Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 and 8 May 2023

Topic: Sports

1. Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes' 2023 highest-paid athletes list.

• Cristiano Ronaldo became the world's highest-paid athlete after he signed a contract worth more than 200 million euros ($219.98 million) with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
• After leaving Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Saudi Football Club until 2025. His annual playing salary has increased by $75 million.
• Lionel Messi is in the second spot with $130 million while Kylian Mbappe is in third spot with $120 million.
• LeBron James ($119.5 million) and Canelo Alvarez ($110 million) are in the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
• According to the report, sports players are getting more money than ever because of Middle Eastern investment in golf and football.
• The world's ten highest-paid athletes collectively got $1.11 billion before taxes and agents' fees.
• In the marketing world, athletes are leading the consumer market as brand ambassadors.
• The earnings figures of a player include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned in the last 12 months.

Topic: India and its neighbours

2. A new Border-Haat between India and Bangladesh has been inaugurated at Bholaganj in Sylhet.

• This new Border-Haat has been jointly inaugurated by Imran Ahmed from Bangladesh side and Assistant High Commissioner of India Niraj Kumar Jaiswal.
• The Border-Haat has been opened at Bholaganj on the border between Sylhet in Bangladesh and the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
• It is the fourth Border Haat in the Sylhet division. Three more Border Haats will be opened in the Sylhet division.
• The border haat will only function from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• 26 stalls from India and 24 stalls from Bangladesh will be present in the Haat. Traditional items from both countries will be sold duty-free at this Haat.
• The first Border Haat between India and Bangladesh was opened in 2011 in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
• Border Haat plays a key role in improving people-to-people ties between both countries.
• India and Bangladesh relations:
  • India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent Country.
  • The diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh started in 1971.
  • The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh reached USD 18.2 billion (USD 16.2 billion exports and USD 2 billion imports) in 2021-22.
  • Bangladesh and India are members of many regional organizations such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the Commonwealth.
  • Bangladesh and India celebrate Friendship Day on 6 December.

Topic: Geography

3. Cyclone Mocha warning has been issued in Chennai and Odisha.

• According to the India Meteorological Department, a cyclonic storm is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal on 9 May.
• This cyclonic storm has been named Cyclone Mocha.
• The weather agency also predicted on May 4 that around May 6, 2023, a cyclonic circulation is expected to form over southeast Bay of Bengal.
• This cyclone is likely to cause heavy rains in the region in the next few days from May 8 to May 12.
• According to the directive of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), each cyclone should have a distinct name, in order to prevent confusion in the event that multiple cyclonic systems are active at the same time.
• The latest compilation of cyclone names, released by the IMD in April 2020, has 169 titles that can be used for naming cyclones.
• The first cyclone of 2023 called "Mocha" as it was the next name in line.
• "Mocha" name was offered by Yemen.
• It comes from the Yemeni city of Mocha (or Mokha), which is famous for its coffee industry and is located on the Red Sea coast.

Topic: State News/ Uttarakhand

4. Uttarakhand Police is running a special campaign "Operation Maryada."

• The aim of this campaign is to maintain cleanliness in pilgrimage and tourist places in Uttarakhand.
• Under this campaign, 67 people were arrested, while 2,703 people were fined.
• Director General of Uttarakhand Police Ashok Kumar said that under this campaign hooliganism and drug addicts are being arrested immediately on the banks of Ganga.
• Orders have been issued to impose fines on people polluting tourist places.
• He said that since April 29 till now, a total of 7,03,850 rupees have been collected as fine from 2703 people under Operation Maryada.
• Operation Maryada was started on 15 July 2021 to stop the anti-social activities that happen daily on the Ganga Ghats.
• Under this, 10 policemen are stationed at Gangaghats.

Topic: International News

5. New York becomes the first US state to ban the use of gas stoves in new buildings.

• New York has become the first US state to approve a law prohibiting the use of gas stoves and other fossil fuels in the most of the new buildings.
• The legislation, adopted by lawmakers in the Democratic-run state legislature, would require newly constructed homes to be completely all-electric in three years' time.
• The aim of the move is to combat climate change by reducing New York's reliance on natural gas.
• As per new legislation, new buildings under seven floors will have solely electric heating and cooking facilities from 2026.
• The deadline for the tall skyscrapers is 2029.
• There will be relaxation to Hospitals, critical infrastructure such as transportation, and commercial food establishments.
• The law will also not apply to buildings where the local grid is not capable of handling the load.
• 52% of households in New York State utilise natural gas for cooking or heating, according to the US Energy Department.
• This move will assist New York in reaching its goal of lowering emissions by 85% by 2050.

Topic: National News

6. Ministry of Railways established war room to address complaints and grievances.

• In order to speed up the resolution of public complaints and grievances, the Ministry of Railway has for the first time established a war room at the Ministry in Delhi.
• The Rail War Room (RWR) on the third floor of Rail Bhawan, which started on 2 May, will round-the-clock work, but at present it works till 10 pm every day during the week.
• The war room is equipped with the latest communication facilities, and has a big screen that displays complaints and redressal ratio for minute-to-minute monitoring.
• The railway has taken this first such step to monitor any untoward incident or accident in the future.
• The purpose of this war room is that in case of any major incident or accident, all the members of the board and officers including the minister and chairman of the railway board can take necessary decisions.
• In the first two days, the War Room received over 5,000 complaints from the public and 95% of them were swiftly redressed and received feedback of the complaints.
• RPF has also appointed an officer who is the first person to receive the complaint and forwards it to the concerned authorities for speedy redressal.

Topic: Defence

7 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh.

• He also laid the foundation stone for the Centre for Cyber Ops and Security.
• The Heritage Centre comprises artifacts, simulators and interactive boards.
• It highlights the various facets of operations in the Indian Air Force.
• It showcases the important role played by Air Force in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• It also showcases the combat capabilities of the Air Force.

Topic: National News

8. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is organising Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) on 08 May 2023.

• PMNAM is being organised in more than 200 districts across the country.
• The Ministry said that several local businesses and organizations have been invited to participate in this apprenticeship mela.
• They will provide relevant apprenticeship training opportunities to local youth.
• Participating organizations can connect with potential apprentices through a single platform.
• The candidates who are Class 5 to Class 12 pass out can apply in this apprenticeship mela.
• The candidates who have skill training certificates or are ITI certificate holders or Diploma holders or graduates can apply for this apprenticeship mela.
• Apprenticeship melas are held all across the country on the second Monday of every month. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defense

9. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 64^th foundation day on 7 May 2023.

• Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt attended the main function ‘Chief Engineers and Equipment Management Conference’ at BRO School & Centre in Pune.
• He also inaugurated the BRO Technical Training Complex and an Automated Driving Track in the premises.
• It will raise the training standards of the BRO personnel and help them to prepare for various challenges.
• On this occasion, BRO-centric software was also launched for smoother functioning and increasing transparency.
• An MoU has been also signed between the BRO and GRSE for the construction of indigenous Class 70R Double Lane Modular Bridges.
• These bridges will enhance the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.
• Ajay Bhatt also flagged-in ‘Ekta Avam Shradhanjali Abhiyaan’, which was launched on April 10, 2023.
• The BRO completed 103 infrastructure projects in 2022-23. It includes the construction of the Shyok Bridge in Eastern Ladakh and the Steel Arch Siyom Bridge of Load Class 70 in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO):
  • It was established on 7 May 1960.
  • It is a road construction agency under the Ministry of Defence. Its main aim is to provide connectivity to border areas.
  • It is responsible for constructing and maintaining the road along the Northern and Western frontiers.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

10. Government constituted a high-level committee to restructure 94-year-old ICAR.

• Central government constituted11-member committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Secretary of ICAR.
• The main aim of the high-level committee is to restructure the 94-year-old Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to achieve the objective of Amrit Kal.
• Scientists, experts from NITI Ayog, representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying are members of this committee.
• The committee will submit its report within 30 days.
• Earlier, committees under Dr MS Swaminathan and Dr RA Mashlekar were constructed to restructure ICAR.
• However, the government never implemented the recommendations of the committee.
• ICAR-affiliated institutes have played a key role in achieving food self-sufficiency.
• The government is now planning to shift from grain-centric research to nutrition-centric research and help farmers in producing crops for global requirements.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

11. A new Directorate of Minority Affairs has been formed by Nagaland Govt under Planning & Transformation Department.

• Under the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the new directorate will manage various schemes and programs related to educational, economic, infrastructural and special needs of minorities.
• The state cabinet has approved the move on 6 April.
• The Directorate of Minority Affairs will deal with scholarship schemes like pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means.
• The new Directorate will take on additional educational programmes including the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, Naya Savera, Padho Pardesh, and Nai Udaan, which provide free coaching and interest subsidies on educational loans for abroad studies.
• It will implement skill training schemes for economic development of minorities such as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan, Nai Manzil and concessional credit.
• For development of infrastructure projects in all districts, the Directorate will also manage the Pradhan Mantri Jan Yikas Karyakram.
• In addition, it will be tasked with providing support to institutions such as the Maulana Azad Education Foundation and the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.
• The new Directorate would also be in charge of research, monitoring, and evaluation of development plans as well as other schemes for special needs of minorities including Nai Roshni, Hamari Dharohar, Haj management.  

Topic: Defence

12. On 6 May, INS Magar decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service.

• INS Magar, the first amphibious warfare ship, was finally decommissioned after 36 years of service to the nation.
• The decommissioning ceremony of the INS Magar, carrying the naval designation of Landing Ship Tank (LST), Large (L) for its ability to carry tanks and other weapons, was held at Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on 6 May.
• The chief guest for the event was Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande.
• On April 10, 2018, the ship changed its base port to Kochi from Vishakhapatnam for training sea officers, after decades of active operational deployment.
• INS Magar was built by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and was commissioned on July 15, 1987.
• INS Magar is 120 metres long and has a beam of 17.5 metres. It was deployed for milestone operations like Operation Pawan to support Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.
• INS Magar also served as Humanitarian Aid Disaster Response (HADR), the latest operation was the evacuation of Indians from Malé (capital of Maldives) in 2020 following the Covid pandemic.
• But, the most notable operation was in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, in which the ship provided relief to more than 1,300 survivors.

Topic: International News

13. The coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as king and queen took place on 6 May 2023 in London.

• Their coronation as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms took place at Westminster Abbey, London.
• Their coronation is the first of a British monarch in the 21st century.
• The coronation took place in a ceremony which was attended by thousands of guests including foreign leaders.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar represented India at the ceremonial event.
• On 08 September 2022, Charles acceded to the throne upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
• Elizabeth II was queen from 1952 until her death in 2022. Her reign was the longest of any British monarch.
• Her reign was the longest verified reign of any female head of state in history.
• Elizabeth II ascended to the throne after the death of her father, King George VI.
• Buckingham Palace is located in the city of Westminster. It is the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom.

Topic: Important Days

14. World Athletics Day: 07 May

• World Athletics Day is celebrated every year on 07 May to make people aware of the importance of fitness.
• The theme for World Athletics Day 2023 is “Athletics for All – A New Beginning”.
• World Athletics Day was for the first time celebrated in 1996.
• It was launched by Primo Nebiolo, best known as the former President of the World Athletics.
• World Athletics was known as International Amateur Athletic Federation till 2001 and the International Association of Athletics Federations from 2001 to 2019.
• In 2019, the name was changed to World Athletics.
• World Athletics was founded in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden. It is headquartered in Monaco.