Exam Power: 19 May 2018 Today Current Affairs

Exam Power: 19 May 2018 Today Current Affairs

Sridevi Honoured At Cannes Film Festival

Veteran Bollywood actor Sridevi was honored with the TITAN Reginald F Lewis Film Icon Award at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.

The award traditionally celebrates women of the film industry all over the world and also salute the multi-cultural impact on the world of cinema.

Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai and producer Namrata Goyal received the award on behalf of Sridevi's family. 

MoS External Affairs General VK Singh Visits North Korea

Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh visits North Korea, the first high-level visit from India in 20 years.

General VK Singh held talks with his North Korean counterpart and a host of other leaders.

The minister who is on a two-day official trip to North Korea held discussions with Kim Yong Dae, Vice President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu Launched Intellectual Property Mascot IP Nani

 Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot ‘IP Nani’. 

The mascot was launched during a conference on the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in New Delhi. 

On the same occasion, an anti-piracy video featuring the Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was also launched.

 The first and foremost objective of the Policy is “IPR Awareness: Outreach and Promotion”, aimed at raising awareness on IPR for school children to nurture creativity and the ability to innovate from a very young age.

Union Environment Ministry Launches Green Skill Development Programme

The Union Environment Ministry launched the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) with an aim to train over 5.5 lakh workers in environment and forest sectors in the country.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan also launched a related mobile app ‘GSDP-ENVIS’ to boost employability and entrepreneurship of the youth in the country.

The app can be used for information and for applying to the courses.

The GSPD-ENVIS app can be downloaded on android mobile phones without any hassle.

Tata Steel To Acquire Bhushan Steel Through Its Step-Down Subsidiary Bamnipal Steel

Tata Steel, whose bid for debt-ridden Bhushan Steel was approved by NCLT, would implement the resolution plan through its step-down subsidiary Bamnipal Steel Ltd.

Bamnipal Steel would invest in the debt-ridden company and acquire control on the closing date.

As per the terms of approved Resolution Plan, Bamnipal Steel Limited (BNPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Steel, will initially subscribe to 72.65% equity share capital of BSL at face value i.e. at Rs 2 per share, for an aggregate amount of Rs 158.89 crore.

First Para-National Games To Be Held Under Khelo India Scheme

The inaugural National Para Games, on the lines of National Games for able-bodied athletes, will be held under the Khelo India Scheme in June-July 2018 in Bengaluru. 

The Games will be held for the age group of 16 to 40 (men and women) in 10 disciplines namely para-athletics, badminton, chess, blind judo, para powerlifting, shooting para-sport, para-swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing.

Shashank Manohar re-elected as Chairman of International Cricket Council

Shashank Manohar was re-elected as the Independent Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his second term. 

He was the sole nominee for the post and was nominated by the ICC Board itself.

Shashank Manohar’s tenure as first Independent Chairman of ICC

• Manohar became the first Independent Chairman of ICC in 2016.

• During his tenure of two years, he led significant reforms in cricket, reversing the resolutions of 2014. 

• He was the one who introduced a revised governance structure, including the appointment of the ICC's first independent female director. Following which, Indra Nooyi was appointed as the first independent female Director of ICC.

Ambika Sharma To Head USIBC India Office

The U.S India Business Council named Ambika Sharma as its head for India. Ms. Sharma was Director General for International at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). As Director General of FICCI,

She is the highest ranked female executive of an Indian industry body.

Ms. Sharma will be responsible for overseeing and guiding USIBC’s growth strategy in India through its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as leading the charge on policy advocacy issues for USIBC’s diverse membership with a variety of stakeholders.

Uttam Pacharne appointed as Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi

Uttam Pacharne was on May 17, 2018 appointed as the regular Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi. His appointment was approved by the President Ram Nath Kovind. Pacharne is an eminent artist and sculptor.

Pacharne succeeds ML Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Akademies), Union Ministry of Culture, who was appointed as Protem Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi in March 2018, due to the impending appointment of a regular Chairman.

Pacharne will hold office for a three years term from the date of assuming the charge of the office.

Gina Haspel confirmed as first female director of CIA
The US Senate confirmed Gina Haspel as the first female director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on May 17, 2018.

Haspel’s nomination was confirmed in a 54-45 vote, following a difficult nomination process that reopened an emotional debate about brutal interrogation techniques in one of the darkest chapters of CIA’s history.

She was previously serving as Deputy Director under former CIA Director Mike Pompeo in the beginning of Trump’s administration.

Sources : The Hindu, TOI,PIB, Economic Times, ANI, Indian Express