Today in History (June 22nd, 1633)
Galileo Galilei, an Italian mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer, was charged with heresy by Pope Urban VIII for advocating heliocentric theory, first proposed by the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1633, he was brought before the Roman Inquisition, a judicial system established by the papacy in 1542 to regulate church doctrine.
Summary of Today’s News
Gati Shakti Digital Platform.
The PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform brings together 16 ministries to promote a coordinated and integrated approach to planning and implementing infrastructure connectivity projects. It was launched in October 2021 for planning multi-modal infrastructure projects, facilitating greater private capital investments to sustain the economy’s growth. The platform provides data with detailed maps, existing economic and social infrastructure, and upcoming projects. These data are available only to the Central and State Governments.
India’s Russian Oil import hit a new record in May 2023.
India’s rising imports of Russian oil touched 1.95 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2023, denting purchases from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It accounted for 40% of crude oil imported in May 2023. India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer and producer, importing more than 80% of its crude oil requirement. Due to higher purchases of Russian oil at a discounted price ($68.21 per barrel), the share of imports from West Asia fell to 39% in May 2023.
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The 26th edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), also known as ‘Russian Davos,’ was held last week in Russia’s second-largest city, where Russia seeks alternative economic and geo-political partnerships to navigate the challenging times. The plenary session was addressed by the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The organizers claimed participation from 130 countries, including China, India, and Brazil delegations.
Global Gender Gap Index 2023.
India scored 0.643 and was ranked 127th among 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, released by the World Economic Forum. According to the report, India had closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap but has reached only 36.7% parity in economic participation and opportunity. Iceland emerged as the topper for the 14th consecutive year.
