# Chopper crash

• Chief of Defense staff (CDS) general Bipin rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others were killed when an Indian Airforce helicopter carrying them crashed into an heavily wooded area of Coonoor ghats in the Nilgiris in Western Tamil nadu on Wednesday afternoon.
• Investigation has begun into the cause of the crash of the mi-17v5 helicopter, a trusted aircraft.
• The Russian made mi-17V5 is a very reliable chopper widely used for high altitude operations and rescue operations, according to defense sources.

# Farmers’ protest

• Farmers’ protest ongoing for over a year are likely to end their agitation at noon on Thursday.
• Farmers’ leaders have decided to accept the government’s proposal to resolve their pending demands if it is sent in an official format.
• In a major overnight concession, the central and state governments have agreed to withdraw almost half a lakh cases filed against protesting farmers with immediate effect.

# River link project

• The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project at a cost of 44605 crore rupees at the 2020-21 price level.
• The centre would fund 39317 crore rupees for the project, with 36290 crore rupees as a grant and 3027 crore as a loan.
• The project involves transferring of water from the Ken river to the Betwa river through construction of Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers.

# Rajya sabha

• The Rajya passed two bills to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics and surrogacy on Wednesday.
• The assisted reproductive technology (regulations) bill was passed by the Lok sabha on December 1.

# Winter Olympic Games

• Canada joined Australia and Britain in a US led diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
• Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau said it was important to send a clear message over China’s human rights record.