• National

Govt plans introducing artificial intelligence system in MCA 21 portal

• The Union government has planned to introduce artificial intelligence system in the MCA 21 portal as it seeks to make the compliance process easier as well as ensure routine enforcement activities are done round-the-clock on autopilot basis.
• MCA 21 is the electronic backbone for the dissemination of information to all stakeholders, including the regulator, corporates and investors.
• All filings under the company’s law are submitted to the ministry through this portal.

• International

Australian PM Scott Morrison wins the federal election

• In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Liberal-National Coalition has won the 2019 Australian federal election.
• According to the ABC’s Election Calculator, the governing Coalition is on track to win at least 76 seats in the Australian Parliament, while the opposing Labor Party is set to win 65.
• Scott Morrison is Australia’s fifth prime minister in almost nine years, owing to rapid successions of party leaders during the period.
• Mr Morrison became Leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister in August 2018, winning the party’s leadership vote following Malcolm Turnbull’s resignation.

• International

India-Singapore Naval drill begins in the South China Sea

• The Navies of India and Singapore are participating in the annual maritime bilateral exercise ‘SIMBEX-19’ in the South China Sea.
• According to the Indian Navy, Various maritime combat exercises such as firing on aerial or surface targets, advanced aerial tracking, coordinated targeting exercises and tactical exercises on the surface or air scenarios is being conducted during the exercise.
• Naval ships INS Kolkata and INS Shakti taking part in the bilateral naval exercise, along with long-range maritime patrol aircraft Poseidon-8I.
• The Singapore side is being represented by RSN ships Steadfast and Valiant, maritime patrol aircraft Fokker-50 and F-16 fighter aircraft.

• Sports

Rafael Nadal clinches Italian Open 2019 Tennis title

• Spain’s Rafael Nadal (defending Champion) has clinched the Italian Open 2019 Tennis title after beating Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 in the final in Rome.
• This is Nadal’s ninth Italian Open title and 81st title in his career.
• Nadal also broke a tie with Djokovic by claiming a record 34th ATP Masters 1000 crown.
• In Women’s single, Czech’s Karolina Pliskova registered two straight-set victories against Britain’s Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 to claim the Italian Open title.

• Sports

BFA Launches 2 New Formats Of Game, AirBadminton & Triples

• The world body governing Badminton, BFA, has launched two new formats of the game AirBadminton and Triples with new dimensions of the court and an innovative shuttlecock called Airshuttle.
• Traditional competitive badminton has been an indoor game.
• AirBadmintion will be outdoor sports.
• In Triples format, the match will be played between a team of three players each with the presence of at least one female.
• India’s top shuttlers have endorsed AirBadminton.

• Sports

USD 10 million on offer in ICC World Cup, winner to earn 4 million

• Ten million US Dollars (more than 70 crore rupees) are on offer in the upcoming ICC men’s cricket World Cup.
• The 46-day tournament will be played across 11 venues in the United Kingdom from 30th of this month.
• Besides a trophy, the World Cup winner will earn a cash award of 4 million US dollars or about 28 crore rupees which is the highest prize money on offer in the history of the tournament.
• The runners-up take home 2 million US Dollars or about 14 crore rupees.
• The losing semi-finalists will get around 5 crores 60 lakh rupees.
• There are six prizes of about 70 lakh rupees each for teams that pass the league stage.

• Awards

Anil Kapoor Felicitated By European Chambers of Commerce in India

• Anil Kapoor was felicitated by Council of European Chambers of Commerce in India and a European Union delegation in Mumbai.
• He was awarded because of his continuous support in promoting the cause of children’s rights.
• The event also marked the celebration of EU Day 2019 on 17th May.
• Anil Kapoor, who has been working in collaboration with Plan India, a child rights organisation, was the guest of honour at the event.

• Important Days

World Metrology Day: 20 May

• World Metrology Day is observed every year on 20 May.
• It commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875.
• The theme for World Metrology Day 2019 is The International System of Units – Fundamentally better.

• Important Days

World Bee Day: 20th May

• To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators (such as bees, butterflies, bats and hummingbirds), the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.
• 20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention.

• States

Kerala 1st state to list Masala bond

• Kerala became the first state to tap into masala bond market by listing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)’s masala bond in LSE’s International Securities Market (ISM).
• The masala bond has tenor of 5-year and a 9.723% coupon.
• The main objective of this initiative was to tap masala bond market and to rebuild the infrastructure in Kerala from the proceeds of masala bond.

• States

Meghalaya Government Approves Setting Up Of Farmers’ Commission

• The Meghalaya government has approved setting up of a commission to look into the problem faced by farmers.
• The proposal was made by the Agriculture Department to set up the Farmers’ Commission in line with the resolution passed at the ‘farmers’ parliament’.
• The ‘farmers’ parliament’, first of its kind in the country, was organised in December 2018 and was attended by scientists, bureaucrats, apart from farmers, to discuss issues related to the agri situation in the state.