Current Affairs

23^rd December 2022

Top 15 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News:

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 23rd December 2022 covering the following news headlines: Patriot Missile Defence System, Resolution on Myanmar, Assam Grants Industry Status, SC Judge Hemant Gupta.

International News

1.US to Provide its Key Patriot Missile Defence System to Ukraine

The United States is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. Ukraine has asked its Western partners for air defenses, including U.S.-made Patriot systems, to protect it from heavy Russian missile bombardment including against its energy infrastructure.

The system is part of $1.85 billion in assistance unveiled in parallel with a visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Patriot is considered to be one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems and is usually in short supply, with allies around the world vying for it.

2.UNSC Adopts First-ever Resolution on Myanmar

The U.N. Security Council has adopted its first ever resolution on Myanmar in 74 years to demand an end to violence and urge the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ms. Kyi, 77, has been a prisoner since the army toppled her government almost two years ago and violently cracked down on dissent.

The 15-member council has long been split on how to deal with the Myanmar crisis with China and Russia arguing against strong action. They both abstained from the vote, along with India. The remaining 12 members voted in favor.

State News

3. Assam Grants Industry Status to Its Tourism Sector

As the growth in the tourism sector is vital for socio-economic development in a state, the Assam State Cabinet led by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma approved the proposal for grant of industrial status to the tourism sector in the state.

It has been highlighted that with such industry status, fresh investments in tourism infrastructures permanent in nature will contribute towards rapid employment generation, public-private partnership and infrastructure development.

With the grant of industry status to the tourism sector, now, restaurants, cafeterias, health clubs, spas and wellness centres among others are eligible for incentives under the industrial policy. This move will further encourage and boost private investment in the above areas of the tourism sector.

Appointments

4. Centre appoints former SC Judge Hemant Gupta as head of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre

Former Supreme Court judge, Hemant Gupta has been appointed as the chairperson of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC). The NDIAC was established for the purpose of creating an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Justice Hemant Gupta (retired) as NDIAC chairperson and that of Ganesh Chandru and Anant Vijay Palli as its part-time members.

5. Aloke Singh named head of Air India’s low cost airline business

The Air India management has appointed Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh as the chief of Air India’s low-cost airline business from January 1, 2023. The Low Cost Carrier (LCC) business will consist of AirAsia India and Air India Express.

Air India signed agreements to complete the acquisition of 100% shareholding in AirAsia India (AAI) and to subsidiarise it under Air India.

President also appointed Dr Manoj Chaudhary as the first Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti University, Vadodara. As per the Central University Act, 2009, Dr Manoj Chaudhary will hold the position of Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti University for five years from the date he assumes office.

Ranks And Reports

6. British magazine’s list of 50 greatest actors of all time named Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan has become the only Indian to be named in an international list of 50 greatest actors of all time by a prominent British magazine.

The 57-year-old actor is included in Empire magazine’s list which also recognises Hollywood giants like Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Anthony Marlon Brando, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson and many others.

Science And Technology

7. ISRO to Carry US Instrument on Board the Forthcoming Chandrayaan 3 mission

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) forthcoming Chandrayaan 3 mission will carry scientific instruments of the United States of America.

The Chandrayaan mission 2 also carried American scientific instruments .This information was given by the Union Minister of state (Independent charge ) Science & Technology, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in the Rajya Sabha.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a continuation of Chandrayaan-2, which was launched in July 2019 and had the goal of putting a rover on the lunar South Pole.

The Vikram lander’s subsequent failure prompted the development of a different mission to show off the landing skills required for the 2024 lunar polar exploration mission that is being proposed in collaboration with Japan. It will have a landing module and an orbiter. But unlike Chandrayaan-2, this orbiter won’t be equipped with a research payload.

Important News

8. Indian National Farmer’s Day 2022 celebrates on 23 December

National Farmers Day or Kisan Diwas is the day marked every year to honor each and every farmer who is working continuously for the nation. Farmers are considered to be the backbone of the nation as without them none of us can survive. Agriculture is the basis for all our growth and consumption.

The day aims to spread awareness of the contributions of farmers to the socioeconomic development of the nation. It also recognises the efforts of the former Prime Minister who helped in uplifting the farmers in the country, introduced Debt Redemption Bill and Land Holding Act.

Awards News

9. UIDAI HQ Building wins top Green Building Award

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has won the prestigious GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022, a top national level Green Building Award. UIDAI HQ has been declared a winner among the existing highest rated building category.

UIDAI believes and promotes the idea of recycle and reuse to reduce carbon footprint. It has been harnessing solar power to meet a portion of its energy consumption. It is recycling and reusing water and has been adhering to sustainable waste management practices.

10. Oscar Nominations 2023: Oscars 2023 Shortlists 10 Award Categories

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced shortlists of 10 categories for the 95th Oscar Academy Awards.

The 10 categories of the 95th Oscar Academy Awards are Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound, and Visual Effects.

The 95th Oscar Academy Awards is going to be held on 12th March 2023 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA. The categories were released by the academy on 21st December 2022. Read More about Oscar Nominations 2023.

11. Sahitya akademi awards 2022 announced

The award has been given by the central government for the best literature of every year. Accordingly, the central government has announced the Sahitya Akademi Award for literature on December 22. Writer M. Rajendran from Tamil Nadu has received this award for his novel ‘Kala Pani’.

The awardee will be presented with a cash prize of one lakh rupees and a copper Shield. This ‘Kala Pani’ novel is a historical novel based on the war of Kalayarkovil or Kalayarkool.

The Awards, recommended by distinguished Jury members in 23 Indian languages, were approved by the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar, President, Sahitya Akademi. 

12. Sethrichem Sangtam awarded Rohini Nayyar prize for rural development

Sethrichem Sangtam, who helped triple the incomes of 1,200 marginalised farmers in Eastern Nagaland, was awarded the first Rohini Nayyar prize for outstanding contribution to rural development. The prize awarded to an individual 40 years or under in age, was presented by the Niti Ayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery.

The winner was selected by an eminent jury from civil society consisting of Dr. Ashok Khosla, founder, Development Alternatives; Dr. Rajesh Tandon, founder, PRIA; and Ms. Renana Jhabwala, national coordinator, SEWA. 

The prize had been instituted by the family of the late Dr. Rohini Nayyar, an eminent scholar-administrator who spent much of her professional life working on issues related to rural development in India.

Dr. Nayyar, a well-known economist and former principal adviser at the erstwhile Planning Commission, was one of India’s foremost authorities on rural development. She passed away in October 2021.

Summits And Conferences News

13. PM Modi to Inaugurate National Youth Conference in Karnataka on 12 January 2023

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that a National Youth festival is poised to be hosted at Hubballi-Dharwad twin cities, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The National Youth Festival will be organized on January 12 in connection with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. 

Around 7,500 representatives from all the States will participate in the youth festival. The National Youth Festival is organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand which falls on 12 January.

The first National Youth Festival was started in 1995 as a major activity under the programme of National Integration Camp. The 25th National Youth Festival was organised in Puducherry.

Swami Vivekananda’s birthday on January 12 is always celebrated as National Youth Day and 12-16 January every year is observed as the National Youth Week.

Sports News

14. FIFA chosed Morocco to host Club World Cup in February 2023

Morocco was rewarded by FIFA with hosting rights for the next Club World Cup in February, with an expanded 32-team edition set to launch in 2025. The most recent edition of the tournament was held in the UAE in February 2022 and was won by the English football club, Chelsea.

European champion Real Madrid, South American champion Flamengo and Seattle Sounders, the first CONCACAF Champions League winner from the United States, will play in the traditional seven-team tournament from Feb. 1-11.

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Qatar (32 Teams)

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Canada, Mexico, USA (48 teams)

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022 – Costa Rica

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 – India

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia and New Zealand

15. Goa to Host First Ever World Table Tennis (WTT) Series Event in India

Goa will host India’s first ever World Table Tennis (WTT) series event from February 27 to March 5. The top tier WTT Star Contender Goa 2023 will take place at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor stadium, located at the Goa University Campus. Stupa Analytics, a homegrown sports analytics firm, will be the tournament host with active support from the Goa government.

World Table Tennis (WTT) was created by the International Table Tennis Federation in 2019 to create and manage professional men’s and women’s Table Tennis events around the world. The WTT organizes a series of events around the year and the highest ranked tournament being the four Grand Smashes.