Today's Current Affairs 27th May 2023

INTERNATIONAL

US and Papua New Guinea signed a defense pact

The United States and Papua New Guinea have signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement – a move that has sparked controversy in the Pacific Island nation and comes as Washington and China jostle for influence in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape signed the pact and a maritime security agreement during Blinken’s visit to the capital Port Moresby

Advance text of the agreements were not released by either side, but the new defense cooperation was expected to expand US access to military and other facilities in PNG, bolstering Washington’s security ties in the South Pacific.

About: Papua New Guinea - Papua New Guinea is an island country that lies in the south-western Pacific. It includes the eastern half of New Guinea and many small offshore islands

NATIONAL

Centre signs agreement with 6 states to start digital crop survey

The Center government has signed an agreement with six states of Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to start digital crop survey.

The Digital Crop Survey is part of the government’s Agristack or India Digital Ecosystem for Agriculture (IDEA). It was launched in 2020. The agreement was signed at a workshop organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture to discuss the implementation plan of digital crop survey with the state governments. On the occasion, web portal and mobile application manual for digital crop survey was unveiled.

The workshop discussed the implementation plan of Digital Crop Survey, benefits to various stakeholders, responsibilities of Central Government. The workshop also emphasized on the expectations from the states and support from the Center for effective and successful implementation of Digital Crop Survey.

Govt to issue special commemorative coin of ₹75 to mark the inauguration of new Parliament building

The government will issue a commemorative coin with the denomination of ₹75 to mark the opening of the new Parliament Building. Though commemorative coins are considered legal tender, they are not released for general circulation. One can source them from the specified agencies.

Appearance - The face of the coin will bear the lion capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend ‘Satyamev Jayate’ inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Devnagri script and on the right periphery with the word ‘India’ in English.

It shall also bear the Rupee symbol ‘₹’ and denominational value ‘75’ in the international numerals below the lion capitol. On the reverse face, the coin shall bear the image of Parliament complex.

SPORTS

Magnus Carlsen Won 2023 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland, the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda fought a memorable and thrilling final round of the Superbet Poland Rapid & Blitz 2023, where the former held his nerve to hold a draw and win the event with a score of 24 points and pocket the top prize of $40,000 and 13 Grand Chess Tour points. Duda finished second with 23 points for $30,000 and 10 GCT points, while GM Wesley So and GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave tied for third and fourth places with 21.5 points to pocket $22,500 and 7.5 GCT each.

Carlsen began the fifth and final day where he left off from the previous day, extending his winning streak to 7/7. At one point, he even scored a blistering 10.5 points from 11 games between the 14th to 24th rounds. He overtook the overnight leader Duda by the 20th round and extended his lead to two points by the 23rd round. However, Duda caught up to just a point below him at the end of the penultimate round, and Carlsen fended off a spirited challenge from Duda in the final round to draw the game and finish a point ahead of the rest of the field.

OBITURY

Tina Turner 'Queen of rock 'n' roll' passes away

Tina Turner, the pioneering rock’n’roll star who became a pop behemoth in the 1980s, passes away at the age of 83, She died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland,

Turner began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock 'n' roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon.

About: Tina Turner -  Tina Turner was an American-born Swiss singer. Known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before launching a successful career as a solo performer. Turner began her career with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957. Turner also helded a Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000 in 1988) for a solo performer.

Turner won a total of 12 Grammy Awards. These awards include eight competitive Grammy Awards; she shares the record (with Pat Benatar) for most awards given for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Three of her recordings, “River Deep – Mountain High” (1999), “Proud Mary” (2003), and “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (2012) are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

R Dinesh takes over as CII president for 2023-24

The National Council of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) elected R Dinesh, executive vice-chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, as the president of CII for 2023-24. He takes over from Sanjiv Bajaj, chairman and managing director, Bajaj Finserv Limited. TNS

Dinesh is a fourth-generation member of the TVS family. He founded TVS Supply Chain Solutions (formerly known as TVS Logistics) in 1995 and steered the company into a billion-dollar organisation. Under his leadership, the company also expanded into more 50 countries.

As per a statement by CII, Sanjiv Puri, the Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, will assume the role of President-Designate of CII for the year 2023-24.

Rajiv Memani, Chairman of the India region of Ernst & Young (EY), a global professional services organisation, has been appointed as the Vice President.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Jawaharlal Nehru Death Anniversary

The death anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is observed on 27 May every year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 59th death anniversary.

Jawaharlal Nehru had a prominent role in India's freedom struggle. He also went on to become India's first Prime Minister after independence in 1947.

In order to free India from British rule, Mr Nehru fought against the British and was among the key leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC). On May 27, 1964, the first Prime Minister of India took his last breath. He was the PM from 1947 to 1964 till he died at the age of 74. He had a great fondness for kids, and children use to call him Chacha Nehru.

Mr Nehru's birth anniversary on November 14 is also celebrated as Children's Day every year in India.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI Approves Merger of Maratha Sahakari Bank With The Cosmos Co-operative Bank

In a significant development, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted its approval for the voluntary amalgamation of Maratha Sahakari Bank, based in Mumbai, with The Cosmos Co-operative Bank Limited, located in Pune.

This approval comes under the authority vested in the RBI by Sub-Section (4) of Section 44A, in conjunction with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The sanctioned scheme of amalgamation is set to take effect from May 29, 2023. Following the merger, all the branches of Maratha Sahakari Bank Ltd., situated in Mumbai, will operate as branches of The Cosmos Co-operative Bank Limited, located in Pune, starting from the aforementioned date. Maratha Sahakari Bank was under RBI’s restriction from August 31, 2016 with cap on deposit withdrawal.