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• Moscow and Kiev have signed a preliminary deal on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, after months of difficult talks but ahead of the looming New Year deadline.


• The current gas transit contract between the two ex-Soviet countries expires at the end of the year and ties between them have been shredded since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

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• Chinese President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday that US comments and actions regarding Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are harming ties between the two economic giants, state media reported.


• In a phone conversation with Trump, President Xi "noted that the US behaviors have interfered in China's internal affairs and harmed China's interests, which is detrimental to the mutual trust and bilateral cooperation", state news agency Xinhua said.

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• Russia and China used their veto Friday to block a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended for a year cross-border humanitarian aid to four million Syrians.


• Humanitarian aid currently flows into Syria across UN-designated checkpoints without the formal permission of the regime in Damascus, but that authority is due to expire on January 10.

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• The United States has placed China, Pakistan and a few other countries on a special watch list for ''severe violations of religious freedom,'' saying that the protection of religious freedom has been a top foreign policy priority of the Trump administration.


• "On December 18, 2019, the Department of State re-designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations of religious freedom," the State Department said in a statement.

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• Protests which erupted across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act have led to the death of nine protestors in Uttar Pradesh, while in the national capital, a number of protesters gathered around Delhi Police headquarters to demand the release of around 40 people who were detained in clashes which broke out in Delhi's Daryaganj area. Eight of those detained were minors aged between 14 and 15 years.


• Delhi police had earlier resorted to a baton charge and water cannons after a car was set on fire. At least 36, including 8 policemen, were injured, including a child with a head injury.

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• Indian-Americans and Indian students held peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the US cities of Chicago and Boston, saying this is a step towards rupturing India's social fabric.


• About 150 people marched to the Indian consulate from the Tribune Tower in Chicago.


• "Chicago condemns the egregious behavior of the Indian government," the protesting students said in a statement.

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• Polling for 151 urban bodies 10 municipal corporation, 38 municipal councils and 103 nagar panchayats will be held in Chhattisgarh.


• Voting for by-polls in three wards of two municipal corporations will also be held simultaneously.


• "Preparations have been made polling parties have started reaching their destinations amid tight security," a state election official said. Polling will be held from 8 am to 5 pm, he added.

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• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the situation in Kashmir was briefly discussed during his bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and American lawmakers in separate meetings inquired about the amended Citizenship Act.
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• Mr. Jaishankar held bilateral talks with Mike Pompeo at the US State Department on Wednesday, following which they were joined by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper for the second 2+2 dialogue.

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• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is working under Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has invited online applications from the desirous and eligible candidates to fill up the vacant posts of Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), General Central service Group 'C', Non-Gazetted, Ministerial post.


• Details regarding the online application are available on Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM) notice board of DRDO website, www.drdo.gov.in.

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• UPTET exam has been postponed, reported PTI Hindi. The Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test or (UPTET), which is being held as an eligibility test for teaching positions in the state schools, was earlier scheduled for December 22, 2019.


• Uttar Pradesh Exam Regulatory Authority Secretary Anil Bhushan Chaturvedi said the UPTET admit card for the exam was released on December 12 and the candidates are finding it difficult to download the same after internet services have been banned in several parts keeping the law and order situation in the state.

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• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has notified 1817 vacancies of multi-tasking staff (MTS).


• 10th Class pass or equivalent from a recognized Board or Industrial Training Institute (ITI) pass candidates can apply. The Candidate must be between 18 and 25 Years of age.


• Recruited candidates will get paid at Level-1 (Rs 18000-56900) as per the 7th CPC Pay Matrix.


• The online application process will commence on December 23 and the last date to apply is January 23, 2020, till 5 pm.

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• The Central government had 310.03 billion rupees ($4.36 billion) outstanding loans with the central bank under ways and means advances in the week ended Dec. 13, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) weekly statistical supplement released.


• The central government had 525.75 billion rupees ($7.33 billion) outstanding loans in the week earlier.

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• There is little doubt that India is one of the biggest economies in the world, and with the ambitious target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025, it’s set to grow even bigger.


• Despite this economic power, however, the country’s share of global trade remains woefully low, contributing only 2 percent of total global exports in FY19.

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• Sergis Adamyan and Andrej Kramaric scored late goals as Hoffenheim fought back for a 2-1 win to stop Borussia Dortmund from moving within a point of Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig.


• Adamyan and Kramaric responded following the break after Mario Goetze, who was making his first start in over a month, opened the scoring in the first half.

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• Rafael Nadal has a shorter than usual off-season this year but he believes he can work it to his advantage as he looks to carry his Davis Cup-winning form into 2020.


• The world No.1 led Spain to the Davis Cup title just over three weeks ago then went on a short break before beginning his preparations for the new season.


• Rafael Nadal picked up right where he left off as he surprised himself by putting together a devastating 6-1, 6-3 performance against Russian world No.17 Karen Khachanov in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi.

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• Alphabet Inc's newly instated Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai would receive a hefty $240 million (£184.40 million) in performance-based stock awards over the next three years, the highest ever promised to any executive of the search giant.


• Pichai would also take home $2 million in annual salary starting 2020, according to a regulatory filing. That compares with a $1 salary received by Larry Page in the same role last year.


• "In terms of grants related to CEO appointments, it's behind Tim Cook's grant of $376 million when he took over Apple," said Amit Batish, marketing manager at Equilar, a firm that tracks executive compensations.

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• Mikel Arteta has been given the job of reviving the fortunes of Arsenal after he was appointed head coach of the Premier League side.


• The 37-year-old Spaniard, who played more than 100 games for the Gunners between 2011-16, signed a three-and-a-half year contract and ends a three-year stay as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City.


• Arteta, who will be officially presented to the press later on Friday at 1700 GMT, replaces compatriot Unai Emery, who was sacked last month.

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• Mahindra Group said Anand Mahindra will step down as Executive Chairman from April 1, 2020.


• “With effect from April 1, 2020, Mahindra will transition to the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the board of Mahindra & Mahindra. This is in accordance with the Sebi guidelines,” the group said in a statement.


• Pawan Goenka will be re-designated as Managing Director and Chief Executive from April 1.

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• On December 20, 2019 noted Kannada writer and critic L.S. Sheshagiri Rao passed away at the age of 94 due to old age ailments in Bengaluru, Karnataka.


• Sheshagiri is famous for his critical works and also for and an English-Kannada dictionary he compiled. His first work Idu Jeevana, an anthology of short stories was released in 1948. He is best known for his book “Hosagannada Sahitya Charitre”.