Top Current Affairs 20 December 2023
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Minnesota Chooses New State Flag Design
- Minnesota’s State Emblems Redesign Commission has selected a new design for the state flag on December 20, 2023.
- It is replacing an older version that was considered offensive by many Native Americans.
- The chosen design features an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field on the right.
- The star symbolizes Minnesota’s state motto, “Star of the North.”
- The new flag aims for symmetry and simplicity, emphasizing a clean design over other versions that included a green stripe to represent the state’s agricultural heritage.
- Unless the Legislature rejects the new flag, it will become official on April 1, 2024, coinciding with Minnesota’s Statehood Day.
World’s Oldest Known Fort Found
- An international team of archaeologists has on December 20, 2023 uncovered what is believed to be the world’s oldest-known fort in a remote region of Siberia.
- The groundbreaking discovery challenges conventional beliefs about early human societies, suggesting that complex defence structures existed among hunter-gatherers much earlier than previously thought.
- The fortified settlement, named Amnya, is located along the Amnya river in western Siberia.
- Radiocarbon dating of samples collected at the site places the fort’s construction around 8000 years ago, making it the oldest-known fort in the world.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2023 Announced
- The Sahitya Akademi Awards for the year 2023 have been announced on December 20, 2023, for writers of 24 Indian languages.
- This award has been given to Sanjeev for his novel 'Mujhe Pehchano' for Hindi language.
- Neelam Sharan Gaur's novel 'Requiem in Raag Janaki' will be awarded in English language and Sadiqa Nawab Sahar's novel 'Rajdev Ki Amrai' will be given in Urdu language.
- This time the literature selected for the awards includes 9 poetry collections, 6 novels, 5 story collections, 3 essays and one criticism.
Award-Winning Writer for Novel
- Swapnamaya Chakraborty (Bengali) - Jaler Up Paani
- Krishnat Khot (Marathi) - Ringad
- Rajasekaran (Tamil) – Neeravazhi Paduvum
Writer Awarded for Story Collection
- Pranab Jyoti Deka (Assamese) - Shrestha Galpo
- Nandeshwar Daimary (Bodo) - Jiu-Safarni Daavn
- Tarasin Baski (Santali) - Jaba Baha
- Prakash S Paryankar (Konkani) – Varsal
- T Patanjali Sastri (Telugu) - Rameshwaram Kakulu Marikonni
National Sports Awards Announced
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2023 on December 20, 2023.
- Badminton players Chirag C Shetty and Satwik Sai Raj Rankireddy will be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
- Twenty-six sportspersons including R Vaishali (Chess), Mohammed Shami (Cricket), Ritu Negi (Kabaddi) and Sunil Kumar (Wrestling) will receive the Arjuna Awards.
- Wrestling coach Lalit Kumar, Chess coach R. B. Ramesh, Para Athletics coach Mahaveer Prasad Saini, Hockey coach Shivendra Singh and Mallakhamb coach Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar will be honoured with the Dronacharya Award in the regular category.
- Golf coach Jaskirat Singh Grewal, Kabaddi coach Bhaskaran E and Table Tennis coach Jayanta Kumar Pushilal will be honoured with the Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category.
PERSON IN NEWS
Donald Trump
- The Colorado Supreme Court deems Donald Trump ineligible for the presidency under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause on December 20, 2023.
- This move marks the first-ever use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate.
- This decision stems from Trump’s alleged role in inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
- Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.