Daily Current Affairs 16th May 2023: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 16th May 2023. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 16th May 2023. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 16th May 2023 Current affairs test.
Domestic & Global Appointments
1. Manoj Soni Assumes Role as UPSC Chief
- Manoj Soni was inducted as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chief on May 16, 2023. He took the oath from the senior commission member, Smita Nagaraj.
- Having been an active member since June 28, 2017, Soni has been overseeing the UPSC chief responsibilities since April 5, 2022.
- He has an extensive educational background, having served as Vice-Chancellor at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat, and Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
Global Events
2. EU Approval for Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
- Microsoft’s ambitious $69 billion acquisition of game giant Activision Blizzard has been approved by European Union authorities.
- Addressing competition-related concerns, especially within the cloud gaming sector, Microsoft has proposed a series of measures.
- The European Commission highlighted Microsoft’s commitment to offering ten-year free licensing and maintaining fairness for European cloud gaming services to ease competitive fears.
3. Afghanistan Reports First Polio Death of 2023
- Health officials in Afghanistan confirmed the first poliovirus case of the year in Nangarhar province involving a four-year-old child.
- Worldwide, this is the second confirmed case of wild poliovirus.
- Although Afghanistan reported 56 cases in 2020, this number dropped to four in 2021 and two the following year.
- About Polio: Polio, a highly contagious disease, can lead to paralysis within hours by affecting the nervous system. It majorly spreads via contaminated water or food sources.
4. Nepali Mountaineer Matches Everest Summit Record
- Pasang Dawa Sherpa, known as Pa Dawa, ascended Mount Everest for the 26th time, equaling the record held by fellow Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa.
- Dawa’s previous achievements include summiting Everest 25 times, with two ascents recorded in 2022. He embarked on his climbing journey with his first ascent in 1998.
- Kami Rita Sherpa, who also has 26 ascents under his belt, is currently guiding a US expedition with hopes of setting a new record by summiting the peak for the 27th time.
Defence Activities
5. India and Indonesia Engage in the Fourth Samudra Shakti Exercise
- From May 14-19, 2023, the fourth bilateral naval exercise, Samudra Shakti-23, commenced between India and Indonesia in Batam, Indonesia.
- The exercise showcased India’s INS Kavaratti, Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft, and Chetak helicopter. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s representation included KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, a CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and AS565 Panther helicopters.
- This collaboration underlines the synergy between the two navies and their shared commitment to ensuring regional peace and stability.
Noteworthy Observance
6. Celebrating the International Day of Living Together in Peace on May 16
- Every year, the International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed on May 16 to promote global peace, understanding, tolerance, inclusion, and solidarity.
- Initiated in 2017, the UN General Assembly formally recognized this day to encourage worldwide inclusivity, peace, unity, and tolerance.
- The observance aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16, which aims to foster peaceful, inclusive societies worldwide.
