Current Affairs - May 26, 2017 Current Affairs

Reserve Bank of India decided to permit all licensed cooperative banks having their own ATM network to issue semi-closed prepaid payment instruments (PPI)s like mobile wallets. This enlists strict norms and conditions to be followed by cooperative banks before permitting them to issue wallets for utility bill payments and other activities up to a limit of Rs 10,000.

Egyptian swimmer Omar Hegazy became the first amputee to swim across Red Sea's 20 kilometers Aqaba Gulf from Egypt to Jordan, crossing a 20-kilometre (12.4 miles) stretch of the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba last month in under nine hours.

Nauru, the world's smallest republic, has become the sixth country to ratify the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework pact initiated by the Indian and French Governments at the climate change summit held at Paris in 2015. The motivating factor behind the ISA is the need for continents like Asia and Africa to protect the environment while generating energy for development goals.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a campaign to eradicate the deadly encephalitis disease that claims the lives of hundreds of children every year in the state. The government also launched a toll free number to get or provide any information about encephalitis. The number is 18001805544. His several cabinet colleagues also participated in the launch programmes in different districts. Government has fixed the target of immunisation of above 88 lakh 55 thousand children in the age group of 1 to 15 during the drive in the 38 districts.

Taiwan has become the first Asian country to recognize same sex marriage after the constitutional court's ruling comes in support of legalizing same-sex marriage. The panel of judges has given the island's parliament, known as the Legislative Yuan, two years to amend or enact new laws, which could potentially make Taiwan the first place in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. The island has a large gay community and its annual gay pride parade is the biggest in Asia.

Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) to host the HCL Asian Junior Tennis Championship 2017, the most reputed tennis championship in the Asia. Different players from 11 countries - Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Hong-Kong, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka, Iran, and India are participating in the Championship.

The Environment Ministry banned cattle slaughter and introduced restrictions on the sale of cattle to prevent their killing. Animal markets cannot be set up within 50 km of an international border and 25 km from a state border. All animal markets have to run with the approval of district animal market committee to be headed by a magistrate. A gazette notification, titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change states that no one can bring cattle to an animal.

State Bank of India launched a national Hackathon for developers, start -ups and students to come up with innovative ideas and solutions for the banking sector. The hackathon has named 'Code For Bank'. The main aim to launch National hackathon is to come up with innovative ideas and solutions for the banking sector. It will start from June 6 and ends on June 20.

The 70th edition of World Health Assembly (WHA70) has started in Geneva, Switzerland on May 22, 2017 and ends on May 31, 2017. In it, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia has elected a new Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO). He will succeed Dr. Margaret Chan and will take office for a five-year term on July 1, 2017.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Transplant Organization, Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, Spain and the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India on cooperation in the field of Organ Transplant Services. The MoU would facilitate bilateral cooperation in the field of organ and tissue procurement and transplantation and better understanding between the two countries.

The United States Senate confirmed Indian-American Judge Amul Thapar to a key judicial position on the powerful US court of appeals. He has become the second Indian-American judge of an appeals court.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) commissioned a 270-megawatt (MW) thermal unit in Maharashtra. The project is owned by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco). It has commissioned 16,000 MW of power generation capacity in Maharashtra.

Belgium is the host country of 28th edition of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit on May 24 and 25, 2017 in which terrorism will top the agenda of the meeting. It is expected that NATO is to join the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition(IS) to fight against Islamist terrorism.

Google's vice-president for South East Asia and India, Rajan Anandan has been appointed as the new chairman of Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He replaces Kunal Shah FreeCharge's co-founder and chief executive officer.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's longest river bridge - the Dhola-Sadia Bridge across river Lohit at the easternmost tip of Assam. The construction of the bridge began in 2011 with the worth Rs 950 crore.

ITC wins prestigious Porter Prize 2017 in two categories 'Excellence in Corporate Governance and Integration', 'Creating Shared Value'.