21 May 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

21 May 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

21 May 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Joko Widodo re-elected as president of Indonesia

  • Joko Widodo (57-years) has been re-elected as Indonesia's president after last month's vote, beating former general Prabowo Subianto
  • According to the elections commission, Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5% to 44.5% margin over Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.
  • Joko Widodo’s challenger Subianto (67-years) has vowed to challenge any victory for Widodo, alleging widespread voter fraud, and warned that it could spark street protests across the country.
  • On 20 October 2014, Joko Widodo (also known as Jokowi) became the seventh president of Indonesia.
Note:
  • The President of the Republic of Indonesia is the head of government of the Republic of Indonesia.
  • The president leads the executive branch of the Indonesian government and is the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Source: BBC

2. Pakistan appoints Mueenul Haq as High Commissioner to India

  • Pakistan has appointed career diplomat Mueenul Haq (current ambassador to France) as the High Commissioner to India.
  • Earlier, Mr Haq has served as chief of protocol at the Foreign Office.
  • The post of High Commissioner to India fell vacant after Sohail Mehmood was appointed Pakistan's new foreign secretary.
  • Prime Minister Imran Khan approved appointments of over two dozen ambassadors in various countries including India, China and Japan.
Note:
  • In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is a senior diplomat (generally ranking as an ambassador) in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.
  • Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.
Source: AIR News



3. Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes oath as Ukraine's new President

  • In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy (41-years) took oath as the country's new President.
  • Mr. Zelenskiy announced the dissolution of the parliament in his speech.
  • The election was expected to take place in October 2019.
  • Zelinskiy became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet President after he scored a landslide election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko.
  • Mr Zelensky a former television star, acted the part of the Ukrainian president in a popular comedy series. He scored a landslide victory in last month's presidential election.
Source: The Guardian

4. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank appoints Nitin Chugh as next MD and CEO

  • Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited has appointed Nitin Chugh as the next Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (from 1st December 2019).
  • Nitin Chugh will join the bank by August 2019 as President and will work closely with Samit Ghosh, existing MD and CEO to ensure a smooth transition.
  • He will take over as the MD and CEO from December 1, 2019, upon the Samit Ghosh's retirement.
Note:
  • Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited is a bank licensed under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to carry out small finance bank business in India.
  • Ujjivan Small Finance Bank received Scheduled Bank status from the Reserve Bank of India in August 2017.
Source: AIR News

International Affairs

5. UAE celebrates World Day for Cultural Diversity today

  • On 21st May, the UAE is celebrating World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development to highlight its efforts in promoting tolerance and cultural diversity.
  • The event coincides with the country’s declaration of 2019 as the Year for Tolerance and its hosting of many related events.
  • The UAE has cultural relations with many countries and is an active member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.
Source: AIR News

6. Sushma Swaraj attends SCO foreign ministers meet in Bishkek

  • External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan.
  • During the meeting, several pressing issues including a thread of terrorism are expected to be discussed.
  • The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will exchange views on topical issues of international and regional importance, besides reviewing the preparation for the SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13-14.
Note:
  • The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
  • Along with India, Pakistan was also granted SCO membership in 2017.
Source: The Hindu



Important Dates

7. Anti-Terrorism Day being observed today

  • Today, the nation is paying homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary.
  • The Anti -Terrorism Day is observed on 21st May every year in our country to make the people aware of the anti-social act of terrorism and its impact on human suffering and lives.
  • 0n 21st May 1991 the seventh Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in Tamil Nadu in a campaign by the terrorist and then, V.P. Singh government has decided to observe 21st May as Anti-Terrorism Day.

8. 21st May: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

  • The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed on 21st May every year.
  • The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development", is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.
  • The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this holiday due to UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001.
  • This day was created as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001.

National Affairs

9. Maharashtra Govt. signs ordinance to bring medical admissions under SEBC quota

  • C Vidyasagar Rao (Maharashtra Governor) has signed an ordinance to provide quota under the Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC) Reservation Act, 2018, to candidates from the Maratha community seeking admission to post-graduate medical and dental courses.
  • The ordinance was issued by the Governor on the recommendation of the state government to protect the admissions of students in the PG courses.
  • The ordinance is aimed to further explain the intent of the state government to provide quota for the Maratha community.
  • In the wake of state-wide protests by Maratha community members, the Maharashtra government had on 30th November last year cleared a 16% quota for the community in education and government jobs, identifying them as Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC).
Source: AIR News

10. Kerala first Indian state to tap into masala bond market

  • The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board’s (KIIFB) celebrated its debut Masala Bond listing on the London Stock Exchange with a special market open ceremony.
  • Kerala is the first Indian state to tap into the market for masala bonds.
  • KIIFB (a state government agency) had raised Rs 2,150 crore through its debut masala bond issue.
  • KIIFB plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore through masala bonds to fund large and critical infrastructure projects in Kerala.
  • Indian Rupee denominated overseas bonds are popularly known as masala bonds.
Note:
  • Masala bonds are bonds issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees, rather than the local currency.
  • Masala (means spices) term was used by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to evoke the culture and cuisine of India.
Source: Indian Express

Obituaries

11. Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Niki Lauda passes away

  • Austrians former Formula One driver Niki Lauda (70-years) passed away.
  • Three-time world champion Niki Lauda was hugely admired, respected and liked within F1.
  • He won two titles for Ferrari and one for McLaren.
  • He came back from a horrific accident that left him severely burned and injured in 1976.
  • He competed in 171 races and won 25.
Source: BBC



12. The master architect I M Pei passes away

  • American architecture I M Pei (designed the Louvre’s crystal pyramid) has passed away.
  • Pei’s more than 50 projects included the Musee d’Art Moderne in Luxembourg (2006) and the 72-story Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong (1989).
  • He was honoured with the American Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal in 1979.
  • The Grande Medaille d’Or from the Academie d’Architecture de France; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the USA.
Source: Business-Standard

Sports

13. Double Olympic Biathlon Champion Dahlmeier retires

  • Germany’s double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier(25-years) announced her retirement at the after struggling with health issues.
  • She has won seven world championship gold medals, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang.
  • She became the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and the pursuit at the same Olympics.
Source: Business-Standard

14. Ashish to lead 3-member Indian gymnastics team in World Challenge Cup

  • A three-member team led by 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Ashish Kumar will represent India at the second World Challenge Cup Series gymnastics tournament in Osijek, Croatia
  • Besides Ashish, the Indian contingent will also have Rakesh Kumar Patra and Shraddha Talekar.
  • The World Challenge Cup is a major FIG event with broader participation of 110 gymnasts from 30 different countries (23 to 26 May 2019).
Source: Business-Standard 

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