Today's Current Affairs 21st June 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Parliament elects conservative leader Petteri Orpo as PM

• Petteri Orpo, the leader of the conservative party in Finland, has been elected as the country’s prime minister by the parliament. Orpo will lead a coalition government comprising four parties, including the far-right Finns Party, which intends to implement strict measures on immigration. With 107 members in favour, 81 opposed, and 11 absent, the parliament expressed its support for Orpo, who emerged victorious in the April elections. His victory initiated negotiations for a coalition government, which have been ongoing since then.
• President Sauli Niinisto is set to officially appoint Petteri Orpo as the new prime minister, replacing Sanna Marin, whose Social Democrats came in third place in the elections, behind Orpo’s National Coalition Party (NCP) and the Finns Party.
• Finland is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland to the south. Finland covers an area of 338,455 square kilometers (130,678 square miles) and has a population of 5.5 million. The capital and largest city is Helsinki.

 NATIONAL

Amit Shah to open public park built by Credai

• On the auspicious occasion of the Jagannath Rath Yatra, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated various development works and performed Bhoomipujan in Ahmedabad. Among the inaugurated projects was the CREDAI Garden-People’s Park, a beautiful park constructed by CREDAI with the aim of providing a comfortable and environmentally friendly space for people from all walks of life.
• Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the CREDAI Garden-People’s Park, a sprawling park spread over 12,000 square meters. The park was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 2.5 crore. In his address, Shri Shah emphasized that the park was designed to cater to the needs of the middle class, upper middle class, and underprivileged children. He lauded CREDAI for creating a beautiful and accessible space that would enhance the urban landscape while providing a comfortable retreat for the common citizen.

Estonia becomes first central European country to allow same-sex marriage

• Estonia‘s parliament passed a law legalising same-sex marriage, making it the first central European nation to do so. While much of western Europe has already legalised same-sex marriage, it remains prohibited in many former communist central European countries that were once part of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.
• The bill was passed with 55 votes in the 101-seat parliament, with support from the coalition of liberal and social democratic parties led by Prime Minister Kallas, who won the 2023 election.
• The new law will become effective in 2024. A recent poll by the Centre for Human Rights found that 53% of Estonians support same-sex marriage, compared to 34% a decade ago.
• However, many still consider homosexuality to be unacceptable, including a significant portion of the ethnic-Russian minority, which makes up one quarter of the country’s population.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

NEC Corporation’s Aalok Kumar Joins Asian Development Bank’s High-Level Advisory Group on Digital Technology for Development in Asian Countries

• Aalok Kumar, the Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President, Head of Global Smart City Business at NEC Corporation, and President and CEO of NEC Corporation India, has been appointed as a member of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) High-level Advisory Group on Digital Technology for Development, effective May 1, 2023.
• The group is composed of eight members, including renowned industry leaders and academics, and is dedicated to increasing the utilisation of ICT technology in ADB activities for developing countries.
• Kumar takes on this role from former NEC Corporation Fellow and one of the founding members of the group, Katsumi Emura.
• Kumar brings his years of experience and broad knowledge to provide strategic suggestions for the optimal adoption of digital technologies for ADB to carry out its developmental work.
• Kumar expressed his humility and excitement to contribute to this esteemed group of industry luminaries and help develop robust strategies for ADB’s developmental work in Asian countries.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2023: 19^th June

• World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed annually on June 19th to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD) and its profound impact on individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal red blood cells that assume a crescent or sickle shape. These irregularly shaped cells can cause blockages in blood vessels, leading to a range of health complications.
• During World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, various activities are organized to promote understanding and solidarity. These include educational campaigns, community events, fundraisers, and blood drives. The focus is on highlighting the significance of regular screenings, access to high-quality healthcare, and ongoing research aimed at improving the lives of individuals affected by sickle cell disease. The day serves as a platform to advocate for greater support, resources, and awareness to combat the challenges faced by those living with sickle cell disease.
• The primary objective of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is to educate the general public about the unique challenges faced by individuals living with sickle cell disease. It aims to promote improved healthcare services, early diagnosis, and effective treatment options for those affected by the condition. By doing so, it seeks to dispel misconceptions and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, fostering empathy, support, and inclusivity towards individuals with sickle cell disease.

International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice:21^st June 2023

• Each year on June 21, the International Day of Celebration for the Solstice is observed. This holiday was established by the United Nations in order to raise awareness about various solstice celebrations across religions and cultures. Many cultures and religions have their own unique way of celebrating the solstice.
• While the significance, interpretations, and meanings behind the solstice (which occurs when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest and shortest days) may differ based on culture, the International Day of the Solstice is a universally celebrated occasion that takes place during the summer solstice, between June 20 and 22.

International Yoga Day 2023:21^st June 2023

• International Yoga Day 2023 is celebrated every year on June 21st to promote the numerous benefits of practicing yoga. The chosen date coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the holistic approach to well-being that yoga offers. It highlights the importance of finding balance in our fast-paced, modern lives and encourages physical, mental, and spiritual harmony. Yoga fosters mindfulness, stress reduction, and overall health and vitality.
• In its 9th edition, this year’s International Day of Yoga will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters on June 21st. This marks the first time a yoga session will be conducted by the Prime Minister at this location.
• The theme selected for this year’s International Day of Yoga 2023 is “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which represents our shared desire for “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Arundhati Roy wins the 2023 European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement

• Writer and activist Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement on the occasion of the French translation of her latest essay, ‘Azadi’. The French translation ‘Liberte, fascisme, fiction’ appeared in Gallimard, a leading French publishing group. At a function to be held on September 11 at the European Essay Prize 2023 Round Table, in partnership with the University of Lausanne (Unil), Theatre de Vidy, Lausanne, Arundhati Roy will discuss citizenship and identity, environment and globalisation, caste and language.
• The award ceremony will take place the next day (September 12) at the Lausanne Palace, where she will give a lecture. In this series of electrifying essays, Arundhati Roy challenges us to reflect on the meaning of freedom in a world of growing authoritarianism, it noted. The essays include meditations on language, public as well as private, and on the role of fiction and alternative imaginations in these disturbing times.

 RANKING

Hurun India list: Reliance most valuable private company in India; Adani firms' combined value falls by 52

• The recently released Hurun India’s ‘2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500’ list highlights the changes in the valuation of India’s top 500 companies. According to the report, Reliance Industries Limited, led by Mukesh Ambani, has claimed the title of the most valuable private sector company in India. Meanwhile, the Adani Group has witnessed a significant decline in its combined value. Let’s delve into the details and explore the key findings of the report.
• In the latest Hurun India rankings, Reliance Industries Limited has emerged as India’s most valuable company among the top 500. With a valuation of Rs 16.3 lakh crore, Reliance Industries has surpassed other industry giants. This showcases the consistent growth and strong market position of the company led by Mukesh Ambani.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Union Bank launches four new deposit schemes targeted at women, pensioners and co-operative societies  

• Union Bank of India has debuted four specialised bank accounts catering to different segments of the population, namely women, women entrepreneurs and professionals, pensioners, and cooperative housing societies.
• The first account, called Union Unnati, is a current account designed specifically for women entrepreneurs and professionals, providing free cancer care coverage, personal accident cover, discounts in loan interest rates, retail loan processing charges, and minimal service fees.
• Another account that targets women is the Union Samriddhi, which empowers women through a safe and convenient savings and financial management outlet, offering the same benefits as Union Unnati.
• The Union Samman, on the other hand, is a savings account intended for pensioners, with door-step banking, personal accident coverage, discounts in loan interest rates and processing fees, and free health check-ups.
• Lastly, Union SBCHS recognises the importance of cooperative housing societies, providing discounts in loan processing fees for purchasing solar lights, elevators, and other machinery, as well as concessional rates for home, vehicle, and education loans for society and flat owners.