Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 15th December, 2022

WPI inflation declines to 21-month low at 5.85% in November 2022

According to the recent data, the Wholesale price inflation (WPI) for November 2022 has hit a 21-month low and reduced to 5.85% from 8.39% in October 2022.

On a yearly basis, WPI inflation went down from 14.87% in November 2021 to 5.85 per cent in November 2022.

Reason: To fall in prices of food items, basic metals, textiles, chemicals and chemical products, and paper and paper products compared to the same period last year.

Karnataka Health Minister inaugurates 114 ‘Namma Clinics’

The Karnataka Health Minister, Dr K Sudhakar has inaugurated 114  Namma clinics in all the districts of Karnataka.

Aim: To provide elderly care, emergency medical services, health check-ups and medicines to urban poor. 

In the initial phase, 114 clinics has launched simultaneously across the state.

The government is working to operationalise all 438 Namma clinics across the state soon and all the remaining ones will be operational by January 2023.

Home ministry set up committee to look into demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a special committee to look into the demands of a separate state for the member tribes of the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO).

The committee will be headed by the Advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, A K Mishra.

The committee also includes Mr Mandeep Singh Tull (Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau) and A K Dhyani (Director of the North East Division of MHA).

PM to participate in Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has participated in the inaugural function of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav held in Ahmedabad on 14th December, 2022.

It will be a month-long celebration which will take place from 15th December 2022 to 15th January 2023 in Ahmedabad.

The festival was hosted by BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Shahibaug.

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha was established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches new savings cum investment plan

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched new 'Guaranteed Fortune Plan', a non-linked, non-participating individual savings scheme.

It offers life cover and a lump sum amount on outliving the policy term.

The product was launched in two variants: (1) Guaranteed Savings Option, and (2) Guaranteed Cash Back Option. 

The first option provides a lump sum on outliving the policy term.

The second option offers customers guaranteed cashback at the end of every fifth policy year.

France host conference "Standing with the Ukrainian People"

France has hosted an International conference "Standing with the Ukrainian People" in Paris on 13th December 2022.

Aim: To coordinate international support for civilian resilience in Ukraine and address the Ukrainian people's urgent humanitarian needs.

The conference was organised at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and co-organised with Ukraine.

The conference was virtually attended by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Messi announced retirement after Qatar FIFA 2022

Argentina football player, Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will retire after the FIFA World Cup 2022 final on December 18.

He is playing at his fifth World Cup (FIFA 2022) and has surpassed Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.

With his fifth goal in Qatar FIFA 2022, he has also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at World Cups, netting 11 times.

He led Argentina to the final in the 2014 edition as well.

New Zealand passes world's first law to ban smoking for future generation

New Zealand has passed a new anti-smoking laws, which banned the future generation of NZ from purchasing tobacco.

This law has banned the selling tobacco to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and punishable by fines up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910).

The ban will remain in place for a person’s whole life.

It will also reduce the amount of nicotine, that allowed in smoked tobacco products.

Retailers licensed to sell tobacco will be cut to 600 by the end of 2023 from 6,000.

Bank of Baroda board to divestment majority stake in Nainital Bank

The board of directors of the Bank of Baroda has approved the divestment of its majority shareholding in Nainital Bank Limited (NBL).

Presently, the bank holds 98.57% of the total equity share capital Nainital Bank Limited.

The Bank of Baroda had taken over Nainital Bank in 1973 on the directions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Nainital Bank has about 150 branches across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.

National Energy Conservation Day 2022: 14th December

The Ministry of Power has organised an event to celebrate the National Energy Conservation Day in New Delhi on 14th Dec, 2022.

Aim: To showcase the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation.

President Droupadi Murmu is the Chief Guest of the event and has felicitated the winners of the National Energy Conservation and National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards.

During the event, the she has also launched EV Yatra Portal and Mobile application.

India, Finland sign joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility

India has signed a joint declaration of Intent with Finland on migration and mobility between the two countries.

It was signed by V. Muraleedharan (Mos, External Affairs) and Tuula Haatainen (Minster of Employment of Finland).

Aim: To facilitate the mobility of researchers, and professionals and to combat irregular migration.

The declaration underlines the resolve of both countries to work jointly towards developing a common framework of arrangement and cooperation.

Tennis player, Iga Swiatek named 2022 WTA Player of the Year

Polish tennis player, Iga Swiatek (World No.1) has been selected for the 2022 WTA Player of the Year by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

While, Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) and Katerina Siniakova  (Czech Republic) have been named the WTA 2022 Doubles Team of the Year.

Other awardees:

Most Improved Player of the Year: Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazilian)

Newcomer of the Year: Zheng Qinwen (Chinese)

Comeback Player of the Year: Tatjana Maria (German)

Jeremy Farrar appointed as new chief scientist of World Health Organisation

Jeremy Farrar (74) has been appointed as a new chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) and will join WHO in the second quarter of 2023.

He has replaced Soumya Swaminathan, who had served as chief scientist from 2019 to 2022.

Role: To ensure that WHO, its member states and our partners benefit from cutting-edge, life-saving science and Innovations. 

Presently, he is serving as the Director of the Wellcome Trust.

WHO DG: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy.