Around The world

GT keeps the newswire ticking by bringing you news from around the globe

France
Baguettes acquire UNESCO cultural heritage status

The French baguette has been added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. Though around six billion baguettes are baked in the nation every year, its popularity was declining. Its inclusion thus acts as a ray of hope for the nation’s traditional bakers and as a celebration of the French way of life, because “there’s nothing more quintessentially French than the baguette itself.”

UK
Chinese surveillance cameras banned

In order to reduce potential security risks, the government on Nov 24, 2022, directed its departments to put a definite halt on the installation of China-made security cameras in sensitive areas. The move has been made keeping in mind the fact that Chinese companies, especially Hikvision and Dahua, are the biggest suppliers of CCTV cameras deployed by the British administration, and are believed to have been involved in aiding human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Both the companies, however, have denied the allegations.

USA
Monkeypox rechristened as mpox by WHO

The WHO has renamed monkeypox to ‘mpox’, after having received multiple requests to do the same. The move came in response to the racist language that was used online and in other settings when the outbreak of monkeypox spread rapidly around the world earlier in May. Though both the names will continue to be used for the next one year or so, the original one will be completely discarded post that.
Equatorial       Guinea
President Teodoro Obiang wins sixth term

Obiang Mbasogo, the world’s longest-serving president, has been re-elected to the president’s office for the sixth time, extending his 43-year rule. Having received 94.9% votes, Obiang defeated Andres Esono and Buenaventura, the two opposing candidates. The nation has only had two presidents since independence, Obiang being one of them.

INDIA
PSLV rocket launches
nine satellites

In a bid to monitor the oceans, ISRO, in partnership with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, launched its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket, with a one-ton EOS-6 and eight nanosatellites aboard. Having blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, it is said to be ISRO’s final space mission for 2022. The mission also acts as a follow up to OceanSat-1 and OceanSat-2 launched in 1999 and 2009 respectively.

Australia
Endangered status for
Great Barrier Reef

UN made its plans to add the Great Barrier Reef to the list of endangered UNESCO World Heritage Sites public, citing Australia’s inadequate attempts at protecting it. The nation, however, has opposed the move, for its implementation would remove it from the World Heritage List altogether. To be certain, the government’s reportedly in serious talks with the conservation experts at UNESCO.