Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2023

Notes:
UN President urged the UN Security Council President to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and appealed for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.
The UNSC comprises five permanent members, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia and 10 non-permanent members appointed for specific periods. On a rotational basis, each of these 15 countries holds the presidency for a month. Ecuador is the President for December 2023. Article 99 of the UN Charter is the founding document of the United Nations. Based on the powers conferred through it, the UN can take action on a wide variety of issues.

Notes:
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), launched the India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES).
It is aimed at facilitating the smooth implementation of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by way of electronic exchange of origin information between the two customs administrations in respect of the goods traded under the CEPA.

Notes:
Israel has intensified its strike in and around Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city. Israel has ordered people out of nearly two dozen neighbourhoods instead of the entire region, as it did in the north.
Palestinians say that as Israel continues to attack across the besieged territory, there are no safe areas left.

Notes:
England midfielder Jude Bellingham created history, becoming the first Real Madrid player to win the Golden Boy award.
Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards. The Golden Boy Award goes to the best player aged under 21 and playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Notes:
According to IQAir, Lahore’s air quality was the worst in the world, with the air quality index (AQI) at a “hazardous” 400.
Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, continues to suffer from a smog crisis that has affected the health and livelihood of millions of people. The AQI is calculated based on five categories of pollution: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Last month, Lahore was followed by Delhi at 302 and Karachi at 204.

Notes:
As many as 118 countries signed a renewable energy pledge at the ongoing COP28 climate summit to triple the world’s green energy capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030, thereby, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels in generating energy.
According to the “Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge”, countries have to “double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from around 2% to over 4% every year until 2030”. The pledge is neither legally binding nor a part of the official COP28 calendar. COP28 also has the issue of tripling renewable energy on its agenda.

Notes:
Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal face of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
Raman Singh, who has run the state government for 15 years, has been made the Speaker of the state assembly.

Notes:
Assam cabinet has given in-principle approval to the issue of detailed procedure for permitting traditional buffalo and bull fights to be organised.
The Moh-juj festival is an integral part of the centuries-old Assamese cultural tradition. The Supreme Court in 2014 passed an order prohibiting all animal races and fights, thereby directing the Animal Welfare Board of India and the government to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering to animals.

Notes:
The children of imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi have accepted this year’s Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf, having not seen her for seven years.
The renowned advocate for women’s rights and democracy in her home country of Iran, is currently being held in the Evin prison in Tehran, the capital, serving an eight-year sentence for “spreading propaganda”.

Notes:
S.R. Bommai was the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, whose government was controversially dismissed in 1989 by the central government imposing President’s rule in the state by invoking Article 356. Bommai had challenged this decision in courts, leading to the landmark 1994 Supreme Court judgment that ushered in safeguards for protecting rights of states against arbitrary imposition of President’s rule.