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Dear Readers,

This Monthly Magazine is a complete docket of important news and events that occurred in a month of

May 2019. We have compiled important & Expected questions which can be asked in upcoming Banking

& Insurance Exams, interviews and all upcoming Competitive Exams.

SL NO. CONTENTS Page No.

1 BANKING AWARENESS

3-8

2 AWARDS & HONOURS

9-13

3 NATIONAL NEWS

14-22

4 INTERNATIONAL NEWS

23-31

5 NEW APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

32-40

6 RANKS & REPORTS

40-42

7 SCHEMES & APPS

43

8 BUSINESS & MOUS

44-46

9 BOOKS & AUTHORS

46

10 DEFENCE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

47-50

11 IMPORTANT DAYS & EVENTS

50-55

12 SPORTS NEWS

55-60

13 OBITUARIES

61-62



Banking & Financial Awareness

Paytm Launches Recurring Payments Service For Merchants

Paytm has launched a recurring payment service for merchants that are working on a digital subscription model.

The move will allow the subscription-based businesses to collect payments from their subscribers effortlessly.

SEBI Fines NSE Over Rs625 crore In Co-Location Scam

Markets regulator SEBI directed National Stock Exchange to pay more than Rs625 crore in the case of misuse

of its co-location facility. SEBI has been probing alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE's

co-location facility.

The amount, if considered with simple interest, would come to little less than Rs1,000 crore. If it involves a

compound interest, the fine could amount to around Rs1,300 crore.

State Bank of India links interest rates to RBI‘s repo rate

India‘s largest bank State Bank of India has moved to a new interest rate regime on large savings account

deposits as well as short-term loans. In March, SBI had announced that it will link its interest rate on savings account

with balance above Rs. 1 lakh and short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit facility to Reserve Bank of

India‘s repo rate

Canara Bank, Canara HSBC OBC Life launch ‗Webassurance‘

Canara Bank and its life insurance partner Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance launched

‘Webassurance‘ to enable its customers to purchase life insurance in a convenient and hassle-free way.

CBDT And GSTN Sign Pact To Nab Evaders

To nab tax evaders and reduce black money generation, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Goods

and Services Tax Network (GSTN) signed an agreement to facilitate the exchange of data between the two.The I-T

department will share key financial information, including the status of I-T return filings, turnover of business, gross

total income, and turnover ratio among others with GSTN, the information technology backbone of the two-year-old

indirect tax regime.

ADB Launches $5 Billion Healthy Oceans Action Plan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a $5 Billion Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable

Blue Economies for the Asia and Pacific region at the 52nd Annual Meeting of ADB‘s Board of Governors in Fiji.

It will expand financing and technical assistance for ocean health and marine economy projects to $5

billion from 2019 to 2024.

RBI directs banks to enhance housing loan limits for eligibility under priority sector lending

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to enhance the housing loan limits for eligibility under priority

sector lending (PSL) to Rs 35 lakh in metropolitan centres (with population of ten lakh and above) and Rs 25

lakh in other centres. In order to bring the RRBs and SFBs at a level playing field with other Scheduled

Commercial Banks, it has now been decided to enhance the housing loan limits for eligibility under PSL.



India‘s MICE tourism growing at 8 pc a year: FICCI-Yes Bank report

A new report by industry body FICCI says that strong economic growth coupled with rapid emergence of India on

the global horizon is poised to drive the growth of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions)

tourism at a much faster rate.India is a late entrant in the segment with a little share on the global scale. Of the total

12,563 international meetings in a year, it hosts only 175 – or just 1.4 per cent to rank 24th worldwide.

Facebook Chooses London As Base For WhatsApp Payments

Facebook has chosen London as the centre for the global roll-out of WhatsApp pay, before the social media

giant launches its digital payments service on the mobile messaging platform in India.WhatsApp, which has 1.5

billion users globally, would hire nearly 100 people in London to focus on the digital payments service and

additional operations staff would be hired in Dublin.

RBI Slaps Rs1-crore Fine On Nainital Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1 crore on Nainital Bank for its failure to

fully automate the non-performing asset (NPA) identification process, despite specific directions issued in this

regard.

ICICI Bank Joins Hands With Travel Portal Goibibo

ICICI Bank announced the launch of a co-branded multi-currency card with online travel booking portal

Goibibo. The card also includes benefits of up to Rs20,000, including gift vouchers of Rs15,000from Goibibo.

In a 1st, NABARD Announces Rs700-cr Venture Capital Fund For Agriculture, Rural Startups

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced Rs 700-crore venture

capital fund for equity investments in agriculture and rural-focused startups.

NABARD has been contributing to other funds till now and this is the first time that the rural development bank

has launched a fund of its own.

HDFC ERGO launches 'Mosquito Disease Protection Policy'

HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company announced the launch of 'Mosquito Disease Protection Policy'. This

new policy will cover an individual against common mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue Fever, Malaria,

Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, Kala-azar, Lymphatic Filariasis and Zika Virus.



Paytm Partners With Citibank To Launch 1st Credit Card- 'Paytm First Card'

Digital payments company Paytm, in association with Citibank, launched its first credit card called Paytm First

Card. The card is issued by Citibank and doesn't involve any hidden fees or charges. Paytm First Card comes with

unlimited cash back and will be accepted in India as well globally.

NPA recoveries via IBC in 2018-19 at Rs 70,000 cr: Crisil

Bad loan recoveries in the last fiscal effected through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) route was at Rs

70,000 crore, posting a recovery rate of 43 per cent, and was twice the Rs 35,500 crore recovered through previous

resolution mechanisms like the Debt Recovery Tribunal and Lok Adalat, as per a report by ratings firm Crisil.

RBI Releases 'Vision 2021' For Payment Systems For 'Cash-Lite' Society

Reserve Bank of India has released a vision document 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 -

2021', with its core theme of 'Empowering Exceptional E-payment Experience' for ensuring a safe, secure,

convenient, quick and affordable e-payment system.

SIDBI Launched A Pilot Scheme For Fintech NBFCs

To give a fillip to digital lending, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has put together a pilot

scheme to extend financial assistance of up to Rs10 crore to new-agefintech non-banking finance companies

(NBFCs) engaged in financing small businesses and other income-generating activities.

Ola launches Ola Money SBI Credit Card

In a move to enrich the customer experience of millions of the homegrown ride hailing platform‘s users, Ola has

partnered the state-run SBI cards to launch Ola Money SBI Credit Card for the country‘s first such co-

branding initiative in the segment.

BSE Launches BSE StAR MF App For Its Mutual Fund Platform

Leading stock exchange BSE has launched ‗BSE StAR MF‘ app to enable more participation and help mutual fund

distributors process transactions faster.

As per the BSE, this mobile app supports real-time client registration and paperless transactions, creates and uploads

mandate for SIPs, generates the basket of multiple orders, tracks and allows the distributor to analyse his business at

his fingertips.

Kerala Becomes First Indian State To Tap Into Masala Bond Market

Kerala became the first state to tap into masala bond market by listing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment

Fund Board (KIIFB)‘s masala bond worth of USD 312 million (Rs 2,150 crore) in London Stock Exchange

(LSE)‘s International Securities Market (ISM).

It has a fixed interest rate of 9.723% per annum.

HDFC Capital Launches 'HeART' To Mentor Real Estate Technology Companies

HDFC Capital Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HDFC Ltd, launched a new initiative called 'HDFC

Affordable Real Estate and Technology Program (HeART).



It aims to mentor, partner and invest in real estate technology companies that drive innovation and efficiencies

within the affordable housing ecosystem.

Nilekani-led panel on digital payments submits report to RBI

A Reserve Bank of India-appointed committee headed by Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani has submitted its

suggestions on promoting digital payments to Governor Shaktikanta Das.In January, the RBI had set up the five-

member panel on deepening digital payments with a view to encouraging digitisation of payments and enhance

financial inclusion through digitisation.

NITI Aayog Pushes For Rs7,500-crore Proposal For AI Platform

Niti Aayog has circulated a cabinet note to provide Rs 7,500 crore for the establishment of AIRAWAT, a cloud

computing platform along with research institutes.This is part of the policy think tank's proposal to create an

institutional framework for artificial intelligence (AI) in the country.

SBI Ties Up With FMCG Arm Of The Art of Living

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a strategic partnership with the FMCG arm of The Art of Living

- Sri Sri Tattva.Under this partnership, YONO users can avail a discount of 15% on the entire range of products

offered by Sri Sri Tattva such as food, personal care, healthcare, homecare, BYOGI apparels and Shankara skincare

products.

World Bank, CommBank Team Up For ‗World 1st‘ Blockchain Bond Transaction

The World Bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) have teamed up to enable recording

of secondary market bond trading using blockchain tech.The institutions announced that their successful recording of

a secondary transaction for bond-i, a blockchain-operated debt instrument, on a distributed ledger shows the ―vast

potential‖ of the technology, and marks the first bond to have both issuance and trading recorded on a

blockchain platform.

Debit card PoS swipes rise 27% as per RBI data

Indians are increasingly using their debit cards to pay merchants directly. As per data from the Reserve Bank of

India, debit card swipes on Point of Sales (PoS) terminals jumped more than 27% in March 2019 compared to

corresponding period last year. In contrast, ATM withdrawals grew at a slower pace of 15%.

Bank credit to infra sector grows 18.5% in FY19: RBI data

Bank credit to infrastructure sector grew by 18.5 per cent to Rs 10.55 lakh crore as of 2018-19, the highest

since 2012-13 fiscal, RBI data showed. Outstanding bank credit to the sector was Rs 8.91 lakh crore as at March

2018.

Karnataka Bank launches S/B product for salaried class

Karnataka Bank has launched a new savings bank product, KBL SB Salary, a customised product for the salaried

class with three variants. The bank has designed three variants – SB Salary Executive, SB Salary Prime, and SB

Salary Classic to cater the to financial needs of the ‗employer-employee ecosystem‘.



OECD: India‘s economy to grow 7.5% by 2020 amid slowing global growth

India‘s economic growth will regain strength and approach 7.5% by 2020 buoyed by rural consumption and

subdued inflation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its Economic

Outlook.Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in India is projected to strengthen to close to 7.25% in FY19 and

close to 7.5% in FY20.

Mudra loans may cross Rs 3 lakh crore in 2019-20

Total sanctions under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) loan scheme for micro industries are likely to

cross Rs 3 lakh crore in the current fiscal.Government data for the scheme for the last fiscal, till March 22, 2019,

put the figure of Mudra sanctions at Rs 2.82 lakh crore to 541.27 lakh borrowers.

ADB to extend $750-mn long-term finance to IRFC for track electrification project

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement to provide long-term financing of $750 million

equivalent in Indian rupees — the largest single non-sovereign loan ever committed by ADB — to the Indian

Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), to fund the Railways track electrification project.

SBI ties up with FMCG arm of The Art of Living

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a strategic partnership with the FMCG arm of The Art of Living -

Sri Sri Tattva. YONO users can avail a discount of 15 per cent on the entire range of products offered.The products

offered by Sri Sri Tattva includes food, personal care, healthcare, homecare, BYOGI apparels and Shankara skincare

products.

SEBI, IRDAI Set Up Regulatory Sandbox For Fintech Innovations

After the Reserve Bank of India released a draft framework for setting up a regulatory sandbox (RS) for fintech

players in the counter, the market and insurance regulators SEBI and IRDAI have also launched similar

initiatives.

RBI Allows Modern Currency Chests To Hike Service Charges

The Reserve Bank of India has announced that it will allow large modern currency chests to increase the

service charges on cash deposited by non-chest bank branches from the existing rate of Rs5 per packet of 100

pieces to a higher rate subject to a maximum of Rs8 per packet.



IDBI Bank collects Rs 160 crore insurance premium after LIC tie-up

IDBI Bank sold insurance policies worth Rs 160 crore in March 2019 after a partnership with Life Insurance

Corporation of India (LIC). LIC‘s corporate agents will be able to sell the products across their 1,800

branches.LIC is the majority shareholder in IDBI Bank holding a 51 percent stake in the banking entity.

RBI releases draft norms on liquidity risk management for NBFCs

RBI stated that all non-deposit-taking non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) with an asset size of Rs 5,000

crore and above, and all deposit-taking NBFCs irrespective of their asset size, have to maintain a liquidity buffer in

terms of a Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR).

Corporation Bank launches ‗Corp SME Suvidha‘ for MSMEs

Corporation Bank has launched ‗Corp SME Suvidha‘, a product for GST-registered MSMEs. The product has been

designed as part of the bank‘s efforts to provide the best products to the MSME sector.

Indian Overseas Bank launches ‗Bank on Wheels‘ facility

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has announced that it has launched ‗Bank on Wheels‘ facility in 14 of its lead

districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides Vijayawada. The mobile van facility will enable the public, especially

senior citizens, conveniently get door-step banking facility available at identified locations of the lead districts.

RBI extends RTGS timings from 4:30 pm to 6 pm

With an aim to ease high-value fund transfers, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced an extension of timings

for customer transactions through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) by one and half hours.Customers can

now transfer money through RTGS mode till 6 pm instead of the existing 4:30 pm.The change will come into

effect starting June 1.While no fee is charged for transfers between 8 am to 11 am, banks charge Rs 2 for a

transaction made between 11 am to 1 pm, and Rs 5 for transfers between 1 pm to 6 pm period. After 6 pm,

customers will be charged Rs 10 per outward transaction.

RBI forms panel for housing finance securitisation market

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the setting-up of a committee to work for the development of housing

finance securitisation market in the country under the chairmanship of Harsh Vardhan, Senior Advisor with

Bain & Co.

RBI sets up committee on corporate loans

RBI has constituted a six-member committee on the Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans to

come up with recommendations to increase the efficiencies of the debt market and aid in the resolution of stressed

assets.The committee, headed by TN Manoharan, Chairman, Canara Bank.

FICCI survey forecasts India‘s GDP growth at 7.1% for FY20

The country‘s median GDP is forecast at 7.10 percent for Financial Year 2020 and 7.20 percent for Financial Year

2021. The industry body FICCI‘s economic outlook survey stated that the minimum and maximum growth estimate

stood at 6.80 per 0cent and 7.3 percent for 2019-20.



Awards & Honours

Raheem Sterling named 2019 FWA footballer of the year

Raheem Sterling has been named the 2019 footballer of the year by the Football Writers' Association

(FWA). The Manchester City and England forward topped the poll of the 400-strong FWA membership as a clear

winner, with 62 percent of the votes.

Goldman Environmental Prize Conferred On 6 Environmental Activists

Six grassroots environmental activists received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. Known as

the Green Nobel Prize, the Goldman Prize honors environmental activists from each of the six continental regions.

The winners of the award are-

* Alfred Brownell, Liberia

* Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Mongolia

* Ana Colovic Lesoska, North Macedonia

* Jacqueline Evans, Cook Islands

* Alberto Curamil, Chile

* Linda Garcia, United States

Drake Sets Record With Most Wins At Billboard Awards

Rapper Drake set a record with the most wins ever, taking home 12 honours at the Billboard Music Awards. Drake

surpassed singer Taylor Swift to become the top award recipient in the Billboard Music Awards history.

Jacques Kallis Receives Ikhamanga Award 2019

Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has been honoured with the Order of Ikhamanga in the Silver

Division.The national honour is bestowed by the President of South Africa on citizens who have made significant

contributions to arts, literature, music, journalism, culture and sports.

Former ISRO Chairman Awarded France's Highest Civilian Honour

Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar was conferred with France's highest civilian honour, Chevalier de

l'Ordre national de la Legion d'Honneur, for his contribution to India-France space cooperation.Kumar was

conferred with the prestigious honour by France‘s Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler on behalf of the French

President.

Priyanka, Deepika win Instagrammers of the Year

Actresses Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone and Sara Ali Khan have won Instagrammers of the Year

2019, which acknowledges Instagram‘s most engaging community members across the country. The winners

represent individuals who have best embraced Instagram, by using its Stickers, Stories, Feed, Live and IGTV.

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Virat Kohli has emerged as the most ‗Engaged Account of the Year‘.

Star cricketer Virat Kohli has emerged as the most ‗Engaged Account of the Year‘. He provides a sneak peak to

the locker room drama, to his gruelling training sessions or an off-field selfie with his wife. Priyanka emerged as

the ‗Most Followed Account‘ this year.

Article on coalgate wins ACJ Award for Investigative Journalism

The article titled ‗Coalgate 2.0‘ authored by Nileena M S and published in The Caravan magazine in March last

year has won the ACJ Award for Investigative Journalism, 2018. The final jury comprising Gopalkrishna Gandhi,

Nilita Vachani and Dr A R Venkatachalapathy unanimously decided on Nileena‘s work as the winner.

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty gets awarded the P.C. Chandra Puraskaar -27th PC Chandra Awards

P.C. Chandra Puraskaar, the annual national award from the P.C. Chandra Group was conferred upon one of

India‘s most reputed cardiac surgeon and humanitarian Dr Devi Prasad Shetty at the Biswa Bangla Convention

Centre. Swami Suviranandaji Maharaj, the General Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math graced the

occasion as the Chief Guest and gave away the award.

G D 'Robert' Govender Conferred With V K Krishna Menon Award

GD 'Robert' Govender, an Indian-origin journalist in South Africa, has been honoured in the UK with 2019 V K

Krishna Menon award for his outstanding contribution as a pioneer of decolonised journalism.The South Africa-

born journalist was awarded posthumously during an event to mark the 123rd birth anniversary of the Indian

diplomat and politician V K Krishna Menon.

Israel Honoured 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War Hero Lt. Gen JFR Jacob

Israel honoured Lt. Gen. (retd) Jack Farj Rafael (JFR) Jacob, who negotiated the historic surrender

of Pakistani troops in Dhaka after the 1971 Bangladesh's liberation war, with a plaque on the Wall of Honour at the

Ammunition Hill.

Tiger Woods receives ‗Presidential Medal of Freedom‘

American golfer Tiger Woods was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, US‘ highest civilian

honour, by President Donald Trump at Rose Garden. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognises persons who

have made ―an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world

peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.‖



Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gets Order of St. George award by Kerala church

Founder of The Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was conferred with ‗Order of St. George‘ award as part of

the Church‘s Commemorative Feast. Along with Ravi Shankar, the event was attended by former Kerala Chief

Minister Dr Oommen Chandy.

IPS Officer Chhaya Sharma Receives McCain Institute Award

IPS officer Chhaya Sharma, who led the investigation team of the infamous Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder

case, has been awarded the 2019 McCain Institute Award for Courage and Leadership. The award is given to those

who show courage on behalf of human rights, humanitarian compassion, justice, freedom, and human dignity.

CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2019 Announced: Complete List of Winners

CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) Awards 2019 were announced in Mumbai.

India captain Virat Kohli bagged the International Cricketer and Batsman of the Year award during the CCR

International awards. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged as International Bowler of the Year. International Test

Cricketer of the Year Cheteshwar Pujara, International ODI Cricketer of the Year Rohit Sharma.

Anil Kapoor to be felicitated by CEUCC

Actor Anil Kapoor will be felicitated by the Council of European Chambers of Commerce (CEUCC) in

India and an European Union delegation as part of the ‗Europe Day‘ celebrations in Mumbai. Europe Day is

celebrated every year on May 9 to mark the formation of the European Union (EU).

Sunny Pawar bags Best Child Actor award at New York Indian Film Festival

Sunny Pawar has bagged the Best Child Actor award for ‗Chippa‘ at the 19th New York Indian Film

Festival.The 11-year-old, who hails from a slum in Kunchi Kurve Nagar in Mumbai, shot to fame with Australian

director Garth Davis‘ acclaimed 2016 film ‗Lion‘ for which he won an AACTA award.

Indian YouTuber Ajey Nagar Named Among ‗Next Generation Leaders 2019‘ by Time Magazine

Indian YouTuber Ajey Nagar has been named by Time magazine among its ‗Next Generation Leaders 2019‘, a

list of only 10 young people from around the world who are forging new paths in politics, music and other

spheres.Nagar, 19, popularly known as ‗CarryMinati‘ has nearly 7 million subscribers for his YouTube channel,

Time said in its profile of him.

Dr P.K. Mishra conferred with prestigious Sasakawa Award 2019

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

conferred Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk Reduction to

Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to

Prime Minister of India. The United Nations Sasakawa Award is

the most prestigious international award in the area

of Disaster Risk Management.



Indian Short Film Wins Nespresso Talents Award In Cannes

Indian filmmaker, Achyutanand Dwivedi's film, "Seed Mother", won the third prize in the international section

of Nespresso Talents 2019 in Cannes.The three-minute film celebrates the exceptional spirit of Rahibai Soma

Popere, a woman who champions the use of local seeds and traditional methods of farming in villages of

Maharashtra.

Ronaldo wins ‗Serie A Player of the Year‘ award

Juventus star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the ‗Serie A Player of the Year‘ award. This is a

remarkable feat for the Portuguese international as he has won the award in his very first season in Italy.With this

win, Ronaldo has now won the domestic player of the year award in England, Spain, and Italy.

Indian Peacekeeper Jitender Kumar To Be Honoured Posthumously By UN

Police Officer, an Indian peacekeeper 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. He will be honoured

posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal as the world organisation observes the International Day of UN

Peacekeepers.

Kapil Sharma Acknowledged As Most Viewed Stand-up Comedian In India And Abroad

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma has been acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up comedian in India and

abroad by the World Book of Records London. Having started his career as a stand-up comedian, Kapil initially performed on several comedy shows.

Oman Author Jokha Alharthi Wins Booker International Prize

An author from Oman, Jokha Alharthi 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.

Indian woman doctor Hema Divakar gets Global Asian award

Bengaluru-based medical doctor Hema Divakar was honoured with the ‗Global Asian of the Year 2018-19‘

award in Dubai recently for her yeomen services and contributions to the women‘s healthcare ecosystem, in India.

Pune scientist Ankur Patwardhan wins German chemistry prize

In an international competition ‗Elsevier Foundation-ISC3 Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge‘, a project

idea by Ankur Patwardhan from Pune has bagged the second prize of €25,000. His project named ‗Butterfly

attractant for pollination and ecosystem health‘ is about the relation between chemistry and ecosystem.

Insurer Bharti AXA Bags Claims Excellence Award

Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a private life insurer, has been conferred with the FICCI Claims Excellence

Award. The insurer improved its individual claim settlement ratio, the number of claims paid to the number of

claims received, to 96.85% in the financial year 2017-18.





Shyam Saran To Be Conferred With Japan's 'Order of the Rising Sun' Award Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran will be conferred with Japan's second highest national award, 'Order

of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star'.

He will be conferred with this award for his contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and enhancing mutual

understanding between India and Japan.

Indra Nooyi receives an honorary degree from Yale University

Former PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi was presented with an honorary degree by the prestigious Yale

University.She recieved the award in recognition of her achievements in business and for being a global role model

who encouraged women and girls to see themselves as top corporate executives.

Acharya Balkrishna receives ‗UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award‘

Patanjali Ayurved Limited‘s Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna received the ‗UNSDG 10 Most Influential

People in Healthcare Award‘ on behalf of Patanjali Group of Institutions in Geneva.Patanjali Ayurved is a

company producing range Ayurvedic medicinal and personal care products, among other consumer items.

Guy Gunaratne wins Dylan Thomas prize for ‗urgent‘ London novel

Debut novelist Guy Gunaratne has won the £30,000 Swansea University International Dylan Thomas prize for In

Our Mad and Furious City, an ―urgent, timely and compelling‖ account of life on a London housing estate during

city-wide riots.

Horticulture award for TNAU V-C N Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has been conferred the lifetime recognition award

by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India.

Indian Writer Annie Zaidi Wins USD 100,000 Global Book Prize ‗Nine Dots‘

Indian writer Annie Zaidi was announced as the 2019 winner of the USD 100,000 Nine Dots Prize, a prestigious

book prize created to award innovative thinking that addresses contemporary issues around the world.

Mohana Singh becomes first IAF woman pilot to be operational by day on Hawk jets

Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh, one of India‘s first female fighter pilots, scripted history as the first ever

woman pilot to become operational on Hawk advanced jet aircraft.

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National News

Environment Ministry Constitutes Committee To Implement National Clean Air Programme

The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme

(NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.

The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. It would be headquartered in New

Delhi.

Delhi High Court issues notice to Jet Airways

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to Jet Airways on a plea seeking direction to the Civil Aviation Ministry

and DGCA to ensure refunds or provide alternative travel mode for passengers who have booked tickets with the

airlines. The Jet Airways had last month announced a temporary suspension of its operations after it failed to receive

emergency funds from lenders.

Green Number Plates Become Mandatory For All-Electric Vehicles

The Central government has asked the state transport departments to make it mandatory for all EVs to use the green

number plates, irrespective of the year in which they were bought.

The new mandate is supposed to help provide preferential treatment to the vehicles with no carbon emissions, like

parking, free entry in congested areas as well as a concessional toll on highways.

LIC HFL launches Udyam Centre in Bengaluru

LIC Housing Finance (LIC HFL) has launched ‗Udyam‘, a skilling center in Bengaluru. It was launched in

association with Lok Bharti Education Society, the implementing partner.

The Centres of Excellence will provide training to marginalised youth in the BFSI, retail, and IT/ ITES sectors

.

CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee To Chart Out Design Policy

The Central Works Public Department (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to formulate a design policy

for building construction and infrastructure development. The committee has been set up under the chairmanship of

CPWD‘s Additional Director General M K Sharma.

ICMR Launches Malaria Elimination Research Alliance

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently launched the Malaria Elimination Research Alliance

(MERA)- Indiaand organised the Stakeholders‘ Meeting at ICMR headquarters, New Delhi to have vibrant

discussions on the roadmap of the Alliance.ICMR has established ‗Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India

(MERA-India)‘, which is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control.

‗Avengers: Endgame‘ becomes the highest grossing film of 2019 in India

‗Avengers Endgame‘ in India has now become the highest grossing film of 2019 so far. ‗Avengers:

Endgame‘ released on April 26 and also marks the final film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s current

generation, which comprises of 22 films, including ‗Spider-Man: Homecoming‘ and the recently released ‗Captain

Marvel‘.



BSNL Launches 'Bharat Fibre' Broadband Service In Kashmir Valley

State-owned telecom firm BSNL has become the first operator to start optical fibre-based high-speed

broadband service in Pulwama with the launch of 'Bharat Fibre'.

This is the first such FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) service deployment in the (Kashmir) Valley.

Mangaluru Police Gets An All-women Patrol Unit ―Rani Abbakka Force‖

Mangaluru City Police has launched an all-women police patrol unit ‗Rani Abbakka Force‘. The force will cover

the malls, beaches, educational institutions, places of religious importance, and the public transport system and

handle issues related to eve-teasing and chain-snatching, among others.

Government and IIT-Delhi To Set up a CoE For Waste to Wealth Technologies

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and Indian Institute of

Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) signed an MoU in New Delhi for setting up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Waste

to Wealth Technologies for implementation of sustainable, scientific and technological solutions for waste

management.

BHEL successfully commissions two units of a lift irrigation project in Telangana

The Central Public Sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned

two motor - pump set units for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) in Telangana.Under the scheme,

89 cubic metres per second of water will be lifted to a height of 106 metres from the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir to

Medaram reservoir and will be used for irrigation and water supply in nearby drought-prone areas.

Cyclone Fani makes landfall in Odisha's Puri

The landfall process of extremely severe Cyclone Fani began nearly at 8 am on 3 May 2019, close to Puri in

Odisha. The area recorded a wind speed of 145 kilometres per hour.The process of landfall will continue for the

next three hours.The area along Puri is witnessing winds with a speed of 145 kilometres per hour that could reach

up to 180-200 kmph.

India To Purchase 10 Kamov-31 Choppers From Russia For INR 3,600 cr

The defence ministry has approved the procurement of 10 Kamov Ka-31 Airborne Early Warning and

Control helicopters for the Indian Navy. The cost of the deal would be around Rs 3,600 crore and the 10 helicopters

would be deployed on the aircraft carriers and warships of the Navy including the INS Vikrant and Grigorovich-

class frigates.

Postage Stamp To Commemorate 750th Birth Anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desika Released

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu released a postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of

Sri Vedanta Desikan in New Delhi. The stamp has been released by Indian postal department.



14th edition of Sino-Indian border trade opens at Nathu La

The 14th edition of the annual Sino-Indian border trade opened at Nathu La in Sikkim. A function was held to

mark the occasion. The Principal Secretary of Commerce and Industries Department, Dr Thomas Chandy, along

with officers of various central agencies were present on the occasion.

ONGC gets green nod for Rs 240cr project in Assam

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has received the green nod to drill 6 development wells

in Assamat an estimated cost of Rs 240 crore. The Union Environment Ministry has given the environment

clearance for six development wells in five mining lease blocks in Jorhat and Golghat districts.

Last captive white tiger Bajirao dies at 18

Bajirao, the last captive white tiger at the Sanjay Gandhi

National Park in Mumbai died at the age of 18.The tiger had been suffering from chronic ankylosis on the left

shoulder and chronic senile generalised arthritis for the last four years. Bajirao was born at the Sanjay Gandhi

National Park in 2001.

Mastercard Announces $1 Billion Investment In India

Global card payments brand Mastercard has announced its plan of investing $1 billion in India operations over the

period of next 5 years. About $350 million of the total amount would be invested in setting up a local payments

processing center as per the Reserve Bank of India‘s mandate to store all payments data locally.

15th Finance Commission's Meeting With RBI Held In Mumbai

The 15th Finance Commission headed by Chairman, N.K. Singh held a detailed meeting with the Governor

and Deputy Governors of RBI in Mumbai. Key issues raised by RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das and Finance

Commission Chairman, N.K. Singh were discussed in detail at the meeting.

GRIHA Council Launched ―GRIHA for Existing Day Schools‖

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council has launched ‗GRIHA for Existing Day

Schools‘, a new rating tool to evaluate environmental performance of existing schools across India.GRIHA

council was founded by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with support from Ministry of New and

Renewable Energy along with variety of experts in the fields related to sustainability of built environment from

across the country.



Drug firm Merck Ltd renamed as Procter & Gamble Health Ltd

Drug firm Merck Ltd has been renamed as Procter & Gamble Health Ltd.

The name has been changed following P&G's global acquisition of the

consumer health business of Merck KGaA, Germany. The company has

received approval from the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai, Maharashtra,

for change of name from Merck Ltd to Procter & Gamble Health Ltd.

Indian Army To Commemorate 2019 As ‗Year of next of kin‘

The Indian Army is commemorating this year as the ‗Year of Next of Kin‘ and plans to reach out to the next of kin

of battle casualties, ex-servicemen and serving soldiers to inform them of entitled financial benefits, welfare schemes

and help resolve pension-related pro kiblems.The Directorate of Indian Army Veterans will be the nodal agency.

1st Apache Helicopter Formally Handed Over To IAF

First AH-64E (I) - Apache Guardian helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force at Boeing

production facility in Arizona, USA. IAF had signed a contract with US Government and M/s Boeing Ltd in Sep

2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. The first batch of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India by July

2019.

Konkan Railways Signs Contract Agreement With Nepal To Supply DEMU Train Sets

Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd has signed a contract agreement with Nepal's Department of Railways to

supply two 1600 HP DEMU train sets. These trains will be used to operationalise railway link between Jayanagar

in India and Kurtha in Nepal. The train sets will be manufactured by the Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai.

Vice President inaugurates 'Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb' fitment camp

On the 3rd day of his Vietnam visit, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the artificial limb fitments to the

beneficiaries at the Embassy of India in Hanoi under India for Humanity initiative.Naidu inaugurated the Jaipur Foot

Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Hanoi during his four-day official visit to Vietnam.The Camp is being held under

the 'India For Humanity' program in the context of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Spectacular Thrissur Pooram festival begins in Kerala

The 2019 edition of the Thrissur Pooram is an extravagant temple festival in Kerala. It is held at the

Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram day - the day when the moon rises with the

Pooram star.A 54-year-old elephant ‗Thechikottukavu Ramachandran‘ also participated in the festival.



Doordarshan Launches Online Souvenir Store In Partnership With Amazon India

Doordarshan has launched an online souvenir store for its viewers on Amazon India so that one can easily access

it. Doordarshan is India's first broadcaster which has started Souvenir store. A. Surya Prakash Chairman,

Prasar Bharati launched DD souvenir store on Amazon India.

Central government extends the ban on LTTE for five years

The Central Government has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another five

years. The ban has been extended under sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)

Act, 1967 with immediate effect. It was founded in May 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Young Scientist Programme 'Yuvika2019' inaugurated

The Young Scientist Programme ‗Yuvika2019‘ has been inaugurated by Indian Space Research Organisation,

ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan. The two-week residential summer vacation programme spread over four ISRO

centres in Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad and Shillong are attended by 110 students.

Indian Navy's 1st Full-Fledged SSB Opened At Kolkata

The Indian Navy's first full-fledged Services Selection Board (SSB) was inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral

Sunil Lanba at Diamond Harbour near Kolkata, West Bengal. The SSB (Kolkata) is located at a place that was

previously occupied by a Naval Coastal Battery. This is the fifth SSB of the Indian Navy. The other boards are

located in Bhopal, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Coimbatore.

MoU Signed For Rudraksh Plantation In Ganga Basin

A tripartite MoU was signed between National Mission for Clean Ganga, HCL Foundation and INTACH for

taking up a project of „Plantation of Rudraksh Trees in Uttarakhand‟ as a part of CSR initiative under

the ‗Namami Gange‘ Programme.

Jaisalmer gets Ready to Host International Army Scout Masters Competition 2019

International Army Scout Masters Competition as a part of International Army Games will be organised under

the aegis of Konark Corps at Jaisalmer from 24 July to 17 August 2019.The event will witness the participation of

the Mechanised Infantry Scout Teams of eight countries including Russia who is the founding member of this format

of International Army Games.

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Infosys Foundation‘s FCRA Licence Cancelled

The Home Ministry has cancelled the registration of Bengaluru-based NGO Infosys Foundation for alleged

violation of norms in receiving foreign grants. All non-government organizations (NGOs) are mandatorily required

to be registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act or FCRA to receive foreign funding.

Defence Space agency to come up at Bengaluru

Soon after it successfully carried out an anti-satellite test, India is setting up its military space agency headquartered

at Bengaluru with the ace fighter pilot Air Vice Marshal SP Dharkar as its likely head.

Workshop on Artificial Bio Organs held in Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) has recently organized a one-day workshop on Organ Bio Printing at the

Kalam Convention Center, AMTZ Campus in Visakhapatnam. The workshop aims to strengthen Indo-Australian

Cooperation and achieve the development of the 3D printing industry in both countries.

NSG Commandos Summit Mount Everest In Maiden Attempt

Commandos of the premier counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) created history as they scaled

the Mount Everest (world's highest peak) in their maiden attempt.

A seven-member team of NSG, led by Lt Col J P Kumar, successfully unfurled the Indian flag at the 8,848-metre

tall peak.

2019 Lok Sabha Polls Record Highest Ever Voter Turnout In History

As per Election Commission of India, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a voter turnout of 67.10%

(interim), which is the highest ever voter turnout in the history of general elections.

The previous highest voter turnout of 66.44% was recorded in 2014.

It was the 17th General Elections that was conducted in India.Sunil Arora is the Chief Election Commissioner of

India.

Telangana records 15% GSDP growth in FY19

Telangana‘s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown 15 per cent in the financial year ended March 31,

2019 at ₹8,66,875 crore as against ₹7,53,804 crore in the previous year.This is the highest ever growth of GSDP

after the formation of Telangana State.

5th Smart Cities India 2019 Expo Inaugurated In New Delhi

The 5th Smart Cities India 2019 expo, including Transport India, Solar India, Buildings India and Water India

expos, was inaugurated by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHUA) at

the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.Organised by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO)



India bans Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terror outfit

The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh also called as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen

Hindustan has been declared as a banned terrorist organization by the government of India.

NSA Ajit Doval addresses 17th Investiture Ceremony of BSF in New Delhi

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has stated that technology will play a pivotal role in guarding the borders in

days to come as security challenges are increasing day by day. Doval was addressing 17th Investiture Ceremony of

Border Security Force, BSF in New Delhi.

Infosys takes over Dutch bank arm with majority stake

Global software major Infosys has completed the acquisition of majority (75 per cent) equity stake in the Stater

N.V. subsidiary of the Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank.

ISRO chairman flags off shipment of India‘s largest liquid hydrogen storage tank

ISRO Chairman K Sivan flagged off the shipment of India‘s largest liquid hydrogen storage tank at the VRV Asia

Pacific‘s manufacturing plant at Sri City in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

‗Tree Ambulance‘ service launched in Chennai

A unique ‗Tree Ambulance‘ service – an initiative to provide care to trees besides spread green cover, was

launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Chennai.

Madhya Pradesh to tentatively have new UNESCO heritage site

Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh has a plethora of historical sites with the Bundela dynasty architectural style.

The Archaeological Survey of India has included that heritage town of Orchha in a tentative list of UNESCO world

heritage sites. It was included in the proposal sent by the ASI to the UN body in April 2019.

Government invites BIMSTEC leaders for the swearing-in ceremony on May 30

Leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

have been invited for PM Modi‘s swearing-in ceremony to be held on 30th May. However, Bangladesh premier

Sheikh Hasina will not attend the event due to her prior commitments. Myanmar State Councillor Aung Saan Suu

Kyi‘s presence is also uncertain as she is travelling overseas. Kyrgyzstan, the current chair of the Shanghai

Cooperation Organisation (SCO), too, has been invited for the event.

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Govt sets up tribunal for adjudicating ban on LTTE

The government has constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether or not there is

sufficient 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.

NSIC signs MOU with Ministry of MSME

The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) signed an MoU with Ministry of Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprises (MSME) for the year 2019-20. The MoU envisages provision of enhanced services by NSIC

under its marketing, financial, technology, and other support services schemes for MSMEs in the country.

Record 78 women MPs elected to 17th Lok Sabha

Record 78 women candidates have been elected to the Lok Sabha in the recently held general elections. According

to the Election Commission, the number has grown from the previous 62 women who were elected to the 16th Lok

Sabha in 2014.

Indore‘s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport gets ‗international‘ status

Indore‘s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport has been declared as an international airport.The airport, named after

Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, is considered as the busiest airport in Central India. It has been bestowed

Worlds Standardization Certification by the United Kingdom.

NGT directed the government to ban RO (Reverse Osmosis) where dissolved solids in the water below

500 mg/litre

The National Green Tribunal, NGT, has directed the government to ban water purifiers where total dissolved

solids (TDS) in water are below 500 mg per litre. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar

Goel passed the order after perusing a report of a committee formed by it.

Hindi version of Digital Dilemma launched by Oscar academy President John Bailey

President of Oscar Academy, John Bailey e-launched the Hindi translation of an Academy Publication, "Digital

Dilemma", at a function in Delhi. The translation of the Academy publication into Hindi is important in order to

reach out to film fraternity in India.

SC extends the tenure of NCDRC‘s judicial member by one year

The Supreme Court has extended the tenure of Justice VK Jain, a judicial member of the National Consumer

Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which was expiring on 30th May 2019. A vacation bench comprising

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose stated the extension of tenure would be for one year or till

the process of fresh appointment is completed.



Union Cabinet Ministers Portfolio 2019: Check Complete List Here A day after the incoming Union Council of Ministers was sworn

in, the portfolios of ministers were announced. Prime Minister

Narendra Modi earlier sent the list of portfolios for his Council

of Ministers to President Ram Nath Kovind, after which the

same was unveiled.

Click Here For Complete List

Centre launches song ‗Hawa Aane De‘ on air pollution

As the World Environment Day is approaching, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched a

theme song ‗Hawa Aane De‘ on air pollution. The song was launched in the national capital.

SWIFT India and South Asia Conference held in Mumbai

The SWIFT India and South Asia Conference held at the St Regis Mumbai saw the participation of 500

delegates representing financial institutions, regulators, market infrastructure experts, multinational corporations, and

other industry professionals, to discuss the most pertinent issues concerning the nation‘s financial market.The theme

of the conference was ―Digitisation in transition: The future of innovation and cyber security.

National Science Film Festival to be held in Agartala in 2020

In an effort to raise awareness about science and environment through films, the 10th National Science Film

Festival of India (NSFFI) will be organised in Tripura on January and February 2020.

Health Ministry organises a national workshop for Population Research Centres (PRCs)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing a two-day orientation workshop for Population Research

Centres (PRCs) in New Delhi. This workshop was organised to highlight the various features of the flagship

schemes of the Health Ministry for concurrent monitoring.

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International News

Iraq Becomes India‘s Top Oil Supplier in 2018-19

Iraq has become India‘s top crude oil supplier for the second consecutive year, meeting more than one-fifth of

the country‘s oil needs in the 2018-19 fiscal year. According to data collected by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Iraq sold 46.61

million tonnes of crude oil to India during April 2018 and March 2019.

Big diplomatic win for India; Masood Azhar designated global terrorist by UNSC

India scores a big diplomatic victory Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar designated as a global

terrorist at the UN after China lifts its technical hold on the proposal at 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of

UNSC; Proposal was moved by US, UK and France after the Pulwama terror attack in February; Prime Minister

hails the move as a big success for India in the fight against terrorism; France too welcomes the move.

Zakir Naik‘s Peace TV banned in Sri Lanka in wake of bombings

Sri Lankan government has issued orders preventing any person from preaching religious, extremist or radical

ideologies who encourages or glorifies terrorism. The order also banned any foreigner from preaching any such

ideology and few persons involved in it have been deported.

Pak named its retaliatory action against India on February 27 as ‗Operation Swift Retort‘

The Pakistan Air Force announced that they will observe its retaliatory action against India on February 27 against

the Balakot strike of Indian Air Force as ‗Operation Swift Retort‘.

The Indian air strikes at Balakot terror camp on February 26 was response of Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed

(JeM) attack by a suicide bomber in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF jawans.

Netherlands Becomes The Third Largest Foreign Direct Investor In India

The Netherlands has emerged as the third largest foreign direct investor in India during 2017-18, with investments

pegged at about $2.67 billion across sectors.

The Netherlands was also the second largest destination for foreign investment by Indian companies,

after Singapore, with investments worth $12.8 billion in 2017.

US Withdraws From UN Arms Trade Treaty

US President Donald Trump has said he will withdraw his country from the International Arms Trade Treaty.

The agreement, signed by Barack Obama in 2013, aims to regulate the sale of weapons between countries.The US

National Rifle Association says the treaty amounts to international gun control, and is a threat to America‘s second

amendment right to bear arms. The US is the world‘s top arms exporter.

5th ABU Media Summit Held In Kathmandu

5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness

began in Kathmandu. The theme of the two-day summit is ―Media Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving

Lives, Building Resilient Communities‖.



16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue Held in Qatar

The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was held in Doha, Qatar. Gen. (Dr) V.K.

Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs led the Indian delegation.

The theme of the meeting was "Partners in Progress‖.

Vladimir Putin Signs Law To Create Independent Russian Internet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a new measure that aims to expand government control

over the Internet.It would enable the creation of a national network, able to operate separately from the rest of the

world. The new law aims to protect Russia from foreign online restrictions by creating a "sustainable, secure and

fully functioning" local internet.

UK Parliament 1st In World To Declare Climate Emergency

The UK parliament became the first national legislative body in the world to declare a climate

change emergency.It also calls for the government to work towards carbon neutrality before 2050 and for ministers

to draft proposals within the next 6 months to restore the country's environment and create a "zero waste economy."

India To Attend G-7 Meet In France

India will be attending the Group of 7 industrialised nations meet organised by France in Biarritz in August along

with Australia, Chile, and South Africa.

The French ambassador to India Alexandre Zeigler stated that one of the issues on the agenda of the G-7 meet would

be fighting terrorism in cyberspace.

Japan‘s First Privately Developed Rocket 'Momo-3' Reached Outer Space

A Japanese aerospace start-up Interstellar Technology Inc. has successfully launched a first privately

developed rocket ‗Momo-3‘ into space.

The unmanned Momo-3 was launched from its test site in Hokkaido and reached about 110 kilometers (68 miles)

in altitude before falling into the Pacific Ocean after 10 minutes of flight time.

IBSA Sherpas Meet Concluded In Cochin

The IBSA (India, Brazil & South Africa) Sherpas‘ Meeting, following the 9th IBSA Trilateral Ministerial Meeting,

was held in Cochin. Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. T.S. Tirumurti led the

Indian delegation.

Bandana Sets Guinness World Records On Longest Dancing Marathon

A 18-year-old Nepali girl, Bandana danced continuously for 126 hours to set a Guinness World Records on

'Longest Dancing Marathon by an Individual', a feat previously held by an Indian.Bandana beat the record set

by Kalamandalam Hemlatha, who danced continuously for 123 hours and 15 minutes in 2011.





India-US trade in goods and services registers 12.6% growth in 2018

Bilateral trade between India and the United States in goods and services grew 12.6 per cent from USD 126 billion

in 2017 to USD 142 billion in 2018. Both the sides appreciated the ―strong, robust and growing bilateral ties

between India and the US across the entire spectrum of trade and commerce.

Meeting of Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of WCO Held in Kochi

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has organised a 2-Day meeting of the Regional Heads of

Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Kochi.

This meeting was chaired by Mr Pranab Kumar Das, Chairman, CBIC.

India and Bangladesh agreed to jointly produce film on the life of Mujibur Rahman

India and Bangladesh will co-produce a film on the life and works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and

a documentary on Bangladesh Liberation War. A Delegation from Bangladesh led by Adviser to Prime Minister of

Bangladesh, Dr. Gowher Rizvi met Secretary and other officials of Information & Broadcasting Ministry and

focussed on various aspects of making of feature film.

NASA spacecraft to hit an asteroid in 2022

NASA is planning to launch a spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will hit a small moonlet in the

binary asteroid system Didymos in September 2022. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test

(DART) NASA‘s first mission to demonstrate a planetary defence technique is scheduled to be launched in mid-

2021.

India re-elected as an observer to inter-governmental forum Arctic Council

India has been re-elected as an observer to inter-governmental forum Arctic Council. The Arctic Council

promotes cooperation, coordination and interaction among Arctic states on common issues, particularly on

sustainable development and environmental protection.At the 11th Arctic Council ministerial meeting at

Rovaniemi, Finland and India re-elected as Observer of the Arctic Council.

India and China Sign Protocol For Export of Indian Chilli Meal Commerce Secretary, Anup Wadhawan and Vice Minister, General Administration of Customs of China

(GACC), Li Guo, held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss trade-related issues of pending Indian request for

clearance of agricultural products.

Singapore Passes 'Fake News' Law

Singapore's Parliament passed a law to curb the spread of fake news under which offenders may face up to 10-

year jail or fines of up to S$1 million (over Rs5.12 crore). The law empowers the government to direct social

media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to carry corrections or remove content it considers to be fake news.



WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries To Held New Delhi

A WTO Ministerial meeting of developing countries is being hosted by India in New Delhi.

Sixteen developing countries, Six Least Developed Countries (LDC) (Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin,

Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan,

Malawi, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda) and DG, WTO participated in the

meeting.

Australian Flight Carrier, Qantas Operated World‘s First Zero-waste Flight

The Australian flight carrier, Qantas has operated the world‘s first zero-wastecommercial flight from Sydney to

Adelaide which disposed of all waste through compost, reuse or recycle.

The Australian airline Qantas has planned to eliminate 100 million single-use plastics by the end of 2020 and also to

reduce 75% of airline‘s waste by the end of 2021.

UN to hold 2020 ocean conference in Lisbon

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to hold its 2020 high-level conference early June

in Portugal‘s Lisbon to support the sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.The UNGA ―decides

that the overarching theme of the conference shall be ―scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation

for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions.‖

WHO and IFBA to eliminate industrially produced trans fats by 2023

WHO (World Health organization) collaborated with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to

eliminate industrially produced trans fat (iTFA) from food supply worldwide by 2023. Trans fat-intake leads to

coronary heart disease, due to which globally 5,00,000 deaths occur every year.

Ireland Becomes 2nd Country To Declare Climate Emergency

Ireland has declared a climate emergency in their country, to be the second country after Britain to do

so. Britain's parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency, passing the largely symbolic

motion on May 1.

UN To Hold 2020 Ocean Conference In Lisbon

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to hold its 5-day long 2020 high-level conference early June

in Portugal‘s Lisbon to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and

sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Lisbon.



400 KMPH: Japan Tests World's Fastest Bullet Train Japan has started testing its fastest-ever bullet train capable of reaching 400 kilometers per hour (249 mph) as it

continues to develop the revolutionary mode of travel. The ALFA-X version of the Shinkansen train began three

years' worth of test runs.

Once it enters operation around 2030, it will run at speeds of up to 360 kph (224 mph),comfortably making it

the world's fastest bullet train.

World‘s 1st parent-wise genome for buffaloes developed

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has developed the world‘s first complete parent-wise genome

assembly called ―NDDB_ABRO_Murrah‖ of riverine buffaloes. This comes after the successful launch of

INDUSCHIP, a customized genotyping chip for indigenous cattle and their crosses.Buffaloes contribute more than

50% to the total milk production in India which is the world‘s largest milk producer.

Cannes Film Festival Begins In France

The Cannes Film Festival has begun in France. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare is leading

the Indian delegation at Cannes and will inaugurate India Pavilion.

The Pavilion will showcase Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural and regional diversity, with the aim of forging

international partnerships in distribution, production, filming in India.

India To Co-Chair Consultative Group Of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery

India is unanimously chosen as co-chair of the Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for Disaster

Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020. The decision was taken during the CG meeting of

GFDRR held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the margins of the 6th Session of the GPDRR 2019.

UN Imposed Sanctions On Terror Group ISIS Khorasan

The UN has imposed sanctions on terror group ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) for its links with Al-Qaeda

and involvement in several attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The United Nations Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee sanctioned Islamic State in Iraq and

the Levant - Khorasan (ISIL-K). It is now subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.



Mexico City declares environmental emergency

Mexico City has declared an environmental emergency. It ordered vehicles off the road and postponing the semi-

finals of the first-division football league as a blanket of smog enveloped in the capital. A series of wildfires on the

city's outskirts have combined with stagnant weather conditions to cloak the metropolitan area of more than 20

million people in a grey cloud.

India Signs ‗Christchurch Call to Action‘

India signed the ‗Christchurch Call to Action‘ in Paris. The agreement came in the backdrop of the attacks on

mosques in March and is aimed at stopping the abuse of the Internet by extremists.

China blocks all language editions of Wikipedia

China has broadened its block of online encyclopedia Wikipedia to include all language editions. According to a

report by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) China has started blocking all language editions

of Wikipedia last month.Previously, most editions of Wikipedia besides the Chinese language version were

available.

Donald Trump Unveils Merit-Based Immigration System

US President Donald Trump has rolled out a merit-based immigration system from which foreigners, including

hundreds and thousands of Indian professionals and skilled workers, waiting to get Green Cards or permanent legal

residency stand to benefit.

As per the proposed system, permanent legal residency would be given based on points for their age, knowledge,

job opportunities and civic sense.

Taiwan Becomes First Country In Asia To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage

Taiwan has approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, a landmark decision that makes the self-ruled island

the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation.

The successful bill includes limited adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Saudi Arabia Approves Permanent Residency For First Time

The Saudi government has approved for the first time a scheme that gives permanent residency to certain

expatriates, allowing them to own real estate in the kingdom and reside with their families without a Saudi sponsor.

The "Privileged Iqama" system will offer a permanent residence scheme and one that can be renewed annually to

highly skilled expatriates and owners of capital funds.

Israel proposes India to be the focus country in Jerusalem Film Festival, 2020

Israel proposes India to be the focus country in Jerusalem Film Festival, 2020 at Cannes Film Festival.Indian

delegation met Ms Eti Cohen, Director of Film Department and Council, Israel who announced the



recommendation.Israel also proposed the idea of making concept-based films in India, with a focus on regional and

small budget films.

11th Joint Consular Committee meet between India, Iran held in Delhi

The 11th Joint Consular Committee meeting between India and Iran took place in New Delhi. Both sides

discussed the early conclusion of Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance on civil and commercial matters and

extending the longer duration of e-Visa for each other nationals on reciprocity. The meeting provided an opportunity

to review the status of ongoing cooperation in consular and visa related issues.

3rd India-Botswana Hold Foreign Office Consultations In Delhi

The third round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Botswana was held in New Delhi. The Indian

side was led by Joint Secretary, East and Southern Africa in the Ministry of External Affairs Dr. Neena

Malhotra.

EAM Sushma Swaraj To Attend SCO Foreign Ministers Meet In Bishkek

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the foreign ministers' meet of the Shanghai Cooperation

Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Swaraj's Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi will

also attend the meeting.

Italy launches anti-competition probe against Google

Joining the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the European Union (EU), Italy‘s antitrust

authority has become the latest international regulatory body to launch an anti-competition

investigation against Google.

Taiwan Expo 2019 Begins In New Delhi

Taiwan Expo 2019 began in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre Tien Chung-Kwang and Chairman of Taiwan

External Trade Development Council, TAITRA James CF Huanginaugurated the three-day event in the presence

of Joint Secretary Praveen Bonigala and ITPO Chairman LC Goyal.

TAPI Pipeline Meeting Held In Turkmenistan

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline meeting was held in Ashgabat,

Turkmenistan. The groundbreaking of the TAPI gas pipeline will be held in Pakistan in October 2019.The TAPI

gas pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2022 in Pakistan.







WHO Declares Algeria, Argentina Malaria-Free

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Algeria and Argentina as malaria-free, with no recorded cases

of indigenous transmission of the disease since 2013 and 2010 respectively.

US, Japan, South Korea, Australia Hold 1st Naval Drills In Western Pacific

U.S. Navy ships conducted joint drills with warships from allies Japan, Australia and South Korea in their first

combined exercise in the Western Pacific.The Pacific Vanguard exercise near the U.S. island of Guam

SCO Meeting Of Council Of Foreign Ministers Held In Bishkek

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represented India in the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers

(CFM) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

India stopped importing oil from Iran after US waivers expired

India has stopped importing oil from Iran after American waivers granted to eight buyers expired early this

month.India depends heavily on West Asia for its energy needs and is against any further escalation of tension in the

region.India has joined Greece, Italy, Taiwan and Turkey to become the latest country to comply with the US

sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Facebook plans to launch ‗GlobalCoin‘ cryptocurrency in 2020

Facebook is planning to launch its own cryptocurrency in early 2020, allowing users to make digital payments in a

dozen countries. The currency, dubbed GlobalCoin, would enable Facebook‘s 2.4 billion monthly users to change

dollars and other international currencies into its digital coins.

Russia launches world‘s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker



Russia launched the world‘s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker, which would open up commercial opportunities

for the country in the northern sea route. With the ceremonial launch of ‗Ural‘, Russia‘s Rosatom Atomic Energy

Corporation

India elected to Executive Board of first UN-Habitat Assembly

India has been elected to the Executive Board of the first UN-Habitat Assembly, announced by Ministry of

Housing and Urban Affairs. India has been elected to the Executive Board of the first UN-Habitat Assembly at the

Plenary Session of the Assembly being held in Nairobi.

US removes India, Switzerland from its currency monitoring list

The Trump administration removed India from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners, citing certain

developments and steps being taken by New Delhi addressing some of its major concerns.

Sri Lanka signs tripartite agreement with India and Japan

Sri Lanka 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.

Sri Lanka to host ADB annual meeting in 2021

Sri Lanka will host the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Colombo in May 2021 and it will

attract over 3,000 delegates.The 2019 ADB meeting was held in Fiji in May and the next meeting is scheduled to be

held in South Korea in 2020.

Nepal celebrates its 12th Republic Day

Nepal is celebrating its 12th Republic Day on 29th May 2019. A number of programmes are being organized in

different parts of the country to mark the occasion. The main function was held at Army Pavilion in Kathmandu,

which was attended by the President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli,

Trump announces tariffs on all Mexico goods

US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico in a bid to curb illegal

immigration. From 10th June 2019, a five percent tariff would be imposed and slowly raised until the Illegal

Immigration problem is remedied.





New Appointments & Resigns

Akihito 1st Japanese Emperor To Step Down From Throne in 200 Years

Akihito became the first Japanese Emperor to step down from the throne in more than 200 years. His son, Crown

Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne today, beginning a new era. 30 April was the last day of

the Heisei imperial era. Stepping down of Emperor Akihito brings his ―Heisei‖ era to an end and beginning of

new ―Reiwa‖ era with Naruhito‘s accession. The term ―Reiwa‖ means ―Beautiful Harmony‖.

Dilip Kumar Appointed As Officer On Special Duty In Office Of Lokpal

Senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal.

Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, is at present joint secretary, National Human Rights

Commission.

Archery Association of India chief BVP Rao steps down following Supreme Court ruling

On 1 May 2019, Archery Association of India (AAI) President B.V.P. Rao resigned after the Supreme Court‘s ruling

to set aside the constitution of the national body of the sport as amended by Delhi High Court-appointed administrator S.Y. Quraishi. The new election for AAI is expected to be held within four weeks.

BSE Appoints First Independent Woman Director Jayshree Vyas To board

BSE, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, has appointed its first independent woman director Jayshree

Vyas. Vyas is a professionally-qualified chartered accountant, working as the managing director of Shree Mahila

Sewa Sahakari Bank, Ahmedabad, since 1986.

Kumar Sangakkara Named As 1st Non-British President of MCC

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been named as the next President of Marylebone Cricket

Club (MCC), becoming the first non-British President of the club.

Sangakkara will take up the post on October 1 and will serve for a period of one year.

Gates Foundation Appoints Sanjay Ubale As India Policy Head

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has hired Sanjay Ubale, head of the infrastructure and urban solutions

at Tata Sons, as its policy director for India.Sanjay will oversee the Seattle-based charity's healthcare, poverty

alleviation, and educational activities in the country.

Paytm President Bhushan Patil Resigns

Bhushan Patil, president at Paytm, has quit the company. Patil, who joined Paytm after a five-year stint

with Alibaba, had initially joined the Noida-based company to look after its cross border commerce business.

US Air Force General Tod Wolters Sworn In As NATO Commander

US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters has been sworn in as the top military officer of the 29-nation NATO military

alliance. The former pilot, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, became Supreme Allied Commander Europe at

NATO's military headquarters in Mons, southern Belgium.



Myntra appoints Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma as first brand ambassadors

Flipkart-owned fashion e-commerce platform Myntra announced that it had appointed celebrity couple Virat Kohli

and Anushka Sharma as its first brand ambassadors. This is would be the couple‘s second big brand

endorsement deal after men‘s ethnic wear brand Manyavar, which they have been associated with since 2017.

Bombay Stock Exchange appoints first independent woman Director

BSE, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange has appointed its first independent woman director Jayshree

Vyas.She is a qualified chartered accountant.She was working as Managing Director of Shree Mahila Sewa Sahakari

Bank, Ahmedabad, since 1986.

AAI names acting president to start election process

Archery Association of India named its senior vice president Sunil Sharma as its acting president to start the ball

rolling for its polls after the Supreme Court‘s order to set aside the national body‘s election last year and subsequent

resignation of its president.

Serbian Dragan Mihailovic appointed Indian men‘s volleyball team coach

The Volleyball Federation of India appointed Serbian Dragan Mihailovic as head coach of the men‘s national

team in a move linked to the long term goal of Olympic Games qualification.

Stevo Pendarovski wins North Macedonia‘s presidential election

Stevo Pendarovski, supported by the ruling Social Democrats (SDSM), has won the North Macedonian

presidency in a run-off vote. The 56-year-old garnered 51.66 percent of the vote in North Macedonia, beating

nationalist VMRO‘s Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova which got 44.73 percent.

Laurentino Cortizo elected as the President of the Republic of Panama

The Panama Electoral Tribuna announced that Laurentino Cortizo has won the country‘s presidential election.

Laurentino Cortizo, the presidential candidate from the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party, has declared his

victory, with a narrow gap of 1.93 per cent against Romulo Roux, another candidate.

India's Jagjit Pavadia Re-Elected To International Narcotics Control Board

India's Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected with the highest number of votes by the UN Economic and Social

Council to a five-year term on International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), while China's candidate Hao Wei

lost.





MNRE holds ‗Chintan Baithak‘ with the stakeholders of Renewable Energy (RE) sector

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) held a ‗Chintan Baithak‘ with the stakeholders of the

Renewable Energy sector in New Delhi. The ‗Baithak‘ (meet) was chaired by Secretary, MNRE, Shri Anand

Kumar.The meeting deliberated upon various issues pertaining to the RE sector viz. solar, wind, bio-energy, small-

hydro, regulatory issues, bidding & pricing, demand forecasting, financing of RE projects, energy storage, Make in

India, skilling India‘s RE workforce etc.

Rakesh Sharma, Bajaj Auto Executive Director has been elected as IMMA Vice-President

Auto industry body SIAM said Bajaj Auto Executive Director Rakesh Sharma has been elected as Vice-President

of Geneva-based International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA).Sharma, a representative of

the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), was elected Wednesday during the annual general

meeting of (IMMA) at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Justice PR Ramachandra Menon sworn in as chief justice of the Chhattisgarh HC

Justice PR Nair Ramachandra Menon has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

He is presently serving as a Judge of the Kerala High Court.Governor Anandiben Patel administered him the oath of

office

Actress Dia Mirza Selected Among 17 New 'SDG Advocates' Of UN

Indian actress Dia Mirza and Alibaba chief Jack Ma are among the 17 global public figures appointed by UN

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as the new advocates to drive action and solidify global political will for the

ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ajoy Mehta appointed Chief Secretary in Maharashtra

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta will be the new Chief Secretary of

Maharashtra. His appointment was cleared by the Election Commission as the poll code of conduct in place due to

ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country.

Professor Tijjani Bande Announced As President, UN General Assembly

Professor Tijjani Mohammad Bande has been appointed as the new President of the United Nations General

Assembly. His appointment was announced by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, outgoing president of

UNGA at a press conference in Abuja.



Subhash Chand Appointed Next Ambassador of India To State of Eritrea

Subhash Chand, presently Deputy High Commissioner in the High Commission of India, Abuja, has been

appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea. State of Eritrea

Capital: Asmara, Currency: Eritrean nakfa.

Parveen Pardeshi Appointed As The New BMC Chief

Chief Miniter of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has appointed Parveen Pardeshi as the new BMC

chief. Praveen will replace Ajoy Mehta. Pardeshi was the additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Fadnavis.

Pardeshi is a 1985-batch IAS officer who is one of the top bureaucrats in Fadnavis‘ government.

I&B Secretary Amit Khare leads Indian Delegation to Cannes Film Festival

India Pavilion is set to be inaugurated at Cannes Film Festival, which will be held from 14th to 25th May 2019 in

Cannes, France.The Pavilion will showcase Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural and regional diversity, with the

aim of forging international partnerships in distribution, production, filming in India.

LIC Mutual Fund Appoints Dinesh Pangtey As CEO

LIC Mutual Fund appointed Dinesh Pangtey as the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Pangtey was

Director and CEO at LIC Group's private equity division LIC HFL AMC.He joined LIC as a direct recruit officer

in 1984.

Jet Airways‘ CFO Amit Agarwal resigns from the board

Debt-laden and grounded Jet Airways‘ Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Amit

Agarwal has resigned from his positions. Jet Airways stopped its operations on April 17. It is under the management

control of State Bank of India-led consortium of lenders following a debt-restructuring plan.

BharatPe Ropes In Salman Khan As Brand Ambassador

Merchant service and UPI payments app BharatPe has roped in Bollywood actor Salman Khan as its brand

ambassador.

RBI Appoints R Gandhi On YES Bank Board

The Reserve Bank of India has appointed its former Deputy Governor, R Gandhi, on the board of private

sector lender YES Bank as an additional director.The appointment has been done in exercise of powers conferred

under sub-section (1) of Section 36AB of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.



Maj Gen A K Dhingra Appointed As 1st Special Operations Division Commander

Ace Special Forces operative and Sri Lanka war veteran Major General AK Dhingra has been appointed as

the first head of country's first tri-services Special Operations Division comprising commandos from all three

services.

Vinay Dube, CEO Of Jet Airways, resigns

Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube resigned from the services of Jet Airways with immediate effect citing personal

reasons. Vinay Dube‘s exit follows the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, Amit Agarwal. Jet Airways

Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Kuldeep Sharma also resigned from the services of the Company with

immediate effect.

Justice A K Sikri appointed NBSA Chairperson

Former Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Sikri has been appointed Chairperson of the News Broadcasting

Standards Authority (NBSA). He will assume office on May 26 and succeed Justice R.V. Raveendran who

completes his term on May 25.

Croatia Legend Igor Stimac appointed new Coach of India‘s Men Football Team

Croatian World Cupper Igor Stimac was appointed head coach of the Indian football team for a two-year term.

The national team has been without a coach since the departure of Stephen Constantine in January, following the

creditable show at the AFC Asian Cup.

Sanjiv Puri Appointed ITC's New Chairman

ITC Managing Director Sanjiv Puri has been appointed as the chairman by the Board of Directors. His new

designation will now be chairman and managing director. He has been the Managing Director since 2018.

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Appoints Nitin Chugh As Next MD and CEO

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited has appointed Nitin Chugh as its next Managing Director and Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) from December 1, 2019.Bank‘s current MD and CEO, Samit Ghosh is retiring on

November 30, 2019.

Jeffrey Rosen Confirmed As US' Next Deputy Attorney General

Jeffrey Rosen was confirmed as the United States' latest deputy attorney general by the US Senate after his

predecessor, Rod Rosenstein, left the department.

Rosenstein oversaw Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigations into Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential

elections, before stepping down from his post in April.

Himalaya MEN names Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant as its brand ambassadors

India cricket captain Virat Kohli and emerging wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been named as new

official brand ambassadors of the country‘s leading wellness firm, the Himalaya Drug Company.



Joko Widodo Elected President Of Indonesia For 2nd Term

Indonesia's Joko Widodo has been re-elected as president of the country, beating rival Prabowo Subianto, a

retired general. 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.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes oath as Ukraine‘s new President

In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy took oath as country‘s new President.

Zelenskiy, in his first address as President, pledged to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Zelinskiy became Ukraine‘s youngest post-Soviet President after he scored a landslide election victory against

incumbent Petro Poroshenko.

Pak appoints Mueenul Haq as High Commissioner to India

Pakistan announced career diplomat Mueenul Haq as its new High Commissioner to India. Haq was appointed

after Sohail Mehmood left the High Commissioner‘s post to join as foreign secretary.

Bimal Dayal to be CEO after merger of Indus Towers with Bharti Infratel

Bharti Group and Vodafone Group Plc have said that industry veterans Bimal Dayal will be the Chief Executive

Officerafter merger of Indus Towers and Bharti Infratel which is in advanced stage of completion.At the same

time, Hemant Ruia will be the Chief Financial Officer.

Cyril Ramaphosa re-elected as president of South Africa

South African lawmakers have re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the president of the country. Members of

Parliament from the African National Congress have chosen the head of state in the parliament's first post-election

sitting. The party won 230 out of 400 seats in the election on May 8.

British PM Theresa May Announces Resignation

British Prime Minister Theresa May announces resignation from her post. She will resign on 7 June. Her

announcement triggers the start of a contest to replace her as Conservative leader and Prime Minister.



Jagan Mohan Reddy To Be Sworn In As CM of Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy will be sworn in as chief minister of Andhra

Pradesh on 30th of May at Vijayawada. Once sworn in, he will replace N Chandrababu Naidu has resigned as

Andhra Pradesh CM.

4 Judges Elevated To Supreme Court of India

The Centre has cleared four names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for elevation as judges of the

apex court. The four appointed judges are Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice A S Bopanna, Justice B R Gavai and

Justice Surya Kant. Law Ministry has issued the notification after President Ram Nath Kovind signed their warrants of

appointment.

Narendra Modi set to become Prime Minister for the second term

Narendra Modi will be Prime Minister again, sweeping back to power today with a majority bigger than in 2014.

The BJP alone is set to win 303 seats and along with its allies is leading in or has won 348 seats, far beyond the 272

they needed for a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Naveen Patnaik set for the fifth term as Odisha CM

Odisha‘s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by incumbent Chief Minister Naveen Patnaikis all set to form a

government for a fifth consecutive term. The new Cabinet is likely to be sworn-in on 27th May.The final Election

Commission (EC) tally shows that the BJD won 112 of the 146 Assembly seats for which elections were held.

PS Golay was sworn in as Sikkim Chief Minister

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as PS Golay took oath as the

Chief Minister of Sikkim. He was administered the oath by Governor Ganga Prasad at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.

Himanta Biswa Sarma elected BAC Vice President

Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected the Vice President of

the Badminton Asia Council (BAC).

Tribal Odisha woman becomes country‘s youngest MP

Chandrani Murmu, a tribal woman, has made history after

winning the Lok Sabha seat from Keonjhar in Odisha.

She has become the youngest Member of Parliament

(MP) at the age of 25 years and 11 months.Murmu,

an engineering graduate, was just another girl seeking

a job after obtaining her B.Tech degree.



Anton Aditya Subowo re-elected as President of Badminton Asia

Indonesia‘s Anton Aditya Subowo was re-elected as the President of Badminton Asia. As a result, he will continue

as the President for another four years.

Pema Khandu to take oath as Arunachal Pradesh CM for 2nd term

Pema Khandu will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the second time on 29th May.

After having a landslide victory in the Assembly elections with 41 seats in the 60-seat house, the BJP held it‘s

Legislature Party Meeting in Itanagar.

Maldives Ex-Leader Mohamed Nasheed Tipped As New Speaker

The former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed has been nominated as the country‘s parliamentary speaker.

Indian Army officer appointed the commander of UN Mission in South Sudan

UN Secretary, General Antonio Guterres, has appointed Indian Army officer, Lieutenant General Shailesh

Tinaikar, as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Malawi re-elects Peter Mutharika as its President

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has been narrowly re-elected for a second five-year term following a hotly-

contested vote, according to the country‘s electoral commission.

Scott Morrison sworn in as Australia‘s PM

Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia‘s Prime Minister, 11 days after retaining the position in the

country‘s general election. Along with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Morrison was sworn in by

Queen Elizabeth‘s official representative in Australia, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, in the capital,

Canberra.

Walmart Appoints Suresh Kumar as Chief Technology Officer

US-based retail chain Walmart has appointed Suresh Kumar, an IIT Madras graduate and former Google

executive, as chief technology officer and chief development officer.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa receives baton of Chairman, COSC from Admiral Sunil Lanba

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa received the baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

(COSC) from outgoing Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba.

Nigerian President Buhari sworn in for second term

Muhammadu Buhari has been sworn in for a second term as Nigeria‘s president, following a campaign that

focused on tackling security threats and rooting out corruption.



Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal sworn in as Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC

Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal has been sworn in as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.Governor Tathagata

Roy administered him the oath of office in a ceremony at Raj Bhavan, Shillong.Justice AK Mittal was appointed as

the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court by the President of India on May 22nd 2019.

Military tribunal allows Karambir Singh to take charge as new Navy Chief

The Armed Forces Tribunal cleared the way for Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to become the next Navy Chief,

while it deferred for four weeks the matter of Vice Admiral Bimal Verma which seeks to quash Singh‘s

appointment.

James Marape elected new Papua New Guinea PM

James Marape, a former finance minister and critic of a major global gas development deal, has been elected by

parliament as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea. His election came after weeks of political turmoil that saw

his predecessor, Peter O‘Neill, resign having lost the support of the House after more than seven years in power.

Vice-Admiral Atul Kumar Jain takes over as chief of ENC

Vice-Admiral Atul Kumar Jain took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval

Command (ENC), from Vice-Admiral Karambir Singh.

Ranks & Reports

India 4th Biggest Military Spender in 2018: SIPRI Report

World‘s military expenditure increased by 2.6 per cent, reaching $1822 billion in 2018 with India along with

United States, China, Saudi Arabia and France contributing 60 per cent of the amount, according to a latest report

from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

India retain top-spot in ICC test team rankings

India have retained their top position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test team rankings in the

annual update. India now have 113 points while the second positioned New Zealand are just two points behind,

which was earlier eight points.



Huawei Overtakes Apple To Become 2nd Biggest Smartphone Maker

Huawei Technologies Co overtook Apple Inc to claim the No. 2 spot in smartphones making in the first quarter,

moving a step closer to its avowed ambition of displacing Samsungat the top of the market.

Modi second most followed politician globally: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the second most-followed politician in the world with a social media

audience of 110,912,648 million on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, a study by online

visibility management and content marketing SaaS platform SEMrush said recently.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Ranked Among Top 10 In World-Air Help

Global air passengers right expert Airhelp came out with the list of world's best airports and Hyderabad Rajiv

Gandhi International airport was ranked the world's eighth best airport. The survey takes into account on-time performance, service quality and food & shops to determine the ranking.

The top 3 airports in the list of world's best airports as per Airhelp are:

1. Qatar's Hamad International Airport

2. Tokyo International Airport.

3. Athens International Airport.

Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport ranked 8th best in the world

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has been declared as the eighth best airport in the world. In the 2019 annual

rating report by AirHelp, an organization that specializes in air traveller rights, Doha‘s Hamad International

Airport, Tokyo Haneda International Airport, and Athens International Airport have retained their top three

positions in the list.

UNEP Report states that India & China tops a list of nations for illegal sand mining

India and China top a list of countries where illegal sand mining has become a major environmental problem,

according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). While we cannot do

without sand, responsible mining should be incentivised, said the report, ‗Sand and Sustainability: finding new

solutions for environmental governance of global sand resources‘. UNEP Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.

India‘s child mortality rate was world‘s highest in 2015: Study

At 47.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, India in 2015 had more deaths among children under five than any other

country, new research has found.This is despite the great progress the country has made in reducing child mortality.

During 2000-2015, the annual mortality among children under five came down from 2.5 million in 2000 to 1.2

million in 2015, said the study published in the journal Lancet Global Health.



GSI Report: Arunachal Has Highest 35% of India‘s Graphite Deposits

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its report revealed that

about 35 % of India‘s total Graphite reserves are found in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the highest found in the

country.

Reliance Beats Indian Oil Corporation, Becomes Biggest Indian Company

Reliance Industries has toppled state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to become the country‘s biggest

company by revenue. The Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate, in the 2018-19 fiscal year that ended March

31, reported a turnover of Rs 6.23 lakh crore. In comparison, IOC posted a turnover of Rs 6.17 lakh crore for

the fiscal.

Kids Right Index 2019: India Ranks 117, Iceland Tops

India stands in a lowly 117th position out of 181 countries in the KidsRight Index, the annual global index which

ranks how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve child rights. Iceland secured the top position in the

index followed by Portugal.

Mumbai most vulnerable to cyberattacks, Delhi, B‘luru next: Report

Mumbai topped the 15-city list of the most vulnerable cities to cyberattacks in 2019, followed by Delhi,

Bengaluru and Kolkata, Quick Heal Security Labs revealed. The ‗Annual Threat Report 2019‘ put Maharashtra,

Delhi and West Bengal as the top three states at most risk.

Sculptor Anish Kapoor ranks first on Hurun India Art list

With sales estimated at Rs. 168.25 crore, contemporary sculptor Anish Kapoor has topped the first edition of the

Hurun India Art List. He is followed by artists Akbar Padamsee and Krishen Khanna.The Hurun Research

Institute has ranked the top 50 Indian artists alive based on the sales of their works at public auction from April

2018 to March 2019.

India moves up to 43rd in competitiveness; Singapore tops chart

India has moved up one place to rank 43rd most competitive economy in the world on the back of its robust

economic growth, a large labour force and its huge market size, while Singapore has toppled the US to grab the top

position, a global study showed.



Schemes & Apps

PayPal ‗One Touch‘ Instant Payment Feature for Android Launched in India

PayPal India has launched its One Touch instant payments feature for Android devices in the country. The

feature uses Google Smart Lock to save your login credentials on that particular device. Customers will still need to

go through the 2-factor authentication of their respective debit or credit cards.

e-Governance Services India Ties up With IIT-Kanpur To Upscale Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

Common Service Centre‘s (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited, a special purpose vehicle under

the Ministry of Electronics & IT, has tied up with Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)-Kanpur to upscale ‗Unnat

Bharat Abhiyan‘. ‗Unnat Bharat Abhiyan‘ is an initiative of the Ministry of HRD.

Bharatpe Launches India's 1st UPI Bahi Khata For Merchants

BharatPe - India's first Fintech start-up enabling payments for merchants through interoperable UPI QR codes,

has announced its foray into merchant services with a new app.

Along with UPI payments, the app now allows merchants to manage their entire Bahi Khata and even note

receivables and payables seamlessly.

Lokpal Website Launched

The website of the Lokpal www.lokpal.gov.in has been launched. It was inaugurated by Chairperson Justice

Pinaki Chandra Ghose in presence of all the Members of Lokpal in New Delhi.

UAE launches 'Golden Card' scheme

The United Arab Emirates launched a permanent residency scheme to woo wealthy individuals and exceptional

talents.The "Golden Card" programme is open to investors and "exceptional talents" such as doctors, engineers,

scientists, students and artists.This move is expected to attract more Indian professionals and businessmen to the

Gulf nation.





Business & MoUs

UDS Acquires Majority Stake In Matrix Business Services

Facilities management provider UDS has acquired a majority stake in Matrix Business Services, which operates

in the business assurance and background verification segment.

This acquisition includes buying out the entire 19.77% stake of Kotak Mahindra Investments and 2.67% of

Mahindra & Mahindra Contech and the balance 52.56% from other shareholders, mainly from all non-executive

shareholders.

Bharti AXA Ties Up With Wishfin To Offer Policies Via WhatsApp

Bharti AXA General Insurance, a private non-life insurer, has tied up with financial marketplace Wishfin‘s

insurance arm Wishpolicy, to offer two-wheeler insurance to customers via WhatsApp.

NASSCOM, GE Healthcare became strategic partner for health-tech innovation

IT industry body, The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has entered a

strategic partnership with GE Healthcare. The objective is to bring digital healthcare solutions to the market.

NASSCOM has announced this partnership through its Centre of Excellence-Internet of Things (CoE-IoT).

Vodafone Idea Signs Multi-Million Dollar IT Deal With IBM

India's largest telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd announced a five-year multi-million-dollar IT outsourcing

deal with tech giant IBM.

The company did not divulge the size of the deal but some reports pegged it at about $700 million.

MNRE Holds ‗Chintan Baithak‘ With Stakeholders of Renewable Energy Sector

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) held a ‗Chintan Baithak‘ with the stakeholders of the

Renewable Energy sector in New Delhi.

The ‗Baithak‘ (meet) was chaired by Secretary, MNRE, Anand Kumar and saw good participation from

Renewable Energy (RE) sector including the representatives of major RE developers, equipment manufacturers,

financers, regulators, think-tanks, industry bodies and skill developers.

NIOS, NHMPH Ink MoU In Mumbai

The National Institute of Open Schooling Ministry of Human Resources Development(NIOS) and National

Health Mission of Public Health Department (NHMPH) of Government of Maharashtra signed an MoU in

Mumbai.

TAFE, Petroleum Conservation Research Association Sign MoU

Tractor-manufacturer Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Ltd has signed an MoU with Petroleum

Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to aid conservation of resources.

Under the MoU, the association plans to jointly conduct agricultural workshops by involving TAFE's dealership

network.



Airtel, Hughes To Combine Their India VSAT Operations

Sunil Mittal led telecom major Bharti Airtel and Hughes Communications India (HCIL)have decided to

combine their VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communications operations in India. The transaction

is subject to approvals by relevant authorities.

Airtel, HDFC Life Insurance Tie Up To Offer Free Cover

Bharti Airtel and HDFC Life Insurance have tied up to offer life cover for customers who get a prepaid recharge

done.Airtel‘s new Rs249-prepaid bundle (which will include 2 GB data, unlimited calls across networks, and 100

SMSes per day) will also offer a cover worth Rs4 lakh from HDFC Life.

BSNL partners with Google to expand WiFi footprint

On the occasion of World Telecom Day on 17 May, state-run telecom major BSNL has partnered with Google to

increase access to its WiFi footprint in the country. With the launch of this service, people across the country will

be able to enjoy BSNL‘s free WiFi services.

Facebook Registers New Fintech Firm in Switzerland

Social media giant Facebook has apparently formed a new financial tech firm, Libra Networks LLC, in Geneva,

Switzerland. Libra Networks was registered in Geneva by Facebook Global Holdings II LLC.

HDFC Group Overtakes Tata Group As India‘s Most Valuable

The HDFC group has overtaken the 151-year-old Tata group to emerge as India's most valuable by way of

market capitalization (m-cap).

MoU Signed Between DBT And DAE On Cancer Research

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under Ministry of Science and Technologyand Department of Atomic

Energy (DAE), under Prime Minister of India, has signed an MoU for supporting joint collaborative research

programmes in the area of Cancer.

Standard Chartered partners with IBM to launch Trade AI Engine

Standard Chartered has officially launched the Trade AI Engine, a joint solution developed in partnership with

IBM.It has been launched to enhance the client experience in trade document processing through increased

operational efficiency and strengthened operational control.

Srei Equipment Finance ties up with Oriental Bank of Commerce

Srei Equipment Finance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance, has tied-up with Oriental Bank

of Commerce to offer loans for purchase of equipment under a co-lending arrangement.



Vodafone Idea Business Services ties up with CtrlS

Vodafone Idea Business Services (VIBS), the enterprise arm of telecom major Vodafone Idea, announced a

strategic partnership with datacentre service provider CtrlS for information and communications technology

(ICT) solutions, including cloud computing.

US-UAE defense agreement comes into force

The United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced that mutual defense cooperation agreement had

come into force, amid increasing tensions between Washington and Tehran. The DCA (Defense Cooperation

Agreement) will enhance military coordination between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, further

advancing an already robust military, political, and economic partnership at a critical time.

IIT Guwahati signs MoU with ISRO to set up space technology

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati has signed an MoU with The Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO) to set up an IITG-ISRO Space Technology Cell (STC) at the institute where Assam Governor

Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated a new academic complex and research and development building.

Books & Authors

Shahid Afridi Released His Autobiography, Titled ‗Game Changer‘

Pakistan‘s former captain and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi released his autobiography, titled ‗Game Changer‘.

The book is co-authored by Afridi and journalist Wajahat S Khan. He played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is and retired from international cricket in 2017.

World‘s 1st Exclusive Women‘s Cricket Magazine ‗Criczone‘ Released

Inaugural issue of world‘s first exclusive women‘s cricket magazine „Criczone‟ was released with Indian team

vice-captain Smriti Mandhana featuring as the cover story.

It is a one-stop solution, exclusively dedicated to providing updates, articles, news, interviews, etc. from the world of

women‘s cricket. Publisher of the magazine is Yash Lahoti.

Ruskin Bond launches new memoir titled ―Coming Round the Mountain‖ on 85th birthday

India‘s beloved children‘s author Ruskin Bond is celebrating his 85th birthday, with the release of a new memoir set

against the backdrop of the partition. The book titled Coming Round the Mountain, released officially by the

author at Cambridge bookstores in Mussourie.

Lamar Odom launches a new book ‗Darkness to light‘

Former American basketball player, Lamar Odom released a new book titled ‗Darkness to light‘, which

reportedly will reveal dark secrets of his life.



Defence, Science & Technology

Indian And French Navies Conduct Varuna 19.1 Bilateral Exercise Off Goa Coast

The first part of the Indo-French joint naval exercise, Varuna 19.1 was kicked off the Goa coast. The 17th edition

includes the participation of the French Navy‘s aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin

and FNS Provence, the frigate FNS Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear submarine.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases. The second part, Varuna 19.2, is scheduled to be held at the end of

May in Djibouti.

Chandrayaan-2 to be launched in July

India's second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on a day between 9 and 16 July 2019. The Indian

Space Research Organisation said that the Chandrayaan-2‘s lander will touch down near the Moon's south pole on

6th September.Chandrayaan-2 will have three modules in it, an orbiter, a lander named Vikram and a rover known as

Pragyan.Chandrayaan-2 will be launched using India's most powerful rocket GSLV-Mark-3.

Indian Navy Launches 4th Scorpene Class Submarine INS Vela

The fourth of Indian Navy‘s stealth Scorpene class Submarines of Project 75, INS Vela was launched at the Kanhoji

Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited at Mumbai in Maharashtra.

INS Ranjit To Be Decommissioned

INS Ranjit, an Indian navy destroyer built by erstwhile USSR, is set to be decommissioned. The third of the five

Kashin-class destroyers, it was commissioned in 1983 and has rendered service to the Navy for over 36 years.

The ship will be decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at the Naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

Microsoft Unveils Its Own Blockchain-Based Service

Microsoft has unveiled fully-managed Azure Blockchain Service that would simplify the formation, management,

and governance so that businesses can focus on workflow logic and application development.

SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket With Dragon Spacecraft

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (Space X) launched its 17th commercial resupply mission to the International

Space Station (ISS) by using Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon Spacecraft.

Ministry of Defence approved Indian Navy‘s Rs 3,600 crore deal for 10 ‗Kamov Ka-31‘ Helicopters Defence ministry has approved the procurement of 10 Kamov Ka-31 Airborne Early Warning and Control

helicopters for the Indian Navy. The cost of the deal would be around Rs 3,600 crore and the 10 helicopters would

be deployed on the aircraft carriers and warships of the Navy including the INS Vikrant and Grigorovich-class

frigates.



Chhattisgarh Deploys 1st Anti-Naxal Women Commando Unit

The Chhattisgarh police for the first time has inducted women commandos in the District Reserve Guard

(DRG), its frontline anti-Naxal force.

Comprising 30 women led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dineshwari Nand, have received extensive

training in jungle combat.

INS Kolkata and Shakti undertake Group Sail with Japan, Philippines, US naval ships

Two Indian Navy ships Kolkata and Shakti carried out 'Group Sail' with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and

the USA in the South China Sea from May 3 to May 9.The 'Group Sail' was aimed to deepen the existing partnership

and foster mutual understanding among participating navies.At Qingdao in China, both the ships had participated in

the International Fleet Review (IFR) as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration of People's Liberation Army PLA

(Navy).

ISRO to launch RISAT-2B from Sriharikota on May 22

Indian Space Research Organization ISRO is scheduled to launch the nation‘s latest radar imaging satellite

RISAT-2B on 22nd May. It will be lifted off by the workhorse rocket PSLV-C46 in its 48th flight. It will zoom into

space from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, 90 km north of Chennai.RISAT-2B

is a modern radar imaging earth observation satellite. It will be placed in an orbit of 555 km from the earth.

DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight Test of ABHYAS

India successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from

a test range in Odisha.

The trial, carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test

Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore, was tracked by various radars and electro-optic systems.

Exercise Bull Strike at Teressa Island, Andaman

The military drill named as Exercise Bull strike was conducted to showcase joint operations capability of the armed

forces. During the exercise, the army personnel got the chance to display their prowess by undertaking company

level airborne operation at Teressa island, Andaman Nicobar. 170 troops from three services carried out para drop

operations in a Combat Free Fall and Static Line mode.



Indian Navy Successfully Test-Fires MRSAM Missile

The Indian Navy has successfully test-fired a Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), achieving a

significant milestone to enhance its anti-air warfare capability.

The test-firing of the missile was undertaken on the western seaboard by Indian naval ships Kochi and Chennai.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Vigraha Decommissioned

The Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Vigraha was decommissioned at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is a

frontline offshore patrol vessel (OPV). It was commissioned into service on April 12, 1990.

India, Singapore Conduct SIMBEX-19 Naval Exercise In The South China Sea

The 26th Edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)-19 has commenced in the South

China Sea. In addition to IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I will also

participate in the exercise.

Spanish Naval ship 'Mendez Nunez' on Mumbai visit from May 18 to 23

Spanish Navy ship 'Mendez Nunez' with a crew of 30 officers and 135 sailors is on Mumbai visit from May 18 to

23.The ship is on Overseas Deployment and is docked at the Mumbai Port Trust.'Mendez Nunez' will interact with

Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area, during its stay.

8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated Navy patrol begins

Navy ships from Myanmar reached Port Blair to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th Indo-Myanmar

Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) which will be held from May 20-28. Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee

and UMS Inlay would undertake a coordinated patrol (CORPAT) with Indian Naval Ship Saryu under the program.

Brahmos Air Missile Successfully Launched From Su-30 MKI Aircraft

Indian Air Force successfully fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI

fighter aircraft. The air-launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air to surface cruise missilewith ranges

of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BAPL.

Lt Bhawana Kanth, 1st Woman To Qualify To Go To Day Missions On Fighter Jet

Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force to qualify to

undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft. She completed the Day Operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison.

Tech Mahindra Signs Rs300 crore Defence Contract With Indian Navy

Tech Mahindra announced its biggest defence order worth over Rs 300 crore with the Indian Navy. As part of

the ‗Armed Forces Secure Access Card‘ (AFSAC) Project, Tech Mahindra will implement RFID (Radio

Frequency Identification) based Access Control System across all naval bases and ships.



NASA unveils schedule for ‗Artemis‘ 2024 Moon mission

NASA unveiled the calendar for the ―Artemis‖ program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in

half a century, including eight scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024.

New version of Akash missile test-fired successfully

The DRDO successfully test-fired the new version of the Akash surface-to-air defence missile system with a new

indigenously-developed seeker in Balasore off the Odisha coast.The medium range multi-target engagement capable

missile was developed as part of the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) other than

Nag, Agni, Trishul, and Prithvi missiles.


Important Days & Events

International Workers' Day: 1st May

International Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers' Day) is celebrated across the

world on 1st of May every year.

The theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”.

'Maharashtra Day' and 'Gujarat Day': 1 May

May 1 is celebrated as 'Maharashtra Day' and 'Gujarat Day'. In 1960, the Bombay Reorganization Act was

passed by India's Parliament to divide the multilingual state of Bombay into Gujarat and Maharashtra. The

legislation came into effect on May 1, 1960.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIhGTwllFAc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIhGTwllFAc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-sP2wCPYH8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-sP2wCPYH8



World Tuna Day: 2nd May

The United Nations (UN) established World Tuna Day on May 2 to raise awareness about the importance of tuna

and to promote more sustainable fishing practices. It was observed for the first time in 2017.

World Press Freedom Day: 3rd May

World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is celebrated all over the world on the 3rd of May.

The theme for WPFD 2019 is “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”.

World Laughter Day 2019: 5 May

World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May every year. It is a day to raise awareness about

laughter and its many healing benefits.

The first celebration was on May 10, 1998, in Mumbai, India, and was arranged by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of

the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement.

World Asthma Day 2019: 7 May

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) on the first

Tuesday in May to improve asthma awareness and control around the world. This year it was observed across the

globe on May 7, 2019.

The theme of World Asthma Day 2019 was ‗STOP for Asthma‘.

Max Life Insurance to mark 6th of every month as Protection Day

Max Life Insurance Co Ltd, one of industry‘s foremost life insurance companies, announced that it will

dedicate 6th day of every calendar month as ‗Protection Day‘ towards driving awareness around the concept of

financial protection.As a part of the initiative the Company will also drive a ―Super Customer Week‖, where

customers across the board will be educated about various aspects of financial protection.

World Athletics Day 2019

The World Athletics Day is commemorated annually on the 7th of May in order to give importance to sports

among the youth. The objective behind celebrating World Athletics Day is to promote athletics as the primary sport

in schools and institutions and to encourage and introduce new talent and youngsters in the field of athletics.



59th BRO Raising Day

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 59th Raising Day on 7 May 2019. It was formed on 7 May

1960.BRO is a leading road construction agency under the Ministry of Defence with a primary role of providing

road connectivity in border areas.It executes road construction and maintenance works along the Northern and

Western frontiers primarily to meet the strategic requirements of the Army.

World Red Cross Day: 08th May

World Red Cross Day (also known as Red Crescent Day) is observed every year on May 8. It is a gentle nod to all

the volunteers who have made an unparalleled contribution to people in duress or need. The 2019 theme chosen by

them is, ‗#Love‘.

5th United Nations Global Road Safety Week

The 5th United Nations Global Road Safety Week is being observed from May 6 to 12, 2019. It is celebrated once

in two years.The theme of the Road Safety Week is ‗Leadership for Road Safety‘.

National Technology Day: 11th May

National Technology Day is observed every year on 11th of May in India, acting as a reminder of the anniversary

of Shakti. Shakti is the Pokhran nuclear test which was held on the 11th of May, 1998. The first nuclear test Pokhran with a codenamed as „Smiling Buddha‟ was carried out in May 1974.

World Migratory Bird Day: 11 May

In 2019, World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated on May 11 and October 12.

The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2019 is „Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution.‟.



International Nurses Day: 12 May

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on 12 May. It celebrates the birth anniversary of Florence

Nightingale. The theme for 2019 International Nurses Day 2019 is "Nurses – A Voice to Lead – Health for All". It was first

celebrated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in 1965.

International Day of Families: 15 May

In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution that 15 May of every year should be observed as The

International Day of Families. The Theme for 2019 International Day of Families is “Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG 13".

Sikkim Statehood Day: 16th May

President Ram Nath Kovind has greeted the people of Sikkim on their statehood day.

It was on 16th May 1975 that Sikkim officially merged with the Indian union and became the 22nd state of the

country.

National Dengue Day

May 16 is observed as National Dengue Day. An attempt of the Ministry of Healthy and Family Welfare,

National Dengue Day is meant to raise awareness about dengue and its preventive measures. Dengue is caused by

the bite of Aedes mosquito which is infected by one or more of the dengue viruses.

International Day of Light: 16 May

May 16th is celebrated globally as the International Day of Light. 2019 marks the global celebration of

the second edition of the event.

It is an official observance of UNESCO that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light

and the role it plays in science, culture, and art, education, sustainable development, communications, and energy.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: 17th May

World Telecommunication & Information Society Day is observed all over the world on 17th May. The theme

forWorld Telecommunication & Information Society Day 2019 is 'Bridging the Standardization Gap'.

World Hypertension Day May 17

World Hypertension Day 2019 observed on May 17. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which

there is long-term high force of blood against artery walls. The theme of World Hypertension Day 2019 is ―Know

your numbers.‖

International Museum Day May 18

International Museum Day is an international day a celebration that held every year on or around 18 May,

coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The theme of International Museum Day 2019 is ―Museums

as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition.‖



World Bee Day: 20th May

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators (such as bees, butterflies, bats and hummingbirds), the

threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

World Metrology Day: 20 May

World Metrology Day is observed every year on 20 May. The theme for World Metrology Day 2019 is The

International System of Units - Fundamentally better.

Anti-Terrorism Day: 21st May

May 21 is chosen as Anti-terrorism day in India to commemorate the death Anniversary of former Prime

Minister Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack.

On this day Anti Terrorism pledge is taken in all the government offices and other public institutions. He served as

the prime minister from 1984 to 1989.

UAE Celebrates World Day For Cultural Diversity On May 21

On 21st May, the UAE celebrated 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. The UAE has cultural

relations with many countries and is an active member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organisation, UNESCO.

International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 22 May, the date of the adoption of its text, as the International Day for

Biological Diversity on 20 December 2000.

The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2019 is 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health'.

International Commonwealth Day: 24 May

On 24th May 2019, people in Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific

and Europe observe Commonwealth Day.The 53 members of the Commonwealth span the entire globe.The Theme

of this year's Commonwealth Day is "A Connected Commonwealth".

World Thyroid Day 25 May

World Thyroid Day is celebrated on 25 May every year to raise awareness and reduce the prevalence of thyroid

related disorders. The year 2019 marked commemoration of 11 years of Global Thyroid Awareness.

Goa celebrates its statehood day on 30th May

Goa celebrates its statehood day on 30th May. It was on this day in 1987 Goa became the 25th state of the Indian

Union.2 It was a Union Territory along with Daman and Diu from December 1961 onwards when Goa was liberated

from the colonial rule.



International Everest Day: 29th May

International Everest Day is being observed on 29th May. Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand‘s Edmund

Hillary had climbed the Mt. Everest on this day (29th May) in 1953, as the first humans to achieve the feat.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was observed on 29 May 2019.The objective is to pay

tribute to the invaluable contribution by the uniformed and civilian personnel and to honour more than 3,800

peacekeepers who have lost their lives while rendering peacekeeping services.The theme this year is ―Protecting

Civilians, Protecting Peace‖.

World No-Tobacco Day: 31st May

Every year, on 31st May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco

Day (WNTD). The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on ―tobacco and lung health.‖

Sports News

G Sathiyan Becomes First Indian To Break Into Top-25 of ITTF Rankings

India's G Sathiyan has become the first Indian to break into the top-25 of world rankings in Table Tennis.Sathiyan

rose four spots to be 24th in the latest ITTF rankings, following his impressive sixth place finish in the Asia Cup

in Yokohama.

Apurvi Chandela Ranks World Number 1 In Women's 10 m Air Rifle Event

Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela (fro Jaipur) has been ranked the world number onein the women's 10

metres air rifle event while compatriot Anjum Moudgil rose to number two after consistent performances.

23rd Asian Athletics Championships Concludes: Bahrain Tops, India Finishes 4th

The 23rd edition of the Asian Athletics Championship concluded in Doha, Qatar. The four-day event saw

participation from 63 nations across the world. Bahrain topped the tally with 11 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze,

followed by China with 10 gold, 13 silver, 7 bronze and then Japan with 5 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze.

Bajrang Punia Wins Gold In Ali Aliyev Wrestling Tournament

World number one Bajrang Punia has become the first Indian to win gold at the Ali Aliev wrestling

tournament after defeating Viktor Rassadin of Russia in the 65 kg freestyle in Kapiisk.

Bajrang, who is part of the JSW Sports Excellence Program, will fight at the historic Madison Square

Garden arena.



Jaipur To Host Asian Youth Women Handball Championship

Jaipur will host the 8th Asian Youth Women Handball Championship in which 10 teams will be participating. It

will be played in August 2019. The previous edition in 2017 was held at Jakarta in Indonesia where South

Korea was the champion while Japan and China were placed second and third respectively.

India drop to 5th spot in T20I rankings

India dropped 3 places to be the fifth-ranked team in T20Is. On the other hand, reigning T20 World Cup

champions Pakistan have consolidated their top spot and are now on 286 points while the next four teams are

within two points of each other- South Africa (262), England (261), Australia (261) and India (260).

Saurav Ghoshal & Joshna Chinappa Win Asian Individual Squash Championship Titles

Ace Indian squash players Saurav Ghoshal and Joshna Chinappa won their respective Asian Individual Squash

Championship titles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Saurav Ghoshal defeated Leo Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong.

Stamm International Boxing Tournament: Gaurav Solanki, Manish Kaushik win Gold

Gaurav Solanki and Manish Kaushik won a gold medal each in the XXXVI Feliks Stamm International Boxing

Tournament in Warsaw, Poland and with this win Indian boxers collected a rich haul of two gold, one silver, and

three bronze after the conclusion of the tournament.

Amul to sponsor Afghanistan in 2019 World Cup

Amul has been announced as the principal sponsor of the Afghanistan cricket team for the upcoming World Cup,

slated to be held in England and Wales from May 30.The logo of brand Amul will appear on the leading arm of the

Afghanistan team playing jerseys as well as on the training kits throughout the showpiece event.

Desert Storm 2019 started

Desert Storm 2019, touted to be the longest Cross-Country Rally in India started. The four-day-long Rally will see

over 100 teams competing in high temperatures, dune crossings and fast technical gravel straights.It comprises 600

km of extremely harsh Special Stages in addition to over 900 km of Transport Stages.The first stage, covering a

distance of 158 km, is starting from Bikaner in Rajasthan.

Harbhajan Singh becomes third Indian to take 150 wickets in IPL

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) off-spinner Harbhajan Singh became the third Indian to claim 150 wickets in the

Indian Premier League (IPL). The bowler achieved the feat in the second qualifier against Delhi Capitals at Y.S.

Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.Delhi‘s Amit Mishra and Kolkata Knight

Riders‘ Piyush Chawla are the other two Indians who have taken 150 wickets in the IPL.





MI Beat CSK By 1 Run To Win IPL 2019

Mumbai Indians became IPL champions for the fourth time after defeating Chennai Super Kings by one run in

a thrilling final in Hyderabad.Kieron Pollard top-scored with his unbeaten 41-run knock. Skipper Mahendra Singh

Dhoni became the most successful wicket-keeper in the history of IPL by taking his dismissals tally to 132.

Let's have a look at some interesting Statistics of IPL 2019:

1. Orange Cap- David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad scored most runs: 692 Runs in 12 Matches.

2. Purple Cap- Imran Tahir of Chennai Super Kings took most wickets: 26 Wickets in 17 Matches.

3. Jonny Bairstow of Sunrisers Hyderabad Highest Individual Score: 114 Runs.

Kiki Bertens beats Simona Halep to win Madrid Open

Kiki Bertens beat two-time Madrid Open champion Simona Halep 6-4, 6-4 to take the women's title.The seventh-

ranked Dutch became the first woman to win the Madrid title without dropping a set.In the men's competition,

Novak Djokovic will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in men's final.Barbara Strycova and Hsieh Su-Wei won the women's

doubles title, beating Dabrowski and Xu Yifan 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup 2019: Japan's Yosuke Asaji Wins Title

India's Rahil Gangjee finished tied 39th while Viraj Madappa ended tied 53rd at the Asia-Pacific Diamond

Cup held in Japan. Japan's Yosuke Asaji won the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup 2019 at the Sobu Country Club.

India's GS Lakshmi Becomes 1st Ever Female ICC Match Referee

India's GS Lakshmi has become the first ever woman to be appointed to the ICC International Panel of Match

Referees and will be eligible to referee international games with immediate effect.



Sana Mir Becomes Highest Wicket-Taking Spinner In ODI

Pakistan off-spinner Sana Mir has become the most successful women's ODI spinnerin history after she took her

147th wicket, highest ever by any spinner in One-day International (ODI) cricket.

Currently, Mir is placed on the third position in the ICC's ODI bowling ranking, which is topped by Indian pacer

Jhulan Goswami.

Kami Rita Sherpa scales Mt. Everest for record 23rd time

The 49-year-old Sherpa climber Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 23rd time, breaking his own record of

the most successful ascents of the world‘s highest peak. Breaking his own record of 22 successful ascents of Everest,

Kami Rita now became the only man on the planet to climb Everest for 23 times.

Captain Aarohi Pandit Becomes 1st Woman In World To Cross Atlantic Ocean Solo In a LSA

Captain Aarohi Pandit, a 23-year-old pilot from Mumbai became the world's first woman to cross the Atlantic

Ocean solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA). She achieved the feat when she landed her tiny aircraft at Iqaluit

Airport in Canada, after a gruelling 3,000 km long flight, under adverse and extreme weather conditions.

China To Host 2023 Asian Cup Football Tournament

China has become the sole contender to host Asian Cup Football tournament in 2023 after South Korea has

announced to withdraw its bid to host the game. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced that it had

pulled out to strategically focus on a joint bid with North Korea to host the Women's World Cup in the same year.

Helo becomes team sponsor of Indian Wheelchair Cricket

Helo, India‘s social media platform, has announced its partnership with the Indian Wheelchair Cricket

Association as the team sponsor for Team India during the Asia Cup 2019, which is scheduled from May 15 in

Nepal.

Khumalo becomes first black African woman to scale Everest

South African mountaineer Saray Khumalo became the first black woman from the continent to reach Mount

Everests summit.Khumalo has been mountaineering for charity and awareness purposes for about six years, as she

has been raising funds for the education of her country‘s children.



ICC World Cup 2019: USD 10 million On Offer, Winner To Earn 4 million

Ten million US Dollars or a little more than 70 crore rupees are on offer in the upcoming ICC men's cricket

World Cup 2019. The 46-day tournament will be played across 11 venues in the United Kingdom from 30th of

May.Besides a trophy, the World Cup winner will earn a cash award of 4 million US dollars (about 28 crore

rupees) which is the highest prize money on offer in the history of the tournament.

Italian Open 2019: Complete List of Winners

The 2019 Italian Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts in Rome, Italy. It was

the 76th edition of the Italian Open. Rafael Nadal was the winner in Men's singles category while Karolina

Pliskova won the Women's singles title.

2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament Starts In Guwahati

2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament has started in Guwahati. India will field a strong contingent of

38 men and 37 women in the tournament including Mary Kom in 51-kilogram category.

Brooks Koepka Returns To World No. 1 After 4th Major Title

Brooks Koepka (of USA) returned to the top of the world rankings after his nerve-jangling second straight US

PGA Championship victory at Bethpage Black. The 29-year-old American has now won four major titles in his

last eight starts and is the first man to ever hold back-to-back titles in two majors at the same time.

Saray Khumalo Becomes 1st Black SA Woman To Conquer Mount Everest

South African Saray Khumalo has reached the highest point on the planet becoming the first black African

woman to scale Mount Everest. This was her fourth attempt at climbing Mount Everest.

Gopal Shrestha becomes first HIV-infected climber to scale Mount Everest

A-56 year-old Gopal Shrestha from Pokhara in Nepal became first HIV infected climber to ascend world‘s

highest peak, the Mount Everest. Shrestha, once a former national football player climbed Everest in the second

attempt. His first attempt was abandoned from the Everest Base Camp due to the earthquake of 2015.

India bags 57 medals at India Open International tournament

India bags a total of 57 medals including 12 Gold, 18 Silver and 27 Bronze at India Open International Boxing

tournament in Guwahati. MC Mary Kom, Shiva Thapa, L Sarita Devi, and Naman Tanwar won gold in their

respective finals.

Priyanka Mohite becomes first Indian Woman to scale World‘s 5th Highest Mountain Mount Makalu

Priyanka Mohite, the 26-year-old Satara based mountaineer, has become the first Indian woman to successfully

scale Mount Makalu — the fifth-highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres.



Mary Kom crowned India Open champion

Six-time world champion Mary Kom in the 51 kg category clinched the second edition of the India Open Boxing

Tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi AC Indoor Stadium in Guwahati, AssamThe London

Olympic bronze medallist blew away the challenge of Vanlal Duati in a facile 5-0 win.

Apurvi Chandela bags gold medal in 10m Air Rifle in ISSF World Cup

Indians had a good day at the year‘s third International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle and

Pistol tournament in Munich, Germany. Apurvi Chandela grabbed a gold, winning the women‘s 10m Air Rifle

competition after a closely-fought contest.

China beat Japan to win 2019 Sudirman Cup

China won the badminton world mixed-team championship, Sudirman Cup 2019 in Nanning, China. They beat

Japan in men‘s doubles, women‘s singles and men‘s singles to clinch the title for the 11th time.

India Open: Mary Kom, Shiva Thapa, Amit Panghal win gold

Six-time world champion Mary Kom (51kg) was crowned

champion in the second edition of the India Open International

Boxing Tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra

Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, Guwahati.

Additionally, Amit Panghal (52kg) won his third gold of the

year while Shiva Thapa finished on top in the 60kg category.

Mahesh Mangaonkar wins Sekisui Open title

India‘s Mahesh Mangaonkar defeated Spain‘s Bernat Jaume, the third seed, in the final to clinch the Sekisui Open

title for the second time in his career in Kriens, Switzerland. This was Mahesh‘s eighth PSA title.

Rahi Sarnobat clinched gold in the womens 25m pistol in 2019 ISSF World Cup

Rahi Sarnobat clinched gold in the women‘s 25m pistol at the season‘s third International Shooting Sport

Federation World Cup in Munich, Germany. By this win, she sealed an Olympic quota place for India in style.

Saurabh Chaudhary won his second gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event in 2019 ISSF Gold Cup

India‘s 17-year-old shooter Saurabh Chaudhary broke his own junior and senior world record to win his second

gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event in ISSF Gold Cup 2019. Saurabh won 10m Air Pistol event with 246.3 points,

breaking his own senior record of 245 points and junior record of 245.5 points.







Obituaries

Kannada Theatre Personality Master Hirannaiah Passes Away

Noted Kannada theatre personality, satirist and TV actor Master Hirannaiah has passed away. He was 85 years

old. Narasimha Murthy hailing from Mysuru was the son of another theatre thespian K. Hirannaiah.

Former Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada Passed Away

Former Ethiopian president Negasso Gidada has passed away in Germany where he was undergoing medical

treatment for an unspecified illness.

Ex-Kerala Minister Vishwanatha Menon passes away

Former CPI-M Kerala Finance Minister V. Vishwanatha Menon passed away at a private hospital in Kochi. He

was 92. Finance Minister in the E.K. Nayanar cabinet from 1987-91, Menon was one of the tallest leaders in

Ernakulam, and was popularly referred to as Ambadi Viswan.

Madhya Pradesh Advocate General Rajendra Tiwari passes away

Madhya Pradesh Advocate General and Senior Advocate Rajendra Tiwari passed away. He was being treated at

Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Tiwari was appointed Advocate General for the State of Madhya Pradesh in

December last year.

Renowned Economist Baidyanath Mishra Passes Away

Renowned economist Baidyanath Mishra passed away due to old-age related problems. He was 99. Mishra had

started his career as a lecturer in Ravenshaw University in Cuttack in 1949.He was vice-chancellor of Odisha

University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) from 1981 to 1985. He was also the chairman of the State

Planning Board from 1985 to 1990.

ITC's Non-Executive Chairman YC Deveshwar Passes Away

The Padma Bhushan awardee and ITC's Non-Executive Chairman YC Deveshwarpassed away at the age of 72.

He spearheaded the diversification of ITC to an FMCG company. He stepped down as chief executive of ITC in 2017. Between 1991 and 1994, he led state-owned carrier Air India as

the Chairman and Managing Director.

Padma Shri Awardee Bhojpuri Singer Hiralal Yadav Passes Away

Padma Shri awardee Bhojpuri vocal artist Hiralal Yadav passed away in Varanasi at the age of 93. Shri Yadav

was a well known Bhojpuri folk singer from the 'Birha' genre.

He received a Padma Shri award, the country's fourth highest civilian award, in January 2019.

83-year old renowned singer, Yakshagana ‗bhagawatha‘ Nebburu Narayana Hegde passes away

Yakshagana ‗bhagawatha‘ (singer) Nebburu Narayana Hegde passed away at his residence at Nebburu in Sirsi

taluk of Uttara Kannada. He was 83. He was popularly called Nebburu in the coastal belt particularly in the Badagu

Thittu school of Yakshagana.



Renowned Filmmaker & Film Historian Vijaya Mulay Passes Away

Renowned filmmaker, film historian, researcher and educationist Vijaya Mulay passed away at the age of 98 in

New Delhi. The film was entered into the Manheim Film Festival.

Former Malaysian King Sultan Ahmad Shah passes away

Malaysia‘s seventh King and football veteran Sultan Ahmad Shah passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 88.

Ahmad Shah was also the fifth Sultan of Malaysia‘s central Pahang state.

Former Malaysian King Sultan Ahmad Shah passes away

Malaysia‘s seventh King and football veteran Sultan Ahmad Shah passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 88.

Ahmad Shah was also the fifth Sultan of Malaysia‘s central Pahang state.

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