Today's Current Affairs 21st February 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Russian President Announces Suspension Of Participation In Last Remaining Nuclear Treaty With US

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would withdraw from the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) pact with the United States, which limits the two countries' strategic nuclear arsenals. The New START treaty was signed in Prague in 2010, went into effect the following year, and was renewed for five years in 2021, shortly after US President Joe Biden took office.

It restricts the amount of strategic nuclear warheads that the US and Russia can deploy, as well as the use of land-based and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them.

NATIONAL

Former Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh Passes Away,

Meghalaya Elections 2023: Former Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh passed away on Monday following a heart attack. Lyngdoh was a United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the Sohiong assembly in East Khasi hills. As per ANI, the polls in the state will now be conducted in 59 out of 60 constituencies. According to ANI, Lyngdoh passed away after he suddenly collapsed during election campaigning. He was then rushed to a hospital. Lyngdoh had lost the 2018 polls which he had contested on a Congress ticket.

SPORTS

Tata Group Bags Title Rights For Inaugural Women's Premier League.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, Tuesday, announced Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group as the official title sponsors for the inaugural Women's Premier League beginning in Mumbai on March 4.

  It will be played across two venues in Mumbai, Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium.

Women's T20 World Cup: England Script History, Thrash Pakistan By 114 runs

England smashed the highest score in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup and won by the biggest margin ever seen at the tournament, hammering Pakistan by 114 runs, here on Tuesday. The England batters warmed up for the knockout stages with a thrilling display, smashing Pakistan's attack to all corners of Newlands as they reached 213/5 in their 20 overs, Pakistan ended their tournament in disappointing fashion, managing to avoid being bowled out, but finishing on 99/9.

AWARDS AND RECOHNITION

Rafael Nadal Backs Fellow Nominee Lionel Messi To Win 2023 Laureus Sportsman Award.

Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal has backed Lionel Messi to win the 2023 Laureus Sportsman Of The Year Award. He said that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner deserves the honour. Notably, Laureus announced the nominees for various categories and the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year shortlist list includes both Nadal and Messi among other athletes like Kylian Mbappe, Iga Swiatek, Tiger Woods and Mikaela Shiffrin.

 APPOINTMENTS

BVR Subrahmanyam, the new NITI Aayog CEO.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, IAS (Retd.) as Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, vice Shri Parameswaran Iyer, upon his appointment as Executive Director, World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC, USA, for two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or until further orders, a statement released by the government said.

Parameswaran Iyer New Executive Director, World Bank.

Parameswaran Iyer, who was working as Niti Aayog CEO since June 2022, has been appointed as Executive Director, World Bank headquarters, Washington DC, USA for a tenure of three years.

Rajesh Rai appointed as CMD of ITI Limited

Rajesh Rai has been appointed as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of ITI Limited, a PSU under the Department of Telecommunications, According to an order issued from the Personnel & Training (DoPT) on Monday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rajesh Rai for a period of five years with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post, or till the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. Presently, he is serving as General Manager in Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOOGY

India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 achieves another milestone.

In a boost to India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully underwent EMI-EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility). The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic level.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mother Language Day.

International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of UN resolution in 2002. Mother Language Day is part of a broader initiative "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world" as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 May 2007 in UN resolution which also established 2008 as the International Year of Languages. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, 21 February is the anniversary of the day when the people of Bangladesh (then East Bengal of Pakistan) fought for recognition for the Bengali language. It is also celebrated in West Bengal, India.