Today's Current Affairs 25th December 2022

INTERNATIONAL

Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed as Fiji Prime Minister after close election

• Sitiveni Rabuka was confirmed as Fiji’s next Prime Minister more than two decades after the former military commander first held the office in a term lasting nearly seven years. The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva. It also signals the end of former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s 16 years in power. In the 55-member Parliament of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka secured 28 votes against Bainimarama’s 27 votes.
• Sitiveni Rabuka , the head of the People’s Alliance Party, was elevated to the position after forming a majority coalition with two other parties following last week’s close and contentious election. He was the instigator of two military coups in 1987. He was democratically elected as Prime Minister of Fiji, serving from 1992 to 1999, and again in 2022 leading a three-party coalition. He also served as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs from 1999 to 2001, and later as Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council from 2001 to 2008.

"Bomb Cyclone": Monster Storm Could Bring Deadly Winter Weather To US

• Bomb Cyclone has thrashed US and Canada with extreme climate and has trapped the residents inside their houses with snow and power outages. During the Christmas season, the bomb cyclone occurred due to a low temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thousands of flights have been canceled and several highways have been blocked. People are advised not to step outside their homes as it can be life-threatening.
• Due to Artic Blast, the US has been experiencing an extremely cold climate, heavy snow, and intense wind. The authorities have ordered to put a halt on traveling during the Christmas season because of the Bomb Cyclone.
• During the Christmas season, the travel plans of millions were affected due to the Bomb Cyclone. Approximately 7,423 flights were delayed and 3,400 were canceled. The roads are considered extremely dangerous to travel and the government has also urged people to expect zero visibility and snow drifts. Highways are closed completely, and people are advised to avoid traveling.

 NATIONAL

Garuda Aerospace receives Type certification and RTPO approvals from DGCA

• Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace has received the Type Certification and RPTO (Remote Pilot Training Organisation) approvals from the Director General of Civil Aviation for the indigenously designed kisan drones.
• DGCA Type certification is provided on the basis of the quality check and is issued after a rigorous testing process of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
• The kisan drones are developed for agricultural purposes and with the Type Certification received for the GA-AG model, Garuda Kisan drones were eligible for Rs 10 lakh unsecured loans from the agri-infrastructure fund offered by the Centre.
• According to DGCA, a remote pilot training organisation is an organisation authorised by the DGCA to impart remote pilot training to any individual seeking for a remote pilot certificate under Rule 34 of Drone Rules 2021.

10th Edition of North East Festival begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi

• The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The festival aims to promote the North East region’s diverse life, culture, traditions, and tourism. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated the MSME Exhibition at the North East Festival.
• The last two editions were held in Guwahati in a hybrid model due to rising Covid in the national capital. Since its inception in 2013, this festival has contributed a lot in promoting tourism in the North Eastern states.
• The festival will provide an opportunity to entrepreneurs from North East regions especially women and SC/ST entrepreneurs to showcase their skills, products and create new opportunities for growth.

Ladakh celebrates Losar Festival to mark Ladakhi New Year

• Ladakh celebrated Losar Festival to mark the Ladakhi New Year. Losar Festival is celebrated in Ladakh on 24th December 2022. The Losar Festival or the Ladakhi New year is a major socio-religious festival of Ladakh celebrated during winter.
• The Losar Festival will continue for nine days from the new year. People will celebrate by offering prayers in the name of God and goddess. They will also dance and sing in honor of Ibex and the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash.
• The Losar Festival celebrated in Ladakh marks the beginning of the New year.
• Losar has been celebrated in Ladakh for centuries and has strengthened the existing community bond.
• The festival brings joy to the lives of inhabitants of the landlocked Himalayan territory of Ladakh.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

Good Governance Day 2022: 25^th December

• Good Governance Day: Every year, in honour of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee’s birthday, India observes “Good Governance Day“. The day is devoted to former prime minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2014 announced that “Good Governance Day” will be observed annually on December 25 in memory of the former PM.
• The Indian government decided that every year December 25 would be a full day of work. The government has been commemorating Good Governance Day every year since 2014. The day is celebrated to t make sure that the country’s residents are treated fairly by the government and they receive the advantages of various government services. The purpose of Good Governance Day is to increase public access to various government programmes and services via good governance. It was established with the slogan “Good Governance through e-Governance.”

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) signs agreements with MSMEs to hasten commercialisation of new products

• Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) signed agreements with MSMEs for incubation of newer technologies into commercial products. The agreements were signed to commemorate the launch of the AIC at the BARC to hasten conversion of products from research labs to the market.
• The incubation agreements are signed specifically for technologies aligned with India’s global commitments of achieving Net Zero (carbon neutrality) such as access to safe drinking water, and growth of potential import substitutes for advanced and affordable healthcare in the country.
• The technologies include Alkaline Water Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen production, DC Accelerator for Wastewater Treatment, novel Gamma Monitoring, and X-Band LINAC-based X-ray source for radiotherapy machines.
• The launch of AIC-BARC was announced in the 2020 Budget Speech of the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and will complement the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative of the government.

 RANKING

PV Sindhu 12th highest-paid female athlete in world, only Indian and badminton player in top 25

• Forbes annual list: India’s badminton star, PV Sindhu is the only Indian sportsperson to feature in the top 25 of Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes. Sindhu, the 2016 Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, occupies the 12th spot in the list. Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka tops the list. For the third straight year, Osaka tops Forbes’ annual list of the World’s highest-paid female athletes. The list is dominated by tennis players once again.

List of highest paid female athletes of the year:

1. Naomi Osaka (Japan) – Tennis – $51.1 million
2. Serena Williams (USA) – Tennis – $41.3 million
3. Elieen Gu (China) – Skiing – $20.1 million
4. Emma Raducanu (UK) – Tennis – $18.7 million
5. Iga Swiatek (Poland) – Tennis – $14.9 million
6. P.V. Sindhu (India) – Badminton – $7.1 million

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

New Bank Locker Rules To Take Effect On January 1, 2023

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently said that all leading banks should issue the locker agreement to its holders before January 1, 2023, as the new locker rules will be implemented from that date. Earlier, the RBI had announced revised guidelines on August 8, 2021, which became effective from January 1, 2022. And now, all the locker owners must display their eligibility for a new locker arrangement and sign a renewal agreement prior to January 1, 2023.
• Banks shall ensure that any unfair terms or conditions are not incorporated in their locker agreements.
• Further, the terms of the contract shall not be more onerous than required in the ordinary course of business to safeguard the interests of the bank.
• Banks shall renew their locker agreements with existing locker customers by January 1, 2023.
• All banks need to circulate a new locker agreement to their safe deposit locker holders under the new rules.
• According to the Central bank, all the lenders can use the IBA-drafted model locker agreement, which should comply with the updated instructions and Supreme Court’s directives.

India clears defence purchase plan worth Rs 84328 crore

• In a step to augment the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard in future, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 24 Capital Acquisition Proposals. These proposals include six for the Indian Army, six for the Indian Air Force, 10 for the Indian Navy and two for the Indian Coast Guard for a total value of Rs 84,328 crore.
• It is pertinent to mention that 21 proposals, worth Rs 82,127 crore (97.4%), are approved for procurement from indigenous sources. This unprecedented initiative of DAC will not only modernise the Armed Forces but also provide a substantial boost to the defence industry to achieve the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.