Daily Current Affairs Capsule

21st May 2019

1. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development: 21 May

On 21st May, the UAE celebrated World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

to highlight its efforts in promoting tolerance and cultural diversity.

● The event coincides with the country’s declaration of 2019 as the Year for Tolerance.

● The day provides an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural

diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.

2. CSIR-NPL introduce Redefined International System of Units

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and National Physical Laboratory, CSIR-NPL

introduced redefined International System of Units for the country.

● The redefined systems are Kilogram, Kelvin, Mole and Ampere.

● The new SI is being implemented worldwide from 20th May 2019 i.e. the World Metrology

Day.

● The purpose of a system of units is to enable world-wide coherence of measurements.

3. 8th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol Exercise

Myanmar Navy Ship UMS King TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS Inlay (OPV-54) have arrived Port

Blair on 20 May for the ‘Opening Ceremony’ of the 8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated patrol (IMCOR),

at Andaman and Nicobar Command.

● The CORPAT initiative between the two navies is meant to address issues of terrorism,

illegal fishing, drug trafficking, human trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities

inimical to the interest of both nations.

● Started in Mar 2013, the CORPAT series has enhanced the mutual understanding and

fostered improved professional interaction between the two navies.

● The ships would patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between

the two countries covering a distance of approximately 725 Kms over a period of four days.

4. Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes oath as Ukraine's new President

Volodymyr Zelenskiy took oath as new President of Ukraine, announcing snap parliamentary

elections at the same ceremony.

● Jelensky has no experience of politics before, but she won a huge victory in the

presidential election last month.

● Zelinskiy became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet President after he scored a landslide

election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko.

Points to Remember

● Capital: Kyiv

● Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

5. Pakistan appoints Mueen Ul Haq as High Commissioner to India

Pakistan has appointed career diplomat Mueenul Haq as the High Commissioner to India.

● Prime Minister Imran Khan approved appointments of over two dozen ambassadors in

various countries including India, China and Japan.

● Haq, the current ambassador to France, has previously served as chief of protocol at the

Foreign Office.

● The post of High Commissioner to India fell vacant after Sohail Mehmood was appointed

Pakistan's new foreign secretary.

6. Joko Widodo elected President of Indonesia for the second term

Indonesia's Joko Widodo has been re-elected as president of the country.

● The elections commission has said Widodo won the election by a 55.5 per cent to 44.5

per cent margin over Prabowo Subbiano.

● 57-year-old Widodo had been widely predicted to win according to unofficial results.

Points to Remember

● Capital: Jakarta

● Currency: Indonesian rupiah

7. Kapil Sharma is the Most Viewed Stand-up Comedian in India and Abroad

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma has been acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up comedian

in India and abroad by the World book of Records London.

● He started his career as a stand-up comedian, Kapil initially performed on several comedy

shows.

● But it was his separate show Comedy Nights With Kapil which brought him immense fame.

● Not only comedy, but Kapil also tried his hand at acting with Bollywood films like Kis Kisko

Pyaar Karoon and Firangi.

● The 38-year-old is currently hosting The Kapil Sharma Show on television.

8. Ashish to lead 3-member Indian gymnastics team in World Challenge Cup

A three-member team led by 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Ashish Kumar will represent

India at the second World Challenge Cup Series gymnastics tournament in Osijek, Croatia from

May 23 to 26.

● Besides Ashish, the Indian contingent will also have Rakesh Kumar Patra and Shraddha

Talekar.

● The World Challenge Cup is a major FIG event with broader participation of 110 gymnasts

from 30 different countries.

9. Three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Niki Lauda dies aged 70

The former Formula One driver and three-time world champion Niki Lauda has died at the age of

70.

● Niki Lauda, who won titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984, was hugely admired, respected and

liked within F1 community.

● He competed in 171 races and won 25.

● Post his racing career, he became an airline entrepreneur.

● Recently he was working as a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team

with British driver Lewis Hamilton.