27th January, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Supreme Court simplifies procedure for passive euthanasia

The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its 2018 order on passive euthanasia to make the procedure of removal of life support from terminally ill patients less cumbersome for the patients, their families and the doctors. The Supreme court removed the condition that mandated a magistrate's approval for withdrawal or withholding of life support to a terminally ill.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph said, the document will now be signed by the executor of the "living will" in the presence of two attesting witnesses, preferably independent, and attested before a notary or Gazetted Officer. The bench also said, the witnesses and the notary shall record their satisfaction that the document has been executed voluntarily and without any coercion or inducement or compulsion and with a full understanding of all the relevant information and consequences.
A living will also known as an advance directive is a legal document that specifies the type of medical care that an individual does or does not want in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes.
Euthanasia is the act of deliberately putting an end to a person’s life in order to eliminate pain or suffering.
The Supreme Court’s 2018 order on passive euthanasia wherein it recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and an aspect of Article 21 (right to life).

74th Republic Day being celebrated with traditional patriotic fervour

The Nation is celebrating its 74th Republic Day. The main function was held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi from where President DroupadiMurmu led the nation in celebrating the Republic Day. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade.
The Republic Day Parade ceremony started this morning with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the National War Memorial where he led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the brave-hearts by laying a wreath. As per the tradition, the National Flag was unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. This time, 21-gun salute was given with 105-mm Indian Field Guns replacing the vintage 25 pounder gun which reflects the growing Aatmanirbharta in defence. Four Mi-17 and V5 helicopters showered flower petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path. The Republic Day parade began with the President taking the salute.

India issues notice to Pakistan, Says to rectify the material breach of the Indus Waters treaty

India has issued notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty. According to the sources, the notice was conveyed on the 25th of this month through respective Commissioners for Indus Waters.
India has called on Pakistan to enter into intergovernmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of the treaty.
According to sources, Pakistan’s actions have adversely impinged the provisions and their implementation. It forced India to issue appropriate notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Water Treaty. Sources said, India has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in implementing the treaty in letter and spirit. Despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused the dispute settlement mechanism during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022.

INTERNATIONAL
Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic Zone

Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal special economic zone. A joint statement released by the two countries at the summit meeting said that the Indian side can arrange the master plan for the proposal.
The proposal is in the context of India's offer to encourage its companies, which have the potential to undertake overseas investments, to make use of the available investment opportunities in Egypt.
Egypt welcomes the flow of more Indian investments and promises to offer incentives and facilities as per applicable regulations and frameworks.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed the expansion of Indian investments in Egypt, which is currently more than 3.15 billion dollars.
They agreed to encourage businesses from their respective countries to explore emerging economic and investment opportunities in each other's countries.
The two leaders appreciated the strong bilateral economic engagement and expressed satisfaction at the current level of bilateral trade at a record high of 7.26 billion dollars in 2021-22, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. They expressed confidence that a bilateral trade target of 12 billion dollars could be achieved within the next five years by both countries, by diversifying the trade basket and focusing on value addition.

Senior ISIS Leader Bilal al-Sudani killed by US military forces in a special operation in Somalia

A US military operation has killed a senior ISIS leader and 10 members of the terror group in northern Somalia.
According to US officials, a key regional leader of the Islamic State group, Bilal al-Sudani was killed during a gunfight after US troops descended on a mountainous cave complex in northern Somalia. Around 10 of Sudani's Islamic State associates at the scene were also killed.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a statement said that on orders from the president, the US military conducted an assault operation in northern Somalia that resulted in the death of a number of ISIS members, including Bilal al-Sudani.
The US President authorized the strike earlier this week after consulting with top defense, intelligence, and security officials. According to media reports, from his mountain base in northern Somalia, Sudani provided and coordinated funding for IS branches, not only in Africa but also Islamic State Khorasan, the arm operating in Afghanistan.

No offer to evaluate Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership separately: Turkish Foreign Minister

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said, it was meaningless to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO bids after protests this month in Stockholm.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Cavusoglu said there is no offer to evaluate Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership separately.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said his country wanted to restore NATO dialogue with Turkey after Ankara indefinitely postponed trilateral talks with Sweden and Finland over their membership.

Published date : 27 Jan 2023 04:07PM