Daily GK Update: 14th May 2023

Defense

The 4th edition of the India-Indonesia bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 is being organized in Batam, Indonesia from 14-19 May 2023.
Aim: To enhance interoperability, jointness, and mutual cooperation between both navies
India Navy has participated with INS Kavaratti, Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft, and Chetak helicopter.
While the Indonesian Navy participated with KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and AS565 Panther Helicopter

Sports

Indian shooters, Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra have bagged silver medals in the men’s and women’s 10-meter air rifle events at ISSF World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In the 10m air pistol mixed team, Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS won gold.
Rhythm Sangwan secured a bronze medal in the women's 25m pistol event.
In the overall medals tally, India finished its campaign second behind China.
The Baku meet is the penultimate stage of the ISSF World Cup 2023.

Science & Technology

The US space agency, NASA has launched a second football-stadium-sized, heavy-lift super pressure balloon (SPB), under its Scientific Balloon Program, from Wānaka Airport, New Zealand.
The first scientific balloon was launched on April 16, following five failed attempts last year.
Airways (New Zealand’s air navigation services provider) works with Nasa to launch the balloons, which inflate fully in flight to 532,000 cubic meters and carry a scientific payload.

National Affairs

According to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Retail inflation (based on CPI) has been reduced to 4.70% in April 2023.
While Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) has also reduced to 3.84%, as compared to 4.79% in March 2023 and 8.31% in April 2022.
In April 2023, Rural inflation stood at 4.68%, while urban inflation was at 4.85%.
The Government had mandated the RBI to maintain retail inflation at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side.

Agreement

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (AIIMS) has collaborated with World Health Organization (WHO-SEARO) to ensure patient safety and quality control.
A core committee for Patient Safety and Quality at AIlMS is being constituted for the implementation of advanced patient safety and quality initiatives.
For this initiative, AIIMS will follow the learning curriculum proposed by WHO in collaboration with Duke-NUS.

Honours & Awards

Writer Arinze Ifeakandu has won Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize 2023 for a “kaleidoscopic reflection of queer life and love in Nigeria”.
Dylan Thomas Prize is a recognition of literary works by authors aged 39 or under and is one of the most prestigious awards for young writers.
His debut book is God’s Children Are Little Broken Things', which is a collection of nine short stories on the themes of queer life, love, and humanity.

Books & Authors

Oprah Winfrey has co-authored a book titled 'Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier' with author-educator Arthur C Brooks.
The book is expected to be released on September 12, 2023, by Portfolio Books.
This book will introduce readers to the incredible science of happiness, based on the best research available.
Other books by Winfrey: What I Know for Sure, The Path Made Clear, and Food, Health, and Happiness

Banking & Finance

PayNearby, a branchless banking and digital network in India, has launched a new meta-commerce platform called PayNearby Mall.
This platform is designed to enable easy access to goods and services and will be integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.
Aim: To upgrade every retailer in its million+ active network and help them meet the demand of their customers
Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby: Anand Kumar Bajaj

National Affairs

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attended the 8th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries through video conferencing.
During the conference, he informed that India's exports of agricultural and allied products have crossed four lakh crore rupees.
He has also highlighted India's performance in the agriculture sector and contribution to global food security with food grain production.

International Affairs

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)'s annual report, the number of internally displaced people around the world reached 71 million as of the end of 2022.
The number of movements in which people fled in search of safety and shelter was also unprecedented in 2022 with a figure of 60.9 million.
The conflict in Ukraine triggered nearly 17 million displacements and monsoon floods in Pakistan triggered 8.2 million.