Latest Current Affairs – May 17 2018
1. Delhi to become world’s most populous city by 2028: UN
Delhi will surpass Tokyo as the most populous city in the world by 2028, a UN report has estimated. By then, India is also estimated to replace China and become the world’s most populous country, the report added. Further, India, Nigeria, and China will account for over one-third of the projected growth in the world’s urban population by 2050.
2. China launches first rocket designed by private company
China launched its first privately developed rocket ‘Chongqing Liangjiang Star’. The launch of the rocket developed by ‘OneSpace Technology’ marks the first time a non-state Chinese rocket has successfully entered the orbit. The rocket can place a 100-kilogram load into orbit 800 kilometres from the earth, according to state media.
3. Malaysia to stop collecting GST from June 1
Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance on Wednesday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be reduced to 0% effective June 1. New Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had promised to abolish the 6% levy before his electoral victory. The GST was introduced in April 2015 by ousted leader Najib Razak to offset a fall in oil revenue.
4. BS Yeddyurappa takes oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka
BS Yeddyurappa of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. This comes after the Supreme Court refused to stay state Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite BJP, which fell short of the majority mark, to form the government. Yeddyurappa has been given 15 days to prove BJP’s majority.
5. Fastest growing blackhole of the universe discovered
Scientists have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known in the universe, describing it as a monster that devours a mass equivalent to our Sun every two days. The astronomers have looked back more than 12 billion years to the early dark ages of the universe, when this supermassive black hole was estimated to be the size of about 20 billion suns with a one per cent growth rate every one million years.
The energy emitted from this newly discovered supermassive black hole, also known as a quasar, was mostly ultraviolet light but also radiated x-rays. The SkyMapper telescope at the ANU Siding Spring Observatory detected this light in the near-infrared, as the light waves had red-shifted over the billions of light years to Earth.
6. India Released Grant Of NRs 18.07 Crore To Nepal For River Training
India released a grant of Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 18.07 crore for river training and construction of embankments along Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers in Nepal. The river training and embankment work is aimed at flood control and water resources management, which benefit several million people inhabiting in the watershed of these rivers in India and Nepal.
7. Susheela Jayapal became first South Asian To Be Elected In Oregon
Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s sister Susheela Jayapal became the first South Asian to be elected in Oregon in the western US State. She won the District 2 seat on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners with 57% of the vote. She will represent North and Northeast Portland commissioner’s seat.
8. Mark Tully To Get Red Ink Award
Senior journalist Mark Tully will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Red Ink Awards in Mumbai. Tully worked with the BBC for three decades and was the broadcaster’s Chief of Bureau for Delhi for 20 years. Tully was a front-running reporter for all major news breaks in South Asia like the Indo-Pakistan wars, the Bhopal gas tragedy, Operation Blue Star, assassination of Indira Gandhi and anti-Sikh riots.
9. Anindita Honoured With Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Puraskar Award
US-based Kathak dancer Anindita Anaam was honored with the prestigious ‘Shri Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Pratibha Puraskar 2018’ for outstanding contribution to the field of art. The award was presented to the Kathak exponent during the ‘Jayadev International Dance Festival’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The four-day festival has been organized under the aegis of Odisha’s culture department and National Culture Mission.
10. DRDO Awards 2016 & 2017 Presented By Defence Minister
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave away the DRDO Awards- 2016 & 2017 to various DRDO scientists for their outstanding contributions.
- Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr. VK Saraswat was given DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2017.
- Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr. Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre was awarded for DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2016.
- The Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) Dr G Satheesh Reddy was awarded for Technology Leadership Award – 2016.
- The Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Dr S Christopher also addressed the function and re-launched the ‘Navrachna’ implementation programme during the event.
11. YES Bank Launches Agenda 2525
YES Bank and YES Global Institute have launched Agenda 25×25, which pledges to create a synergetic startup environment for budding women entrepreneurs in India. The effort would ensure that by 2025 at least 25% of all entrepreneurs in India are women. The study outlines Agenda 25×25 and the need to build a 10 Step Developmental Model focused on empowering women innovators.
12. May 17: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was observed across the world on May 17, 2018. The day aims to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
The World Telecommunication Day is celebrated annually on May 17 since 1969, marking the founding of International Telecommunication Union and the signing of ITC in 1865.
2018 Theme: Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All.
