Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 28 2019

1. Rahi Sarnobat clinched gold in the womens 25m pistol in 2019 ISSF World Cup

Rahi Sarnobat clinched gold in the womens 25m pistol in 2019 ISSF World Cup. Rahi Sarnobat clinched gold in the women’s 25m pistol at the season’s third International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Munich, Germany. By this win, she sealed an Olympic quota place for India in style.

She secured 37 (out of 50 shots) in the final. This is India’s first Olympic quota spot in this event. Sarnobat, the Asian Games champion, was second in the final behind compatriot Bhaker. However, once she got the lead, she maintained it till the gold medal shot. Olena Kostevych of Ukraine won silver with 36 hits while Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Boneva won bronze with 26.

2. Orchha town of Madhya Pradesh added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites

Orchha town of Madhya Pradesh added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The architectural heritage of Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The architectural heritage of Orchha town depicts a unique style of the Bundela dynasty. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had sent a proposal to UNESCO to include the architectural heritage of Orchha town in its list of World Heritage Sites on April 15, 2019.

For a historical site to be a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, it must be first included in the tentative list. Once included another proposal is sent to UNESCO, only then the site is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

About Orchha town

• Situated on the banks of the Betwa river, Orchha is around 80 km from MP’s Tikamgarh district and 15 km from Jhansi district of UP.
• Orchha town is located in Niwari district of MP’s Bundelkhand region. ii. It was built by King Rudra Pratap Singh of Bundela dynasty in the 16th century.
• Bundela architecture has Mughal influence due to the closeness of both the dynasties. Veer Singh Dev, King of Bundela dynasty, was a close friend of Mughal emperor Jahangir.

3. India’s first Tree Ambulance initiated in Chennai by Green man of India

India’s first Tree Ambulance initiated in Chennai by Green man of India. International Day for Biological Diversity tree ambulance was inaugurated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu by Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu. The initiative was proposed by Green man of India, Dr K Abdul Ghani and it is sponsored by the SASA Group. The ambulance can be availed through the number 9941006786 and volunteers can register on www.treeambulance.org.

4. UNSDG Ten Most Influential People in Healthcare Award conferred to Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved

UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award conferred to Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved. Acharya Balkrishna, the Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved won “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award” in Geneva, Switzerland. He received the award on behalf of Patanjali Group of Institutions. He was a representative from India at LINSDG.

The award was conferred to him for the contributions made by Patanjali in curing lifestyle diseases with Yoga, Ayurveda and traditional Indian methods. He dedicated the award to all those who contributed to mainstream Yoga and Ayurveda at the Global Level.

5. Russia launched the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Ural’

Russia launched the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Ural’. Russia launched the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Ural’ at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg in order to improve its ability to tap the Arctic’s commercial potential. Russia is preparing for shipping via the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The Ural will be given to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom in 2022 after the other 2 ice-breakers Arktika (Arctic) and Sibir (Siberia) enter into service. The Arktika was floated in 2016.

6. Saurabh Chaudhary won his second gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event in 2019 ISSF Gold Cup

Saurabh Chaudhary won his second gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event in 2019 ISSF Gold Cup. India’s 17-year-old shooter Saurabh Chaudhary broke his own junior and senior world record to win his second gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event in ISSF Gold Cup 2019. Saurabh won 10m Air Pistol event with 246.3 points, breaking his own senior record of 245 points and junior record of 245.5 points. This is Saurabh’s second gold in the same event. Saurabh had booked a quota for 2020 Olympics during his maiden World Cup in February.

7. DRDO successfully test-fired the new version of the Akash

DRDO successfully test-fired the new version of the Akash. The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test-fired the new version of the Akash surface-to-air defence missile system with a new indigenously-developed seeker in Balasore off the Odisha coast on 27 May. This is the second successful test of the missile. The medium range multi-target engagement capable missile was developed as part of the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) other than Nag, Agni, Trishul, and Prithvi missiles.

8. Lewis Hamilton won Monaco Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won Monaco Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix to extend his championship. He defeated Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton struggled with grip and was under constant pressure from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. But earlier he picked up a five-second time penalty.

9. India elected to Executive Board of first UN-Habitat Assembly

India elected to Executive Board of first UN-Habitat Assembly. First session of the UN-Habitat Assembly will be held from 27-31 May 2019, at the headquarters of UN-Habitat in Nairobi. The Theme is: “Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities”. The Sub-theme as: “Accelerated implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”.

During the first session, The Assembly is expected to establish the Executive Board of UN-Habitat and elect its members, to review and approve the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and also review the Progress in the implementation of New Urban Agenda, among other things.

10. IAF pay homage to Kargil War Martyrs during Operation Safed Sagar

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) B.S. Dhanoa visits Air Force Station in Bhisiana and Sarsawa to pay homage to the air warriors who made supreme sacrifice during Operation Safed Sagar at Kargil

11. Government proposes NSSO and CSO merger

The outgoing NDA government in one of its last decisions has decided to merge the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with the Central Statistics Office. (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The Government order has cleared restructuring of statistical system by proposing NSSO, CSO merger and formation of an overarching body called National Statistical Office (NSO).

12. ADR says nearly half of the newly-elected Lok Sabha members have criminal charges

ADR says nearly half of the newly-elected Lok Sabha members have criminal charges. According to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), nearly half of the newly-elected Lok Sabha members have criminal charges against them, a 26% increase as compared to 2014.

Of the 539 winning candidates analyzed by the ADR, as many as 233 MPs or 43% have criminal charges. The BJP has 116 MPs or 39% of its winning candidates with criminal cases, followed by 29 MPs (57%) from the Congress, 13 (81%) from the JDU, 10 (43%) from the DMK and nine (41%) from the TMC.

In 2014, 185 Lok Sabha members (34%) had criminal charges and 112 MPs had serious criminal cases against them. In 2009, 162 (nearly 30%) out of the 543 Lok Sabha MPs had criminal charges and 14% had serious criminal charges.

13. South Korean film ‘Parasite’ wins top award at Cannes Film Fest

Director Bong Joon-Ho became the first South Korean to win the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his film ‘Parasite’. Filmmaker Mati Diop, the first black woman director to be considered for the Palme d’Or, won the Grand Prix, the runner-up prize for her film ‘Atlantics’. Belgium’s Dardenne brothers won Best Director for ‘Young Ahmed’.