Today's Current Affairs 14th May 2023

NATIONAL

India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise SAMUDRA SHAKTI – 23 from 14-19 May

INS Kavaratti, indigenously designed & built ASW Corvette, arrived at Batam, Indonesia to participate in the 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 from 14-19 May 23. An Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter is also participating. The Indonesian Navy will be represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and AS565 Panther Helicopter.

Exercise Samudra Shakti is aimed at enhancing interoperability, jointness and mutual cooperation between both the navies. The Harbour phase will comprise Cross deck visits, professional Interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, and sports fixtures. And During the Sea Phase, weapon firing, Helicopter Operations, Anti-submarine warfare & air defence exercises and boarding operations are planned. Samudra Shakti -23 will showcase the high level of interoperability between the two navies and their shared commitment towards peace and stability in the region.

Indian Navy successfully test fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

Using its frontline guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao, the Indian Navy successfully test fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, The official also lauded INS Mormugao for hitting "bulls eye" with her maiden BrahMos supersonic cruise missile firing. It is the latest guided-missile destroyer to be used by the Indian Navy.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd is an India-Russian joint venture, responsible for producing supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms, India also exports the BrahMos missiles, that fly at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound,

GMR Hyderabad International Airport becomes world's most punctual airport

In a recently released report by the aviation analytical firm Cirium, GMR Hyderabad International Airport recorded 90.43 per cent On-Time Performance, for the month of March 2023.

Hyderabad airport is the only airport in the world to cross the 90 per cent mark.

The airport was also ranked 4th in the ‘Large Airports’ category with an OTP of 88.44 per cent, in November 2022. The airport was selected based on the actual gate departure service which has 80 per cent or better coverage of the actual departure time and must serve at least three regions (inclusive of its own).

Since its inception, GMR Hyderabad International Airport has ushered in a number of first-of-its-kind technological innovations for the airport sector in the country, including the first- ever integrated and centralized Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC) and an array of modern passenger information systems and technological initiatives.

SPORTS

Indian shooters Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra bag silver medals in 10-meter air rifle event at ISSF World Cup 2023

Indian shooters Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra have bagged silver medals in the men’s and women’s 10 meter air rifle events, at the ongoing ISSF World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It was the first-ever ISSF World Cup medal for 21-year-old Hriday Hazarika as well as 19-year-old Nancy Mandhotra. Hazarika made it to the men’s 10m air rifle final.

The Baku meet is the penultimate stage of the ISSF World Cup for rifle and pistol shooters.

The final stage will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before the ISSF World Championships in November at Doha. India have sent a 34-member team to the ISSF World Cup Baku 2023. The event will end today.

Indian pair Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh win gold in 10m air pistol mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup 2023

In the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup being held at Baku in Azerbaijan, Indian pair Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event .

The Indian pair defeated the Serbian legends Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic in the final match pulling off a nerve-wracking 16-14 win. It was a second ISSF World Cup gold for Sarabjot who had won the individual air pistol in Bhopal in March this year. On the other hand, it was the first senior medal for Diya at the international level. Ismail Keles and Simal Yilmaz of Turkey won bronze.

OBITURY

Eminent singer Kalyani Kazi, passes away at 87

Eminent singer and the youngest daughter-in-law of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Kalyani Kazi passes away at the age of 87, Kazi, 87, breathed her last at SSKM hospital where she was shifted from a nursing home in south Kolkata a few days back.

She had been suffering from leukaemia for quite some time and also had renal problems and died after multi-organ failure Kazi, the widow of Kazi Nazrul Islam's younger son Kazi Aniruddha, is survived by two sons and a daughter who lives in the US.

Kalyani Kazi was a member of Kazi Nazrul Islam Academy's advisory council. The musical maestro was also honoured with the Sangeet Mohashomman Award from West Bengal in 2015.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Geeta Rao Gupta appointed US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues

The US Senate has confirmed the appointment of Indian-American Geeta Rao Gupta as the 'Ambassador at Large'for global issues related to women at the State Department. According to Geeta Rao Gupta, women across the world face many inequalities and stigma and this prevents them from participating fully in the economy.

Geeta Rao Gupta is a leader on gender, women's issues, She has served as the executive director of the UN Foundation's 3D Program for Girls and Women. She also advises the UNAIDS Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and is on the boards of the InterAction and Moria Fund. She has also held the position of Co-Chair of the United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Mother's Day 2023

Mother's Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May to honour motherhood and is observed in different forms throughout the world. This year, the Mother's Day celebration falls on May 14,

History - The modern Mother's Day was championed by Anna Jarvis, an American social activist. She held campaigns to establish a national holiday to honor mothers after her own mother's death in 1905. She wanted to create a day for individuals to express their love, and gratitude to their mothers.

President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday of every May as ‘Mother’s Day' in 1914. Since then, Mother's Day has been adopted by various countries around the world.

The purpose of Mother's Day is to express love, appreciation, and gratitude towards mothers and mother figures for their unconditional love, support, and sacrifices.