Aspirants Zone: Current Affairs May 2019

Showing posts with label Current Affairs May 2019. Show all posts

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 30th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 30 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Narendra Modi takes oath as 15th Prime Minister

Capping a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi, along with his Councils of Minister, on 3oth May took oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The 68-year-old stalwart took oath as the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term.

Top leaders and guests were invited from around the world and across the nation to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

Binny, India's Only Orangutan Dies In Odisha Zoo

A 41-year-old orangutan at Odisha's Nandankanan Zoological Park died following a prolonged illness. ''Binny'', the country's lone orangutan passed away due to old-age related ailments followed by respiratory tract infection.

"Since the last three days, she was suffering from cold and old age related respiratory tract issues. Accordingly, treatment was going on," sources said

APPOINTMENTS

Jagan Mohan Reddy takes oath as Andhra Pradesh CM

Cheered by thousands of supporters, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada.

Military tribunal allows Karambir Singh to take charge as new Navy Chief

The Armed Forces Tribunal cleared the way for Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to become the next Navy Chief, while it deferred for four weeks the matter of Vice Admiral Bimal Verma which seeks to quash Singh’s appointment.

Karambir Singh, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, will take over as the Navy Chief on 31st May 2019.

Vice-Admiral Atul Kumar Jain takes over as chief of ENC

Vice-Admiral Atul Kumar Jain took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), from Vice-Admiral Karambir Singh.

James Marape elected new Papua New Guinea PM

James Marape, a former finance minister and critic of a major global gas development deal, has been elected by parliament as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea.

AWARDS

Indian Writer Annie Zaidi Wins USD 100,000 Global Book Prize ‘Nine Dots’

Indian writer Annie Zaidi was announced as the 2019 winner of the USD 100,000 Nine Dots Prize, a prestigious book prize created to award innovative thinking that addresses contemporary issues around the world.

Mumbai-based Annie Zaidi, a freelance writer whose work includes reportage, essays, short stories, poetry, and plays, won for her entry ‘Bread, Cement, Cactus’- combining memoir and reportage to explore concepts of home and belonging rooted in her experience of contemporary life in India.

BOOKS

Lamar Odom launches a new book 'Darkness to light'

Former American basketball player, Lamar Odom released a new book titled 'Darkness to light', which reportedly will reveal dark secrets of his life.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Digestive Health Day

Every 29th May, the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), in collaboration with the WGO Foundation (WGOF), celebrates World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) and initiates a yearlong, worldwide, public health campaign.

Each year focuses upon a particular digestive disease and/or disorder in order to increase general public awareness of prevention, prevalence, diagnosis, management and treatment of the disease and/or disorder.

The theme for the World Digestive Health Day 2019 campaign is "Early Diagnosis and Treatment of GI Cancer."

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Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 27th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 27 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

ISRO chairman flags off shipment of India's largest liquid hydrogen storage tank

ISRO Chairman K Sivan flagged off the shipment of India's largest liquid hydrogen storage tank at the VRV Asia Pacific's manufacturing plant at Sri City in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

VRV Asia Pacific manufactured the storage tank with a Liquid Nitrogen (LIN) shield, in a collaborative effort with Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, under the Make in India initiative.

‘Tree Ambulance’ service launched in Chennai

A unique 'Tree Ambulance' service - an initiative to provide care to trees besides spread green cover, was launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Chennai.

The service launched for the first time in the state, aims at providing first aid treatment to trees, uprooted tree planting, seed bank, seed ball distribution, plant distribution, aiding tree plantation, shifting trees, survey of trees and removal of dead trees. The ambulance can be availed through the helpline number - 9941006786. People can register themselves as volunteers in their website- www.treeambulance.org.

Tribal Odisha woman becomes country's youngest MP

Chandrani Murmu, a tribal woman, has made history after winning the Lok Sabha seat from Keonjhar in Odisha. She has become the youngest Member of Parliament (MP) at the age of 25 years and 11 months.

Murmu, an engineering graduate, was just another girl seeking a job after obtaining her B.Tech degree. However, in a twist of fate, Murmu of Tikargumura village in Keonjhar district was fielded as a candidate by Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NASA unveils schedule for ‘Artemis’ 2024 Moon mission

NASA unveiled the calendar for the “Artemis” program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in half a century, including eight scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024. The original lunar missions were named for Apollo – Artemis was his twin sister in Greek mythology, and the goddess of hunting, wilderness, and the Moon.

Russia launches world's largest nuclear-powered icebreaker

Russia launched the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker, which would open up commercial opportunities for the country in the northern sea route. With the ceremonial launch of ‘Ural’, Russia’s Rosatom Atomic Energy Corporation, which is the main equipment supplier for India’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant, has completed another step towards ensuring all-year round navigability of the Northern sea route.

Ural is one of the three ships that when completed will be the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Ind-Ra lowers FY 19 GDP estimate to 6.9 pc with Q4 forecast at 6.3 pc

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said that it expects India's GDP growth rate during 2018-19 to be 6.9 per cent as against the advance estimate of 7 per cent.

It said the fourth quarter (January to March) GDP growth to decelerate to 6.3 per cent from 6.6 per cent in the third quarter (October to December 2018).

SPORTS

Mahesh Mangaonkar wins Sekisui Open title

India's Mahesh Mangaonkar defeated Spain's Bernat Jaume, the third seed, in the final to clinch the Sekisui Open title for the second time in his career in Kriens, Switzerland. This was Mahesh's eighth PSA title.

Lewis Hamilton wins Monaco Grand Prix 2019

Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix 2019 to extend his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.

China beat Japan to win 2019 Sudirman Cup

China won the badminton world mixed-team championship, Sudirman Cup 2019 in Nanning, China. They beat Japan in men’s doubles, women’s singles and men’s singles to clinch the title for the 11th time.

APPOINTMENTS

PS Golay sworn in as Sikkim Chief Minister

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as PS Golay took oath as the Chief Minister of Sikkim. He was administered the oath by Governor Ganga Prasad at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.

Anton Aditya Subowo re-elected as President of Badminton Asia

Indonesia's Anton Aditya Subowo was re-elected as the President of Badminton Asia. As a result, he will continue as the President for another four years.

AWARDS

Guy Gunaratne wins Dylan Thomas prize for 'urgent' London novel

Debut novelist Guy Gunaratne has won the £30,000 Swansea University International Dylan Thomas prize for In Our Mad and Furious City, an “urgent, timely and compelling” account of life on a London housing estate during city-wide riots.

The British-Sri Lankan writer, 35, who is also a human-rights documentary film-maker, was also longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker prize and won this year’s Jhalak prize for the novel.

OBITUARIES

Veeru Devgan, Ajay Devgn’s Father and Stunt Director, passes away

Veeru Devgan, one of the most celebrated action and stunts directors in Bollywood, has passed away in Mumbai. He choreographed action scenes in more than 80 films. The father of Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, Veeru also directed a film with Ajay in the lead, Hindustan Ki Kasam. His other son Anil Devgan is a director.

Murray Gell-Mann, father of quarks, passes away

Murray Gell-Mann, the Nobel-winning physicist who brought order to the universe by helping discover and classify subatomic particles, has passed away. He was 89.

Thailand's Influential Ex-Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda passes away

Prem Tinsulanonda, who as an army commander, prime minister and adviser to the royal palace was one of Thailand’s most influential political figures over four decades, has passed away.

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Daily Current Affairs 26th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 26 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Infosys takes over Dutch bank arm with majority stake

Global software major Infosys has completed the acquisition of majority (75 per cent) equity stake in the Stater N.V. subsidiary of the Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank.

SPORTS

India Open: Mary Kom, Shiva Thapa, Amit Panghal win gold

Six-time world champion Mary Kom (51kg) was crowned champion in the second edition of the India Open International Boxing Tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, Guwahati.

Additionally, Amit Panghal (52kg) won his third gold of the year while Shiva Thapa finished on top in the 60kg category.

Apurvi Chandela wins 10m air rifle gold at Munich WC

Apurvi Chandela won the gold in women's 10m air rifle at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The 26-year-old shot 251 points in the final to pip China's Luyao Wang's score of 250.8. This was Apurvi's second gold of the year, having won the first at the Delhi World Cup in February.

Zverev edges past Jarry to win Geneva Open

Germany's Alexander Zverev captured his first title of the season with a see-saw 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8) victory in Geneva Open final over Chile's Nicolas Jarry, who had two match points but came up just short.

APPOINTMENTS

Himanta Biswa Sarma elected BAC Vice President

Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected the Vice President of the Badminton Asia Council (BAC).

The 50-year-old got 35 votes from a total of 40 polled.

AWARDS

Acharya Balkrishna receives 'UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award'

Patanjali Ayurved Limited's Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna received the 'UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award' on behalf of Patanjali Group of Institutions in Geneva.

Patanjali Ayurved is a company producing range Ayurvedic medicinal and personal care products, among other consumer items. Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev co-founded the company along with Balkshrina.

OBITUARIES

Noted artist Surya Prakash passes away

Surya Prakash, a well-known painter from Hyderabad, who was one of the first artists to put the city on the national map, passed away following a heart attack. He was 78.

The best places where his creative paintings stand out in Hyderabad are the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). He has done nearly 60 solo exhibitions and over a century of groups shows, displaying the breadth and depth of his work.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Thyroid Day

World Thyroid Day is celebrated on 25 May every year to raise awareness and reduce the prevalence of thyroid related disorders. The year 2019 marked commemoration of 11 years of Global Thyroid Awareness.

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Sunday, May 26, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 25th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 25 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Priyanka Mohite becomes first Indian Woman to scale World’s 5th Highest Mountain Mount Makalu

Priyanka Mohite, the 26-year-old Satara based mountaineer, has become the first Indian woman to successfully scale Mount Makalu — the fifth-highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres.

Earlier, in May 2018, Priyanka managed to scale Mount Lhotse, which is the fourth highest mountain in the world. In 2013, Mohite had become the youngest girl from her state to have conquered the 8,848m Mount Everest — the highest peak in the world — becoming only the third-youngest Indian to do so.

Mt Makalu is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas, 19 km south-east of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China.

The first climb on Makalu was made by an American team led by Riley Keegan in 1954.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI releases draft norms on liquidity risk management for NBFCs

RBI stated that all non-deposit-taking non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) with an asset size of Rs 5,000 crore and above, and all deposit-taking NBFCs irrespective of their asset size, have to maintain a liquidity buffer in terms of a Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR).

In a draft on liquidity risk management framework for NBFCs and core investment companies, these measures will promote resilience of NBFCs to potential liquidity disruptions by ensuring they have sufficient High-Quality Liquid Asset (HQLA) to survive an acute liquidity stress scenario lasting for 30 days. The banking regulator proposed that it will implement LCR through a glide path from 01st April 2020 to 01st April 2024.

Corporation Bank launches ‘Corp SME Suvidha’ for MSMEs

Corporation Bank has launched ‘Corp SME Suvidha’, a product for GST-registered MSMEs. The product has been designed as part of the bank’s efforts to provide the best products to the MSME sector.

SPORTS

Mary Kom crowned India Open champion

Six-time world champion Mary Kom in the 51 kg category clinched the second edition of the India Open Boxing Tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi AC Indoor Stadium in Guwahati, Assam

The London Olympic bronze medallist blew away the challenge of Vanlal Duati in a facile 5-0 win. This was Mary's second gold in the tournament, having won in 48 kg last year in the capital.

APPOINTMENTS

Naveen Patnaik set for fifth term as Odisha CM

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by incumbent Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is all set to form a government for a fifth consecutive term. The new Cabinet is likely to be sworn-in on 27th May.

British PM Theresa May announces resignation

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced resignation from her post. She will resign on 7 June. Her announcement triggers the start of a contest to replace her as Conservative leader and Prime Minister.

AWARDS

Contemporary artist Nalini Malani becomes first Indian to win $78K Joan Miro Prize

Indian contemporary artist Nalini Malani has won the Joan Miro Prize for 2019, the Barcelona-based Fundacio Joan Miro has announced. One of the most prestigious contemporary art awards in the world, it recognises present-day work by artists who show the same spirit of exploration, innovation, commitment and freedom that characterised Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miro's life and work.

Malani, who is the winner of the seventh edition of the prize, was awarded for her impressive body of work that gave a voice to "the silenced and the dispossessed all over the world, most particularly women".

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Friday, May 24, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 24th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 24 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Narendra Modi set to become Prime Minister for the second term

Narendra Modi will be Prime Minister again, sweeping back to power today with a majority bigger than in 2014. The BJP alone is set to win 303 seats and along with its allies is leading in or has won 348 seats, far beyond the 272 they needed for a majority in the Lok Sabha.

BJP chief Amit Shah pointed out that the party had secured over 50 per cent of the popular vote in 17 states and union territories, reduced the Congress to a “big zero” in 17 states and expanded its footprint in states such as Bengal and Odisha.

2019 Lok Sabha polls record highest-ever voter turnout in history

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a voter turnout of 67.10% (interim), which is the highest ever voter turnout in the history of general elections, as per Election Commission of India. The previous highest voter turnout of 66.44% was recorded in 2014. The highest voter turnout was recorded in the first phase when 69.61 per cent of the electorate voted.

Among the states, Himachal Pradesh registered a turnout of 72.25 per cent, which is 7.8 per cent higher than the 2014 polls. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh saw a 9.5 per cent increase in turnout compared to last year - 71.1 per cent compared to 61.57 per cent. Chhattisgarh recorded 71.48 per cent turnout across its three phases.

5th Smart Cities India 2019 Expo Inaugurated In New Delhi

The 5th Smart Cities India 2019 expo, including Transport India, Solar India, Buildings India and Water India expos, was inaugurated by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Organised by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Exhibitions India Group, the event builds upon Government of India's 'Smart Cities Mission' through a display of a vast array of products and solutions relevant to building smart cities in India.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WHO Declares Algeria, Argentina Malaria-Free

The World Health Organization has certified Algeria and Argentina as malaria-free, following three consecutive years where no new cases of the deadly disease have been reported.

The World Health Organization reports Algeria is the second country in Africa to be recognized as malaria-free after Mauritius, which was certified in 1973. Argentina is the second country in South America, after Paraguay, to be declared malaria-free.

Extra info.:
Algeria Capital: Algiers
Currency: Algerian dinar
Argentina Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Argentine peso

BANKING & FINANCE

HDFC Group Overtakes Tata Group As India’s Most Valuable

The HDFC group has overtaken the 151-year-old Tata group to emerge as India's most valuable by way of market capitalization (m-cap). The combined market value of the five listed companies of the HDFC group - HDFC, HDFC Bank, HDFC Life, HDFC Asset Management and Gruh Finance - stood at Rs 11.66 lakh crore as on May 20, 2019 while the combined m-cap of 29 Tata group companies stood at Rs 11.64 lakh crore, about Rs 2,000 crore less than that of the HDFC group.

There was a significant gap between the m-cap of HDFC group and Tata group before one-and-half year. The m-cap of the HDFC group was at Rs 8.4 lakh crore in January 2018 while the market value of the Tata group was at Rs 9.6 lakh crore at that time.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

SEBI, IRDAI Set Up Regulatory Sandbox For Fintech Innovations

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) have announced initiatives to encourage tech startups, especially fintech, by making data and systems available to them through the regulatory sandbox (RS).

SEBI has proposed an ‘Innovation Sandbox’ which would be a testing environment where fintech firms and entities not regulated by SEBI. IRDAI has also recommended setting up a RS to test new digital and tech-based innovations before launching them in the market. An applicant should have a net worth of Rs.1 million and a proven financial record of at least one year for the IRDAI sandbox.

ICRA downgrades long-term ratings of IDFC First Bank

Rating agency ICRA downgraded the long-term rating of private lender IDFC First Bank on the back of weak earnings profile and increase in provisions due to unanticipated fresh stressed exposures identified by the bank. The ratings was bought down a notch from to AA from AA+ with stable outlook.

The bank had reported an increase in stressed exposures due to deterioration in the credit profile of three large exposures and made a voluntary provision of Rs 420 crore on these exposures.

IDBI Bank collects Rs 160 crore insurance premium after LIC tie-up

IDBI Bank sold insurance policies worth Rs 160 crore in March 2019 after a partnership with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). LIC’s corporate agents will be able to sell the products across their 1,800 branches.

LIC is the majority shareholder in IDBI Bank holding a 51 percent stake in the banking entity.

Karnataka Bank launches S/B product for salaried class

Karnataka Bank has launched a new savings bank product, KBL SB Salary, a customised product for the salaried class with three variants. The bank has designed three variants – SB Salary Executive, SB Salary Prime, and SB Salary Classic to cater the to financial needs of the ‘employer-employee ecosystem’.

The three variants of KBL SB Salary come with a host of features and do not have the minimum balance criteria.

Extra info.:
Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangaluru

APPOINTMENTS

Jagan Mohan Reddy To Be Sworn In As CM of Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy will be sworn in as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on 30th of this month at Vijayawada. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced this following his party achieving inching towards a landslide victory in the legislative elections for Andhra Pradesh Legislative assembly held on April 11th.

The YSR Congress won 74 seats and is leading in 76 seats till the last reports came in.

AWARDS

Insurer Bharti AXA Bags Claims Excellence Award

Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a private life insurer, has been conferred with the FICCI Claims Excellence Award. The recognition comes for its customer-friendly claims services in the life insurance sector.

The insurer improved its individual claim settlement ratio, the number of claims paid to the number of claims received, to 96.85 per cent in financial year 2017-18.

OBITUARIES

Former Malaysian King Sultan Ahmad Shah passes away

Malaysia's seventh King and football veteran Sultan Ahmad Shah passed away at the age of 88. Ahmad Shah was also the fifth Sultan of Malaysia's central Pahang state.

Born in 1930, Ahmad Shah was proclaimed the fifth Sultan of Pahang in 1974. He became the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or the supreme head of state from 1979 to 1984.

Extra info.:
Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Currency: Malaysian ringgit

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Thursday, May 23, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 23rd May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 23 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India ranked 117th in Kids Right Index

The annual global index named Kids Right Index has ranked countries on the basis of how much they are involved and equipped to improve child rights. India ranked 117th out of 181 countries.

Iceland topped the ranking followed by Portugal About Kids Right Index. Kids Rights Index is an initiative started by Kids Right Foundation with Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Extra info.:
Iceland Capital: Reykjavik
Currency: Iceland Krona

Mumbai most vulnerable to cyberattacks, Delhi, B'luru next: Report

Mumbai topped the 15-city list of the most vulnerable cities to cyberattacks in 2019, followed by Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata, Quick Heal Security Labs revealed. The 'Annual Threat Report 2019' put Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal as the top three states at most risk.

The report compiled data from several cyberattacks that took place in 2018 on Windows and Android.

Sculptor Anish Kapoor ranks first on Hurun India Art list

With sales estimated at Rs. 168.25 crore, contemporary sculptor Anish Kapoor has topped the first edition of the Hurun India Art List. He is followed by artists Akbar Padamsee and Krishen Khanna.

The Hurun Research Institute has ranked the top 50 Indian artists alive based on the sales of their works at public auction from April 2018 to March 2019.

Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth becomes first Indian woman fighter pilot to undertake missions by day

Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth adds another feather to her cap by completing Day Operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft. She is the first women fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft.

Bhawana who is from the first batch of woman fighter pilots of the IAF joined the fighter squadron in Nov 2017 and flew the first solo on MiG-21 Bison in March 2018.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Gopal Shrestha becomes first HIV-infected climber to scale Mount Everest

A-56 year-old Gopal Shrestha from Pokhara in Nepal became first HIV infected climber to ascend world's highest peak, the Mount Everest. Shrestha, once a former national football player climbed Everest in the second attempt. His first attempt was abandoned from the Everest Base Camp due to the earthquake of 2015.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Ruskin Bond launches new memoir titled Coming Round the Mountain on 85th birthday

India’s beloved children’s author Ruskin Bond is celebrating his 85th birthday, with the release of a new memoir set against the backdrop of the partition. The book titled Coming Round the Mountain, released officially by the author at Cambridge bookstores in Mussourie.

Coming Round the Mountain is the third installment of Bond’s award-winning memoir series for children that includes Looking for the Rainbow and Till the Clouds Roll By.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

ADB plans to fund Rs 30,000 cr Delhi-Meerut rapid rail corridor, 4 metro projects

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given in-principle nod for financing 4 metro rail projects and a Rs 30,000 crore rapid rail corridor between Delhi and Meerut as part of its effort to improve urban transport system in India.

Earlier this year, the government approved construction of a Rs 30,274 crore worth RRTS to connect the national capital with Meerut through Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh). The 82 kilometer-stretch will be covered in less than 60 minutes.

Extra info.:
ADB Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
President: Takehiko Nakao
Membership: 68 countries

SPORTS

Sethu FC crowned as Indian Women's League champions

Sethu FC turned around a first-half deficit to clinch their first ever Indian Women's League trophy after defeating Manipur Police 3-1 at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana.

Radharani Devi had put Manipur in the lead towards the end of the first half. But an own goal by Umapati Devi put Sethu back in the game before their Nepal international Sabitra Bhandari turned up the heat to score two goals and win it for the Madurai-based side.

Anirudh and Niki won the 2019 ITF mens Futures tennis title

Top seeds Anirudh Chandrasekar and Niki Poonacha won the 2019 International Tennis Federation (ITF) men’s Futures tennis tournament title in Kampala, Uganda.

The pair defeated Simon Carr and Ryan James Storrie and secured 6-3, 6-4. It was the maiden international title for Anirudh, while it was fourth doubles title for Poonacha.

AWARDS

Shyam Saran to be conferred with Japan's 'Order of the Rising Sun' award

Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran will be conferred with Japan's second highest national award for his contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and enhancing mutual understanding between India and Japan.

The Government of Japan announced that in its 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations, it will confer 72-year-old Saran, 'the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star'.

OBITUARIES

Documentary filmmaker Vijaya Mulay passes away

Renowned filmmaker and film historian Vijaya Mulay passed away. Mulay founded the Delhi Film Society in 1959, and later on became a joint secretary of the Federation of Film Societies.

In 2002, Vijaya Mulay was honoured with the prestigious V Shantaram Award for her work in documentary filmmaking. Her film Ek Anek Aur Ekta won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film.

Former Malaysian King Sultan Ahmad Shah passes away

Malaysia's seventh King and football veteran Sultan Ahmad Shah passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 88. Ahmad Shah was also the fifth Sultan of Malaysia's central Pahang state.

Born in 1930, Ahmad Shah was proclaimed the fifth Sultan of Pahang in 1974. He became the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or the supreme head of state from 1979 to 1984.

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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 22nd May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 22 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

ISRO launches earth observation satellite RISAT-2B

India successfully placed into orbit a radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2B in a text book style. PSLV-C46 has successfully injected RISAT-2B in precise orbit.

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's new earth observation satellite up in the sky will send good clarity images which will be used for agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.

This was the 72nd launch vehicle mission from the Sriharikota Range.

Telangana records 15% GSDP growth in FY19

Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown 15 per cent in the financial year ended March 31, 2019 at ₹8,66,875 crore as against ₹7,53,804 crore in the previous year.

This is the highest ever growth of GSDP after the formation of Telangana State.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World Bank and CBA Partner to enable Secondary Bond Trading recorded on Blockchain

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and Commonwealth Bank (CBA) have enabled secondary market trading recorded on blockchain for bond-i (blockchain operated new debt instrument), making this the first bond whose issuance and trading are recorded using distributed ledger technologies.

The World Bank issued bond-i in August 2018, which was the world’s first bond to be created, allocated, transferred and managed through its life cycle using distributed ledger technology. CBA was the sole arranger for the bond.

BANKING & FINANCE

Debit card PoS swipes rise 27% as per RBI data

Indians are increasingly using their debit cards to pay merchants directly. As per data from the Reserve Bank of India, debit card swipes on Point of Sales (PoS) terminals jumped more than 27% in March 2019 compared to corresponding period last year. In contrast, ATM withdrawals grew at a slower pace of 15%.

The biggest push to debit card payments for merchant transactions took place when the government sucked out more than 85% of the cash from the domestic economy at the time of demonetisation in November 2016.

Bank credit to infra sector grows 18.5% in FY19: RBI data

Bank credit to infrastructure sector grew by 18.5 per cent to Rs 10.55 lakh crore as of 2018-19, the highest since 2012-13 fiscal, RBI data showed.

Outstanding bank credit to the sector was Rs 8.91 lakh crore as at March 2018.

Karnataka Bank launches savings bank product for salaried class

Private sector lender Karnataka Bank launched a new savings bank product called “KBL SB Salary” for salaried class with three variants of Executive, Prime and Classic.

All these 3 variants of KBL SB Salary Scheme are available for the Salaried People with a host of Digitally Powered features and without any Minimum Balance Criteria.

According to the release, the bank will provide, free of cost, an insurance coverage of up to Rs 50,000 against chain snatching, theft and burglary for women employees falling in the top category of the salary scheme.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

UN forecasts global economy to grow 2.7% in 2019

The United Nations has downgraded its forecast for world economic growth, announcing that it expects overall growth of 2.7 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent in 2020.

The UN predicts for 2019 that the United States' economy will grow at 2.3 per cent, while the European Union's overall economy will expand at 1.5 per cent.

UN cuts India's growth rate by 0.6%, but at 7% it retains top spot

In its, UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects report, UN has downgraded India's growth rate for the current fiscal year to 7 per cent, a cut of 0.6 percent from the projection made in January. But then also it continues to be the world's growth leader.

Also, ndia's economy is projected to grow at 7.1 per cent in the fiscal year 2020 on the back of strong domestic consumption and investment.

OECD: India’s economy to grow 7.5% by 2020 amid slowing global growth

India's economic growth will regain strength and approach 7.5% by 2020 buoyed by rural consumption and subdued inflation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its Economic Outlook.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in India is projected to strengthen to close to 7.25% in FY19 and close to 7.5% in FY20.

Mudra loans may cross Rs 3 lakh crore in 2019-20

Total sanctions under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) loan scheme for micro industries are likely to cross Rs 3 lakh crore in the current fiscal.

Government data for the scheme for the last fiscal, till March 22, 2019, put the figure of Mudra sanctions at Rs 2.82 lakh crore to 541.27 lakh borrowers.

The loan is given primarily for the purpose of employment creation at the grassroots level through formal banking credit channel.

ADB to extend $750-mn long-term finance to IRFC for track electrification project

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement to provide long-term financing of $750 million equivalent in Indian rupees — the largest single non-sovereign loan ever committed by ADB — to the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), to fund the Railways track electrification project.

It is part of a broad modernisation programme that will help the railways transition to electric power and move away from dependence on fossil fuels.

APPOINTMENTS

Bimal Dayal to be CEO after merger of Indus Towers with Bharti Infratel

Bharti Group and Vodafone Group Plc have said that industry veterans Bimal Dayal will be the Chief Executive Officer after merger of Indus Towers and Bharti Infratel which is in advanced stage of completion.

At the same time, Hemant Ruia will be the Chief Financial Officer.

The merger of Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers will create a pan-India tower company with over 163,000 towers operating across all 22 telecom service areas in India.

AWARDS

Indian woman doctor gets Global Asian award

Bengaluru-based medical doctor Hema Divakar was honoured with the 'Global Asian of the Year 2018-19' award in Dubai recently for her yeomen services and contributions to the women's healthcare ecosystem, in India.

Hema received the award at the Asian Business & Social Forum 2019 under the 'In Service of the Society and the Nation' category.

Hema is also spearheading a healthcare initiative for the overall well-being of women, with affordable and quality treatment.

Pune scientist wins German chemistry prize

In an international competition ‘Elsevier Foundation-ISC3 Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge’, a project idea by Ankur Patwardhan from Pune has bagged the second prize of €25,000. His project named ‘Butterfly attractant for pollination and ecosystem health’ is about the relation between chemistry and ecosystem.

Oman author Jokha Alharthi wins Booker International Prize

Jokha Alharthi, an author from Oman has won the prestigious Man Booker International Prize for "Celestial Bodies", the story of three sisters of a desert country confronting its slave-owning past and a complex modern world.She is the first Arabic-language writer to take the prize.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Biological Diversity

The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations–sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues. It is currently held on May 22. The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

The theme of 2019 International Day for Biological Diversity is "Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health."

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Daily Current Affairs 21st May, 2019

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NATIONAL NEWS

8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated Navy patrol begins

Navy ships from Myanmar reached Port Blair to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) which will be held from May 20-28. Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay would undertake a coordinated patrol (CORPAT) with Indian Naval Ship Saryu under the program.

The ships will patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries covering a distance of roughly 725 kilometres in four days, augmented by patrol aircraft from both navies.

Extra info.:
Myanmar Capital: Naypyitaw
Currency: Burmese kyat

Swaraj to attend SCO Foreign Minister's meet

For the first time, since the Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot airstrikes, Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers will together attend a ministerial meeting under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting will be attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, along with the Foreign Ministers of SCO member states, including Pakistan.

Niti Aayog proposes Rs 7500-crore plan for Artificial Intelligence push

The NITI Aayog has drawn up a plan for creating an institutional framework for artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. It has circulated a cabinet note to provide Rs 7,500 crore in funding for creation of cloud computing platform called AIRAWAT and research institutes.

The note proposes that the new government pump in Rs 7,500 crore initially over a three-year period and set up a high-level taskforce to oversee roll-out and implementation of AI.

Campaign launched to raise awareness on illegal wildlife trade

UN Environment India and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India launched an awareness campaign ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ to be displayed at major airports across the country ahead of the International Day of Biological Diversity celebrated on 22 May.

The campaign is an important step forward in creating much-needed awareness on wildlife trafficking which threatens the very survival of these species.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Indonesia election: Joko Widodo wins second term

The Election Commission of Indonesia confirmed that President Joko Widodo has won a second term as president, beating out rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, by a 55.5 per cent to 44.5 per cent margin.

Last month, Indonesia held its biggest-ever election, a massive one day poll featuring more than 190 million registered voters and a record 245,000 candidates vying for the presidency, parliamentary seats and local legislator positions.

Extra info.:
Indonesia Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian rupiah

Australia: Scott Morrison to form govt after 'miraculous victory'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks all set to form a majority Conservative government after his "miraculous" election victory over the centre-left Labor Party.

The result also indicated a crushing defeat for the Labor Party, with Opposition leader Bill Shorten announcing his resignation from the Labor leadership.

Extra info.:
Australia Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar

Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes oath as Ukraine's new President

In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy took oath as country's new President. Zelenskiy, in his first address as President, pledged to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Zelinskiy became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet President after he scored a landslide election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko.

Extra info.:
Ukraine Capital: Kyiv
Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Reliance beats Indian Oil Corporation, becomes biggest Indian company

Reliance Industries has toppled state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to become the country’s biggest company by revenue. The Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate, in the 2018-19 fiscal year that ended March 31, reported a turnover of Rs 6.23 lakh crore.

In comparison, IOC posted a turnover of Rs 6.17 lakh crore for the fiscal. It was also the most profitable company in the country with a net profit of more than double that of IOC in FY2019.

SBI ties up with FMCG arm of The Art of Living

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a strategic partnership with the FMCG arm of The Art of Living — Sri Sri Tattva. Under this partnership, YONO users can avail a discount of 15 per cent on the entire range of products offered by Sri Sri Tattva such as food, personal care, healthcare, homecare, BYOGI apparels and Shankara skincare products.

SPORTS

Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mt Everest for a record 24th time

Just a week after breaking his own record for the most number of summits on Mt Everest, Kami Rita Sherpa yet again climbed the world's highest mountain. By achieving this feat, Sherpa has become the only Mountaineer in the world to hold the record for most Everest summits.

Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest from the Nepal side. The 50-year-old mountaineer has already climbed most of the peaks including Kangchenjunga, Cho-Oyu, Lhoste, and Annapurna among others.

Serpa achieved the feat of climbing the Mt Everest for the 23rd time earlier this year on May 15, 2019.

APPOINTMENTS

Pak appoints Mueenul Haq as High Commissioner to India

Pakistan announced career diplomat Mueenul Haq as its new High Commissioner to India. Haq was appointed after Sohail Mehmood left the High Commissioner's post to join as foreign secretary.

Qureshi has expressed hope that Haq would perform his "new job with the best of his abilities." Along with India, Pakistan has announced new ambassadors to several countries including China, Japan and Brussels.

AWARDS

Indian peacekeeper to be honoured posthumously by UN

An Indian peacekeeper is among the 119 military, police and civilian personnel who will be honoured this year with a prestigious UN medal this year for courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.

Police Officer Jitender Kumar made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin would collect the medal on behalf of the fallen Indian peacekeeper.

OBITUARIES

F1 legend Niki Lauda passes away

Austrian Formula One legend Niki Lauda passed away at the age of 70. The three-time world champion had received a lung transplant last year and then he was hospitalised with flu in January this year. Lauda, won the F1 titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984. He was hugely admired within the F1 fraternity. He won two F1 titles for Ferrari and one for Mclaren.

He competed in 171 races in his lifetime and out of those, he succeeded in winning 25. Lauda, even suffered a horrific accident, leaving him severely burned and injured in 1976.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Anti-Terrorism Day

May 21, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is observed as Anti-Terrorism Day. Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest prime minister of the country when he was sworn in at the age of 40 as the sixth Prime Minister of India after his mother Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984.

The Anti-Terrorism Day is observed to spread the message of peace and humanity and to promote unity among the people. It also honours the sacrifices made by thousands of soldiers who fought against terrorism. It's a day to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in terrorist attacks.

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Monday, May 20, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 20th May, 2019

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NATIONAL NEWS

Kerala becomes first Indian State to tap into Masala Bond Market

Kerala became the first state to tap into masala bond market by listing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)’s masala bond worth of USD 312 million (Rs 2,150 crore) in London Stock Exchange (LSE)’s International Securities Market (ISM).

It has a fixed interest rate of 9.723% per annum. The bond issue builds on the Kerala government’s focus to get multinational corporations to invest in the state.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TAPI meeting took place in Turkmenistan

A meeting on the development of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan pipeline held in Turkmenistan recently.

Groundbreaking of the TAPI gas pipeline will be held in Pakistan in October this year.

The TAPI gas pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2022 in Pakistan.

The TAPI project, supported by the United States and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been supported by Turkmenistan since the 1990s.

BANKING & FINANCE

Nilekani-led panel on digital payments submits report to RBI

A Reserve Bank of India-appointed committee headed by Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani has submitted its suggestions on promoting digital payments to Governor Shaktikanta Das.

In January, the RBI had set up the five-member panel on deepening digital payments with a view to encouraging digitisation of payments and enhance financial inclusion through digitisation.

HDFC Capital launches 'HeART' to mentor real estate technology companies

HDFC Capital Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HDFC Ltd, launched a new initiative called 'HDFC Affordable Real Estate and Technology Program (HeART). It aims to mentor, partner and invest in real estate technology companies that drive innovation and efficiencies within the affordable housing ecosystem.

HDFC Capital Advisors said that as part of the HeART initiative, it will provide a platform to real estate technology companies with innovative products aimed at creating efficiencies and lowering costs in each part of the development cycle of real estate projects.

SPORTS

Karolina Pliskova wins Italian Open 2019 women's title

Czech fourth seed Karolina Pliskova swept past Britain's Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 to win the Italian Open in Rome. She clinched her 13th career title.

Rafael Nadal clinches Italian Open 2019 men's title

In Tennis, defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain has clinched the Italian Open 2019 title after beating Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 in the final in Rome.

This is Nadal's ninth Italian Open title. It is the 81st title of Nadal's career.

BFA launches two new formats of game - AirBadminton & Triples

The world body governing Badminton, BFA, has launched two new formats of the game --AirBadminton and Triples with new dimensions of the court and an innovative shuttlecock called Airshuttle. Traditional competitive badminton has been an indoor game.

In the new formats launched globally at Guangzhou, AirBadmintion will be outdoor sports. In Triples format, the match will be played between a team of three players each with presence of at least one female.

AWARDS

Indian short film wins Nespresso Talents award in Cannes

Indian filmmaker, Achyutanand Dwivedi's film, "Seed Mother", won the third prize in the international section of Nespresso Talents 2019 in Cannes.

The three-minute film celebrates the exceptional spirit of Rahibai Soma Popere, a woman who champions the use of local seeds and traditional methods of farming in villages of Maharashtra.

This year's theme was 'We Are What We Eat', aimed at exploring the world, experiencing diversity, and sharing experiences and knowledge through food.

The Nespresso 2019 first prize in the international section was won by New Zealand's Josh Morrice for "Subak", about rice cultivation in Bali, while the second prize went to Mexican filmmaker Marco Aurelio Celis' "Ruffo".

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Museum Day

International Museum Day is an international day a celebration that held every year on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The event highlights a specific theme that changes every year and that is at the heart of the international museum community's preoccupations.

The theme of International Museum Day 2019 is "Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition."

World Metrology Day

World Metrology Day is an event occurring on the 20th of May celebrating the International System of Units. The date is the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. Metrology is the study of measurement.

The theme of World Metrology Day 2019 is "The International System of Units – Fundamentally better."

World Bee Day

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators (such as bees, butterflies, bats and hummingbirds), the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

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Sunday, May 19, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 19th May, 2019

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NATIONAL NEWS

GSI Report: Arunachal Has Highest 35% of India’s Graphite Deposits

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its report said that about 35% of India's total Graphite reserves are found in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the highest found in the country. The GSI presented the said data during its annual interactive meeting with the Department of Geology and Mining & Industries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh in Itanagar.

With 35% of India's Graphite deposits being found in Arunachal Pradesh, the State could now be developed as the leading producer of graphite in the country thus helping in meeting its future needs.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Vigraha Decommissioned

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha, a frontline offshore patrol vessel, sailed into history at the sunset recently. After 29 glorious years of service from 1990 to 2019, the ship was decommissioned at the coast guard jetty in Visakhapatnam.

ICGS Vigraha was the seventh offshore patrol vessel built by the Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai and it was commissioned on April 12, 1990.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

26th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) held in Singapore

INS Kolkata and INS Shakti of the Indian Navy participated in a 3-day Asia Pacific naval and maritime event titled the International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia-2019) held in Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore.

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral M S Pawar, led the delegation to the Asia Pacific gathering of the event. SIMBEX scheduled from 16th May 2019 to 22th May 2019, is the longest uninterrupted naval exercise that India has with any other nation.

Extra info.:
Singapore capital: Singapore city
Currency: Singapore dollar

Italy launches anti-competition probe against Google

Joining the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the European Union (EU), Italy's antitrust authority has become the latest international regulatory body to launch an anti-competition investigation against Google.

The probe was prompted after Italy-based energy company Enel Group complained that Google was not allowing the "Enel X Recharge" app to work with Android Auto Google's smart driving companion.
Since "Enel X Recharge" is intended to help drivers find charging stations for electric cars, the app does not necessarily require a messaging feature.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Bajaj Finserv, through its lending arm Bajaj Finance Ltd launched ‘Mumbai Local Train Cover’

Bajaj Finserv said it has launched a specialised insurance cover for passengers travelling in local trains in country's financial capital Mumbai. The travellers will get an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh against a payment of Rs 399 per annum.

The 'Mumbai Local Train Cover' insurance policy was introduced through lending arm Bajaj Finance, and will provide coverage in case of mishap during a train journey.

SPORTS

Germany’s Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier retires

Germany's double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier announced her retirement at the age of just 25 after struggling with health issues. She has won seven world championship gold medals, and last year in Pyeongchang she became the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and the pursuit at the same Olympics.

Dahlmeier took a two-month break to recover from illness in October, before returning to win the 12.5km mass start at the World Cup event in Antholz last January.

APPOINTMENTS

Himalaya MEN names Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant as its brand ambassadors

India cricket captain Virat Kohli and emerging wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been named as new official brand ambassadors of the country's leading wellness firm, the Himalaya Drug Company.

Himalaya has signed Kohli and ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2018, Pant to promote its 'Men Face Care Range'.

AWARDS

UNDRR Confers Dr P.K. Mishra With Sasakawa Award 2019

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) conferred Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk Reduction to Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of India.

The award was announced at the Award Ceremony during the ongoing 6th Session of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2019 at Geneva.

Ronaldo wins 'Serie A Player of the Year' award

Juventus star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the 'Serie A Player of the Year' award. This is a remarkable feat for the Portuguese international as he has won the award in his very first season in Italy.

With this win, Ronaldo has now won the domestic player of the year award in England, Spain, and Italy. Ronaldo has been awarded five Ballons d'Or, which sees him tied with Lionel Messi for the most in history. Ronaldo has also won the league championships in these countries.

Kapil Sharma feted by World Book of Records

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma has been acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up comedian in India and abroad by the World book of Records London.

Having starting his career as a stand-up comedian, Kapil initially performed on several comedy shows . But it was his separate show "Comedy Nights With Kapil" which brought him immense fame.

OBITUARIES

Stand-Up comedian Sammy Shore passes away at 92

Veteran stand-up comedian Sammy Shore passed away at the age of 92 recenty. Shore, in his 70-year-long career, founded The Comedy Store in partnership with Rudy De Luca.

The comedian performed in many one-man shows and made cameos in films including 'Jerry Lewis the bellboy', 'Mel Brooks', 'Life Stinks' and television series 'Sanford and Son'.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Dengue Day

May 16 is observed as National Dengue Day. An attempt of the Ministry of Healthy and Family Welfare, National Dengue Day is meant to raise awareness about dengue and its preventive measures. Dengue is caused by the bite of Aedes mosquito which is infected by one or more of the dengue viruses.

This mosquito usually bites in daylight. The infection develops after 3 to 14 day of being bit by the infected mosquito. The only way to prevent dengue is to prevent mosquito bites.

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Saturday, May 18, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 18th May, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 18 May 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

ISRO Director K Sivan inaugurates Young Scientist Programme

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Director K Sivan inaugurated the Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA). The programme is aimed at imparting basic knowledge of science and space technology to school-going students from different states and Union Territories (UT) of the country in order to arouse their interest in space related activities.

The participants will be attending a residential training programme at 4 ISRO centres - Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram; U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru; Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, and North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Shillong.

India sets Guinness World Records of 'largest laundry lesson'

With 400 young Indian men participating across the country to learn laundry lessons to share the responsibility of cleaning clothes along with the female members of their homes, India achieved the Guinness World Records certificate for the largest laundry lesson recently.

National award-winning actor Anil Kapoor joined the function which was initiated by Ariel India and hosted by Mandira Bedi. The event was part of the #sharetheload campaign.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

BSE launches BSE StAR MF App for its Mutual Fund Platform

Leading stock exchange BSE said it has launched 'BSE StAR MF' app to enable more participation and help mutual fund distributors process transactions faster. "BSE StAR MF mobile app supports real-time client registration and paperless transactions, creates and uploads mandate for SIPs, generates the basket of multiple orders, tracks and allows the distributor to analyse his business at his fingertips.

BSE StAR MF is the exchange's mutual fund platform which helps distributors purchase and redeem mutual fund units on behalf of their clients.

BSNL partners with Google to expand WiFi footprint

On the occasion of World Telecom Day on 17 May, state-run telecom major BSNL has partnered with Google to increase access to its WiFi footprint in the country. With the launch of this service, people across the country will be able to enjoy BSNL's free WiFi services.

This initiative will allow customers use BSNL's high speed internet services on WiFi. BSNL is also taking steps to increase the rural WiFi footprint, promoting the government's 'Digital India' initiative.

Tech Mahindra collaborate with Rakuten Aquafadas

IT services firm Tech Mahindra and French digital content publishing firm Rakuten Aquafadas signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to collaborate on building enhanced customer experience offerings.

Rakuten Aquafadas and Tech Mahindra aim to build a Customer Experience Offering leveraging the suite of software that Rakuten Aquafadas provides for digital publishing.

SPORTS

ICC releases official World Cup 2019 song

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its official song 'Stand By' for the forthcoming Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, that begins on May 30 in England and Wales.

The song, a collaboration between new artist LORYN and Rudimental will be played in ground and city events across the tournament as the official song to this summer's showpiece event.

OBITUARIES

Veteran Telugu actor Rallapalli passes away

Veteran Telugu actor Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao passed away at a private hospital. Rallapalli has acted in over 800 films, including Oorummadi Bratukulu, Toorpu Velle Railu, Srivariki Premalekha, Khaidi, Mantrigari Viyyankudu, Alaya Sikharam, etc.

Internet sensation Grumpy Cat passes away

Grumpy Cat, the Internet's most popular cat and one of its first viral memes, has passed away at age seven. Grumpy Cat, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, had feline dwarfism.

She became an Internet celebrity in September 2012 when Bundesen's brother posted pictures of her on the media. At the time of her death, Grumpy Cat had 1.5 million followers on Twitter, 2.4 million on Instagram and 8.5 million on Facebook.

Former swimming champion M B Balakrishnan passes away

Former South Asian Games swimming gold medalist M B Balakrishnan passed away in a road accident. He won a gold in the National Games at Guwahati in 2007 and later rewrote the 50m backstroke national record in July 2010 at the Senior National Championships in New Delhi.

He won the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the South Asian Games the same year.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Light

May 16th 2019 marks the global celebration of the second edition of the International Day of Light. The International Day of Light is an official observance of UNESCO that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy.

Over 300 events are already registered to take place in 60 countries worldwide, bringing together an international community of scientists, students and the public.