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IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MAY 15^th, 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MAY 15^th, 2019

1.      (15th May) is International Day of Families.

a.       The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families.

b.       This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

c.       Theme of International Day of Families 2019 : “Families and Climate Action: Focus on (Sustainable Development Goals) SDG 13”.

2.      India was unanimously chosen by member countries as next co-chair of Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for fiscal year 2020. 

a.       This decision was taken during Consultative Group meeting of GFDRR 2019, which is being held from 13th to 17th May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

3.      New Zealand is going to become the world's 1st country to measure its success based on the well-being of its citizens. 

a.       Under the first 'well-being budget' to be presented later this month, the New Zealand government will give special emphasis to mental health. 

b.       Important Note : Bhutan also measures its citizens' happiness levels while calculating its success.

4.      External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi. 

a.       Both leaders held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. 

5.      7 developing countries have stressed on working collectively to strengthen the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to promote development and inclusivity for the benefits of all members.

a.       A 13 point declaration was signed by these nations at the end of the 2-day Ministerial meeting of developing countries in New Delhi.

b.       The countries include  : Egypt, Barbados, Jamaica, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and South Africa. 

6.      French President Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are going to launch an ambitious new initiative aimed at curbing extremism online.

a.       The initiative titled "Christchurch Call", was pushed by Ms Ardern after a white supremacist gunned down 51 people at two mosques in the New Zealand city in March.

b.       Participants will be asked to pledge to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content on social media and other online platforms. 

7.      Sri Lanka has declared a National Vesak week from today to mark the Vesak celebrations, one of the most significant events for Buddhist followers.

a.       The festival will be held under tight security and people have been encouraged to organize celebrations at Buddhist temples and not in public places in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks last month.

8.      One of the most prestigious international events from the world of cinema, the Cannes Film Festival, begins in France today.

a.       American director Jim Jarmusch's zombie film, 'The Dead Don't Die', the story of a small town under siege from the dead, will be the opening movie at the 12-day long festival.

b.       Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare, who is leading the Indian delegation at Cannes, will inaugurate India Pavilion tomorrow.

c.       The Pavilion will showcase Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural and regional diversity, with the aim of forging international partnerships.

9.      India has expressed support to Nigeria's Ambassador to the UN Tijjani Muhammad-Bande as the next president of the UN General Assembly.

10. India’s Captain Aarohi Pandit became world’s first woman to cross Atlantic Ocean (AO) solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA) named Mahi.

11. Nepalese mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has scaled the Mount Everest for the 23rd time, breaking his own record for the most successful attempts of climbing the mountain. 

a.       He has scaled several other peaks, including K-2, Cho-Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse. 

12. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted successful flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from Interim Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.

a.       The flight test was tracked by various RADARS and Electro Optic Systems and proved its performance in a fully autonomous way point navigation mode.

b.       The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine and uses indigenously developed MEMS-based navigation system for its navigation and guidance.

13. The government again deferred the imposition of retaliatory tariffs worth $230 millionon US products by a month to June 16. 

a.       India had announced higher tariffs on 29 US products including apples and walnuts to counter the US move to raise duties on Indian steel and aluminium products. 

b.       The tariffs have been delayed several times since June 2018.

14. Japan has complained at the World Trade Organization (WTO) about India's duties of 20% on mobile phones. 

a.       Japan's complaint said India sought to foster domestic production by adjusting taxes including customs duties, especially since the launch of 'Make in India' campaign. 

b.       India violated its WTO membership terms which specify a zero percent tariff on mobile phones, Japan further claimed.

15. India captain Virat Kohli bagged the International Cricketer and Batsman of the Year award during the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) International awards 2019.

a.       Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who made a mark for India and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, was adjudged as International Bowler of the Year. 

b.       Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was awarded for outstanding bowling.

c.       Australian batsman Aaron Finch was honored for his exceptional performance in T20.

d.       Young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal, who performed exceptionally over the year was awarded Junior Cricketer of the Yea.

e.       Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav took the home outstanding performance of the year award.

f.        Ashutosh Aman was awarded Domestic Cricketer of the Year.

g.       Legendary Mohinder Amarnath, who played a key role in India's 1983 World Cup triumph, was bestowed with the 'CCR International Lifetime Achievement Award'.

16. The IAF's MiG-21 Bison squadron No. 51, of which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was part of when he shot down Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) F-16 jet on February 27 this year, have received special 'Falcon Slayers' and 'AMRAAM Dodgers' patches.

a.       Sukhoi Su-30 MKI squadron, whose aircraft successfully evaded Pakistan's AMRAAM missiles, have also named themselves 'AMRAAM Dodger' in new patches.

17. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between National Mission for Clean Ganga, HCL Foundation and INTACH for taking up a project of Plantation of Rudraksh Trees in Uttarakhand as a part of CSR initiative under the Namami Gange Programme.

a.       While the project aims at planting 10 thousand Rudraksh trees in the catchment area of river Ganga in Uttarakhand in association with local community and other stakeholders, it will also help in generating income for people residing in those areas.

18. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed former Deputy Governor R Gandhi as an additional director on the private lender YES Bank's board. 

a.       Gandhi, who served as RBI Deputy Governor from April 2014 to April 2017, has been appointed for a period of 2 years. 

b.       Note : Gandhi joined digital payments major Paytm as an advisor last year.

19. Sri Lanka Civil War veteran Major General AK Dhingra has been appointed as the 1st Chief of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division. 

a.       The formation will have Special Forces commandos from the Army's Parachute Regiment, Navy's MARCOS and Air Force's Garud Commando Force. 

b.       The forces will be trained together and will be tasked in dealing with specific operations.

20. Former Supreme Court judge, Justice A K Sikri is appointed as the Chairperson of News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) .

a.       He is going to replace current Chairperson Justice(Retd.) R.V. Raveendran who completes his term on 25 May. 

b.       He will assume office of Chairperson of NBSA from 26 May 2019.

21. Croatian World Cupper Igor Stimac has been appointed Indian football team head coach for a 2-year term.

a.       Note : The national team has been without a coach since the departure of Stephen Constantine in January, following the creditable show at the AFC Asian Cup.

22. The 1ST Indian Navy Entrance Test (Officers) or INET (Officers) will be conducted in September 2019 in various centres across the country. 

a.       It will be a computer-based examination for the selection of Direct Entry Officers after graduation. 

b.       It will be used for screening for Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission Officer candidates other than those that are screened by UPSC.