ASIAN GAMES or ASIAD

 Motto= ever onward

 First event, 1951, Asian games, Delhi
 Organised by OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA and occur every 4 years
 2026 Asian games, Nagoya, Japan
 2022 Asian games, (19asian games) Hangzhou, China (23sep,2023 to 8oct,2023)
*supposed to happen in 2022 but postponed by COVID 19*
 India ranked 4 in medal table tally (107 medals)
(28 GOLD
38 SLIVER
41 BRONE)
 China ranked 1 (383 medals)
 2022 motto, Heart to Heart
 Emblem= Surging Tides
 Total events 481
 Opened by Xi Jinping (President of China)
 Closed by Randhir Singh (Acting President of OLUMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA)
 Torch Lighter=Wang Shun
 Venue= Hangzhou sports park Stadium (Big lotus)
 Mascot=Memories of Jiangnan (Chenchen, Congcong, Lianlaian.
 Official theme song=With you and me
 Appu, the Indian elephant, was the first mascot to be used for the Asian Games.
 Esports and breakdance made their way too

Global South’s Debt Problem

1. Zambia: After being the first African country to default during the COVID-19 pandemic,
Zambia has made progress with a $6.3 billion debt rework deal with creditors and is working
towards a comprehensive repair plan.
2. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka initiated a debt overhaul plan, with most domestic bondholders agreeing
to exchange bonds into new Sri Lankan rupee-denominated notes. However, some aspects
of the plan have faced delays.
3. Ghana: Ghana, which defaulted on most of its external debt in late 2022, aims to reduce
international debt payments by $10.5 billion over the next three years. The government has
made significant progress in addressing domestic debt and is in discussions with
bondholders.
4. Pakistan: Pakistan reached a bailout agreement with the IMF, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE but
faces challenges with tax reforms that may impact its renewables energy market. This has
raised concerns about its ability to meet climate obligations.
5. Tunisia: Tunisia is facing a severe economic crisis, with potential defaults looming. President
Kais Saied has criticized IMF terms for unlocking funds, and international support largely
hinges on IMF-related reforms.
6. Egypt: Egypt is grappling with a large hard currency debt burden and high interest payments.
The country’s success in managing its debt may depend on support from wealthy Gulf
nations.
  El Salvador: El Salvador has improved its debt situation, partly due to debt buybacks and
fiscal policies. It shifted from a default risk to a bond market favourite, thanks to President
Nayib Bukele’s measures.
7. Kenya: Kenya’s public debt stands at nearly 70% of GDP, with the government taking
measures to address the issue, including tax hikes. However, political opposition and
protests pose challenges.
8. Lebanon: Lebanon has been in default since 2020, with no clear resolution in sight. The
central bank’s proposal to lift the currency peg represents a potential step toward
addressing the crisis.

Muhammad Yunus - Economist from Bangladesh

 Born: 28 June 1940 (age 83 years), Chattogram, Bangladesh
 Spouse: Vera Forostenko
 Economist, Entrepreneur
 Nobel Peace Prize (2006)
 Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009)
 Congressional Gold Medal (2010)
 co-founded the Grameen Bank to provide collateral-free micro-credit to the impoverished
(on the principles of trust and solidarity)

Press And Registration of Periodicals Bill

 introduced 2023 in the Rajya Sabha.
 Regulate printing press and newspapers in India.
 Preserve copies of books and newspapers printed in India.

 Provide for registration of books and newspapers.

 electronic media is outside the purview of this Act (Sanjay Pinto v. A. Kamaraj, 2011)
 only the district magistrate (DM) could cancel the declaration of a periodical
 a prison term of up to six months.
 mandatory “one-time registration” in order to operate.
 a person who has been convicted by any court for an offence involving terrorist act or
unlawful activity or having done anything against the security of the state shall not be
permitted to bring out a periodical.

Surrogacy and Indian law

 The Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021 surrogate mother cannot receive any compensation
apart from the medical expenses incurred during pregnancy including insurance coverage
 Commercial surrogacy, where the surrogate is paid in cash or kind, is banned (penalty of ten
years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ten lakh rupees.)
 The Surrogacy Regulation Rules, 2022 clinics are required to have a minimum staff
composition consisting of at least one gynaecologist, anaesthetist, embryologist and
counsellor.
  an Balaz v. Anand Municipality [2009 SCC Online Guj 10446]: highlighted the need to ensure the
protection and welfare of children born through surrogacy arrangements.
 Baby Manji Yamada v. Union of India [(2008) 13 SCC 518]: raised questions about the legal status
and rights of surrogate children and the responsibilities of surrogacy clinics and intended parents.

Ground water depletion

ITI Aayog, in its report titled “Composite Water Management Index” published in June 2018,
had mentioned that 21 major cities were expected to run out of groundwater by 2020.
The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being periodically assessed
jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments.

Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 which continued
during 2021 also to improve water availability including ground water conditions in
the country.

The rate of depletion of groundwater in India during 2041-2080

will be thrice the current rate with global warming