Latest Current Affairs For Friday 24th February, 2023

University of Auckland, Tata Memorial Hospital sign MoU for cancer care

Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and Waipapa Taumata Rau (Auckland University) signed an MoU to engage in long-term cooperation in cancer care.

TMH is the most renowned cancer care hospital and research center in India.

Initial projects envisaged for the partnership include a digital platform:

For clinical trials to track study-related activities for patients, investigators, and regulators. 

To make outpatient clinics more efficient. 

To enhance prescription medicine safety. 

Veteran CPI-M Leader TK Rangarajan receives Lifetime Achievement Award

A veteran CPI-M leader, T K Rangarajan has been honored with the Sansad Ratna Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.

Thirteen MPs were nominated for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023.

The 13th edition of the award ceremony will be held on March 25 in New Delhi.

Sansad Ratna Awards:

It was instituted in 2010 and inspired by the teachings of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

It recognizes and felicitates the top-performing MPs based on their work in the apex legislative body. 

INS Nireekshak awarded on-the-spot Navy chief Unit Citation for salvage ops

In a first for the Indian Navy, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Harikumar awarded an ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation to INS Nireekshak in Kochi.

Reason: For deep sea diving and undertaking salvage operations under the most challenging circumstances. 

He also awarded commendations to the crew involved in the salvage operation.

INS Nireekshak:

It is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel of the Indian Navy.

It was built in 1985 by Mazgaon Shipbuilders.

JP Nadda launches book 'Modi: Shaping a Global order in flux'

BJP national president, JP Nadda has launched a book "Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux" in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

The book is forewarded by S. Jaishankar ( Union External Affairs Minister) and edited by Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala, and Uttam Kumar Sinha.

Over 23 chapters, the book features write-ups by the likes of Amitabh Kant (former CEO of NITI Aayog), Chauthaiwale, Chinoy, Anurag Saxena, Amish Tripathi, and D.B. Venkatesh Varma (former diplomat).

SBI allows Bhim-based real-time payment with Singapore

The State Bank of India has partnered with PayNow (Singapore Payment System) for cross-border payments.

The facility is offered through SBI's Bhim SBIPay mobile application.

This partnership will allow fund transfers from India to Singapore through registered mobile numbers, and from Singapore to India using the UPI ID.

This initiative will boost the digitization initiatives, providing an easy, seamless cross-border payment facility to users.

SBI chairman: Dinesh Khara

Aishwary Pratap wins gold in men's 50m rifle 3 positions competition, ISSF

Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar has secured the gold medal in the men's individual 50m rifle 3 positions competition at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.

In the event, he defeated Alexander Schmirl from Austria by 16-6.

With this gold, India topped the medal tally with four gold and Hungary at second.

10m air rifle mixed team: Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and R Narmada Nithin

10m air pistol mixed team: Varun Tomar and Rhythm Sangwan

Men's 10m air rifle: Rudrankksh Patil

Asia Economic Dialogue 2023 begins in Pune

An annual flagship event of the External Affairs Ministry on Geo-economics, Asia Economic Dialogue is being conducted in Pune, Maharashtra from 23 -25 February 2023.

This event is being co-hosted in collaboration with Pune International Centre.

Theme 2023: Asia and the Emerging World Order.

The Dialogue also discusses themes such as Global Growth Prospects, How the Global South Will Shape the G20 Agenda and the Metaverse.

Namami Gange Executive Committee approves 9 projects

The Namami Gange Executive Committee, headed by NMCG Director General G. Asok Kumar, has approved nine Projects, worth over 1,200 crore rupees for Pollution abatement in Ganga Basin and Ghat Development.

Out of these projects, seven pertain to the abatement of pollution in the Ganga Basin and two to ghat development.

The decision was taken during the 47th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

Kerala HC becomes first to publish judgements in regional language

The Kerala High Court has become the first high court in the country to publish judgments in the regional language.

On February 21 (International Mother Language Day), Kerala published two of its recent judgments in Malayalam.

The judgments in Malayalam were uploaded on the court's website just below the English version.

The Kerala High Court made use of SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuwad Software ) tool to translate the judgments.

CJ of Kerala HC: S. Manik Umar. 

ICAR develops wheat variety to beat the heat

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed a new wheat variety called HD-3385.

It can overcome the challenges arising out due to changes in weather patterns and rising heat levels.

It is amenable to early sowing, escaping the impact of heat spikes, and can be harvested before March's end.

Recently, the Centre announced to set up of a committee to monitor the situation arising from the increase in temperatures and its impact on the current wheat crop.

Cabinet approves Air Services agreement between India and Guyana

Union Cabinet has approved the signing Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana.

This agreement will come into force after the exchange of diplomatic notes between parties.

Aim: To enable a framework for the provision of air services between the two countries. 

Indians have a sizeable presence in Guyana and are the largest ethnic group comprising about 40% of the population.

It will provide an enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity.

HDFC Bank, Lulu Exchange sign to enhance cross-border payments

HDFC Bank has signed an MoU with the UAE-based Lulu Exchange to strengthen the cross-border payments between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

In the beginning, the expertise and regulatory framework of Lulu Exchange would be utilized to launch a digital inward remittance service - 'RemitNow2India'.

It will allow UAE individuals resident to send money to any bank account in India via IMPS and NEFT through HDFC digital banking channels.

Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi wins Delhi Mayor elections

Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi has defeated BJP candidate Rekha Gupta to become the new Delhi Mayor.

She received 150 votes while Rekha Gupta got 116 seats.

She also becomes Delhi's first woman mayor in 10 years.

The election was held after the Supreme Court ruled out the possibility of nominated members participating in the voting process.

In Delhi MCD polls, the AAP had bagged 134 seats, BJP got 104 seats, and Congress bagged nine seats.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.