Current affairs 27 February 2023

FATF suspends Russia's membership over Ukraine war.

• Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended its membership in Russia as Moscow's war in Ukraine violated the organization's principles.
• FATF Core Principle: To promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.
• FATF is an inter-governmental organization set up to combat money laundering and terrorism financing by setting global standards and checking if countries respect them.
• The FATF also added South Africa and Nigeria to its grey list.

Kerala becomes 1st state to use robotic scavengers to clean manholes.

• The Kerala government has become the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes.
• The robotic scavenger named Bandicoot.
• It was launched under the Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).
• It is a part of the 100-day action plan of the state government.
• It was developed by Kerala-based Genrobotics, which had recently bagged the 'Kerala Pride' award at the Huddle Global 2022.

Scientists discovered 5th inner core layer of the earth.

• Australian National University's researchers are trying to reveal the 5th layer of the Earth.
• Seismic waves generated by earthquakes have revealed new insights about the deepest parts of Earth’s inner core.
• The team believes that presented evidence of a distinct layer inside Earth known as the innermost inner core.
• This layer is a solid ‘metallic ball’ that sits within the center of the inner core.
• So far, scientists believed that there are only four layers on the Earth.

Bangladesh, ISA sign agreement to increase use of solar energy.

• Bangladesh's government signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to increase the use of solar energy in the country.
• The agreement was signed between the ISA Director General Ajay Mathur and the Bangladesh Power Division Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman.
• The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026.
• The government aims to generate 40% of its total energy through renewable sources by 2041 and to produce 4000 MW of solar power by 2030.

Indian Air Force contingent to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Ex-Desert Flag VIII, organized at the Al Dahfra airbase of the United Arab Emirates.
• The exercise will be scheduled from 27th February to 17th March 2023.
• The IAF has participated with five Light Combat Aircraft, LCA Tejas, and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
• The Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, South Korea, and the USA would join this multilateral air exercise.