Today's Current Affairs 4th April 2023

INTERNATIONAL

NASA announces four-member team of astronauts for first crewed voyage around moon

NASA has announced a team of four astronauts who will fly around the Moon next year for a 10-day mission. The team was announced during an event in Houston, Texas, that was streamed live yesterday.

The team has three American and one Canadian astronaut, including a woman and an African American ever assigned as astronauts to a lunar mission.

Reid Wiseman be the commander while Victor Glover will pilot the mission, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen will serve as mission specialists.

Ms Koch and Mr Glover will set history as the first woman and first black person, to go to the vicinity of the Moon. Mr Hansen will be the first non-American to fly to the Moon.

NATIONAL

Sheenu Jhawar Becomes The First Woman President Of TiE Rajasthan

TiE Rajasthan announced Dr. Sheenu Jhawar as its new President for two year term 2023-2025. She is the first woman in the 21 years history of TiE Rajasthan to assume this responsibility. Dr. Jhawar took charge from Dr. Ravi Modani who was successfully leading the chapter since 2021. During the biennial leadership transition ceremony, Dr. Jhawar informed that India has the third largest number of unicorns in the world, and within India - Jaipur stands as the first tier 2 city, at an overall 7th position as per Start up Blink report. This is a matter of great pride for all of us. TiE Rajasthan has been contributing to this ecosystem since the last 21 years. Our Past Presidents- Mahavir Sharma, Atul Kapur, Dr. Ajay Data, Manuj Goyal, Rajneesh Bhandari, Rajesh Mundra, Siddharth Agarwal, Chirag Patel, and Dr. Ravi Modani have made a great visible impact. She also introduced her core committee members Anil Agarwal, Archana Surana, Ashish Mangal,  Nishant Patni, Parijat Agarwal, Puneet Mittal, Raj Bagri, Rajeev Lakhotia, Sanjay Yadav, Sharvik Shah, Siddharth Shah, Vijay Khemka, and Vikram Ahuja who will help her with her new responsibilities.

As I take over as President for the next two years, I plan to carry on this legacy by more focus on the startups, and work with other ecosystem partners, added Dr. Jhawar.

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

PhonePe launches shopping app for ONDC, marking e-commerce new entry

Fintech firm PhonePe on Tuesday launched a shopping app that will run on ONDC, the open e-commerce network launched by the government.

Pincode is meant for hyperlocal commerce and is available on Google Play Store and App Store. It presently can be used in Bengaluru and will launch in other cities later.

Pincode marks Walmart-backed PhonePe’s entry in the e-commerce segment. It will connect consumers with their neighborhood stores, giving the convenience of online ordering, discounts and instant refunds and returns. “Pincode is a brand-new shopping app and offers a revolutionary new approach to e-commerce, which puts all the local stores and sellers at the heart of the digital shopping growth story. Pincode is built on the ONDC network, which allows us to generate demand for merchants digitized by various seller platforms in an inclusive manner, while creating new opportunities for growth and driving innovation at scale,’’ said Sameer Nigam, chief executive officer and founder of PhonePe.

PhonePe said the app will offer consumers a wide selection of products and brands by well-known national brands, as well as locally manufactured groceries, apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Pincode will bring shopkeepers and small merchants to e-commerce and create employment. PhonePe said it believes that ONDC can foster the rapid growth of a new hyperlocal ecommerce business model. Apart from local buyers and sellers, such a model will also benefit other ecosystem participants like the last mile logistics and inventory management players.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Suzuki Motorcycle India announces appointment of Kenichi Umeda as new MD

In an official statement released on Tuesday, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) declared the appointment of Kenichi Umeda as the company's new Managing Director. Umeda takes over from Satoshi Uchida, who has completed his tenure as the Managing Director of SMIPL.

With the appointment of Kenichi Umeda as the new Managing Director of Suzuki Motorcycle India, he will take on the crucial responsibility of expanding and consolidating the company's position in both the domestic and international markets. Umeda's extensive experience of more than 27 years in the industry, gained from various global markets, will be a valuable asset to the company, as stated in the official announcement.

According to Umeda, India holds a significant place in Suzuki's global market, and the company has always aimed to provide its customers with innovative and evolving products that cater to their changing requirements. As the new Managing Director of Suzuki Motorcycle India, Umeda plans to continue this legacy and prioritize the delivery of customer-centric solutions, as stated in the official statement.

Ex-Israel envoy Ron Malka appointed Adani's Haifa Port chief, Mahua Moitra reacts

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra lashed out after Israel’s former ambassador to India, Ron Malka, on Sunday announced he has assumed charge as the executive chairman of the Haifa Port Company. The port company is owned by a consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Gadot Group.

“Israel’s former envoy to India appointed Adani’s Haifa port chairman! This man screamed from rooftops about how clean Adani’s Israeli dealings were. Condemned filmmaker Nadav Lapid for criticising Bollywood Hindutva propaganda film. Adani Hamam Mein toh Saare Nange Hai,” Moitra tweeted.

Malka served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018 to 2021. The Haifa Port is Israel’s second-largest port in terms of shipping containers and the biggest for shipping tourist cruise ships.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action: 4 April

Every year on April 4, the world observes the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, with the aim of creating awareness about the dangers of explosive mines and generating support for efforts aimed at eliminating them.

In 2023 the United Nations Mine Action Service will acknowledge the day under the campaign / theme “Mine Action Cannot Wait”, highlighting decades of contamination in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam, as well as draw attention to recent explosive ordnance contamination.

This campaign makes it clear that the eradication of all landmines cannot wait. Whether it is new contamination in Colombia, Myanmar, Ukraine or Yemen, or old contamination, in Cambodia, Iraq or Viet Nam, clearance must be completed by mine action actors and States Parties of the Mine Ban Convention. It is a human problem.

The over-arching goal will be to bring attention to areas of the world that remain contaminated after many years, and where generations have changed their lives to avoid the threat.

Mahavir Jayanti; 2023

Also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, the day celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the present Avasarpini, It is one of the most important religious festivals of the Jain community.

He was born on the 13th day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of a great Tirthankara of Jainism. He is known to be a teacher who propagates the dharma in Jainism. This festival is being celebrated this year on April 4, 2023.

Mahavir Jayanti has a great significance among Jain people. they celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and fervor. This day is dedicated to the Lord Mahavir, a Jain saint who is known amongst the most famous saints.

It is known that Mahavira’s mother had certain auspicious dreams when she was pregnant. The Svetambara Jains believe that she saw 16 dreams, while the Digambara Jains believe she saw 14 dreams while she was pregnant.

Lord Mahavir is regarded as one of the holiest and most accomplished missionaries of peace and harmony. Lord Mahavir, the 24th and final Tirthankara of the Jain religion. In remembrance of the great saint, several stories about Saint Mahavir are told to youngster

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi

King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, The meeting began at 11:15 a.m. Later, the visiting dignitary met the President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan. According to the sources the meeting started at 5 p.m. The King also visited Rajghat to lay a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at 10:45 a.m.

Last evening, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar called on King Wangchuck in New Delhi. In a tweet, Mr Jaishankar said, the King’s vision for Bhutan’s future and for strengthening the unique partnership with India is deeply appreciated.

The Bhutanese King is on a three-day visit to India, from April 3- 5. He arrived in the Capital yesterday – April 3 He was received by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at the airport. The King of Bhutan is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Dr. Tandi Dorji and senior officials of Bhutan government.

The visit is in keeping with the long-standing tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. In a tweet, Dr Jaishankar said, his visit will further strengthen the close and unique India-Bhutan partnership.

The visit would provide an opportunity to both sides to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the close bilateral partnership, including economic and development cooperation.