Today's Current Affairs17th December 2022

INTERNATIONAL

Iran removed from U.N. women’s rights body after protest crackdown; India abstains on resolution

• In an unprecedented move, Iran has been expelled from the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in a vote on which India abstained. The US proposal at the UN Economic and Social Council to remove Iran from the panel received 29 votes, while there were eight votes against and 16 abstentions in the 54-member elected body.
• The vote came after intense lobbying by the US following widespread protests in Iran sparked by outrage against the edict compelling women to wear hijabs.
• US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Council that CSW, which is “the premier UN body for promoting gender equality and empowering women” cannot function if it is “undermined from within” by Iran. “Iran’s membership at this moment is an ugly stain on the Commission’s credibility,” she said.
• Mahsa Amin who died after being held by “morality police” in September. Her death sparked the protests, during which, “government security forces have reportedly detained and tortured thousands of people, killed hundreds of peaceful protestors, and badly injured many more. Men supporting women in the streets are now being targeted with the death penalty.

Solar panels mandatory for new homes after 2025 at Tokyo city in Japan

• The Japanese capital local assembly passed a new regulation which stated that all new houses in Tokyo built by large-scale homebuilders after April 2025 must install solar power panels to cut household carbon emissions. Currently, Japan stands at fifth spot in the world’s largest carbon emitters list.
• This new regulation for new built homes requires about 50 major builders to equip homes of up to 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet) with renewable energy power sources, mainly solar panels.
• Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike also noted that just 4% of buildings where solar panels could be installed in the city have them now. However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 2,000 levels.

NATIONAL

India successfully carries out night trials of Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile

• India has successfully conducted night trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni V, capable of striking targets at ranges more than 5,000 kilometers with very high degree of accuracy. The missile test firing was conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. This was the latest test in the Agni missile series. According to defence sources, the test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile that are now lighter than before.
• The nigh-trials came a few days after Chinese soldiers indulged in a brawl with Indian soldiers at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Several soldiers from both sides are injured, but none of the armies reported any deaths.
• Last year, China raised concerns regarding India’s launch of an Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile citing a resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1172. The resolution was issued after India’s 1998 nuclear tests.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) is now named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme

• The Minister of Minority Affairs, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha informed that the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) has now been named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme. The integrated scheme converges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry viz. Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. The scheme has been approved by the Cabinet for the period of 15th Finance Commission.
• PM VIKAS aims to improve livelihoods of the minorities, particularly the artisan communities, using the components of skill development, education, women leadership & entrepreneurship. These components compliment each other in the ultimate objective of the scheme to increase the incomes of the beneficiaries and provide support by facilitating credit and market linkages.

Atal Innovation Mission and UNDP India launch 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab for entrepreneurs

• The 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab, Asia Pacific’s largest youth innovation movement was jointly launched by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and UNDP India December 15th 2022. The applications for this edition were launched by Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director AIM, NITI Aayog and Mr. Dennis Curry, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP India.
• Atal Innovation Mission, along with UNDP India are driving this movement through the fifth edition of Youth Co:Lab India and have been supporting young social entrepreneurs who can be a powerful force in leading social change and furthering the implementation of SDGs target actions.
• Youth Co:Lab is an initiative launched in 2019 by UNDP India in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.

 SPORTS

Rafel nadal and Iga Swiatek crowned ITF world championship 2022

• Rafa Nadal was named ITF world champion for the fifth time in his career, while top-ranked Iga Swiatek won the women's award after a stellar 2022 season, according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF). World number two Nadal came back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final in January, capturing his 21st Grand Slam trophy, before capturing his 22nd major in June with a record-extending 14th French Open title.
• The Spaniard joins his friend and recently-retired rival Roger Federer as a five-times ITF world champion behind Pete Sampras (6) and 2021 winner Novak Djokovic (7). "I'm very happy to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time," the 36-year-old Nadal, who also bagged the award in 2008, 2010, 2017 and 2019, said in a statement.

Rehan Ahmed becomes youngest player to represent England in Tests Cricket Match

• Rehan Ahmed becomes England’s youngest-ever Test Cricketer to debut in the final match between Pakistan and England. Rehan Ahmed will be 18 years and 126 days old when the match begins. Till now, Brian Close, who was 18 years and 149 days old, was the youngest player in England during the New Zealand vs England match in 1949.
• Ben Stokes announced the debut of Rehan Ahmed in the Final match of England vs Pakistan.
• Rehan Ahmed beats Brian Close for being the youngest cricketer to debut for England in Test Cricket. Rehan Ahmed is 18 years and 126 days old.

Tata Steel becomes an Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023

• Tata Steel Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India on December 13, 2022 to become an Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela. The FIH Men’s World Cup is the pinnacle of men’s hockey tournaments. The 15th edition of the esteemed event will take place in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to January 29, 2023.
• Tata Steel has contributed in strengthening the national sport of India through various top-notch high-performance residential hockey training facilities, international coaches, nutritionists, and mental and physical trainers.
• This journey started with the Naval Tata Hockey Academy which was founded in the year 2017 as a state-of-the-art facility to enable budding field hockey talent at the grassroot level in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
• Currently, there are around 65+ centres of grassroot programmes with 3000+ cadetsrun by Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives in the interiors of 3 districts of Jharkhand.
• In addition to this, 9 centres are being run by Tata Steel Foundation in the interiors of other districts of the State with 300+ cadets. These talented cadets from the grassroot centres are promoted to the Regional Development Centre, where they are given advanced training along with a better pitch and match exposure at state levels.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

15 December 2022: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel death anniversary

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 71st death anniversary. Stating that the country will forever be grateful to Patel, PM Modi said, “Remembering Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. India will always be grateful to him for his monumental service, his administrative skills, and the untiring efforts to unite our nation.”
• Sardar, or Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, was an Indian leader. From 1947 until 1950, he was India’s first deputy prime minister. He was a barrister and a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress who led the country’s independence movement and guided its integration into a single, independent nation. He was a member of the Indian National Congress’s conservative wing.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” was born in Nadiad village in present-day Gujarat on October 31, 1875.