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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Developmentis held on May 21 every year to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.
- The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day following UNESCO’s adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001.
International Day for Biological Diversity
- International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May every year to increase awareness and understanding about the issues of biodiversity.
- The theme aims to enhance knowledge about the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Theme 2019 | Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
TAPI gas meeting being held in Turkmenistan
- A delegation led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar departed for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline meeting.
- The TAPI gas pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2022 in Pakistan. Once completed; Pakistan is expected to receive 1.320 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas.
- Groundbreaking of the TAPI gas pipeline will be held in Pakistan in October.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Turkmenistan Capital | Ashgabat |
| Currency | Turkmenistan manat |
| President | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
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 22nd of May.
- The campaign will be displayed at major airports across the country in collaboration with Airports Authority of India and GMR Group.
- The event was inaugurated by actor, producer, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and recently appointed Secretary-General’s SDG Advocate, Dia Mirza.
- In the first phase of the campaign, Tiger, Pangolin, Star Tortoise and Tokay Gecko will be displayed as they are highly endangered due to illegal trading in International markets.
Sushma Swaraj to attend SCO Foreign Ministers meet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- She had a productive discussion with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Aidarbekov on all aspects of bilateral relations, including in political and defence, trade and investment, health, capacity building and people-to-people ties.
- The participating Foreign Ministers will call on Kyrgyz President Sooranbay Jeenbekov.
- This is the second Council of Foreign Ministers meeting that India is attending as a full member of SCO.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Kyrgyzstan Capital | Bishkek |
| Currency | Kyrgyzstani som |
| President | Sooronbay Jeenbekov |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
India’s economy to grow 7.5% by 2020- OECD
- 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).
- 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.
- India’s healthy growth forecast came amidst the OECD cutting the projection for global GDP growth from 3.5% in 2018 to a sub-par rate of 3.2% this year, before edging up to 3.4% in 2020.
India projected to grow at 7.1% in FY’20: UN report
- According to United Nation’s World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2019 report, India’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.
- The Indian economy expanded by 7.2 per cent in 2018.
- GDP growth is a downward revision from the 7.4 per cent estimated in January this year.
- Strong domestic consumption and investment will continue to support growth, which is projected at 7.0 per cent in 2019 and 7.1 per cent in 2020.
| USEFUL INFO |
| United Nation |
| Secretary-General | Mr Antonio Guterres |
| Headquarters | New York, USA. |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS
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 Order of the Rising Sun’ is a Japanese government honour established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.
Oman author Jokha Alharthi wins Booker International Prize
- 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.
- Jokha Alharthi, the first Arabic-language writer to take the prize, will split the 50,000 pounds or 64,000 US dollar purse with her UK-based translator, Marilyn Booth.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
Ola launches credit card in tie-up with SBI Card
- Ride-hailing company Ola has launched Ola Money SBI Credit Card in partnership with SBI Card, one of India’s largest credit card issuers. Powered by Visa, the Bangalore-based company aims to provide a flexible and convenient payment system alongside several benefits to its customers.
- The company says that it offers a simplified application process with no joining fees as Ola users will be able to apply, view and manage their credit card directly on the Ola app.
- Ola is targeting 10 million Ola Money SBI Credit Cards by 2022.
- SBI Card is looking at strengthening its card portfolio through unique initiatives.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO launches earth observation satellite RISAT-2B
- Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched its earth observation satellite RISAT-2B from Sriharikota. ISRO’s trusted workhorse PSLV-C46 carrying RISAT-2B blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
- The 615 kg satellite was released into the orbit 15 minutes after the lift-off. RISAT-2B meant for application in fields such as surveillance, agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. It will replace the RISAT-2, which was launched in 2009.
- There are several new features in RISAT-2B, it is having expanded Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) making it an advanced earth observation satellite, operating in spotlight mode, mode and mosaic mode.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
Taiwan Expo 2019 begins in Delhi
- Taiwan Expo 2019 began in New Delhi. Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre Tien Chung-Kwang and Chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council, TAITRA James CF Huang inaugurated the three-day event in the presence of Joint Secretary Praveen Bonigala and ITPO Chairman LC Goyal.
- There are 10 theme pavilions at the expo focusing on green products, health care, agriculture, tourism, biotechnology and electrical equipments. 150 exhibitors are showcasing their products in 230 stalls. The expo is open between 10 AM to 6 PM and the entry is free.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING
Reliance Industries overtakes Indian Oil to become largest company by revenue
- Richest Indian Mukesh Ambani’s oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries has toppled state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) to become the country’s biggest company by revenue.
- Reliance 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, according to regulatory filings by the two companies.
- It was also the most profitable company in the country with a net profit of more than double that of IOC in FY2019.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE
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 Navy Ship UMS King TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS Inlay (OPV-54) have arrived at Port Blair on May 20 for the ‘Opening Ceremony’ of the 8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated patrol (IMCOR), at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay would undertake a coordinated patrol (CORPAT) with Indian Naval Ship Saryu under the program.
- CORPAT initiative between the two navies is meant to address issues of terrorism, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, human trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities inimical to the interest of both nations.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
Helo becomes team sponsor of Indian Wheelchair Cricket
- Helo, India’s social media platform, has announced its partnership with the Indian Wheelchair Cricket Association as the team sponsor for Team India during the Asia Cup 2019.
- This association makes Helo the first social media app to host and promote Indian Wheelchair Cricket on its platform.
- In preparation for the tournament, more than 200 Wheelchair Cricket players have joined Helo as part of this campaign to connect with their local communities across India.
Saray Khumalo Hailed As Strong Woman After Conquering Mount Everest
- Saray Khumalo is being hailed as a strong woman as the country celebrates her successful climb to the top of Mount Everest.
- Khumalo made history as she became the first African black woman to summit Mount Everest in her fourth attempt.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY
Renowned Filmmaker & Film Historian Vijaya Mulay Passes Away
- Renowned filmmaker, film historian, researcher and educationist Vijaya Mulay passed away at the age of 98.
- In 2002, Vijaya received the prestigious V Shantaram Award for her work in documentary filmmaking.