Current affairs 14 December 2024

Indian Projects Win UNESCO Heritage Conservation Awards.

• Two Indian heritage conservation projects have won UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024 Awards.
• Award of Distinction:: Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project, Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu.
• Award of Merit:: BJPCI Conservation Project, Mumbai, India.
• It aims to promote efforts to restore, conserve, and transform structures.
• UNESCO: Headquarters: Paris, France.

D. Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion.

• Indian GM D. Gukesh, 18, won the 18th World Chess Championship, defeating Ding Liren in Singapore with 7.5 points to 6.5.
• In a total of 14 matches, Gukesh won 3, Ding succeeded in 2, and the remaining 9 matches were drawn.
• Gukesh broke Garry Kasparov’s record, becoming the youngest-ever champion and the second Indian to win the title after Viswanathan Anand, who won it four times.

IEPFA and ACCA Signed MoU to Boost Financial Literacy in India.

• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) signed an MoU to promote financial literacy nationwide, including rural and urban areas.
• The collaboration focuses on ACCA’s Financial Education for You (FEFY) program to equip individuals with skills for prudent financial decision-making.

India Backs UNGA Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire.

• India joined 157 nations in voting for a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
• The resolution also supported the UNRWA's mandate despite Israeli opposition and accusations linking the agency to Hamas.
• India's stance emphasizes humanitarian aid, ceasefire, dialogue, and adherence to international law.

Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 FIFA World Cup.

• FIFA announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East after Qatar 2022.
• Morocco, Portugal, and Spain were confirmed as the joint hosts for the 2030 edition.
• The 48-team tournament will be hosted for the first time in the 2026 World Cup by three countries, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.