HIMACHAL PRADESH

The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to appeal against the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banning construction in the state capital’s Core Area. In doing so, it has given in to public pressure.

Various social organisations, including the Shimla Nagrik Sabha and Shimla Jankalyan Samiti, had threatened to move court against the November 16 order.

The NGT had fixed a fine of Rs 5 lakh for damage to trees, forests and hills, Rs 5,000 per sq ft for regularising self-occupied houses and Rs 10,000 per sq ft for commercial structures with deviations

A high-powered committee had been constituted by the NGT to ensure its order was implemented

INTERNATIONAL

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has announced the launch of a sovereign cryptocurrency “petro” which could bypass the U.S.-led financial sanctions, according to a market commentator.

It is no surprise that digital currencies have become more popular as reports have been emerging that Venezuela’s economic crisis is triggering increased use of Bitcoin due to its currency — the bolivar — plunging in value.

· World Soil Day is observed on 5th December

World Soil Dayis observed on 5th December across the world.
The 2017 Themefor World Soil Day is ‘Caring for the Planet starts from the Ground’.
The main aim to communicate messages on the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
It is celebrated annually on the 5th of December at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, the regional offices and through national and local events.

· Google launches Android Oreo Go edition for low-end phones

Technology giant Google launched a lightweight Android Oreo Go edition operating system designed for devices with RAM up to 1 GB.
According to Google, the Android Go offers 30% faster startup time and up to 2 times optimisation of storage space. There’s also a Go version of the Play store with lightweight apps including YouTube Go and Gmail Go.

British singer-songwriter Ellie Gouldingsigned as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, joining the fight to save the lives and habitats of people and animals by cleaning up our air and seas, fighting climate change and protecting species.
Ellie is also backing UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign.

NATIONAL

Paytm Payments Bank rolled out Paytm FASTagto enable electronic toll fee collection on highways across the country, in line with the government’s move to make FASTag mandatory on every new vehicle sold from December 1.
The Paytm FASTag – which is a simple and reusable tag based on radio-frequency identification technology (RFID) that can be placed on a vehicle’s windscreen – will allow commuters to pass through 380 toll plazas across India covering 55,000 km without having to stop.

Mumbai’s 18-year-old batsman Prithvi Shawhas been named the captain of the Indian Under-19 team for the 2018 U-19 World Cup
The tournament is scheduled to be held in New Zealand starting January 13, 2018. This comes after Shaw slammed three tons and two fifties in five Ranji Trophy matches this season.
Punjab’s Shubman Gill has been named as Shaw’s deputy.

The Indian governmentallowed over 1,300 Buddhist refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine region to enter Mizoram. The refugees fled Rakhine due to the ongoing war between the Myanmar’s Army and the Arakan Army, comprising Buddhist insurgents instructed to Additional police, health workers and doctors have also been deployed for the refugees.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchanlaunched a book based on Indian cinema in showbiz capital Mumbai.

The book, titled ‘Bollywood: The Films! The Songs! The Stars!’, is a coffee table book, which provides historical insights, lesser-known facts and behind-the-scenes exclusives of the most iconic movies made in the history of the Indian film industry.