Today's Current Affairs 16th January 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Italy Man Sets World Record By 'Mirror Typing' Books In Ancient Languages

• A 63-year-old Italian man, Michele Santelia has achieved a world record by typing copies of 81 books backwards, a technique that he calls ‘mirror writing’, as per a report by the Guinness World Records (GWR). For the purpose of this record, the books must be typed using ‘mirror writing’, such that the result is the mirror image of any given language’s normal writing.
• Michele’s latest book, Das Nibelungenlied Backwards, a medieval German heroic epic, was typed in 2022. Michele dedicated it to “the disabled people of the whole world; to all those who suffer daily in a bigoted and clumsy society.”
• Santaglia types books using four completely blank keyboards without looking backwards.
• He types each book in its original language whether it be hieroglyphs, Old Hebrew, Traditional Chinese, Mayan, Etruscan, Cuneiform or Voynich glyphs.

 NATIONAL

Jallikattu 2023: Celebrations begin in Madurai; Tamil Nadu govt issues new norms amid Covid scare

• The renowned Jallikattu bull-taming competition got underway on Sunday in the Tamil Nadu village of Avaniyapuram. Aneesh Sekhar, the district collector of Madurai, as saying that preparations had been made to ensure a successful Jallikattu. ensuring the players’ and bulls’ safety. Bulls are protected in the play area by three levels of barricading, as are spectators.
• Several eager young men participated in the sport, which received a fawning round of applause.
• During the Pongal harvest season, which starts in mid-January, jallikattu is a well-liked sport.The winner is determined by how long the tamer stays on the bull’s hump.
• It is customarily done as a part of Mattu Pongal, the third day of Tamil Nadu’s four-day harvest festival.

Success of 'Womaniya on Government eMarketplace' commemorated in New Delhi

• The success of “Womaniya on Government eMarketplace” was commemorated in New Delhi. The event was held by Government eMarketplace (GeM) in partnership with the self-employed women’s association, Bharat (SEWA Bharat), and attended by women entrepreneurs and participants from stakeholders’ organizations and associations.
• The highlight of the event included a presentation on financial literacy by Smt. Piya Bahadur, Co-founder & CEO, MeraBills.
• Presentation by Smt Sanchita Mitra, National Coordinator, SEWA Bharat on the new opportunities created for women entrepreneurs within the informal economy through digital inclusion.
• A short film on GeM seller testimonials, “Voice from the Ground” by SEWA.

Doppler weather radar network to cover entire country by 2025

• The entire country will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network by 2025 to help predict extreme weather events more accurately, union minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday, speaking at the foundation day of India Meteorological Department.
• They include two at Murari Devi and Jot in Himachal Pradesh, and one each at Banihal Top in Jammu and Kashmir and Surkandaji in Uttarakhand covering a radius of 100 km.
• The IMD has taken proactive steps to increase the number of radars from 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023 and will add 25 more in next 2-3 years, he said in presence of Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and LG of J&K—the three Himalayan States most prone to the extreme events in the country.
• Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh urged the union minister to provide one more DWR system at Lahaul-Spiti, which suffers from frequent cloud-burst incidents.

Old Pension Scheme benefits to be extended to CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP personnel; Delhi HC directs Centre to issue orders

• The Himachal Pradesh government restored the old pension scheme in its first cabinet meeting. The cabinet decided to provide OPS to all government employees who are presently covered under the defined contributory pension scheme, also referred to as NPS. This scheme will benefit about 1.36 lakh NPS employees in the state.
• The State Cabinet in its first meeting presided over by the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held in Shimla passed a resolution thanking the people of Himachal Pradesh for reposing their confidence in the policies and programs of congress.
• Congress government has fulfilled a key poll promise by providing the Old Pension scheme (OPS) to all government employees.

 OBITUARY

Hong Kong DJ who broadcast for six decades dies at 98

• Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts including the Beatles during a six-decade career on Hong Kong radio that earned him the title of the world’s longest-working disc jockey, has passed away. Cordeiro, who was born in Hong Kong in 1924 of Portuguese descent, was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest-working DJ. He joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960 after working as a prison warden and bank clerk. His “All the Way With Ray” show of easy listening music was on RTHK Radio 3 for 51 years until his retirement.
• Cordeiro interviewed the Beatles, then the world’s biggest music act, in 1964 following a study course in London with the British Broadcasting Corp. He said John Lennon recounted their early days in Hamburg, Germany, where they lived in relative poverty and played in clubs. The broadcast of the Beatles interview on Hong Kong radio made Cordeiro a celebrity. He also interviewed other stars and met Elton John and Tony Bennett.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

National startup Day: 16^th January 2023

• India is recognized as a startup hub and such government initiatives encourage innovation across sectors. January 16 is celebrated as National Startup Day every year in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made this announcement last year to assist percolate startup tradition to the grassroots level.
• This year Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry initiative of organizing Startup India Innovation Week to celebrate the Indian Startup Ecosystem as well as National Startup Day (16th January 2023).
• The initiative will bring together young celebrated entrepreneurs to brainstorm, innovate and excel. Enclosed are some startup leaders that congratulate and celebrate this iconic day.

 SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Think-20 meeting under G-20 to start from today at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center, Bhopal

• The two-day Think-20 meeting under the G-20 is starting from today at the Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh(MP). The first Think-20 meeting in MP will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. AIR correspondent reports, there will be a discussion held on, ‘Global Governance with LiFE values and wellbeing.’
• G-20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed in Bhopal that more than 300 ministers, intellectuals and subject experts from India and abroad will brainstorm in plenary and parallel sessions, round table conferences and cluster briefings. Of these, 94 international delegates, 115 from different states and about 100 local participants will be involved in discussions.
• In addition, representatives of international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, ADB Institute, African Union, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UN, UNDP and UNICEF will also attend the event. There will be 3 plenary and 10 parallel sessions will be held on the first day and after these sessions, the guest will visit the Tribal Museum in Bhopal and participate in the cultural programs.

 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Critics Choice Awards 2023: RRR Bags Two Wins

• The 28th Critics Choice Awards were held, and once again, SS Rajamouli’s RRR has made India proud, as the film scored two awards. RRR won Best Song award for Naatu Naatu, as well as Best Foreign Language film. RRR was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects.
• The American Canadian Critics Choice Association CCA show Who shows for the finest In cinematic achievement. The Critics Choice Movie award Formerly known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association award was held. Critics Choice Awards Winner 2023 shows were hosted by Chelsea Handler.
• The 28th Critics Choice Awards were held, and once again, SS Rajamouli’s RRR has made India proud, as the film scored two awards. RRR won Best Song award for Naatu Naatu, as well as Best Foreign Language film. RRR was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects.

Best Animated Series: “Harley Quinn”

Best Foreign Language Series: “Pachinko”

Best Comedy Special: “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special”

Best Talk Show: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

SeeHer Award: Janelle Monáe

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Bridges

 RANKING

For First Time Ever, Environment Tops Global Risks

• The world faces a set of risks that feel both wholly new and eerily familiar. The Global Risks Report 2023 explores some of the most severe risks we may face over the next decade. As we stand on the edge of a low-growth and low-cooperation era, tougher trade-offs risk eroding climate action, human development and future resilience.The World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, Switzerland released the 18th edition of the Global Risk Report 2023 based on the 2022-2023 Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS).
• The next decade will be characterized by environmental and societal crises, driven by underlying geopolitical and economic trends. “Cost-of-living crisis” is ranked as the most severe global risk over the next two years, peaking in the short term. “Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse” is viewed as one of the fastest deteriorating global risks over the next decade, and all six environmental risks feature in the top 10 risks over the next 10 years.