22nd May, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
India to host 44th edition of annual ISO COPOLCO Plenary from 23-26th May

India is hosting the 44th edition of the annual International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) Plenary from 23 to 26 of this month. Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the four-day event in New Delhi.
The theme for the plenary this year is Challenges and Good Practices for Consumer Engagement, Empowering Consumers for a Sustainable Future, Consumer Protection, and Legal Frameworks. The committee is responsible for promoting consumer interests in the standardization process and for ensuring that standards are developed with the needs of consumers in mind.

PM Narendra Modi conferred highest civilian Honours of Fiji and Papua New Guinea for his global leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Fiji's Highest Civilian Honour "The Companion of the Order of Fiji" for his global leadership. Mr Modi received the medal from his Fiji counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka.
Governor-General Bob Dadae of Papua New Guinea also bestowed upon Mr. Modi the nation's highest civilian award, the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu. He received the award for championing the cause of unity of Pacific Island countries and spearheading the cause of global south.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held a meeting with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape and discussed a broad range of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Mod also held talks with the island nation's Governor-General Bob Dadae separately and stressed on strengthening the partnership between the two countries across multiple sectors. In a tweet, Mr Modi said he had a wonderful meeting with Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae and talked about ways to deepen bilateral relations between both the nations across different sectors.
The Prime Minister arrived in Papua New Guinea yesterday evening from Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

INS TARKASH and INS SUBHADRA Arrive in Saudi Arabia, Kickstarting AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023 Naval Exercise and Deepening Defense Ties

Port Al-Jubail, May 21, 2023 - Marking a significant milestone in the growing defense cooperation between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the INS TARKASH, the flagship frigate of the Indian Western Naval Fleet, along with the INS SUBHADRA, an offshore patrol vessel, arrived at Port Al-Jubail. The visit of these ships signifies the beginning of the harbor phase of the second edition of the naval exercise between the two nations, known as 'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023.' This year, the naval exercise also includes the participation of a maritime patrol aircraft. The inaugural edition of the exercise was successfully conducted in 2021.
Commissioned on November 9, 2012, INS TARKASH is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Talwar class. Equipped with advanced weapon-sensor technology, the vessel possesses the capability to address threats in all dimensions. Its design incorporates stealth technologies and a specialized hull for reduced radar cross-section. Notably, INS TARKASH features a range of naval systems of Indian origin. The name of the ship, derived from the Sanskrit word 'Tarkash,' meaning "Quiver of Arrows," pays homage to its agility and versatility. In the past, INS TARKASH has actively participated in humanitarian missions, such as Operation Raahat in 2015 for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Yemen, and most recently, Operation Kaveri in April 2023 for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan.
Accompanying INS TARKASH is the INS SUBHADRA, a patrol vessel of the Sukanya class. This vessel has served as a test bed for the Dhanush ship-launched ballistic missile, as well as associated stabilization and launch platforms.
'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023,' which commenced today, encompasses a series of exercises conducted on land and at sea by the two friendly navies. Upon their arrival at Jubail port, the Indian ships received a warm welcome from officials of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Border Guards, and the Indian Embassy, highlighting the cordial relations between the two countries.
The arrival of INS TARKASH and INS SUBHADRA and the commencement of the naval exercise demonstrate the deepening defense ties between India and Saudi Arabia. This collaboration serves to enhance maritime security, promote information sharing, and foster greater interoperability between the Indian and Saudi naval forces, ultimately contributing to regional stability in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf region.

INTERNATIONAL
International Day for Biological Diversity is being observed in Nepal

International Day for Biological Diversity is observed in Nepal. The International Day for Biological Diversity is being marked across Nepal today under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity'. May 22 is marked under the auspices of the United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues of ecological balance, environment conservation and sustainable development.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, this year’s theme promotes action in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The UN General Assembly in December 2000 had adopted 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In Nepal, the Department of Forest, the Department of Botany and different other agencies are organising various awareness-raising events including rallies, seminars, interactions and hiking.

Bangladesh-US joint naval exercise begins in Chattogram

The Joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise ‘Tiger Shark 40’ started at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram.
The objective of the exercise is to increase strategic capabilities of both the countries and to acquire mutual technical and procedural knowledge. It is being undertaken to improve the existing good relations between the armed forces of the two countries, said an official press release of the Bangladesh Inter Services Press Relations (ISPR) issued .
Special Forces of Bangladesh Army and Navy and US Special Forces participated in this training exercise held under the management of Commodore Swords Command.
Chattogram Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury attended the event as the Chief Guest. Some of the representatives of the US Embassy in Bangladesh also participated in the event. Among others, the Armed Forces Department, Army, Navy and other officials of Chittagong Naval Region and invited guests were present in the exercise.

Greece's Ruling Conservatives win parliamentary election but fall short of majority

Greece's ruling New Democracy party has won national elections but fell just short of the threshold needed to form a government.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis New Democracy party were heading for almost 41% of the vote, five seats short of a majority. With 92% of results counted, Mr Mitsotakis's party was set to win 145 seats, five seats short of the 150 required for a majority.
Now, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will give the top three parties - New Democracy, Syriza and the Socialist PASOK - three days each in turn to form a coalition government. If they all fail, President Sakellaropoulou will appoint a caretaker government to prepare new elections about a month later.
Sunday’s election is the first in Greece since its economy ceased being under strict supervision by international lenders who had provided bailout funds during the country’s nearly decade-long financial crisis.

ECONOMY
RBI asks banks to maintain data on exchange of Rs 2000 notes on daily basis

Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta Das has said the withdrawal of 2000 rupees bank notes is part of currency management.
The RBI Governor expected that most of 2000 bank notes will come back to the exchequer by 30th of September this year.
Mr. Das also clarified that RBI is withdrawing the 2000 rupees notes from circulation but they continue as legal tender. He said the RBI will be sensitive to difficulties faced by people regarding the exchange of bank notes.
The Reserve Bank of India has directed banks to maintain data on a daily basis on the amount of 2000 rupees notes exchanged and the amount that has been deposited into accounts.
The central Bank has added that banks will have to submit the information as and when called for.
RBI has said that banks must maintain adequate shaded waiting space and drinking water considering the summer season.
In the circular the RBI has mentioned that the facility of exchange of 2000 rupees banknotes across the counter shall be provided to the public, in the usual manner.

SPORTS
Indian athlete Shaili Singh bags bronze medal at Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in Japan

Indian athlete Shaili Singh clinched a bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in the women's long jump event in Yokohama, Japan.
Last night, Shaili Singh attempted a jump of 6.65 meter, which provided her third place on the podium at the Yokohama meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour gold label event.
Germany’s Maryse Luzolo won the gold medal with an effort of 6.79 meter while Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl bagged the silver medal with a 6.77 meter leap.
During the Indian Grand Prix 4 athletics meet in Bengaluru which concluded last month, Shaili Singh registered a jump of 6.76 meter, her personal best jump, the second-best by an Indian woman after the legendary athlete Anju Bobby George 6.83 meter.
Two years back, Shaili Singh had won a silver medal win at the World Athletics UNDER-20 Championships in Nairobi.

Published date : 22 May 2023 06:40PM