NATIONAL NEWS

Cyber Security Centre

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated a Cyber Security Operation Centre (CSOC) to protect government data.
• The first of its kind in the country, the centre will help protect data, applications and ICT infrastructure of the state from security threats.
• The centre has been set up by the state Electronics and IT Department and Odisha Computer Application Centre.

INS Gomati Decommissioned

• On 29 May 2022, INS Gomati was decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai under the command of Captain Sudip Malik.

• INS Gomati derives her name from the vibrant river Gomti and was commissioned on 16 April 1988 by the then Defence Minister, KC Pant, at Mazgaon Dock Ltd, Bombay.

• The third ship of the Godavari class guided-missile frigates, INS Gomati was also the oldest warrior of the Western Fleet when decommissioned.
• During her service, she participated in Operations Cactus, Parakram and Rainbow and several bilateral and multinational naval exercises.
• For her contribution to national maritime security, she was twice awarded the coveted Unit Citation, once in 2007-08 and in 2019-20.

3rd Global Organic Expo 2022

• The 3rd Global Organic Expo 2022 was organized from May 26 and May 28, 2022, at IARI, Pusa, New Delhi
• It is set to be a significant platform for Organic Producers, Aggregators, Processors, Value Chain Integrators, and Industry Partners by providing a Global level conference with the theme "Profitability for Humanity."
• This will raise awareness not only among stakeholders but also among people concerned about their health.
• The main objective of the expo is reducing cost and achieving sustainable productivity through certified organic products and capacity development of organic production systems.

India's First Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Plant

• Adani Hybrid Energy Jaisalmer One Limited (AHEJOL), a subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), has commissioned a 390 MW wind-solar hybrid power plant in Rajasthan.

• The plant in Jaisalmer is India's first-ever wind and solar hybrid power generation plant.

• With the successful commissioning of this plant, Adani Green Energy Limited now has an operational capacity of 5.8 GW.
• The new plant has a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) with a tariff of Rs 2.69 per kWh, below the Average Power Procurement Cost (APPC) at the national level.
• It will make AGEL's total renewable portfolio of 20.4 GW to meet its vision of 45 GW capacity by 2030.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World’s Largest Petroleum Research Center

• The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has decided to set up the world’s largest petroleum research center in Kuwait.

• The project is expected to be completed in four years. The estimated cost of project is around USD 120 million and the centre will have 28 laboratories.

• It is constructed to strengthen studies in the petroleum sector.
• The research center will conduct research on crude oil, technological development, oil exploration and technological challenges facing the country.

BANKING

MUFG Bank to Open Its New Branch at GIFT City

• MUFG Bank will be the first Japanese Bank to open branch at Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT City), Ahmedabad.

• It will offer a wide range of banking services to both domestic and global clients.

• MUFG Bank has obtained approvals from the International Financial Services Centre Authority in India and the Financial Services Agency in Japan to open a branch at GIFT City.
• MUFG had opened its first branch in Mumbai in 1953.
• GIFT City, Gujarat was established as a special economic zone as an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) for offshore transactions as part of the government's vision to make India a hub for international financial services.

BUSINESS NEWS

Biggest Trading Partner

• The US has surpassed China to become India's top trading partner in 2021-22.
• According to the data of the commerce ministry, in 2021-22, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 119.42 billion as against USD 80.51 billion in 2020-21.
• Federation of Indian Export Organisations Vice President Khalid Khan announced that India is emerging as a trusted trading partner.
• Trade experts believe that the trend of increasing bilateral trade with the US will continue in the coming years as New Delhi and Washington are engaged in further strengthening the economic ties.

AWARDS & PRIZES

WHO Award For Tobacco Control

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has selected Jharkhand for the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award for the year 2022.

• Stata Tobacco Control Cell of the Health Department will receive the award on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi on 31 May 2022.
• National Tobacco Control Programme was launched in Jharkhand in 2012.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

IBA’s Athletes’ Committee Chair

• Tokyo Bronze Medallist Lovlina Borgohain elected as IBA’s Athletes’ Committee Chair.

• International Boxing Association (IBA) announced that Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has received the highest number of votes during the election held at the 2022 Women’s World Championships and thus has been elected as the chair.

• She is also a voting member on the Board of Directors for the IBA’s Athletes’ Committee.
• Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has also been elected as a member of the IBA Athletes Committee following the election held during the 2021 IBA Men’s World Championships.
• The Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have confirmed that they have accepted their roles and look forward to represent India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Everest Day

• International Everest Day is celebrated every year on 29 May.

• This day is observed to celebrate the first summit of Mount Everest by New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Tenzing Norgay Sherpa that took place on 29 May 1953.

• They were the first humans to scale the height of Mount Everest.
• The day was first observed in 2008, the year Edmund Hillary died.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

• International Day of UN Peacekeepers is celebrated every year on 29 May.

• This day is observed to recognise the service and sacrifice of the more than one million personnel who have served under the blue flag since 1948.
• The theme for this year 2022 is “People. Peace. Progress. The Power of Partnerships.”
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that this year 2022 will focus on the Power of Partnerships.
• Peacekeeping is one of the many tools used by the United Nations to secure global peace and security.
• The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 29 May 1948.

OBITUTARY

Punjabi Writer Sultana Begum

• Renowned Punjabi writer Sultana Begum has died after a brief illness. She was at the age of 72.

• She was born in 1949. After completing MA in Punjabi and Urdu, she did her PhD on Indian theatre.

• She also had a diploma in Persian language.
• She was the first woman to write a literary satire in Punjabi language, was awarded the 'Professor Joga Singh’ award and the 'Waris di Dhi' award by the Punjabi University.