22nd June, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
PM Modi calls upon G20 countries to create path for increased research collaborations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that education is not only the foundation upon which our civilization has been built, but it is also the architect of humanity's future. Mr Modi emphasized that foundational literacy forms a strong base for the youth and India is combining it with technology.
G20 countries with their respective strengths can play a key role in promoting research and innovation, especially among the Global South.
Mr Modi urged all to create a path for increased research collaborations. He expressed confidence that the group will come out with an inclusive, action-oriented and future-ready education agenda.
The ‘National Initiative for Proficiency in reading with Understanding and Numeracy'', or ‘Nipun Bharat’ initiative by the Government and expressed happiness that ‘Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’ has been identified as a priority by G20 as well.

President presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023 to nurses for their distinguished services

President DroupadiMurmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023 to nurses at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The awards are a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to society. It was instituted in 1973 by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

Indian Army celebrates International Yoga Day with fervour

Indian Army today celebrated International Yoga Day with fervour. The Army formed a ‘Bharatmala’ by conducting Yoga all along the border areas of the nation. The troops, families including children and defence civilians actively participated in the event.
Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande was the Chief Guest at the mass Yoga event organised at Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantt, in New Delhi. The Army Chief’s participation encouraged everyone to make Yoga a daily habit. As part of the national effort, the Indian Army has been regularly engaging the local populace, particularly in the remote border areas to spread awareness as also to conduct workshops for the proliferation of Yoga.

North India's first Skin Bank inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital; Deceased donors can donate skin

North India's first Skin Bank has been inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital. It is a bank where deceased donors can donate their skin which will be helpful in treating burns. The skin can be donated within six hours of death and utilized for burns and trauma patients after processing.
The facility will be a boon for patients and help in providing a better quality of life for people suffering from severe burns and injuries. Talking to AIR News, the Medical Superintendent of the Safdarjung Hospital, Dr B L Sherwal described it as a significant achievement adding that the hospital is also planning to open a separate website for the skin bank so that people can avail of this facility easily.

Also Read: May Weekly Current Affairs (Important Dates) Bitbank: When is 'Anti-Terrorism Day' observed in India?

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INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine’s allies pledge several billion dollars for nation’s reconstruction

Ukraine’s allies have pledged several billion dollars in non-military aid to rebuild the country’s war-ravaged infrastructure, fight corruption and help pave the country’s road to membership in the European Union. Stressing the vast scale of the task, diplomats and political leaders at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London urged private-sector companies to invest and revive an economy battered by almost 16 months of war.
Delegates from more than 60 countries attended the conference, which was both a fundraising forum and a message to Russia that Ukraine’s Western supporters are in it for the long haul. The World Bank has estimated the cost of the invaded nation’s reconstruction at more than $400 billion, a figure rising daily alongside the human toll of Russia’s aggression. The U.S. would give more than $1.3 billion in new aid, including more than $500 million to restore and improve Ukraine’s battered energy grid.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in support through 2027, while Britain pledged 240 million pounds ($305 million) in aid and 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) in World Bank loan guarantees for Ukraine. Germany announced 381 million euros ($416 million) in humanitarian aid.

List Of Most Liveable Cities 2023 Revealed

Austria's capital Vienna has been named as the world's "most liveable city" for 2023, as per a list released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The list contains the names of 173 cities around the world that have been ranked based on a number of significant factors, including health care, education, stability, infrastructure and the environment. Five cities from India - Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai - are also in the list based on their performance in various metrics.
The EIU is a sister organisation to The Economist and releases its Global Liveability Index every year.
After Vienna, Denmark's Copenhagen is placed second, retaining its position. Australia's Melbourne and Sydney are also on the list, ranked third and fourth.
Canada has the highest number of cities - 3 namely Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto - in top 10. Two Swiss cities are also among the top in the liveability index, with Zurich taking sixth place and Geneva tying for seventh place with Calgary.
Osaka in Japan has secured the 10th position.
From India, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad are just shy of the 60th place along with Chennai. New Delhi and Mumbai have secured the 60th position in the EIU list.

China blocks proposal by India and US at UNs to designate Pakistan-based LeT terrorist Sajid Mir as global terrorist

China has blocked a proposal by India and the U.S. at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based LeT terrorist Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a global terrorist. Yesterday, Beijing blocked the proposal, which had been moved by the U.S. and co-designated by India to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as a global terrorist and subject him to assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.
In September last year, it was learned that China had put a hold on the proposal to designate Mir at the UN. Beijing has now blocked the proposal. Mir is one of India's most wanted terrorists and has a bounty of 5 million US dollars placed on his head by the U.S. for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
In June last year, Mir was jailed for over 15 years in a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan. Pakistani authorities had in the past claimed Mir had died, but Western countries remained unconvinced and demanded proof of his death. This issue became a major sticking point in FATF's assessment of Pakistan's progress on the action plan late last year.
Mir is a senior member of the Pakistan-based LeT and is wanted for his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The US State Department has said, Mir was LeT’s operations manager for the attacks, playing a leading role in their planning, preparation, and execution.

UAE's Port Rashid To Anchor Ocean Ring of Yoga, with INS Brahmaputra Promoting Unity and Wellness Across Oceans

This year, the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2023, will witness a unique feature called the Ocean Ring of Yoga. As part of this initiative, the Indian Navy and Merchant ships will organize Common Yoga Protocol demonstrations at ports and vessels of friendly countries in different oceans.
To commemorate the occasion, the IDY 2023 celebrations will be held at Mina (Port) Rashid in Dubai, jointly organized by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and DP World. The event will take place at DP World Cruise Terminal 3 from 7 am to 9 am. The celebrations at Mina Rashid hold great historical and symbolic importance, representing the long-standing and evolving relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates.
The Chief Guest for the event will be Dr. Thani bin Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, the Indian Navy Ship INS Brahmaputra will dock at Mina Rashid, bringing with it a contingent of over 200 sailors who will actively participate in the IDY 2023 celebrations.
The Ocean Ring of Yoga, along with the celebrations at Mina Rashid, highlights the inclusive nature of yoga and its ability to connect people across different nations and oceans.

Number of refugees globally stood at 35.3 million by end of 2022: UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said, the number of refugees globally stood at 35.3 million by the end of 2022, an increase of more than eight million from the year before.
UNHRC said, around 52 percent of all refugees came from just three countries, Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The UN designated 20th June as World Refugee Day to raise awareness about the situation of refugees worldwide.
According to international law, refugees are people who are forced to flee their home countries to escape persecution or a serious threat to their life or freedom.

ECONOMY
Fitch Ratings raises India's economic growth forecast to 6.3 percent for current fiscal year

Fitch Ratings has raised India's GDP forecast to 6.3 percent from 6 percent for current fiscal year. This is primarily because of a stronger out-turn in the first quarter and near-term momentum.
The GDP growth in January-March was higher than expected and there has been a recovery in manufacturing, a boost from construction and an increase in farm output. The rating agency has estimated a growth of 6.5 per cent each for 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years.

SPORTS
India begin campaign at SAFF Championships with 4-0 win over Pakistan

In SAFF Championship 2023, the Indian men's football team defeated arch-rival Pakistan 4-0 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru last night.
For India, captain Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick while Udanta Singh Kumam scored the fourth goal in the 81st minute. With this, India has begun its tournament journey on a winning note.
Sunil Chhetri-led India are the highest-ranked team in Group A. They are 101st in the FIFA rankings. Kuwait are world No. 143 followed by Nepal at 174. Nepal were the runners-up in the last edition in 2021. Pakistan are ranked lowest at 195th.

Bhavani Devi becomes first Indian to win bronze medal at Asian Fencing Championships in China

Olympian C. A. Bhavani Devi has created history by defeating reigning World Champion Misaki Emura in the Asian Fencing Championship quarterfinal and securing India its first-ever medal at the event.
The Indian fencer stunned the world number one 15-10 to enter the women’s sabre semifinal.
Bhavani, however, lost to Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova in the semifinals, 15-14, securing a bronze medal.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur has congratulated Bhavani Devi for her victory.
Bhavani Devi as a trailblazer and an inspiration to fellow athletes. He said, Bhavani Devi elevated the sport to the recognition it deserves.

AWARDS

Salman Rushdie Receives Prestigious German Peace Prize

Salman Rushdie, the renowned British-American author, has been awarded the prestigious German peace prize for his outstanding contributions. The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade jury recognized Rushdie as a passionate defender of freedom of thought and expression. This honor comes about a year after the harrowing attack he experienced.
Traditionally, the peace prize is awarded at Frankfurt’s St. Pauls Church, a place of historical significance in Germany. This church hosted the Frankfurt National Assembly, the first freely elected parliament for all German states, in 1848.
In 2021, amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the peace prize was awarded to Serhiy Zhadan, a renowned Ukrainian writer and musician. Zhadan’s humanitarian stance and his efforts to help those affected by the war were highly appreciated.
In 2020, the peace prize went to Tsitsi Dangarembga, a Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker. Dangarembga’s trilogy of novels highlighted the struggle for dignity and self-determination among women in Zimbabwe.
The 2019 peace prize was conferred upon Amartya Sen, an economist and philosopher. Sen was honored for his groundbreaking work on combating social inequality and promoting global justice.

Acharya N. Gopi to Receive Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar Award

Acharya N. Gopi, a renowned poet, literary critic, and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar Award. The award, instituted by Bharat Jagruthi, a cultural organization affiliated with Bharat Rashtra Samithi, aims to honor accomplished literary figures. The felicitation ceremony will take place on June 21 at the Telangana Saraswatha Parishath in Abids.
Acharya Gopi’s expertise and contributions extend beyond his writing. He has served as the Vice-Chancellor of Telugu University and has acted as the in-charge Vice-Chancellor of both Kakatiya University and Dravida University in the past. His notable roles in academia have further solidified his reputation as a multifaceted literary figure.

Published date : 22 Jun 2023 06:36PM