Daily Current Affairs 23rd May 2023

1. Israel ties up with IIT-M to set up water technology centre

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has entered into a partnership with Israel to establish the ‘India-Israel Center of Water Technology’ (CoWT).
• This joint initiative aims to address the challenges in water resources management and water technologies in India.
• The Letter of Intent (LoI) for the center was signed by representatives from both countries, highlighting the significance of this collaboration in ensuring water security for India.

2. World’s Largest Car Exporter Title Shifts from Japan to China

• According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of this year, China exported 1.07 million vehicles, a 58% increase compared to the same period in 2022, becoming the world’s largest exporter of cars, surpassing Japan.
• In contrast, Japan exported 954,185 vehicles, an increase of 6% from the previous year.

                                   Business News

3. TCS, ITI get ₹15,700 crore advance orders for 1 lakh BSNL 4G sites 

• In a significant development, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has awarded advance purchase orders worth ₹15,700 crore to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and ITI Ltd for the deployment of 100,000 4G sites.
• The long-awaited announcement brings an end to months of speculation, with TCS emerging as the favored candidate for the contract.
• This collaboration marks a crucial milestone in BSNL’s journey to upgrade its infrastructure and expand its network across the country.

4. TCS Announces Generative AI Partnership with Google Cloud and New Offering for Enterprise Customers

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services company, has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud and unveiled a new offering called TCS Generative AI.
• This collaboration aims to leverage Google Cloud’s generative AI services to develop customized business solutions that drive growth and transformation for clients across various industries.
• With its extensive domain expertise and investment in research and innovation, TCS has built a robust portfolio of AI-powered solutions, including AIOps, Algo Retail™, smart manufacturing, digital twins, and robotics.

                           Science and Technology News

5. SpaceX Sends First Saudi Arabian Astronauts to the International Space Station

• In a groundbreaking moment for Saudi Arabia, the country’s first astronauts in decades have embarked on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Sponsored by the Saudi Arabian government, a female stem cell researcher named Rayyanah Barnawi and a Royal Saudi Air Force fighter pilot named Ali al-Qarni joined a crew led by a retired NASA astronaut from Kennedy Space Center.
• The mission was organized by Axiom Space, a Houston-based company, and executed by SpaceX.

6. Garuda Aerospace and Naini Aerospace Collaborate to Manufacture Make in India Drones

• Garuda Aerospace, a leading drone manufacturer, has joined hands with Naini Aerospace, a subsidiary of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, to establish a joint development partnership.
• This collaboration aims to enable Garuda Aerospace to manufacture Advanced Precision Drones within India for various applications.
• The partnership signifies a significant step towards achieving the Indian government’s vision of producing 1 lakh Made in India drones by 2024.

                              Ranks and Reports News

7. Financial Times Global Ranking Puts IIM Kozhikode Among the Top Four Schools in India

• The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has achieved recognition in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings 2023 (FT Rankings). The debut in FT Rankings places IIM Kozhikode at the 72nd position among the top 75 providers of open-enrolment executive programs globally.
• This accomplishment further solidifies IIM Kozhikode’s status as a leading provider of executive education worldwide.

                          Summits and Conferences News

8. ‘World Health Assembly’ PM Modi addresses 76th Session in Geneva, Switzerland

• The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the 76th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
• He congratulated the World Health Organization (WHO) on serving the world for 75 years and expressed confidence that the WHO would set goals for the next 25 years as it reaches its 100 year milestone.

                                    Awards News

9. Narendra Modi conferred with Papua New Guinea and Fiji’s highest honour

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the highest honours of Papua New Guinea and Fiji, an unprecedented acknowledgement of a non-resident in the two Pacific island nations.
• During his maiden visit to Papua New Guinea, Modi hosted a significant summit between India and 14 Pacific island countries to bolster bilateral ties.
• Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae, awarded Modi with the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), which is the country’s highest civilian award.

                                     Sports News

• Veteran actor Sarath Babu has passed away at a city hospital in Hyderabad. The 71-year-old was suffering from kidney and liver-related issues leading to many speculations over his health in the past few weeks.
• Born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on July 31, 1951, in Amudalavalasa in AP, he adopted Sarath Babu for the screen.
• He started his career in films in 1973 with Rama Rajyam in Telugu but got a big break with K Balachander for the film Nizhal Nijamagiradu in 1978 which was remade into Idi kadha kaadu in Telugu.