- National:
- The Government of India has implemented the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 to establish accessibility standards for persons with disabilities,Under this provision, 20 ministries are involved in making Accessibility guidelines/standards for their respective sector
- India is committed to an accelerated, responsible and just energy transition through international cooperation and collaboration. This commitment is being demonstrated through India’s Presidency of the G20
- The Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that 164 Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) items, with an import substitution value of Rs 814 crore, have been successfully indigenised by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) within the stipulated timelines
- India and the European Union have agreed to coordinate their policies with regard to the strategic semiconductor sector with an aim to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding by September 2023. This agreement was reached during the first ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels
- N Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons, was conferred with France’s highest civilian honour- “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna. He was awarded for his role in developing and fostering commercial links between India and France
- With Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Sikkim reporting fresh cases of lumpy skin disease in May, the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry reviewed the situation and concluded that it was under control despite 10,000 cases in the last two weeks. The Ministry urged that vaccination be increased
- Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the State Dashboard, a data and analytics-powered platform which will streamline performance monitoring of government schemes, aiding data-driven decision-making
- International:
- The US Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Google, Meta and Twitter, stating that the social media giants cannot be held responsible for posts carrying content supportive of terrorist groups such as Islamic State (ISIS). The court handed internet and social media companies a pair of victories, refusing to clear a path for victims of attacks by militant groups to sue these businesses under an anti-terrorism law
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Delhi for Hiroshima, Japan to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. His presence in the G7 Summit is of particular significance for India as it comes at a time when the country is holding the G20 Presidency
- Obituary
- SP Hinduja, the esteemed chairman of the Hinduja Group and the eldest among the four Hinduja brothers, passed away at the age of 87. His cause of death was due to dementia. He was a UK-based billionaire businessman and his family had an estimated collective fortune of more than £28bn
- Rattan Lal Kataria, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Ambala, passed away on Thursday after a brief illness. He was 72 years old. He served as a Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment between May 2019 and July 2021
- Important Days:
- International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18th every year. The theme for International Museum Day 2023 is Museums, Sustainability and Well-being. Museums are key contributors to the well-being and to the sustainable development of our communities
- World AIDS Vaccine Day is observed on May 18th every year. This day helps us recognize the progress made in developing the vaccine. The day aims to increase public understanding of the pressing need for an HIV vaccine and to pay tribute to the countless scientists, healthcare professionals, and activists who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of this vital breakthrough
- Appointments:
- Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud will swear in two new apex court judges, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and K.V. Viswanathan, who is a direct appointment from the Supreme Court Bar
- Sports:
- Women’s Hockey, Australia defeated India 4-2 at Mate Stadium in Adelaide, Australia. This was the first game of the five-match series. The tour is part of the Indian team’s preparations for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games 2023
- Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the French Open due to a hip injury that has sidelined him from the game since January. He also said that he expects 2024 to be his final year in professional tennis
