Today in History (22^th May 1972)

22 May 1972 – Pakistan resigns from Commonwealth membership.

Let’s revise

A) In a recent helicopter crash the President of Iran died. His name is____

1. Ali Khamenei
2. Ebrahim Raisi
3. Meysam Khamenei
4. None of the above

Ans. (b)

B)Who is the president of Azerbaijan?

1. Ilham Aliyev
2. Ebrahim Raisi
3. Meysam Khamenei
4. Ali Khamenei

Ans. (a)

C) What is the full form of SCO in international relations?

1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
2. South Cooperation Organisation
3. South-South Cooperation Organisation
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

D) Which member of the BRICS has not been invited for Ukraine Peace Conference?

1. Brazil
2. Russia
3. India
4. China

Ans. (b)

E) Who is the president of Brazil?

1. Lula Da Silva
2. Ebrahim Raisi
3. Aliyev
4. Cyril Ramaphosa

Ans. (a)

F) Which one is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan?

1. Batken
2. Bishkek
3. Baku
4. Tehran

Ans. (b)

G) Iran makes border with two water bodies these are_____

1. Caspian sea and Black sea
2. Caspian sea and Indian Ocean
3. Caspian sea and Mediterranean sea
4. Yellow sea and Atlantic ocean

Ans. (b)

Summary of Today’s News

L-G questions CM’s silence on Maliwal case.

• Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his silence over the alleged assault on AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal.
• Saxena accused Kejriwal of having a “dodgy” and “evasive” attitude towards women’s safety.
Alleged Assault Incident:
• Swati Maliwal alleged in her police complaint that she was assaulted by Kejriwal’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, at the CM’s residence on May 13.
• Kumar claimed that Maliwal trespassed and created a ruckus, and he was subsequently arrested on May 18.
Police Investigation:
• The police took Kumar to Mumbai to retrieve data allegedly deleted from his phone.
• Kumar’s phone was formatted in Mumbai a day before his arrest.
• The police are attempting to recover transferred data and have seized a digital video recorder from the CM’s house.
Maliwal’s Call to L-G:
• Maliwal called Saxena, expressing her traumatic experience and the subsequent intimidation by her party colleagues.
• Saxena stated that the police investigation would reach its logical conclusion and criticized AAP for its inconsistent stance on the matter.
AAP’s Response:
• AAP claimed that the L-G’s statement showed that Maliwal was acting on behalf of BJP.
• AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned why the L-G did not order an FIR against BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual assault by women wrestlers.
Context of Wrestlers’ Protest:
• Women wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, protested for action against Singh.
• The FIR against Singh was filed on Supreme Court orders, following a prolonged protest and alleged police brutality against the wrestlers.
These points summarize the main aspects of the ongoing controversy involving Swati Maliwal, AAP, and the response from the Lieutenant-Governor.

Sisodia’s bail denied; ‘case at hand is a breach of public trust’

• The High Court rejected the bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi excise policy scam.
• Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that Sisodia failed to make a case for bail, citing “grave misuse of power and breach of public trust.”
Role and Allegations:
• Sisodia, as Deputy Chief Minister with 18 portfolios including the Department of Excise, was involved in formulating the new liquor policy.
• The court noted that Sisodia subverted the policy formulation process by fabricating public feedback to benefit select individuals, particularly wholesale distributors.
Evidence Destruction:
• Sisodia allegedly destroyed crucial evidence, including electronic evidence.
• The court highlighted the risk of evidence destruction if Sisodia were released on bail due to his influence in the Delhi government.
Judicial Custody:
• Sisodia’s judicial custody was extended until May 31 by a trial court.
• Special judge Kaveri Baweja scheduled further arguments on the framing of charges for May 30.
Case Background:
• Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the scam.
• The Enforcement Directorate arrested him on March 9, 2023, in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR.
Agency Allegations:
• The CBI and ED alleged that beneficiaries diverted illegal gains to accused officials and made false entries in their books to evade detection.
Allowance for Family Visits:
• Despite the bail rejection, Sisodia is permitted to visit his ailing wife once a week under conditions set by a trial court in February.

Joint culture in the armed forces is way forward: CDS

• New commands will separate operational functions from Raise-Train-Sustain (RTS) and administrative functions, enhancing the operational commander’s focus on security.
Jointness 2.0:
• Emphasizes developing a joint culture among the armed forces.
• Builds on Jointness 1.0, which improved inter-service relations, moving towards joint operational structures.
Joint Culture:
• Joint culture should respect each service’s uniqueness and incorporate the best aspects of each.
• The proposed Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) are the start of further reforms.
Reforms with ITC:
• ITCs will lead to multi-domain operations, integration of space and cyberspace, battlefield digitization, and data-centric operations.
CDS Mandate:
• Ensures jointness in operations, logistics, training, and other support services among the three services.
• Priority is the reorganization into geography-centric ITCs.
Delays and Resumption:
• The ITC effort was delayed by inter-service disagreements and the death of the first CDS, Gen. Bipin Rawat.
• Gen. Anil Chauhan, as the new CDS, has resumed the process, now in advanced stages, with ITC formation included in the BJP’s election manifesto.

30 flamingos fall dead, rammed by jet on glide path to Mumbai airport

• Over 30 flamingos were killed after being hit by an aircraft in Ghatkopar, near Mumbai airport.
• Emirates EK 508 Dubai-Mumbai flight landed safely but was delayed for a day due to inspection.
First Occurrence:
• This is the first incident of such a large number of birds being hit near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
• The Maharashtra Forest Department is investigating, collecting carcasses and samples, and may take the pilot’s statement.
Investigations:
• Factors like flight altitude and deviation from the landing path are being studied.
• The incident might have been caused by birds flying towards the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
Conservationists’ Theories:
• Power lines through the sanctuary may be disorienting the birds.
• Disturbances in Navi Mumbai wetlands might have chased the birds towards the aircraft’s path.
Wetland Protection:
• Conservationists argue for wetland protection, citing Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary’s record of no bird hits.
• The incident raises questions about eliminating water bodies for Navi Mumbai airport safety.
Migratory Pattern:
• Flamingos migrate from Siberia to Mumbai via Gujarat, making Mumbai’s wetlands their home from November to May.