Current Affairs - May 31, 2018 Current Affairs

As many as 26 countries, including India, will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific, RIMPAC military exercise from June 27 to August 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The announcement was made by the Pentagon. It is the world's largest international maritime exercise. RIMPAC involves 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.

31 May is observed as the World No Tobacco Day 2018, World Health Organization and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is "Tobacco and heart disease." The day highlights the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

The name of the chemical element is Ruthenium (Ru). It is the fourth such element to have magnetic properties. So far, Iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and Nickel (Ni) has these similar properties. They are ferromagnetic at room temperature. These elements can be used for their magnetic properties for better sensors, in the computer memory and logic industry and other devices using magnetic materials.

Odisha government launched 'Paree Pain Katha Tiye' (A word for the little angel), an awareness campaign against child sexual abuse. UNICEF and the State police have joined hands for the campaign to create the awareness on the importance of preventing child sexual abuse. In each district, the campaign will be led by the Superintendent of Police and District Collector.

India has released 33.10 Crore rupees to Nepal towards the cost of two road packages of Birgunj-Thori Road being implemented under Postal Highway Projects in Nepal with Government of India's grant assistance. The amount has been released towards 25% of the tendered cost (including 10% mobilization advance) of the Postal Highway Projects. India has released 33.10 Crore rupees to Nepal towards the cost of two road packages of Birgunj-Thori Road being implemented under Postal Highway Projects in Nepal with Government of India's grant assistance. The amount has been released towards 25% of the tendered cost (including 10% mobilization advance) of the Postal Highway Projects.

Ibrahima Kassory Fofana took Charge as the Prime Minister of Guinea.He replaced Mamady Youla who resigned on May 17. Earlier,Ibrahima Kassory Fofana was Minister in Charge of Public Investment and relations with the private Sector. After assuming the Charge,he hadn't made major Changes in the Cabinet.He handed economy portfolio to Mamadi Camara, Guinea's ex-ambassador to South Africa,while the defence, foreign affairs and justice ministers remain unchanged.

Kerala cartoonist Thomas Antony has won an international award in the best caricature category. He is among the 9 winners at the 13th edition of the World Press Cartoon awards 2018, instituted by an organization based in Lisbon, Portugal. The awards are given to the best works published in 2017 in newspapers and magazines from around the world. According to World Press Cartoon website, the winners are from 8 countries in three continents- Europe, Asia and South America. Antony is the lone cartoonist selected from Asia selected for the prize.

Sahil Vachani Appointed as Director on the Boards of Max Financial Services and Max Life Insurance. He was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors of MFS' subsidiary Max Life Insurance, effective 18th May 2018. Sahil has joined the Boards of these companies as a representative of the Owner Sponsor Group led by Mr. Analjit Singh. He joined the Max Group in 2016 with a focus on creating a powerful Real Estate brand - Max Estates and steering Max Ventures' other businesses towards growth

India's biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has revised its interest higher on retail fixed deposits or FDs below Rs. 1 crore. SBI has revision interest rates by up to 25 basis points in select maturities. The interest rate on SBI FDs with a maturity of one year to less than two years has been increased to 6.65% for the public, from 6.4% earlier. Senior citizens will get an interest rate of 7.15% as compared to 6.9% earlier. SBI fixed deposits with a maturity of two years to less than three years will fetch an interest rate of 6.65%, higher than 6.6% earlier. Senior citizens will get 7.15% as compared to 7.10%.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali launched a new swadeshi messaging application called 'Kimbho' to compete with WhatsApp. Kimbho caters to private and group chats with free phone and video calling. The tagline of Kimbho is "Ab Bharat Bolega". Patanjali has recently tied up with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to enter the telecom sector by launching Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards.

The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $500 million loan agreement to provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project, implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, which will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies. The $500 million loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 3-year grace period, and a maturity of 10 years.

The Third Home Affairs Dialogue between India and U.K. was held in New Delhi. The Government of India Delegation was led by Mr Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary and the Delegation from Home Office of the U.K. was led by its Second Permanent Secretary, Ms. Patsy Wilkinson. The Dialogue covered a wide range of issues including cybersecurity, women safety, organized crime, terror financing etc and a need to put in place a mechanism for the timely exchange of information and intelligence inputs on such issues.

Infosys has completed the acquisition of WongDoody Holding Company, a US-based digital creative and consumer insights agency, for a total consideration of upto $75 million. Founded in 1993, WongDoody has clients across industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, healthcare and consumer packaged goods.

Coal India Ltd (CIL) will develop its first-ever thermal power plant in the country in Odisha. The project will be implemented through CIL's subsidiary, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL). The power plant, which will have a capacity of 1,600 MW, will come up at Sundergarh district. NTPC Ltd will be a joint venture partner and will likely have a 49 per cent stake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Digital Art Gallery of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at the toll plaza in Jakhauli village in Haryana.

25th May was declared as the World Thyroid Awareness Day due to the efforts of European Thyroid Association (ETA) and American Thyroid Association (ATA). World Thyroid Awareness Day is a day to create awareness on checking thyroid function regularly, awareness on the disease, and to initiate precautionary action. Theme for World Thyroid Awareness Day 2018 is: Environment and the Thyroid.

The oil ministry has given its in-principle approval for futures trading in petrol as well as diesel. The Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX) had approached SEBI seeking its nod to launch petrol and diesel futures contracts. The contracts are expected to help hedge against volatility in oil prices.