DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: MAY 27&28, 2018

NATIONAL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launches Survey On NaMo App

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a survey on the NaMo App, asking people to rate the performance of the government at the Centre and MPs and MLAs in their constituencies. 

He launched the initiative, to mark the completion of four years of the NDA government, which came to power at the Centre in 2014.

Akshay Kumar launches twin pit toilet technology campaign in New Delhi

Film actor Akshay kumar launched the twin pit toilet technology campaign in New Delhi. Mr Kumar said, the real challenge in the society is to fight the age old mentality revolving around sanitation and cleanliness.

The actor appealed everybody to spread the awareness on the issue and make the cleanliness drive more effective. 
The twin pit toilet technology is an Indian invention that collects defecation for a period of five years and then it turns into a valuable organic compost. 

Sushant Singh Rajput to promote NITI Aayog’s BHIM App, Women Entrepreneurship

Rajput has signed an agreement to promote the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of the Aayog. The actor will endorse the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and encourage use of Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) application by appearing in various video, print and social media campaigns of NITI Aayog.

NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) was launched on March 8, 2018, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. It aims to power a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem through an enabling network of industry collaborations, partnerships, mentors and peer-to-peer connect.

Queen Maxima of Kingdom of Netherlands arrives India, meets NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman

Queen Maxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who is also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development arrived in New Delhi today on a four-day visit to India.

She met Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar and CEO Amitabh Kant. During the visit, Queen Maxima will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visiting dignitary will have a meeting with Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.

Queen Maxima will have a field visit to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and she is scheduled to address a Round Table on Private Sector for Financial inclusion in Mumbai.

Netherlands

Capital: Amsterdam

Currency: Dollar, Euro

INTERNATIONAL

India launches 2nd IT corridor in China to gain access to big Chinese market

India haslaunched its second IT corridor in China to cash in on the burgeoning Chinese software market which remained elusive despite the presence of top Indian technology firms.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has established one more Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza (SIDCOP) platform in China in an effort to provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market, the NASSCOM said.

Agreements worth RMB 36 million (about USD six million) were signed between Indian service providers and Chinese customers at the launch of the corridor by China’s Guiyang Municipal government and the NASSCOM.

UNICEF launches Data Visualisation app

The UNICEF today launched a ‘data visualisation app’ which provides a user-friendly visual representation of complex analytics of the education scenario in the country.

The app has been made with technical inputs from the UNICEF, in collaboration with the National Institute of Education Planning and Administration (NIEPA) and the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

It can be used as a visual tool by policy makers, senior government officials, academia, and researchers to address gaps and monitor programmes in the field of education.

UNICEF India in partnership with HRD Ministry also had organised a ‘Shiksha Mela — Education Open Day’ to demonstrate case stories showcasing holistic and equitable quality education achieved through convergent programming across 17 Indian states.

BANKING AND BUSINESS

Yes Bank empanelled as ‘Settlement Bank’ for NSE

Yes Bank has received approval from National Stock Exchange to be empanelled as ‘Settlement Bank’ for National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE.

The services will include electronic funds transfer (ETF) facilities and ‘anywhere’ banking. YES BANK will provide facilities including issuing bank guarantees, credit facilities and inter-bank funds transfer as well as free of cost funds transfer across centers for NSE’ s members.

YES BANK is already an empanelled Clearing Bank for the BSE, NCDEX and MCX.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNS

President Appoints New Governors In Odisha And Mizoram

The President on Friday appointed Governors to two poll-bound states, Mizoram and Odisha. BJP leaders Kummanam Rajasekharan and Prof Ganeshi Lal will take over as Governor of Mizoram and Odisha, respectively.

Rajasekharan will succeed Lt General Nirbhay Sharma (retd) as Governor of Mizoram. Sharma completes his tenure on May 28.Lal will fill the vacancy left by S C Jamir, who completed his tenure as Odisha Governor on March 21.

Saad Hariri as PM of Lebanon Third Time

Lebanese lawmakers designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri for a third term.

The presidency made the announcement after Hariri was endorsed by enough members of parliament.

Speaker Nabih Berri, who has held the position since 1992, was also given a new term.Hariri has been prime minister since December 2016 and served his first term from 2009 to 2011.

Lebanon

Capital: Beirut

Currency: Lebanese pound

SPORTS

BCCI goes ‘green’ by joining hands with United Nations 

BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and Erik Solheim, Executive Director of UN Environment, signed a letter of intent at the board’s headquarters ahead of the IPL 2018 final between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and UN Environment has signed an agreement to promote ‘green’ cricket in India.

The partnership aims to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges facing the country, and highlight alternate and more sustainable solutions. The BCCI will endeavor to reduce its environmental impact by greening operations and engaging cricketers and fans in green initiatives.

Japan Win Uber Cup To End 37-Year Drought

Japan women beat finalists Thailand 3-0 to win the Uber Cup in Bangkok and end their 37-year long wait for the title.

The Uber Cup is called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women’s national badminton teams.

The Uber Cup is second in prestige only to the Olympics as a national team event.

OBITUARY

Alan Bean fourth man To Walk On The Moon Died

Former US astronaut Alan Bean, who was the fourth man to walk on the Moon died in Texas, United States.

He was 86. Bean went into space twice, the first time in November 1969 as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 12 moon-landing mission.

In 1973 he was commander of the second crewed flight to Skylab- America’s first space station. 

Bean retired from NASA in 1981 and carved a successful career as an artist.