Current Affairs May 30,2017: Kerala becomes the first totally electrified state in the country

NATIONAL

President Mukherjee receives the first copies of medical books:

President Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of medical book named as “Colour Atlas of Oral Implantology” authored by Dr.Prafulbali & Lanka Mahesh & “Conservative Dentistry – Basics” authored by Dr.Rk bali & Dr. Deepika Chandhok at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kerala becomes the first totally electrified state in the country:

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala as the first totally electrified state in the country. The state has achieved the totally electrified tag providing power connection to 4.70 lakh houses in the last one year.

Prakash Javadekar launches UGC App:

HRD minister Prakash Javadekar launched an Anti-Ragging Mobile App introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The app will help student register complaints to counter the menace of ragging.

INS Ganga to retire after 32 years of service:

Indian Navy frigate INS Ganga will be placed in non-operational category followed by decommissioning, after 32 years of service.

INS Ganga is a Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy and was built in Mumbai by Mazagon Dock Limited. INS Ganga was commissioned on December 30, 1985.

INTERNATIONAL

Australia becomes first country to prevent paedophiles from travelling abroad:

The Australian government announced a bill is considered a first in the world to prevent paedophiles registered in the country from travelling abroad in search of potential victims especially in Asia.

According to the bill, a convicted paedophile registered in the lists of the states and territories, which total about 20,000 people cannot leave the country or obtain an Australian passport.

India, Fiji ink pact to ramp up defence cooperation:\

India and Fiji signed an agreement that provides for stepping up defence and security ties including in defence production and military training.

The deal was signed between finance & defence minister Arun Jaitley and Fijian counterpart Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. They also agreed to deepen cooperation in maritime security sphere.

About Fiji:

• Capital: Suva
• Currency: Fijian dollar
• Prime Minister: Frank Bainimarama
• President: George Konrote

Exim Bank extends $500 m LoC to SBM (Mauritius) Infra:

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim India) has extended a $500 million line-of-credit (LoC) to SBM (Mauritius) Infrastructure Company Ltd.

This LoC has been extended for the purpose of financing its participation through Redeemable Preference Shares in public sector entities to implement infrastructure of other projects in Mauritius

This LoC was signed in the Capital in the presence of

Prime Minister of Mauritius: Pravind Jugnauth

Managing Director, signed the LoC on behalf of Exim India: David Rasquinha

Capital: Port Louis

Currency: Rupee

President: Ameenah Gurib

Cyclone Mora hits Bangladesh coast:

Bangladesh has evacuated at least 350,000 people as a Cyclone Mora lashed coastal areas causing the islands of Saint Martin and Teknaf in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar.

Capital: Dhaka

Currency: Taka

Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

President: Abdul Hamid

Banking & Business

Singapore central bank fines Credit Suisse and UOB banks:

          Singapore’s central bank announced that it was fined Credit Suisse and United Overseas Bank (UOB) a total of S$1.6 million ($1.15 million) for breaches of anti-money laundering rules for transactions related to Malaysia’s scandal-ridden state fund 1MDB.

EPF contributions to remain at 12%:

The Central government will not bring back its proposal to decrease rate of deduction from salary towards provident fund (PF) savings from 12% to 10%.

Labour and Employment Minister: Bandaru Dattatreya

India ranks 120^th in women workforce index:

India was ranked 120^th among 131 nations in women workforce index, a report released by the World Bank. In India, the women participation was just at 27% compared to China and Brazil where it was between 65-70%.

World Bank projects 7.2% growth rate for India in 2017-18:

The India Development Update report under World Bank projected Indian economy to expand by 7.2% in 2017-18 and accelerate to 7.7% by 2019-20 as compared to 6.8% in 2016-17.

In a latest World Economic Outlook (WEO), International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut down India growth forecast for year 2017 by 0.4% points to 7.2%.

About World Bank:

• Headquarter: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: Jim Yong Kim

Prasar Bharati signs MoU with Morocco’s SNRT:

Government-run Prasar Bharati (Headquarter: New Delhi) signed an agreement with Morocco’s Societe Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Television (SNRT) to step up cooperation in the broadcasting sector.

The MoU was signed during the fifth India Morocco Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in Rabat, Capital of Morocco. It was signed by Kheya Bhattacharya, Ambassador of India, on behalf of Prasar Bharati and Faycal Laraichi, Chief Executive Officer of SNRT.

• Morocco Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• Morocco Prime Minister: Saad Eddine El Othmani
• Prasar Bharati Chairman: Surya Prakash

SEBI targets participatory note norms:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) plans to further tighten norms for issuance of offshore derivative instruments (ODIs) and participatory notes (PNs).

The capital market regulator has proposed levying a regulatory fee of $1,000 will have to pay once every three years on every foreign portfolio investor (FPI) that issues ODIs or PNs.

Chairman: Ajay Tyagi

Headquarter: Mumbai

Founded: 1992

Solar panel equipment to attract 5% GST:

Solar panel equipment will attract the lowest tax rate of 5 per cent under the GST regime, as against the initially proposed 18 per cent.

Revenue Secretary: Hasmukh Adhia

AWARDS

The Square wins Palme d’Or Award:

The Square has won the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes film festival directed by Swedish Ruben Ostlund. Also, Sofia Coppola won the best director award for the film “The Beguiled”.

 Pioneers of “visual theatre” Prof. Satyabrata Rout awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar 2016:   

Satyabrata Rout, a professor from the Department of Theatre Arts, S N School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for the year 2016.

He has been given this award for developed “a unique method of teaching and practising direction and design for practitioners and scholars”.

APPOINTMENTS

Najma Heptulla appointed as Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia:

Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla has been appointed Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia. Ms.Heptulla succeeds Lt. Gen. (Retd) M.A. Zaki, who completes his five-year term this month.

Dougie Brown named UAE head coach:

Former England and Scotland all-rounder Dougie Brown has been appointed head coach of UAE Cricket team.

Ernesto Valverde appointed as Coach of Barcelona:

Football team Barcelona appointed Ernesto Valverde as coach of the team. Ernesto received two year contract with option of third.

SPORTS

Sebastian Vettel wins Monaco Grand Prix:

Ferrari team Sebastian Vettel beat his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen to win the Monaco Grand Prix. It was held at Circuit de Monaco, La Condamine and Monte Carlo, Monaco.

About Monaco:

• Currency: Euro
• Capital: Monaco
• Minister of State: Serge Telle

China Feng Shanshan wins over Aditi:

India’s leading women golfer Aditi Ashok lost her battle over Chinese Feng Shanshan who tied her 65^th win at LGPA volvik championship held in Michigan

OBITUARY

Former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega passes away:

Former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega has died at the age of 83. Manuel Noriega ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989 and spied for the Central Intelligence Agency.

• Currencies: United States Dollar, Panamanian balboa
• Capital: Panama City

Tapan Banerjee passes away:

Former Bengal cricketer Tapan Jyoti Banerjee, a right arm medium pacer who was popularly known as ‘TJ’ played in 18 first class matches