Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed President of UAE
The Supreme Council of the Union elected Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, as President of the UAE. The Council held a meeting at the Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He has replaced Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who died at the age of 73.
Sheikh Mohamed began wielding power in a period when his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa suffered bouts of illness, including a stroke in 2014. Under his low-key direction, the UAE has put a man in space, sent a probe to Mars, and opened its first nuclear reactor.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi;
- UAE Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham;
- UAE Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Former Australia Cricketer Andrew Symonds Dies In Car Accident
Former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been killed in a car crash. The 46-year-old, who played 26 Tests and 198 one-day internationals for Australia from 1998 to 2009, was involved in a single-car accident outside Townsville in Queensland state. Symonds was also a top-rate fielder and was a key part of Australia’s back-to-back 50-over World Cups triumphs in 2003 and 2007.
Domestically, he played for Queensland for 17 seasons, while appearing for Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire and Surrey in the English County Championship and for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Symonds, who was born in England with one parent of Afro-Caribbean descent, will also be remembered for the infamous “monkeygate” scandal that sent him into a downward spiral. He accused India spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a “monkey” in Sydney’s 2008 New Year Test.
International Day of Living Together in Peace 2022: 16 May
The International Day of Living Together in Peace is held on 16th May every year. The day is celebrated on the 16th of May throughout the world and with its annual observance, it aims to urge people to live together in a united and peaceful way. Individuals can attain this by listening to each other and respecting one another despite their differences.
Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way.
History of the International Day of Living Together in Peace:
The day first came into being after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 16 May as the International Day of Living Together in Peace on 8 December 2017.
The first International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed in 2018. Ever since the end of World War II, the United Nations has been on a mission to work towards world peace. The year 2000 was recognised as ‘The International Year for a Culture of Peace and from 2001 to 2010, the UN declared it the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World.”
International Day of Light 2022 Observed on 16th May
International Day of Light 2022
The International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development. The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare and many other fields.
Significance of the International Day of Light:
The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The celebration will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrate how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – building the foundation for peaceful societies.
Vesak Day or Buddha Purnima 2022 celebrates on 16 May 2022
Buddha Purnima 2022
This year Vesak Day or Buddha Purnima has celebrated on 16 May 2022. “Vesak”, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Gautama Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away.
The birth of Gautama Buddha is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world as the major festival of Buddha Purnima in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka (where it is called Vesak) but every country celebrates it differently.
The teachings of the Gautama Buddha:
- The teachings of the Buddha, and his message of compassion and peace and goodwill have moved millions. Millions around the world follow the teachings of the Buddha and on the Day of Vesak commemorate the birth, the attainment of enlightenment and the passing away of the Buddha.
- Peace, understanding and a vision of humanity that supersedes national and other international differences are essential if we are to cope with the complexities of the nuclear age.
- This philosophy lies at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations and should be prominent in all our thinking, especially during this International Year of Peace”–Javier Perez de Cuellar.
Prime Minister attended the 2nd Global COVID-19 Virtual Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a reform of the UN health authority and a review of its vaccine approval processes a week after the government challenged the WHO’s numbers for mortality during the Covid outbreak.
Mr. Modi also called for the World Trade Organization to be more flexible on the issue of patent waivers, where a joint India-South Africa proposal made in 2020 has yet to be adopted, speaking at the second global Covid summit, which was virtually addressed by US President Joseph Biden and a number of other leaders including from the African Union, European Union, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Japan, and South Korea.
KEY POINTS:
- Taiwan was invited to the meeting by the US and other hosts, but China and Russia declined.
- In the years 2020 and 2021, the WHO predicted 4.7 million fatalities in India, directly or indirectly due to Covid-19, over 10 times what the government estimates, making India’s death toll the largest in the world.
- More than 30 countries attended the conference, which was co-hosted by the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal.
- According to a press statement from the US government, the 2nd global covid summit resulted in more than $3 billion in additional financial pledges from participation, multilateral and charitable organisations, on top of promises made in 2021 and 2022.
Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:
- WHO Director General: Tedros Ghebreyesus
- US President: Joe Biden
Manik Saha named as new chief minister of Tripura
Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state president Manik Saha is all set to take over as the new Chief Minister of Tripura. Manik Saha, the BJP State unit president and lone Rajya Sabha MP from Tripura, was elected as legislature party leader at a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s official residence. The decision was taken at a legislature party meeting following the resignation of CM Biplab Kumar Deb.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has stepped down from his position after meeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a two-day trip to New Delhi. Mr. Deb made the announcement after submitting his resignation to Governor S.N. Arya at the Raj Bhavan in Agartala. The State is slated to go to Assembly elections in 2023.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Tripura Capital: Agartala;
- Tripura Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb;
- Tripura Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.
COP15 Session on combating desertification: Bhupender Yadav led the Indian delegation
The Indian team, led by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav, arrived in Abidjan, Cote D Ivoire, for the UN Convention on Combating Desertification’s 15th Conference of Parties (UNCCD COP15). The fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was held in New Delhi, and India is the current president of the organisation.
KEY POINTS:
- Despite the covid outbreak, India made major contributions to bringing nations together to achieve the global aim of preventing and reversing land degradation during its presidency.
- During India’s presidency, G-20 leaders, recognising the importance of countering land degradation and developing new carbon sinks, set an aspirational goal of planting 1 trillion trees collectively by 2030, urging other countries to join forces with the G20 to achieve this global goal.
- The fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will bring together leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders from around the world to drive progress in future sustainable land management and to explore links between land and other key sustainability issues.
- These problems will be considered at the high-level phase and will include a Heads of States Summit, high-level roundtables and interactive dialogue sessions, as well as a variety of additional special and side activities.
- Drought, land restoration, and associated enablers including land rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment are among the conference’s major priorities. COP15 is expected to galvanise sustainable solutions for land restoration and drought resilience through resolutions made by the UNCCD’s 197 Parties, with a significant focus on future-proofing land usage.
Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:
- Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Shri Bhupender Yadav
RBI imposed Rs 59 lakh penalty on KEB Hana Bank
Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 59 lakh on the Korean bank, KEB Hana Bank for non-compliance with the certain norms related to ‘interest rate on deposits. The Korean bank has been penalised for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ”Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016”.
The statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation of KEB Hana Bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2020. RBI, however, said the penalty is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.
Gaganyaan Mission 2023: S2000 human-rated rocket booster tested successfully
Gaganyaan Mission
At Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the static test of a human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for the Gaganyaan programme.
According to the Bengaluru-based space agency, the HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket booster of the satellite launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM3.
KEY POINTS:
- The successful completion of this test is a crucial milestone for ISRO’s famous Gaganyaan human space flight programme, as the first stage of the launch vehicle is tested for its full duration performance.
- ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, S Somanath, and Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), S Unnikrishnan Nair, as well as other ISRO scientists, were present at the ceremony.
- The HS200 booster was designed and developed by VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram, while the propellant casting was completed at SDSC in Sriharikota.
- The S200 motor, which is the first stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, was designed as a strap-on rocket booster for launching a 4,000 kg class satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
- The LVM3 has been selected as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission based on its successful launch history, which includes the Chandrayaan mission.
- It was said that the LVM3 launch vehicle was improved to meet the needs of human rating for the manned space mission.
Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:
- ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space: S Somanath
- Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC): S Unnikrishnan Nair
‘GatiShakti Sanchar’ portal for Centralised Right of Way launched by DoT
The Department of Telecommunications has launched the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, which would streamline the application and approval procedure for right of way (RoW) across the country. According to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the platform would help achieve the goal of Ease of doing business for telecoms infrastructure projects, which is in line with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
The prompt disposal of RoW apps by various service and infrastructure providers would allow for faster infrastructure building, which will aid in the timely deployment of 5G networks, he added. The minister praised the states’ and UTs’ contributions and collaboration with the central government in bringing the GatiShakti Sanchar portal online.
About GatiShakti Sanchar portal:
Applicants from various telecom service providers (TSPs) and infrastructure providers (IPs) would be able to apply to states and local governments for right of way licences to lay down optical fibre cable and erect mobile towers through a single platform. The platform even has a powerful dashboard that shows state and district-level pendency status for effective tracking of RoW applications across the country.
Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:
- Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, GoI: Ashwini Vaishnaw
National Dengue Day 2022:16th May
National Dengue Day 2022
National Dengue Day is observed on the 16th of May every year in India. National Dengue day was an initiative of the Ministry of health and family welfare to make people aware of dengue and its prevention measures. It also has the people to know how to prepare and control dengue before the transmission season begins.
About dengue
- Aedes Aegypti, is the main cause of the spread of dengue. It is a female mosquito that bites and transmits dengue to human beings.
- Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that is caused by the dengue virus of 4 distinct stereotypes, namely, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4.
- Symptoms of dengue are severe muscle pain nausea and it may also lead to death if not cured properly.
Kenyan nurse Anna Qabale Duba crowned world’s best nurse
Anna Qabale Duba, a Kenyan nurse stationed at the Marsabit County Referral Hospital, won the inaugural Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award for endorsing education and campaigning against outdated cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in her community. Duba, who took home USD 250,000 (approx. Ksh.29 million) in prize money, was feted by Emirates CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum at an award ceremony held in Dubai, which commemorated the International Nurses Day.
While receiving the award, Duba, the only female graduate in her village, revealed that she, through her Qabale Duba Foundation, had built a school in Marsabit which offers classes to young pupils and adults looking to get a decent education during the day and evening respectively.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kenya Capital: Nairobi;
- Kenya Currency: Shilling;
- Kenya President: Uhuru Kenyatta.
Dineout, a restaurant reservation platform, bought by Swiggy
Food-delivery app available online Swiggy has agreed to buy restaurant technology and dining out platform Dineout from Times Internet in a formal deal. Swiggy said in a statement that Dineout will continue to operate as an independent app following the acquisition.
The mostly all-stock transaction is likely to close in the next month for roughly $120 million, or about Rs 930 crore. The acquisition would allow Swiggy to investigate synergies and create new experiences in a high-use area, according to Sriharsha Majety, Swiggy’s cofounder and CEO. Swiggy is expected to expand Dineout’s products, such as table bookings and events, while Dineout’s restaurant partners will have access to Swiggy’s enormous consumer base, expanding their reach.
About Dineout:
Dineout, founded in 2012 by Mehrotra, Nikhil Bakshi, Sahil Jain, and Vivek Kapoor, allows clients to find restaurants in their neighbourhood and make reservations at any of its 50,000 restaurants in 20 cities. It also offers contactless eating solutions to restaurants, as well as discounts and privileges to customers at certain restaurants via Dineout Passport and Dineout Pay. Times Internet, the digital media branch of Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (Times Group), which publishes ET, bought Dineout in 2014. According to the statistics stated above, Dineout has close to 5 million consumers, whereas Swiggy has over 50 million active annual transacting users.
Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:
- Swiggy’s cofounder and CEO: Sriharsha Majety
-
Cofounder and CEO of Dineout: Ankit Mehrotra
REC Ltd’s new Chief Executive Officer: Vivek Kumar Dewangen
Vivek Kumar Dewangen, a Manipur cadre 1993 batch IAS officer, has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of REC Ltd., Ministry of Power. In a top-level bureaucratic upheaval, the Centre has nominated senior IAS officer Nidhi Chibber as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Vivek Kumar Dewangen is now the Ministry of Power’s Additional Secretary. Nidhi Chibber is the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. She is a 1994 batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre. She has been appointed as the chairwoman of the CBSE with the status and pay of Additional Secretary to the Indian government.
Other Important Appointments:
- Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) S Gopalakrishnan has been appointed to the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
- According to the decision, Rakesh Sarwal, Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog, would be the Managing Director of the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ National Waqf Development Corporation Ltd.
- Aditi Das Rout, the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Joint Secretary, has been promoted to Additional Secretary.
- Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat will be Shyam Bhagat Negi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
- Manisha Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance’s Department of Economic Affairs, has been promoted to Additional Secretary.
- Kumar Anugreh Prasad Sinha has been promoted to Additional Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority.
Forbes’ Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide 2022 announced
Forbes’ Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide 2022 announced. Forbes Global 2000 ranks the largest companies in the world using four metrics: sales, profits, assets and market value. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd climbed two spots to No. 53 on Forbes’ Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide 2022. Reliance is the top-ranked Indian firm on the list, followed by State Bank of India at No. 105, HDFC Bank at No. 153 and ICICI Bank at No. 204.
Globally:
Berkshire Hathaway took the No. 1 spot for the first time since Forbes started publishing the Global 2000 in 2003, dethroning the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which dropped to No. 2 after nine consecutive years at the top of the list. Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) took the 3 Spot.
Other top 10 Indian firms on the list include state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at 228 ranks, Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC) at No. 268, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at No. 357, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) at No. 384, Tata Steel at No. 407 and Axis Bank at No. 431.
