Daily Current Affairs 19th May ,  2023

Daily Current Affairs 19th May 2023: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation

Dear Readers,

This post contains important current affairs of 19th May 2023. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 19th 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 19th May 2023 Current affairs test.

Awards & Recognitions

1. Harrison Ford Honored with Palme D’Or at Cannes 2023

• Celebrated actor Harrison Ford received the prestigious Palme D’Or accolade at the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in recognition of his exceptional career.
• Prior to the award presentation, his film ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ was showcased.
• The 2023 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled from 16th to 27th May and is an annual affair held in Cannes, France. The festival kicked off with the premiere of ‘Jeanne du Barry’, directed by Maïwenn. Concluding the festival will be ‘Elemental’, a movie directed by Peter Sohn.

Domestic Updates

2. ‘Pahal’: Digitally Empowering Rural Students

• In Sarojini Nagar, at the Government UP Sainik Inter College, Durga Shankar Mishra, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Secretary, unveiled the ‘Pahal’ digital education initiative.
• The collaborative effort of the Department of Secondary Education and IIT Kanpur aims to democratize education for rural children, offering them access to high-quality educational resources.
• ‘Pahal’ hopes to bridge the educational divide between urban and rural areas. In its initial phase, ten government secondary schools will facilitate free online education, primarily emphasizing science and mathematics.
• Quick Facts about Uttar Pradesh:
  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel

Global Updates

3. UNEP Aims to Curtail 80% of Global Plastic Waste by 2040

• The UNEP report, “Turning Off The Tap”, envisions an 80% decrease in global plastic pollution by 2040. This ambitious target can be achieved through policy shifts, market reforms, and existing technological innovations.
• Transitioning from the prevalent disposable culture, particularly regarding single-use plastics, and moving towards a circular economy is emphasized.
• Increasing occurrences of microplastics, tiny plastic fragments from consumer goods and industrial waste, are entering our food chain. Coupled with the degradation of marine ecosystems due to plastic pollutants, this presents an urgent issue.
• Some alarming statistics from the report include the consumption of a million plastic bottles every minute, and the annual usage of up to five trillion plastic bags globally. Around 50% of all manufactured plastic is for one-time use, resulting in approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste each year.
• The suggested resolution focuses on ‘reuse, recycle, and reorient and diversify products’.

Appointments & Departures

4. Arjun Ram Meghwal Ascends as Minister of Law and Justice

• Having formerly been the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal now assumes independent charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• He succeeds Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the new head of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• This reshuffle was executed by President Droupadi Murmu, based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recommendation.
• Concurrently, S.P. Singh Baghel, earlier with the Law and Justice Ministry, has been designated as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

Internal Affairs

5. India’s ‘Operation Karuna’: Extending Aid to Cyclone-Affected Myanmar

• India has initiated ‘Operation Karuna’, a humanitarian mission, to assist victims of Myanmar’s Cyclone Mocha.
• Three Indian Navy Ships (INS) – Shivalik, Kamorta, and Savitri – carrying relief, have docked at Yangon, Myanmar.
• The relief package includes essential items like food, tents, medicines, water pumps, portable generators, clothing, and sanitation supplies.
• Dr. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, reaffirmed India’s dedication to being a primary assistance provider in the region.

In Memoriam

6. SP Hinduja, Pillar of the Hinduja Group, Passes Away

• Srichand Parmanand Hinduja, the driving force behind the Hinduja Group, breathed his last in London at the age of 87.
• The British billionaire industrialist and philanthropist, along with his brother Gopichand, was recognized as the UK’s wealthiest individual in August 2022.
• In 1952, he became an integral part of the Hinduja Group, founded by his father PD Hinduja. The group’s notable subsidiaries include Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank, Gulf Oil International Ltd, and Quaker-Houghton.

Significant Dates

7. National Endangered Species Day 2023 Observed on 19th May

• Annually commemorated on the third Friday of May, National Endangered Species Day underscores the conservation needs of endangered species. The date for this year is19th May.
• The theme for 2023 revolves around the 50th anniversary of the US Endangered Species Act.
• Introduced in 1973, this legislation aims to protect vulnerable and endangered species within the US. In a parallel move, India introduced the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972.