23rd January, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL

PM Modi names 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra Awardees

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees.
The Prime Minister attended the event, in Port Blair via videoconferencing. He also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji.
The memorial will be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep in Port Blair. The memorial will consist of Netaji's Museum, Heritage trail, ropeway connected to Port Blair and a children's park.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that, a new history is being written today, as the nation celebrates Parakram Diwas marking the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Mr. Modi said that the coming generations will remember this history and be inspired by it.
The Prime Minister said that the government recognised the great valour and supreme sacrifices of India's brave soldiers, for whom nation first is the only motto. The naming of islands has deep messages like Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat, eternity of sacrifices made by Indian soldiers and the great valour of the Indian Army.

Centre releases endorsement guidelines for celebrities, influencers & virtual influencers on social media platforms

The Centre has released endorsement guidelines for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on social media platforms.
The guidelines aim to ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products or services. This has led to an increased risk of consumers being misled by advertisements and unfair trade practices by these individuals on social media platforms.
The guidelines in response to the rapidly growing digital world, where advertisements are no longer limited to traditional media like print, television and radio. Any celebrity or influencer who has access to an audience and can influence their purchasing decisions or opinions about a product, brand, or experience must disclose any material connection with the advertiser.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has published Guidelines for prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 last year. These guidelines outline the criteria for valid advertisements and the responsibilities of manufacturers, service providers, advertisers, and advertising agencies.
These guidelines also touched upon the celebrities and endorsers. It states that misleading advertisement in any form, format or medium is prohibited by law.

Fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir inducted into Indian Navy

The fifth Kalvari class submarine Vagir was commissioned into the Indian Navy today, January 23. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar was the Chief Guest at a ceremony held at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
The submarine has been built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France. Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Vagir is expected to boost the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests. It is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and surveillance missions.
Launched and named ‘Vagir’ on 12th November 2020 Kalvari has the distinction of having the lowest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines till date.

UNESCO dedicates this year's International Day of Education to Afghan girls and women

UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education on the 24th of January, 2024 to Afghan girls and women. Director general Audrey Azoulay said that no country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education and it is a universal human right that must be respected.
The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay. According to UNESCO, currently, around 80 per cent of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school under the Taliban rule, as they denied them access to secondary schools and universities.

INTERNATIONAL

Jacinda Ardern announces resignation as PM of New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down by next month. Ms. Ardern will not also contest general elections set for14th of October. The Prime Minister told reporters that 7th of February will be her last day in office.
It had been a tough five and a half years as prime minister and that she was only human and needed to step aside.
She had taken time to consider her future over the summer break.
Ms Jacinda Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37.
The ruling New Zealand Labour Party vote for a new leader will take place on Sunday, the party leader will be the prime minister until the next general election.

Pacific island nations urge Japan to postpone release of water from Fukushima nuclear power plant

Pacific island nations are urging Japan to postpone the release of water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant due to concerns that fisheries will be contaminated, according to the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) .
The Japanese government announced last week that water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant could be released into the sea this spring or summer, alarmed island nations still dealing with the fallout from decades of nuclear testing.
After treatment, Japan approved the release of more than 1 million tonnes of water from the site into the ocean in April 2021. The PIF, a regional bloc of 17 island nations, claims that releasing the water will have a significant impact on fishing grounds that are vital to island economies and supply up to half of the world's tuna fish.

Ruling Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins to be new Prime Minister of New Zealand

New Zealand's ruling Labour Party today selected Mr. Chris Hipkins to replace Ms. Jacinda Ardern as its leader and the 41st Prime Minister of the country. Mr. Hipkins was the only nomination for the job and his confirmation in a party meeting today, known as the Labour caucus, was largely a formality.
His appointment to the top job followed the surprise resignation by Jacinda. He will be sworn in as the Prime Minister. Mr. Hipkins named Mr. Carmel Sepuloni as Deputy Prime Minister.
First elected to Parliament in 2008, he became a household name fronting the Government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed Health Minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID Response Minister at the end of the year.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts on Sunday. The Prime Minister took the decision following an Israeli High Court ruling against appointing the Shas Party leader to posts in government due to his conviction last year over tax offences. The court ruling came as Israel is mired in a dispute over the power of the judiciary.
Over one lakh people protested in central Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s government and its planned judicial reforms. Thousands more people protested in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced a series of judicial reforms earlier this month that would allow parliament to overturn high court decisions and give politicians more power in appointing judges.
Deri’s Shas party won 11 seats in Israel’s 120-seat Parliament, the Knesset, in November and is a key component of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition.

Brazil declares medical emergency in Yanomami territory following reports of children deaths from malnutrition

In Brazil, the government has declared a medical emergency in the Yanomami territory following reports of children dying of malnutrition and other diseases caused by illegal gold mining.
A decree published by the government said, the aim of the declaration was to restore health services to the Yanomami people that had been dismantled by the previous government.
Yanomami territory is the country's largest indigenous reservation bordering Venezuela. The government announced food packages that will be flown to the territory where some 26,000 Yanomamis live in a region of rainforest and tropical savanna the size of Portugal. Yanomami has been invaded by illegal gold miners for decades.

Burkino Faso's junta govt orders French troops to depart country within a month

Burkino Faso's junta government ordered French troops to depart the country within a month. National broadcaster RTB announced the decision, citing the official government press agency.
According to media reports, the actual decision to end the deployment of French troops in the country.
Hundreds demonstrated in the capital Ouagadougou , chanting anti-France slogans and calling upon the French army to leave the country.
The decision comes five months after France pulled its last remaining troops from the neighbouring West African nation of Mali after nine years of operation.

ECONOMY

Govt asks banks to increase credit penetration in 112 aspirational districts

The Government has called upon bankers to ensure availability of at least one banking outlet within five kilometers of all inhabited villages in aspirational districts. Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Dr. Vivek Joshi chaired a review meeting with Lead District Managers of Aspirational Districts and State Level Bankers' Committee convenors in New Delhi today. He also asked the banks to work on further increase credit penetration in 112 aspirational districts.
Banks were also requested to run financial literacy camps in villages with the help of Panchayati Raj institutions to further improve the performance of financial inclusion schemes. Dr. Joshi appreciated the efforts of State Level Bankers' Committee in furthering the drive of financial Inclusion in the country and requested them to utilise the next six months to achieve the set milestones.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA awards 425 million to Boeing Company for agency's sustainable flight demonstrator project

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has awarded 425 million dollars to Boeing Company for the agency's sustainable flight demonstrator project.
Under the project, Boeing will work with NASA to build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft and validate technologies aimed at lowering emissions. The space agency said that over the next seven years, NASA will invest 425 million dollars, while Boeing and its partners will contribute the remainder of the agreement funding estimated at about 725 million dollars.
The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator single-aisle airplane aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent. The concept involves an aircraft with extra-long, ultrathin wings stabilized by diagonal struts and higher-aspect ratios that could eventually accommodate advanced propulsion systems.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the goal of the project is to produce and test a full-scale demonstrator that will help lead to fuel-efficient future commercial airliners.

SPORTS

Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins India Open Badminton title

Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the India Open title. He defeated World No.1 Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles final of the India Open Badminton Championship 22-20, 10-21 and 21-12 today at K. D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Earlier, Korean sensation An Seyoung won the Women's singles final. She beat World No.1 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 15-21, 21-16, 21-12.

AWARDS

Indian films bag award for best script writer and best actress at DIFF

Two Indian films bagged awards for the best script writer and best actress in the Asian Film Competition section at the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) .
Anik Dutta directed film Aparajito (The Undefeated) got the best scriptwriting award while Ketaki Narayan was judged the best actress for her role in Krishnendu Kalesh directed film Prappeda (Hawk’s Muffin).
The Award giving ceremony was preceded by colourful dance performances by the artists of the Shilpkala Academy who performed the traditional dance from the hill areas of Bangladesh among others.
Ikkei Watanabe from Japan got the best actor award for the film Nakodo- Matchmakers (Marriage Counsellor) directed by Naoki Maeda. Ali Ghavitan from Iran got the best director award for the film Zendegi va Zendegi (Life and Life).
The Iranian Film Bi-Mother (Motherless) got the best film award by the jury at the DIFF. In the Bangladesh panorama category, Khandaker Sumon directed film Saatao (Memories of Gloomy Monsoons) got the best film award.

Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain's ISA Award for Service to Humanity

Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder Dr Sanduk Ruit has won the ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.
The award carries a cash prize of USD 1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medal. Dr Ruit is pioneer in delivering high-quality microsurgical procedures in remote eye camps. He made modern eye care affordable and accessible to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He is fondly called as "God of Sight" to have saved 1,20,000 eyesight who would have otherwise gone blind in absence of treatment.
Dr Ruit has trained more than 650 doctors, teaching them to cure preventable blindness. He is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award by the GoI, The National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' congratulated senior ophthalmologist Ruit for receiving prestigious Bahrain’s ISA award

Published date : 23 Jan 2023 06:32PM