22 May 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Oman author Jokha Alharthi wins Booker International Prize

Oman author Jokha Alharthi (first Arabic-language writer) 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 will split the 50,000 pounds or 64,000 US dollar purse with her UK-based translator, Marilyn Booth.
The winning novel was a book to win over the head and the heart in equal measure.
"Celestial Bodies" beat five other finalists from Europe and South America, including last year's winner, Poland's Olga Tokarczuk.
The prize is a counterpart to the Man Booker Prize for English-language novels and is open to books in any language that has been translated into English.

Note:

The Man Booker International Prize is the world’s most prestigious English-language literary award launched in 1969 and presented by the Man Group.
The award aims at promoting the finest literary work in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English and published in the United Kingdom (UK).

Source: AIR News

2. Shyam Saran to be Conferred Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun

Former Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran (72-years) has been chosen to be conferred with Japan’s second highest national award in its 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations
Mr. Saran will be awarded ‘the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star’ for his contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and enhancing mutual understanding between India and Japan.
Shyam Saran was India’s Foreign Secretary during 2004-2006.

Note:

'The Order of the Rising Sun' is a Japanese government honour established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.
The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the "rising sun" concept of Japan.

Source: Business Standard

3. Indian peacekeeper to be honoured posthumously by UN

Indian peacekeeper Police Officer Jitender Kumar is among the 119 military, police and civilian personnel who will be honoured with a prestigious UN medal 2019 for courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.
Mr. Kumar made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Central African country of Congo.
He will be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal as the world organisation observes the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

4. Kapil Sharma is the most viewed stand-up comedian in India and Abroad

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma (38-years) has been acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up comedian in India and abroad by the World book of Records London.
Kapil Sharma started his career as a stand-up comedian and performed on several comedy shows.
But it was his separate show ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil’ which brought him immense fame.
Kapil also tried his hand at acting with Bollywood films like Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon and Firangi.
The is currently hosting The Kapil Sharma Show on television.

Note:

Kapil Sharma was born in Amritsar, Punjab.
Sharma was nominated for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (in 2015) by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Science & Defence

5. ISRO launches earth observation satellite RISAT-2B

Today, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its earth observation satellite RISAT-2B (latest radar imaging satellite) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota (90 km north of Chennai).
It will replace the RISAT-2, which was launched in 2009.
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.
RISAT-2B expanded Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) making it an advanced earth observation satellite, operating in spotlight mode, mode and mosaic mode.

Source: AIR News

6. 8th Indo- Myanmar Coordinated Patrol begins at Port Blair

The 8th edition of the Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) is being held at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Command (from 20-28 May 2019).
Under the program, Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS Inlay (OPV-54) are participating in the coordinated patrol (CORPAT) along with Indian Naval Ship Saryu.
The ships will patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries covering distance of roughly 725 kilometres in four days, augmented by patrol aircraft from both navies.

Source: Business Standard

Important Dates

7. 22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity

The United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 22nd May ‘The International Day for Biological Diversity’ (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
The theme of 2019 is ‘Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health’.

Note:

The International Day for Biological Diversity falls within the scope of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals.

Banking and Finance

8. India to grow at 7.1% in FY'20: United Nations' report

According to the United Nations report, India's economy is projected to grow at 7.1% 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.
That report had estimated that India would grow at 7.6 per cent in the fiscal year 2019 and 7.4 per cent in 2020.
GDP growth is a downward revision from the 7.4% estimated in January this year.

Note:

The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2019 Mid-year Update noted that growth projections for 2019 have been revised downward in all major developed economies.

National Affairs

9. CSIR-NPL introduce Redefined International System of Units

On World Meterology Day, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) has introduced redefined International System of Units for the country.
The redefined systems are kilogram, Kelvin, mole and ampere.
CSIR-NPL has also prepared documents on NPL policy on Meterology Traceability and recommendations on proposed changes to be incorporated in the National Council of education Research and Training textbooks.
The International system of Units-SI was formalised in 1960 and has been d several times to account for advances in measurement technology.
Since the 1960s, the country has come to rely ever more heavily on advanced science and engineering in day-to-day lives, and in manufacturing, health care and science.
The proposed changes in the unit definitions have been designed to have no immediate consequence.

10. A high-level committee submits its recommendations on crude oil imports

High-Level Committee constituted by the Centre has submitted its recommendations to Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to bring down India’s dependence on crude oil imports.
It has recommended short term, medium-term and long-term strategies in the report, clearly bringing out the strategy to reduce the import dependency of the nation.
The High-Level Committee consisted of Dr Anil Kakodkar, eminent Scientist and Sidharth Pradhan, an expert on financial and tax issues.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will consider the recommendations submitted by the Committee while formulating policies.

Note:

The High-Level Committee was constituted to examine the issues relating to the preparation of action plan to create synergy among Research and Development Centres of Oil and Gas Public Sector Undertakings, tax issues and ways to benefit from GST by the Oil and Gas PSUs.
It also looked merger, acquisition and consolidation of Oil and Gas Public Sector Undertakings and the Joint Ventures.

Source: AIR News

Obituaries

11. Renowned filmmaker & film historian Vijaya Mulay passes away

Renowned filmmaker, researcher and educationist Vijaya Mulay (98-years) passed away.
Vijaya Mulay founded the Delhi Film Society in 1959, and later became a joint secretary of the Federation of Film Societies.
She is most famously known for her 1974 film Ek Anek Aur Ekta, which was awarded the National Film Award for Best Educational Film.
In 2002, Vijaya Mulay was honoured with the prestigious V Shantaram Award for her work in documentary filmmaking.

Source: Indian Express