruvaiyaru attracts

musical talents from all over the world.

Points to Remember

Tyagaraja (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Tyāgayya in Telugu, was a renowned composer

of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. He was prolific and highly influential in the

development of the classical music tradition. Tyagaraja and his contemporaries, Shyama Shastri and

Muthuswami Dikshitar, were regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic music. Tyagaraja composed thousands

of devotional compositions, most in Telugu and in praise of Lord Rama, many of which remain popular

today.

Tyagaraja saw the reigns of four kings of Maratha dynasty — Tulaja II (1763-1787), Amarasimha (1787-

1798), Serfoji II (1798-1832) and Sivaji II (1832-1855), although he served none of them.

6. India's Vedangi Kulkarni becomes fastest Asian to cycle the globe

Indian woman Vedangi Kulkarni has become the fastest Asian to cycle the globe. Hailing from a suburb of Pune,

20-year old Vedangi cycled into Kolkata in the wee hours, completing the 29,000 kilometers' distance required

to qualify as bicycling across the globe.

Vedangi is a student of the University of Bournemouth in the United Kingdom pursuing a degree in sports

management.

Points to Remember

Thirty-eight year old British adventurer Jenny Graham is the fastest woman to have cycled the globe in

124 days this year.

She started off from Perth in July and will now be flying back to the Australian city to complete the

record.

7. PM Modi released commemorative coin in honor of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

PM Modi released a new 100-rupee coin commemorating former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The coin weighing 35 grams, has the portrait of Atal Bihari Vajpayee with his name inscribed in the

Devanagari script as well as English on one side.

Furthermore, the bottom of the image on the coin has the birth and death year - 1924-2018 inscribed on

it.

Points to Remember

It is made up of silver (50 per cent), copper (40 per cent), nickel (5 per cent) and zinc (5 per cent)

It shall bear the Ashoka Pillar Lion Capital in the centre with ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below in the

Devanagari.

Left periphery will have ‘Bharat’ inscribed in Devanagari while the right side will have ‘India’ inscribed

in English language.

8. GST reduced on 23 items and services; revised rates effective from 1st of January

The GST Council has reduced tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV and monitor

screens and power banks. With this, only 28 goods are left in the highest 28 per cent tax bracket. Monitors and

TV screens up to 32-inches and power banks will attract 18 per cent GST, as against 28 per cent earlier.

GST on movie tickets costing up to 100 rupees was cut to 12 per cent from 18 per cent, while tickets over

100 rupees will attract 18 per cent tax, against 28 per cent earlier.

Points to Remember

The services supplied by the banks to Jan-Dhan account holders will be exempted from GST. Now 28

percent slab rate is applicable on cement and auto parts and luxury items like Air Conditioner and

dishwasher.

The new GST rates will be effective from the 1st of next month.

The Council also approved a proposal to form a seven Member Group of Ministers to study the revenue

trend, including analyzing the reasons for structural patterns affecting the revenue collection in some of

the states.