Important Current Affairs 21st May 2016

Rashtrapati Bhavan Goes ‘Smart’

• IBM has deployed smart city solutions for the digital transformation of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The approach is to upgrade existing infrastructure with next generation digital technologies.
• This involves a series of sensors that can give realtime feedback on consumption & distribution of resources.
• All of this is monitored centrally at an Intelligent Operations Centre.

Jains Get Minority Status in Telangana

• The Telangana Government has accorded religious minority status to people of Jain community in the State.
• The Jain community was notified as a religious minority community in the combined Andhra Pradesh.
• But after bifurcation,it had become necessary to issue fresh notification.
• Any community with less than 0.5 % of the total population in any State would fall under religious minority category.

SEBI Tightens P-Note Norms

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has tightened the norms for participatory notes (P-notes) in order to check misuse of these instruments.
• Under the new regulations, offshore derivative instruments (ODIs) issuers need to adhere to the Indian know your customer (KYC) norms.
• The ODI issuers will have to report all the transfers made among the instruments issued by them.

India,Slovenia Sign Pact to Amend DTAA

• India and Slovenia have signed a protocol to amend the bilateral double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA).
• It will facilitate exchange of information to curb tax evasion.
• The two countries signed the protocol amending the existing convention & protocol for avoidance & prevention of tax evasion.
• The protocol will broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of tax-related information.

New CEO of Petrobras Named

• Brazil’s interim president named Pedro Parente as new CEO of state-controlled oil producer Petrobras.
• Pedro Parente replaces existing chief executive Aldemir Bendine.
• Petrobras is at the centre of a massive corruption scandal.
• It is now the most indebted oil company in the world.
• It has long been one of the biggest employers in Brazil, with more than 80,000 employees.

Indian-American Scientist Honoured

• US President has felicitated an Indian-American scientist & a Pakistani- American doctor with the nation’s top honours in the field of science,technology & innovation .
• Rakesh K Jain was presented with the National Medal of Science.
• He was presented for his role in developing novel strategies for manipulating tumors.
• Humayun received the National Medal of Technology & Innovation.

J P Nadda Launches ‘Kayakalp Fortnight’

• Union Health Minister J P Nadda has launched Kayakalp Fortnight.
• It aims to ensure upkeep of high level of cleanliness, sanitation & hygiene within & outside the premises of central government hospitals.
• It will be observed throughout the country in various central government hospitals between May 20 & June 3.
• Committees & sub-committees are formed to monitor the progress made in these areas

World Bank Launches $500m Insurance Fund

• The World Bank said it was launching a $500 million insurance fund to combat deadly pandemics in poor countries,.
• It will create the world’s first insurance market for pandemic risk
• In the event of a pandemic outbreak,the facility will release funds quickly to affected poor countries.
• The genesis of the new facility was the slow international response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

Maurad Wins European Taekwondo Title

• Belgian Mourad Laachraoui has won gold in the European Taekwondo Championships.
• He will now compete in this summer’s Rio Olympics.
• Mourad Laachraoui defeated Spaniard Jesus Tortosa in the 54kg final in Montreux, Switzerland.
• He has won silver medal at the Summer Universiades in 2015.
• He is the brother of Najim Laachraoui, was one of the two suicide bombers who struck Brussels airport on March 22.

UN Names Envoys for El Nino & Climate

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed former Irish President Mary Robinson & Kenyan diplomat Macharia Kamau as special envoys for El Nino & climate.
• The El Nino weather phenomenon affects rainfall patterns & causes both drought & flooding.
• Ms. Robinson had previously worked as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
• Mr. Kamau is Kenya’s ambassador to the United Nations.