17 May 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

17 May 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

BS Yeddyurappa takes oath as Karnataka chief minister

• Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala administers the oath to Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa (75-year) as chief minister of the state (second time) at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
• Yeddyurappa has 15 days to prove his majority in the assembly.
• The BJP has 104 MLAs (magic figure-112) in 222 (polling was held) of the state's 224 seats.

As the Election Commission’s final tally:

• BJP - 104 seats
• Congress- 78 seats
• JD(S) - 37 seats
• Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) -1,
• Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party- 1
• Independent candidate -1

Important Days

17 May: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

• The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed every year on 17^th May to mark the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention (ITC) and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The 2018 theme “Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All”.
• The 2018 theme will focus on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

National Affairs 

Indore retains top spot as India’s cleanest city

• According to the government’s cleanliness survey “Swachh Survekshan 2018”, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) has come on the top to measure the degree of cleanliness in 4200 Indian cities. (from 4^th January -10^th March 2018).
• The second spot went to Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and Chandigarh stood third.
• Last year, Indore was the cleanest city, but that time the survey was conducted only for around 430 cities.
• Jharkhand has adjudged the best-performing state in the survey followed by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Note:

• Swachh Survekshan is a ranking exercise taken up by the Government of India to assess rural and urban areas for their levels of cleanliness and active implementation of Swachhata mission initiatives in a timely and innovative manner.
• The Ministry of Urban Development takes up the Swachh Survekshan in urban areas and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in rural areas.

NTPC signs MoU with Government of Bihar

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Government of Bihar (GoB) and NTPC Limited in the presence of the Union Minister, R. K. Singh and Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar) at Patna to improve the performance of Power Sector in Bihar.
• The MoU envisages transfer of Barauni Thermal Power Station (720 MW) to NTPC.
• Bihar State Power Generation Company’s (BSPGCL) equities in Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUN) & Nabinagar Power Generating Company (Pvt.) Limited (NPGC) will also be transferred to NTPC.
• All the three power generation facilities are envisaged to be transferred to NTPC from the effective date to be notified by Government of Bihar through a Statutory Transfer Scheme.

Delhi projected to become world's most populous city around 2028: UN report

• According to the new United Nations estimates, Delhi is projected to become the most populous city in the world around 2028.
• India is expected to add the largest number of urban dwellers by 2050.
• 68% of the world population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050.
• Currently, 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas.

Note: The 2018 Revision of World Urbanisation Prospects produced by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

Integral Coach Factory Chennai hosts International Rail Coach Expo

• Three days International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) being held in the ICF RPF Parade Grounds Chennai, Tamil Nadu to focus on Rail Coaches and train.
• Many reputed railcar and equipment builders are showing their technology and products.
• It will be a unique platform to bring different suppliers under one roof and create synergy for “Make in India”.

Note: The expo is being hosted by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), under the Ministry of Railways, in coordination with CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) and RITES Ltd.

Cabinet approves setting up of a Central University in Andhra Pradesh

• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given in-principle approval for establishing a Central University by the name of “Central University of Andhra Pradesh” in Janthaluru Village of Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh.
• Funds of Rs. 450 crores have been approved for the first phase expenditure towards the establishment of the new University.
• The approval would increase access and quality of higher education and help in minimizing the regional imbalances in education facilities.

Banking & Finance

RBI imposes the penalty on the Cooperative bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 50,000 on Universal Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd, Mancherial, West Bengal with respect to violations of loans and advances.
• The Cooperative Bank had violated its directive and guidelines on loans and advances to directors and their relatives.

International Affairs

Guatemala inaugurates its Israel embassy in Jerusalem today

• Guatemala inaugurated its Israel embassy in Jerusalem and became the first country to follow in the footsteps of the United States.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales attended an inauguration ceremony.
• The US and Guatemalan moves break with decades of international consensus.

Sports

LMA Award for Chennaiyin FC's head coach Gregory

• Chennaiyin FC's head coach John Gregory (64-year) has been honored with a special achievement award by England's League Managers Association (LMA) in London.
• Chennaiyin FC had beaten Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) final in March to claim the trophy
• Gregory was feted during LMA's 26th Annual Awards function in London with Special Achievement Award for becoming the first Englishman to win the Indian Super League.

Note:

• The LMA is a body in England for English coaches and all managers in English football.
• The LMA hosts an awards night annually to reward the best performing coaches in English football every season and also recognizes efforts of English coaches from around the world.