Daily GK Update: 17th May 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. Elisabeth Borne becomes France’s first female prime minister in 30 years

• President of France, Emmanuel Macron has appointed Elisabeth Borne as the nation's new Prime Minister.
• She becomes the second woman to hold this position after Edith Cresson (1991-1992) under President Francois Mitterrand.
• She joined Macron’s centrist party in 2017.
• She is a former Transport, Ecology and Labour minister.
• She has succeeded Jean Castex, who had led the French cabinet since July 2020 and resigned recently.

 Honours & Awards

2. Drake wins Billboard Music Awards 2022 in Top Artist category

• Drake has won the Billboard Music Awards 2022 in the top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist and rap album (for Certified Lover Boy) category.
• BTS has also won three awards in the Top Duo/Group, Top Selling Song, and Top Song Sales Artist categories.
• Top New Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
• Top Female Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
• Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Radio Songs Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
• Top Billboard Global 2022 Artist (New): Olivia Rodrigo

 Agreement

3. Adani become India's second-biggest cement maker company

• Adani Group has acquired a controlling stake in Swiss-based Holcim AG's cement businesses in India in a $10.5 billion deal.
• The Group has acquired 63.19% of Ambuja Cements Ltd and its subsidiary ACC in the bidding with companies.
• With this deal, Adani becomes the second biggest cement producer in the country after the Aditya Birla Group-owned UltraTech Cement.
• The divestment of India businesses by Holcim is to reduce its reliance on carbon-intensive cement production.

 Sports

4. Sift Kaur Samra clinched Gold at ISSF Junior World Cup in Germany

• India's Sift Kaur Samra won the individual women’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) like Prone, the Standing and the Kneeling positions, event to take India’s gold medal tally to 10 at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2022 in Suhl, Germany.
• She beat Julie Johannessen (Norway) by 17-9 in the final.
• India's Ashi Chouksey has also won bronze in the same event.
• Presently, India leads the tally with 25 medals which include 10 gold, 12 silver and three bronze.

 Sports

5. South Korea defeats China to win BWF Uber Cup title

• South Korea has defeated China by 3-2 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) 29th edition of the Uber Cup Final at Impact Arena in Bangkok.
• This is the second Uber Cup title for South Korea after their first victory in 2010 in Kuala Lumpur.
• Thomas and Uber Cup is the biennial international badminton championship contested by the men's and women's national teams of the member associations of Badminton World Federation (BWF).

 National & International Appointments

6. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud elected as new president of Somalia

• The former leader of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been elected as the new president of the country for four years, after defeating the current president, Mohamed Abudallahi Farmajo.
• Out of 328 MPs, Mohamud has received 214 votes and Farmajo won 110 votes only.
• Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, also served as Somalia's president between 2012 and 2017.
• Somalia Capital: Mogadishu; Currency: Somali shilling

 Important Dates

7. World Hypertension Day 2022: May 17

• World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to raise awareness about the symptoms of hypertension.
• The theme of WHD for 2022 is Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.
• Hypertension or high blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure rises to an unhealthy level of 140/90.
• Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide.
• World Hypertension Day was first observed in May 2005.

 Defense

8. Rajnath Singh inducts two indigenously built warship into Indian Navy

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the two frontline warships of the Indian Navy at Mazgaon Docks Limited, Mumbai which will mark a significant milestone in their construction.
• The first ship is Surat, which is the fourth and last of the stealth destroyers under the 'Project 15B' programme.
• The second ship is Udaygiri, part of the 'Project 17A' frigate programme. It is the third ship of Project 17A frigates.

 National Affairs

9. PM Modi addresses Silver Jubilee celebrations of TRAI

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed Silver Jubilee Celebrations programme of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) through video conferencing.
• During the programme, PM Modi also launched a 5G Test Bed, developed as a multi-institutional collaborative project by a total of eight institutes led by IIT Madras. 
• TRAI was established in 1997 through the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. 

 Important Dates

10. World Telecommunication and Information society Day 2022: May 17

• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed every year on May 17 to raise awareness about the benefit of the Internet and other information and communication technologies to society and economies.
• The 2022 theme for World Telecommunication Day is Digital Technologies For Older Persons And Healthy Ageing.
• The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865.

 Banking & Finance

11. RBI imposes monetary penalty on KEB Hana Bank

• RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 59 lakh on KEB Hana Bank for non-compliance with certain norms related to the interest rates on deposits.
• The bank has been penalised under the "Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions, 2016".
• The RBI has conducted a statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation of KEB Hana Bank with reference to its financial position as of March 31, 2020.
• KEB Hana Bank HQ: Seoul, South Korea

 Banking & Finance

12. WPI inflation at record high of 15.08% in April on price rise of items

• Wholesale price-based inflation has risen to 15.08% in April on rising prices across segments from food to commodities.
• The WPI-based inflation was 14.55% in March 2022 and 10.74% in April 2021.
• Reason: due to the rise in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum & natural gas, food articles, non-food articles, food products etc.
• The WPI inflation has remained double-digit for the 13th consecutive month since April 2021.

 National & International Appointments

13. RBI appoints Sitikantha Pattanaik and Rajiv Ranjan as executive directors

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Sitikantha Pattanaik and Rajiv Ranjan as executive directors with effect from May 1.
• Ranjan will serve as an ex-officio member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) while Pattanaik will serve as the Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR).
• Prior to being promoted, Pattanaik was an Adviser in the DEPR and Ranjan served as Adviser-in-Charge of Monetary Policy Department and Secretary to the MPC.