Daily Current Affairs Updates – 19th May 2017

Daily Current Affairs Updates – 19th May 2017:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

Govt to provide every citizen affordable electricity by 2022: Piyush Goyal

Power minister Piyush Goyal today asserted that providing affordable electricity is the main agenda of the government. Releasing a booklet on rural electrification status, Mr Goyal said the government has expedited process of rural electrification and committed to provide electricity in rural parts of the country and to provide every citizen affordable, adequate electricity by 2022.

52nd Annual Meetings of AfDB to be held in Gujarat

The 52nd Annual Meetings of the African Development bank (AfDB) will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 22nd to 26th of this month. This is the first time that the Annual Meetings of AfDB are being held in India. These Meetings are the Bank’s largest annual event and serve to raise the profile of the institution on the global stage. In addition to the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, these Meetings will bring together about 3000 delegates and participants, and will feature a number of official, knowledge, and side events.

Anant Geete inaugurates Test Track Facility developed by Global Automotive Research Centre

Anant G. Geete, Union Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Minister formally inaugurated the Test Track Facility at Oragadam, Chennai. The test track facility is developed by Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC). The facility has been notified to issue certificates under CMVR 1989.The total cost of Test tracks project is Rs. 193.25 crore.The Global Automotive Research Centre is a body working under the National Automotive Testing & R&D Infra Project (NATRiP).

Harsh Vardhan given charge of Environment Ministry

Minister of Earth Sciences and Science and Technology, Harsh Vardhan, has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) after the demise of Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave. Dave (60), who was given the charge of MoEF on 5 July 2016, passed away at his official residence.

Joint HADR Exercise commences at Naval Station Karwar

The Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise began on 18 May 2017 at Naval Station Karwar. Named as 'Karavali Karunya', the exercise is being conducted by Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command. It involves both professional exchange and actual disaster response mechanisms which is set on a Tsunami disaster scenario.

GST Council to decide rate of Service tax today

Foodgrains and common-use products like hair oil, soaps, toothpaste and also the electricity will cost less from July first after the implementation of nation-wide Goods and Service Tax. The GST rates for all 1,211 items but six were finalised, yesterday, at the first day of the two-day meeting in Srinagar of the GST Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising state representatives. GST Council decided to exempt the daily-use commodities from the levy. Prices of foodgrains, especially wheat and rice, will come down as they will be exempt from GST.

Assam: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana proves to be successful scheme

In Assam, the ambitious Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana has proved to be a successful scheme in terms of increasing number of beneficiaries. Over 2 lakh accounts were opened by Assam Postal Circle under the scheme. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is one of the noble financial security schemes launched for the benefit of the girl child. Our correspondent reports that the newly formed Majuli river island district administration has also emphasised upon generating awareness on the scheme.

State : Assam

Capital : Dispur

Chief Minister : Sarbananda Sonowal

Governor : Banwarilal Purohit

President Pranab Mukherjee receives first copy of book ‘Metaphysics, Morals andPolitics’

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on 18 May 2017 received the first copy of book ‘Metaphysics, Morals and Politics’ in Kolkata, West Bengal.The book is authored by Professor Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay.

Simbex-17, bilateral naval exercise between India and Republic of Singapore,begins

Simbex-17, a bilateral naval exercise between India and Republic of Singapore commenced on 18 May 2017 in the South China Sea.Indian naval ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and one P8-I Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft are participating in the excercise. While INS Sahyadri and INS Kamorta are at Singapore since 12 May 2017, INS Shivalik and INS Jyoti would be joining directly for the sea phase of the exercise. The ships are under the command of Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, YSM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

Scientists at IIT Delhi Develops Cheapest Respiratory Filter

Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi have developed the device ‘Nasofilters’ which is capable of restricting up to 95% of dust and air pollutants. Involving a cost of Rs 10, it is the cheapest naso filter available. The nano-respiratory filter is now ready for commercialisation. The researchers involved in the project was recently awarded with the “National Startups Award” by President Pranab Mukherjee.

INTERNATIONAL

Japanese Cabinet approved bill to allow Japan’s first abdication of emperor in 200years

Paving the way for the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in nearly two centuries, Japan’s Cabinet on 19 November 2017 approved a bill that would allow Emperor Akihito to step down. The approval will allow Emperor Akihito to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to Crown Prince Naruhito, 57. As per reports, the government envisions December 2018 as the possible timing for his abdication, the time when the Emperor will turn 85 years old. It also says that the abdication will also mark nearly 30 full years on the throne for the emperor.

Country: Japan

Prime minister: Shinzō Abe

Capital:Tokyo

Currency:Japanese yen

China, ASEAN agree on framework for South China Sea code of conduct

China and Southeast Asian countries have agreed to a draft framework for a long-mooted code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea. China's foreign ministry today said after a meeting between Chinese and ASEAN officials in the southern city of Guiyan, the draft framework had been agreed upon, although it gave no details of its contents. The Ministry said senior officials have completed the negotiations of the draft code of conduct (COC) framework, ahead of the mid-2017 timeline which leaders of ASEAN and China had set.

Country : China

Capital :Beijing

Currency: Renminbi

President: Xi Jinping

Ferry service opens between North Korea and Russia

North Korea and Russia have started passenger ferry service aiming to develop links and boost economic cooperation despite United Nations sanctions. The first ever ferry service linking the two countries was launched today with North Korean passenger ferry docking in Russia's port city of Vladivostok for the first time. The vessel will sail once a week to the port city and will carry tourists and cargo.

BANKING NEWS

Reserve Bank of India urges banks to appoint CFOs and CTOs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday urged the banks to appoint qualified Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs). The central bank also came out with minimum qualifications for these posts. "Rapid innovations in banking and technology call for better risk governance in the areas of finance and technology," said RBI in a notification.

AWARDS AND HONOURS :

Indian-American student Pranay Varada wins 2017 National Geographic BeeCompetition

Pranay Varada, 14-year-old Indian-American student, on 18 May 2017 won the prestigious National Geographic Bee competition 2017. As National Geographic Bee champion, he gets USD 50000 in scholarship and other prizes. He was declared the winner as he won the first tie breaker question when he correctly identified the Kunlun Mountains as the 1200 mile range that separates the Taklimakan Desert from the Tibetan Plateau.Veda Bhattaram another Indian-American from New Jersey finished third at the finals, while Thomas Wright from Wisconsin was declared the runner up.

SPORTS NEWS:

Manav & Preyesh finish with silver medals

Manav Thakkar (India) has won the silver medal in the 2017 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open in Bangkok, after being handed a defeat by Fumiya Igarashi (Japan). The Fumiya Igarashi beat Thakkar 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5. In the Hopes Boys, Preyesh Suresh Raj won silver medal went down against Amir Mohammad Samadi (Iran) in final. Samadi beat Preyesh 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2. Earlier, the Indians had won a bronze in Junior Boys team event.

R R Laxman wins All India Open Rapid FIDE Rating Chess Meet

Grand Master R R Laxman of Integral Coach Factory won the All India Open Rapid FIDE Rating Chess Tournament at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra, Kolkata, West Bengal. Laxman finished on top in the tournament with 9.5 points. FIDE Master Mitrabha Guha racked up 8.5 points to finish second in the 10-round tournament while untitled Srijit Paul finished third ahead of Grand Master Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury with a better tie-break score.

Former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes dies at 77

Fox News has revealed that its former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes died on Thursday at the age of 77. He joined the network in 1996 and helped create it with billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Ailes resigned last year following allegations of sexual harassment, marking an end to his 20-year reign at the most-watched cable channel in the US.