Current affairs 03 August 2023

Indian-origin author Chetna Maroo’s debut novel on Booker Prize longlist.

• Chetna Maroo, an Indian-origin author based in London, has been selected for the 2023 Booker Prize longlist with her debut novel Western Lane.
• The novel, set in the British Gujarati milieu, skillfully uses the sport of squash as a metaphor for intricate human emotions, earning praise from the Booker judges.
• The longlist comprises 13 books written by authors from various countries, including Ireland, Canada, the US, and the UK, explore universal and topical themes.

12 countries responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.

• According to Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action Earth saw its first Plastic Overshoot Day which means the point at which the amount of plastics exceeds the global waste management capacity.
• India is among the 12 countries which are responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.
• When it comes to plastic consumption on a per-person basis, the world’s worst offender is Iceland.
• The global average consumption of plastic per person per year is 20.9 kg.

Deepak Shenoy honored with Global Visionary Entrepreneur Award.

• Medec Dragon Pvt Ltd received the prestigious Best Managed Pharmaceutical Sustainable Organizations 2023 award, while Deepak Shenoy, Managing Director of Medec Dragon was honored as the Global Visionary Entrepreneur of the year 2023 at the 6th Edition of South Asia Pacific Healthcare Summit & Business Award 2023.
• The event was organized by Brandscouncil Ratings & Medilinks in Mumbai.
• The awards were presented by India's first Mrs. World, Aditi Govitrikar.

Bhutan's success in increasing its tiger population.

• Bhutan's Tiger population has increased by 27 percent since its last count in 2015.
• The latest survey estimates there now 131 tigers in the country.
• It reflected the success of Tiger conservation efforts in the South Asian Himalayan landlocked nation situated between China and India.
• It was in 2010 that Bhutan continued its commitment to protecting its wildlife when the country joined the global effort to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022.

China, UAE air forces to conduct first joint training FALCON Shield-2023.

• Ministry of National Defense announced the air forces of China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will conduct a joint training exercise in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
• According to the ministry, the exercise, Falcon Shield-2023, will be the first joint training between the two nation's air forces.
• Aims: To deepen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and enhance mutual understanding and trust, the ministry added.