1. DRDO successfully test fires Akash-1S surface to air defence missile system
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the Akash-1S surface to air defence missile system.
Akash-1S is a new version of the missile which is fitted with an indigenous seeker.
The Akash surface-to-air missile was designed to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles from a distance of 18 to 30 km.
The Akash missile system has the capability to neutralise aerial targets such as fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
Source: Business Line
2. IAF chief leads 'missing man' formation in MiG-21
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (Chief of the Air Staff) led a four aircraft, MiG-21 'Missing Man' formation flypast at Air Force Station Bhisiana in Bhatinda, Punjab to honour the valour and supreme sacrifice of men killed in action during Operation Safed Sagar at Kargil.
The 'Missing Man' formation is an aerial salute accorded to honour the fallen comrades-in-arms.
This is an Arrow Formation, with a gap between two aircraft in the formation depicting the Missing Man.
Later, the Air Chief Marshal laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Bhatinda to honour the Air Force men who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Source: AIR News
National Affairs
3. BIMSTEC leaders invited to PM designate Modi’s oath-taking ceremony
India has invited the leaders of the BIMSTEC Member States for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th May 2019 (Thursday) evening.
According to Minister of External Affairs (MEA), Invitations have also been sent to the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Sooronbay Jeenbekov (President of Kyrgyzstan) and Pravind Jugnauth (Mauritius Prime Minister).
President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Mr Modi and other members of Union Council of Ministers at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Know about BIMSTEC:
The BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, member states are Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan including India.
Bollywood’s most famous stunt and action choreographer, Veeru Devgn (77-years) passes away in Mumbai.
Mr. Devgan was behind the fight and action scenes for over 80 Hindi films including ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ (1991), ‘Mr. India’ (1987), and ‘Himmatwala’ (1983) among various others.
He even acted in three films and worked as a director on ‘Hindustan Ki Kasam’ (1999).
Note:
Veeru Devgan is born into the Devgan family in Amritsar, Punjab.
He was married to Veena, and had four children with her, including actor Ajay Devgan and director Anil Devgan.
Honour & Awards
5. Acharya Balkrishna receives 'UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award'
The United Nations had chosen Acharya Balkrishna, among the 10 most influential people in healthcare.
Mr. Balakrishna has been invited to Geneva (UN Headquarters) to deliver a talk among other speakers from UNICEF and WHO.
Acharya Balkrishna is the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Patanjali Ayurveda.
Note:
Patanjali Ayurved Limited is an Indian consumer goods company producing range Ayurvedic medicinal and personal care products, among other consumer items.
Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev co-founded the company along with Balkshrina.
6. Artist Nalini Malani wins Joan Miro prize
Artist Nalini Malani has won the seventh edition of the Joan Miró Prize.
Miro international award is considered one of the most prestigious art awards in the world.
The recipient gets prize money of 70,000-Euro ($78,000) cash prize.
Malani (born in Karachi in 1946) is a film, photography, installation, video art and performance artist.
Appointment
7. Anton Aditya Subowo re-elected as President of Badminton Asia
Indonesia's Anton Aditya Subowo was re-elected as the President of Badminton Asia for another four years.
There were seven other people who were selected as the vice-presidents of Badminton Asia.
The Badminton Association of India's president Himanta Biswa Sarma has also been elected as the vice-president.
Badminton Asia also got in a new Secretary-General in Moosa Nashid from the Maldives.
A total of 40 countries voted for the posts of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary-General.
Source: AIR News
Important Days
8. V D Savarkar's birth anniversary being celebrated today
Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's (popularly - Veer Savarkar) birth anniversary is being celebrated today.
Savarkar was a revolutionary who fought against the British Government.
On the occasion, a function to pay floral tributes to him held in the Central Hall of Parliament House and Prime Minister paid tributes to V D Savarkar.
Note:
Savarkar was born on 28th May in 1883 near Nasik in Maharashtra.
He was an Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer, writer, and the formulator of the Hindutva philosophy.
Source: AIR News
Banking and Finance
9. BHEL net profit jumps 50.7% to Rs 1,215 crore in FY19
The public sector giant Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has posted a quantum jump in profits and has recommended a final dividend of 60% during the financial year 2018 - 19.
During the year, the company achieved a profit before tax (PBT) of Rs. 2,058 crores (last year Rs. 1,585 Crore), registering a surge of 29.8%.
Net profit for the year stands at Rs. 1,215 crores, (last year Rs.807 crores), resulting in a 50.7% jump.
During the year, BHEL had also developed in-house the country’s first state-of-the-art regenerative braking system and delivered the first 6,000 HP electric locomotive to the Indian Railways.
The company also received its maiden order for electrification of 440 km rail route during the year.
Note:
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) owned & founded (in 1964) by the Government of India is an engineering and manufacturing company based in New Delhi, India.
BHEL is India's largest power generation equipment manufacturer.
Source: AIR News
Sports
10. Saurabh Chaudhary wins 10m Air Pistol gold in ISSF World Cup
India's Saurabh Chaudhary (17-year) has won 10m Air Pistol Gold beating his own World Record in ISSF shooting World Cup, in Munich, Germany.
Mr. Chaudhary scored 246.3 bettering his previous best of 245 points that were set in New Delhi World Cup Shooting in February 2019.
Chaudhury has already secured a berth for the Tokyo Olympics.
11. Rahi Sarnobat books Olympic berth for India at ISSF WC
In the ISSF World Cup rifle pistol stage in Munich, Germany, Rahi Sarnobat has booked an Olympic quota place for India winning gold in women's 25m pistol event.
Asian Games champion Rahi clinched her career's second World Cup Gold, which helped India win its sixth quota place in shooting for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In the women's final, another Indian in the fray, Manu Bhaker had a better start than Rahi, having five out of five hits in the first of 10 series of five shots each.
Now, India topped in the Munich World Cup medals tally with three gold.
China is second with one gold, one silver and three bronze.
12. Lewis Hamilton wins Monaco Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix to extend his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton struggled with grip in the latter stages and was under constant pressure from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
But Verstappen had earlier picked up a five-second time penalty.
So even though he finished just behind Hamilton, Verstappen was fourth overall behind Bottas in third and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in second.
Note:
The Monaco Grand Prix (Run since 1929) is a Formula One motor race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco.
It is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world and, with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, forms the Triple Crown of Motorsport.