Daily Current Affairs 17th May 2023

1. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to Inaugurate 8th All India Pension Adalat in Delhi

• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh is set to inaugurate the 8th All India Pension Adalat in Delhi on May 17. This initiative, organized by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, aims to resolve chronic pension-related cases.
• Additionally, the Minister will preside over the 50th pre-retirement counselling (PRC) workshop, providing retiring civil employees with essential information and guidance for a smooth transition into retirement.
• The All India Pension Adalat, launched on an experimental basis in 2017, has been instrumental in resolving pensioners’ grievances efficiently.

2. Brazil, top chicken exporter, confirms first ever avian flu cases in wild birds

• Brazil, known as the world’s leading chicken exporter, has recently confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds.
• Although these cases mark the first-ever occurrence in the country, the Brazilian government emphasizes that the situation will not lead to a ban on the importation of Brazilian poultry products, in accordance with guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
• While the avian influenza virus poses a threat to bird populations and the farming sector, the impact on Brazil’s poultry industry remains limited.

                                  International News

3. Libyan Parliament has expelled PM Fathi Bashagha

• Libya’s political scene has been thrown into turmoil as the nation’s eastern-based parliament voted to remove Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha, referring him for investigation and appointing Finance Minister Osama Hamad as his replacement. The reasons for Bashagha’s ousting are unclear.
• As a former interior minister, he was chosen over a year ago to rival Tripoli-based premier Abdul Hamid Dbeibah under a United Nations-brokered deal to create a power-sharing government and establish democracy in Libya.

4. Ludovit Odor Assumes Office as Slovakia’s Caretaker Prime Minister

• Ludovit Odor, a former Vice-Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia, has been appointed as Slovakia’s new caretaker Prime Minister. Following the resignation of former caretaker Prime Minister Eduard Heger on May 7, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova entrusted Odor with the responsibility of leading the country until the snap elections scheduled for September.
• In his inaugural address, Odor expressed his commitment to bringing calm and professionalism to the governance of Slovakia.

                                       States News

5. Uttar Pradesh Now Holds 2nd Position In GI Tagged Products

• Uttar Pradesh now holds the second position in the country in terms of having the maximum number of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged goods.
• The state has received GI tags for three more One District One Product (ODOP) crafts, taking the total number of GI-tagged products in the state to 48. The three newly-tagged ODOP crafts are Mainpuri tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura stone craft, and Sambhal horn craft.
• The GI tag is a valuable asset for the state of Uttar Pradesh. It helps to promote the state’s traditional crafts and products, and also helps to boost the local economy. The GI tag also helps to create awareness about the state’s rich cultural heritage.

6. Inauguration of online education program ‘Pahal’ for rural children

• The online rural education initiative ‘Pahal’ was officially launched by Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra at Government UP Sainik Inter College in Sarojini Nagar.
• This program, developed through a partnership between the Department of Secondary Education and IIT Kanpur, aims to provide education to rural communities through online platforms.

                                 Appointments News

7. Paytm appoints Bhavesh Gupta as president and COO

• One 97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Paytm, announced the appointment of Bhavesh Gupta as the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the fintech company.
• Previously serving as the Senior Vice President, Gupta will now take on the responsibility of overseeing various verticals within Paytm, including lending, insurance, online and offline payments, consumer payments, and spearheading important initiatives such as user growth, operational risk, fraud risk, and compliance. Gupta will report directly to Paytm’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

14. India and Indonesia bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti-23

• The ASW Corvette, INS Kavaratti, which was built and designed in India, has reached Batam, Indonesia to participate in the 4th India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise, Samudra Shakti-23, from May 14 to May 19, 2023.
• The Indian Navy’s Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter will also be part of the exercise, while the Indonesian Navy will be represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and AS565 Panther Helicopter.

Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams

• Chief of Naval Staff, India: Admiral R. Hari Kumar PVSM
• President of Indonesia: Joko Widodo
• Capital of Indonesia: Jakarta
• Currency of Indonesia: Indonesian rupiah

                               Summits and Conferences News

15. PM Modi to visit Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia for G7 and Quad Summits

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go on a three-nation tour, starting on May 19th and concluding on May 24th, which includes the G-7 Summit in Japan and the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Australia.
• From the 19th to the 21st of May, the Prime Minister will visit Hiroshima, Japan, for the G-7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency, accepting an invitation from the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

                                        Important days

16. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023 observed on 17 May

• World Telecommunication Day, now called World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, is observed on May 17 under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• This occasion serves to emphasize the influence of the Internet and various communication technologies on global communities. Numerous regions worldwide continue to encounter obstacles concerning connectivity, and the ITU endeavors to narrow this divide.
• The theme for this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is “Enabling the least developed nations through information and communication technologies.” The event will take place at the International Telecommunication Union headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland.

17. India observes National Dengue Day on May 16 every year

• National Dengue Day is observed on May 16 every year to raise awareness about the mosquito-borne disease. Dengue cases usually surge in India during and after the monsoon season.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organises different events to observe National Dengue Day at several levels across the country. Dengue is caused by four distinct viruses and is spread by the female Aedes mosquitoes, which also transmit yellow fever, Zika viruses, and chikungunya.
• The recent information from a Lancet study indicates that between January and October of last year, approximately 1,10,473 cases of dengue were reported in India. As a result, it’s critical to be aware of the disease’s necessary preventative measures.

                                  Miscellaneous News

18. India & Bangladesh launch ’50 Start-ups Exchange Programme’

• The initial batch of 10 start-up companies participating in the 50 start-ups exchange program between India and Bangladesh have returned to Dhaka after a successful visit to India from May 8-12. These start-ups operate in various sectors, including e-commerce, health, transport and logistics, energy, education, and skill development.
• The exchange program facilitates visits between 50 start-ups from Bangladesh and 50 start-ups from India, aiming to foster partnerships, expand business relations, share experiences and knowledge, and promote collaboration among young entrepreneurs.
• The framework of this program was established during recent bilateral summits between the Prime Ministers of both countries.