Current Affairs in English – December 17 2022

National Events:

GI:

The Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has been granted by the union government to 9 new products from different states on 15 December 2022.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin.
India has total 432 Gl tags. India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999 which came into force on 15 Sept 2003.

AIIMS:

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has been declared a ‘Tobacco-Free Zone’ in Dec 2022. AIIMS New Delhi was established in 1956 and is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Besides, smoking and spitting tobacco on the premises of the AIIMS will be a punishable offence for the patients, and visitors and the erring persons will be fined Rs 200.

‘Where Bharat Meets India’:

Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Prasiddha Foundation inaugurated Delhi International Arts Festival at Kartavya Path with the tagline- ‘Where Bharat Meets India’ on 16 Dec 2022.
The festival is being organised from 16th December to 30th December. The festival aims to celebrate the great Epics, the Warriors who fought for India’s Freedom struggle against Britishers.

NHIDCL & NIT Manipur:

National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) has signed MoU with NIT Manipur on 14th December 2022.
It is looking for innovative technologies to find practical solutions to the challenges faced in the construction of highways that withstand extreme climatic conditions.
NHIDCL has previously signed MoUs with IIT Bombay & IIT Guwahati. NHIDCL MD: Chanchal Kumar.

Airbnb:

Airbnb has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Goa to jointly promote Goa as a high potential tourism destination in the world.
Airbnb provides an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their homes to tourists who intend to visit that locality.
It will help the Goa Tourism Department in developing such homestay capacity across the state.

‘Gamocha’:

‘Gamocha’, a symbol of the culture and identity of Assam, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag on 14 December 2022. ‘Gamocha’ literally means towel and is commonly used on a day-to- day basis in Assamese households.
A ‘gamocha’ meant for exchange during ‘Bihu’ festival is known as ‘Bihuwan’. It is registered under the Geographical Indication of Goods Act, 1999.

Lumpy Skin Disease:

Odisha Government has announced to provide Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination for free in the state on 16 December 2022. The livestock farmers of the state would get their cattle vaccinated against Lumpy Skin Disease free of cost.
As of December 15, 2022, symptoms of Lumpy Skin Disease have appeared in 18,842 cattle in the state. Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

International Events:

UNSC:

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on 16 December 2022 announced the candidature of India for non – permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term.
India assumed the monthly rotating Presidency of the UNSC in December. This is the second time India got the Presidency after holding the top spot in August 2021. UNSC Headquarters: New York.

Gay marriage law:

US President Joe Biden signed gay marriage law in Dec 2022. This law establishes statutory authority for same – sex and interracial marriages.
This law officially repeals the Marriage Act of 1996, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally recognized in 33 countries including Argentina, Australia.

G7:

The Group of Seven (G-7) rich industrialised nations has approved an agreement to provide $ 15.5 billion to Vietnam.
The aim is to help Vietnam reduce its emissions to “net zero” by 2050, a goal which experts say needs to be met globally to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The $ 15.5 billion of funding will come from public and private sources in 3-5 years.

Sports Events:

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek:

Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek were crowned the ITF world champion 2022 in their respective categories on 16 December 2022.
Rafael Nadal was crowned the ITF world champion for the fifth time in his career. In the men’s doubles category, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the award while Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova took the women’s doubles honour for the third time.

Hockey World Cup trophy:

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur unveiled Hockey World Cup trophy in New Delhi on 16 December 2022. The event was also attended by 1975 Hockey World Cup winners.
The FIH Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela will begin on 13th January 2023. The nationwide Trophy Tour was launched in Bhubaneswar on 5th December by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

Neeraj Chopra:

According to the World Athletics, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra of India was the most written about track and field athlete in 2022, displacing the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt from the top lists.
He won the silver medal at the World Athletic Championships 2022 in Oregon, becoming only the 2nd Indian to win a world’s medal after Anju Bobby George’s bronze in the women’s long jump in 2003.