1. BJP leader Pema Khandu sworn in as Arunachal CM
Today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prema Khandu (39-years) sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Mr. B. D. Mishra administrated the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Khandu and his cabinet colleagues at the Dorjee Khandu state convention hall in Itanagar.
BJP won an impressive 41 seats [JD(U) - 7, (NPP- 5), (IND-2), (INC-4), (PPA-1)] in the 60-seat house in the Assembly elections.
Earlier, Mr Khandu (MLA for Mukto) was elected unanimously as the leader of the BJP legislature party at its meeting held in Itanagar.
Know about Mr Prema Khnadu
Mr Khandu is the eldest son of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in the helicopter tragedy on 30 April 2011 on a constituency visit to Tawang.
Pema Khandu is a graduate from Hindu College (Delhi University).
Note:
The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh is the chief executive of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
As per the Constitution of India, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister.
2. Naveen Patnaik sworn in as Odisha CM for 5th term
Today, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and the Chief Minister-designate Naveen Patnaik (73-years) sworn in as the chief minister of Odisha for the fifth time in a row (since 2000).
Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal administrated the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Patnail and his cabinet colleagues at the IDCO exhibition ground in Bhubaneswar.
The Biju Janata Dal secured 112 seats [BJP-23, INC-9, CPI(M)-1] in the 147-member Odisha Assembly in the recently concluded elections.
Currently, Mr. Patnaik (MLA- Bijepur) is the third Indian chief Minister after Pawan Chamling (CM-Sikkim) and Jyoti Basu (CM-West Bengal) to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state.
Know about Naveen Patnaik
Naveen Patnaik was born in Cuttack to ‘Biju Patnaik’ (former Chief Minister of Odisha) and his Punjabi wife, Gyan.
Patnaik was educated at the prestigious Welham Boys' School in Dehradun, and later The Doon School.
After the death of his father Biju Patnaik (leader of the Janata Dal), he was elected as a member to the 11th Lok Sabha in the by-election from Aska Parliamentary Constituency in Odisha, India.
3. Scott Morrison sworn in as Australia's Prime Minister
Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia's Prime Minister.
He was sworn in by Queen Elizabeth's official representative in Australia, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, at a ceremony in the capital, Canberra.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was also sworn in.
Morrison's revamped Cabinet, which includes a record seven women, and Australia's first Aboriginal federal Cabinet member had also taken the oath.
Note:
The Prime Minister of Australia is the head of government of Australia.
The Prime Minister also has the responsibility of administering the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and is the chair of the National Security Committee and the Council of Australian Governments.
Source: AIR News
Obituaries
4. Nobel prize winning Physicist Murray Gell-Man passes away
Nobel laureate and American physicist, Murray Gell-Mann (89-years) passed away at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Gell-Mann transformed physics by devising a method for sorting subatomic particles into simple groups of eight based on an electric charge, spin and other characteristics.
He called his method the “eightfold way” after the Buddhist Eightfold Path to enlightenment.
Mr. Mann received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1969 for his work on the theory of elementary particles.
Important Days
5. 29th May: International Day of UN Peacekeepers
The ‘International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers’ is being observed on 29th May to pay tribute those who served in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations.
They also honour the memory of people who died in the name of peace.
The theme for the 2019 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is “Protecting Civilians, Protecting Peace.”
International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.
6. RBI extends RTGS timings from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an extension of timings for customer transactions through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) by one and half hours from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notification, the new timing will be effective from 1st June.
The RTGS is an online fund transfer system, supported by the RBI, which enables money transaction on a real-time basis.
The minimum amount for the transaction under this system is Rs 2 lakh.
There is no upper limit on the value of funds that can be transferred via the RTGS system.
7. Corporation Bank launches loan scheme for the MSME sector
Corporation Bank has launched ‘SMESuvidha’ scheme to provide loans to the GST-registered MSMEs at affordable interest rates.
The product is designed as a part of the lender’s efforts to improve service and provide the best products to the MSME sector.
This is a unique product for GST-registered Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The bank is actively participating in the government’s flagship programmes including ‘MUDRA’ and ‘Stand-up India’ to provide the much-needed push to the MSME sector.
Source: Money Control
International Affairs
8. Sri Lanka signs tripartite agreement with India and Japan
Sri Lankan Government has signed a tripartite agreement with India and Japan for development of eastern terminal of Colombo port.
The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed in Colombo by Sri Lankan ports minister Sagala Ratnayake, Indian high commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and a Japanese representative.
As per the agreement, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) will hold 51% majority stake in the port development while Japan and India will have combined stake of 49 percent.
The joint project reflects the longstanding goodwill and cooperation among the three countries.
The deal is significant as over 70% of India’s transhipment business is handled at Colombo ports.
Source: AIR News
National Affairs
9. Govt sets up a tribunal for adjudicating ban on LTTE
The Union government has constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether/ not there is enough cause for declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an unlawful association.
The Tribunal is comprised of sitting Judge of Delhi High Court Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal.
Earlier, the Home Ministry had issued a notification extending ban on LTTE in India for a further period of five years.
Government of India under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 declares LTTE as an unlawful association.
LTTE was banned in India after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
Source: AIR News
10. Lokpal launches a competition for its logo and motto
The newly created anti-corruption ombudsman ‘Lokpal’ has launched a competition for its logo and motto.
According to an official announcement seeking the entry, the language for the motto/slogan could be Hindi/ Sanskrit/ English (last date - June 13).
It has sought entries and is offering a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
The decision of the selection committee will be final and binding on all the participants.
The motto/slogan should be catchy and should not be more than four-five words.
Source: AIR News
11. Madhya Pradesh’s Orchha makes it to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The architectural heritage of Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh has been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of world heritage sites following a proposal sent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the U.N. body.
The architectural heritage of Orchha town depict the peculiar style of the Bundela dynasty.
Orchha is situated on the banks of the Betwa river, located around 80 km away from Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh.
Orchha was built by king Rudra Pratap Singh of Bundela dynasty in the 16th century.
The ancient town is famous for its Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha fort complex, Raja Mahal among others.
It was included in the proposal sent by the ASI to the UN body on 15th April 2019.
Note:
A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance.
The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme, administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
