National

Surat International Airport

• Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport as an International Airport.

International

India and Tanzania

• Union Cabinet approved MoU signed between India and Tanzania on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformations.

India and USA

• Union Cabinet approved the draft MoU between the United States of America and the Republic of India to enhance innovation ecosystems through an innovation handshake.
• India-United States Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Dialogue was held in New Delhi to address illicit finance risk across both the countries.

India and Italy

• Union Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding between India and Italy on Cooperation in the field of Industrial Property Rights.

Iran waives visa requirements

• Iran has decided to unilaterally cancel visa requirements for visitors from 33 more countries including India.
• The list also includes Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan and the UAE.

Defence

MoU between Indian Navy and IIT Kanpur

• Indian Navy and IIT Kanpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, symbolising their commitment to promote technology development, innovative solutions and joint R&D.

 Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

• DRDO has successfully carried out a flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga in Karnataka.

Person in News

Haitham Bin Tarik

• Sultan of Oman Haitham Bin Tarik arrived in New Delhi on a three day State Visit to India.

 Bhajanlal Sharma

• Bhajanlal Sharma has been sworn in as new CM of Rajasthan.

Matthew Perry

• ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry died of ketamine poisoning as per autopsy report.

Miscellaneous

Vijay Diwas

• Vijay Diwas is commemorated on December 16 every year.
• On 16 December 1971, around 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army in Dhaka.