Today's Current Affairs 20th June 2023

INTERNATIONAL

United Nations adopt first-ever treaty to protect marine life in high seas

• Representatives from all 193 UN member nations joyfully approved the first-ever treaty to safeguard marine life in the high seas. UN Secretary-General António Guterres lauded the historical agreement for giving the ocean a chance to fight against the numerous threats that menace it.
• With unanimous support, Guterres highlighted the significant timing, noting that the oceans are experiencing a critical and multifaceted threat.
• He emphasised the treaty’s significance in addressing these dangers and urged all nations to make an effort to sign and validate it as soon as possible.
• For over 20 years, the treaty explicitly designed to secure biodiversity in waters outside of the national borders-known as the high seas-covered almost half of the earth’s surface, yet efforts to achieve consensus had repeatedly failed in the past.

Nusrat Chowdhury confirmed as first Muslim female federal judge in U.S. history

• Nusrat Chowdhury, a civil rights lawyer, has been confirmed by the Senate as the first Muslim female federal judge in US history. She will assume her lifetime appointment in Brooklyn federal court in New York after a 50-49 vote on Thursday along party lines. The confirmation drew praise from the American Civil Liberties Union, where she is the legal director of the ACLU of Illinois. Prior to that post, she served from 2008 to 2020 at the national ACLU office, including seven years as deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Programme.
• She has served on the Presidential Task Force on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System. Her appointment was consistent with President Joe Biden’s pledge to emphasise diversity in background, race and gender in his judicial nominations. Two years ago, the Senate confirmed the nation’s first federal Muslim judge, Zahid Quraishi, to serve as a district court judge in New Jersey. Quraishi’s first day on the job at a New York law firm was September 11, 2001. He would go on to join the Army’s legal arm and served two deployments in Iraq.

Ethiopia-Lebanon labour agreement contains little protection for domestic workers

• Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian workers in Lebanon could be left without legal protections and minimum wage requirements, as revealed by a recently signed bilateral labour agreement between the two countries.
• The undisclosed agreement, signed in April, was publicly promoted by officials from Ethiopia and Lebanon, but a leaked 12-page draft and eight-page worker contract seen by Middle East Eye has raised concerns regarding the rights of workers.
• The document does not include a minimum wage, relies on Lebanese laws that exclude protection for migrant workers, and may allow for passport confiscation.
• Human Rights Watch has reviewed the agreement and stated that it provides “weak and non-existent” privileges and protections for Ethiopian workers compared to other foreign nationals in Lebanon.

 NATIONAL

17.88 lakh new workers added under ESI Scheme in the month of April, 2023

• The latest provisional payroll data from the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for April 2023 reveals a remarkable increase in the number of employees and establishments registered under the ESI Scheme. The data highlights the significant impact of the scheme in generating employment opportunities for the youth while promoting inclusivity by extending benefits to transgender employees. This article delves into the key findings of the data, emphasizing the scheme’s positive contributions to the workforce.
• Surge in Employee Registrations: In April 2023, a staggering 17.88 lakh new employees were added to the ESI Scheme, signifying substantial growth in employment opportunities. This increase reflects the expanding reach and effectiveness of the scheme in providing social security benefits to workers across various sectors.

National Yoga Olympiad organised in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)

• The National Yoga Olympiad, a prestigious event showcasing the best of yoga, is currently being organised in Madhya Pradesh leading up to the main event on the 9th International Yoga Day on June 21st in Jabalpur.
• The three-day Olympiad was ceremoniously inaugurated by Governor Mangu Bhai Patel in Bhopal on the previous day.
• Interestingly, this is the first time that the National Yoga Olympiad is being organised outside of New Delhi, the national capital.
• This event promises to be a wonderful display of the art and practice of yoga and is sure to captivate all those in attendance.
• International Yoga Day has been celebrated on June 21 every year since 2015. This day was declared as International Yoga Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, recognizing the importance of yoga in promoting healthy living and overall wellbeing.

18 new courses for young professionals now on govt's iGOT platform

• The Personnel Ministry announced that the central government has launched a new collection of courses called “Dakshta” (Development of Attitude, Knowledge, Skill for Holistic Transformation in Administration) on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform.
• The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has established Karmayogi Bharat, a government-owned not-for-profit special purpose vehicle, to steer the mission’s fundamental goals.
• It’s charged with the ownership, management, maintenance, and enhancement of the iGOT Karmayogi platform.
• Mission Karmayogi (National programme for civil services capacity building), in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’, plays an important role in nurturing a smart, citizen-friendly, and future-ready public workforce.

 SPORTS

Max Verstappen wins Canadian Grand Prix and gives Red Bull 100th victory

• Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, showcased an outstanding performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, securing a dominant victory and marking the 100th Formula One win for his Red Bull team. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, claimed the second position, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes completed the podium in Montreal. Verstappen, who started from pole position, clinched his sixth win out of eight races this season, further extending his lead in the championship standings and reinforcing his pursuit of a third consecutive world title. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, representing Ferrari, secured the fourth and fifth positions respectively.
• Fernando Alonso, currently positioned third in the championship, shared his thoughts on the challenging duel he had with his former rival, Lewis Hamilton, for the second-place position. Hamilton, representing Mercedes, expressed that their team is progressively making efforts to develop a competitive car that can contend for race victories. The seven-time champion made these remarks following his appearance on the podium alongside Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Reading Day 2023: 19^th June

• The National Reading day commemorates the death anniversary of PN Panicker, widely recognized as the ‘Father of the Library Movement’ in the state of Kerala. The day is observed on 19th June every year. Through his leadership in the Kerala Grandhashala Sangham, he spearheaded various initiatives that sparked a cultural revolution in Kerala, leading to the achievement of universal literacy in the state during the 1990s. This day serves as a tribute to PN Panicker’s tireless efforts in transforming society through his literacy movement in India. PN Panicker, revered as the Father of Reading, passed away on June 19, 1995. He was the founder of the Sanadana Dharma Library, which played a pivotal role as the epicenter of the library movement in Kerala.
• Reading is a crucial activity that offers numerous benefits, including relaxation, learning, concentration, and the improvement of communication skills. In an era before the dominance of the internet and television, reading served as a primary medium of communication. National Reading Day, observed on the anniversary of P.N. Panicker’s death, pays homage to his visionary ideals, immense passion, and unwavering dedication to promoting reading as a catalyst for personal and societal development. The day encourages individuals to embrace the pleasures of reading, delve into the vast knowledge contained within books, and acknowledge the transformative impact of reading on individuals and communities alike.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Intel to build $33-billion chip plant in Germany after government pledges to cover 1/3rd of cost

• Intel has commited to invest $32.8 billion in Magdeburg,a city in Germany for the establishment of two cutting-edge semiconductor facilities. This collaboration, with financial support from Berlin, represents the largest foreign investment ever made in Germany. The German government, recognizing the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry, has pledged to provide approximately 10 billion euros in financial support toward Intel’s overall investment in the country The deal is poised to bolster the country’s semiconductor industry and solidify Intel’s position as a leading player in the market.
• Intel acquired the land for two semiconductor facilities in Magdeburg in eastern Germany in November, and the company says the first of them is expected to start production in four or five years. The investment in Germany means a significant expansion of Intel’s production capacity in Europe and is the biggest investment ever made by a foreign company in Germany. If all investment plans currently being considered are implemented, and we are working on this, including today, Germany will become one of the big global semiconductor production sites.