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  • Current Affairs 14th May 2019

    Updated : 14-May-2019
    Current Affairs 14th May 2019

    Current Affairs 14th May 2019 - Important Points

    • IAF gets first Apache attack helicopter  from - Boeing, United States
    • IMF bails out cash-strapped Pakistan with new loan of - 6 billion
    • Rain-loving snake discovered in - Mizoram
    • Who won Formula One Spanish GP ? - Lewis Hamilton
    • Manchester City retains Premier League football title successively in - 2nd Year
    • International Nurse’s Day celebrated on  - 12th May 2019
    • SC to hear petition against Delhi HC verdict quashing IAS, IPS cadre allocation on - 17th May 2019

    Current Affairs 14th May 2019 - Details

    IAF gets first Apache attack helicopter  from - Boeing, United States

    The Indian Air Force has got the 1st Apache Guardian helicopter from United States aircraft producer, Boeing. India had inked a multi-billion-dollar pact with the United States in September 2015, for 22 of these helicopters.
    The attack helicopter has been designed to suit IAF’s future needs and would have substantial capability in mountainous terrain.
    Important Features

    • The main features of the latest variant of the Apache fleet consists upgraded digital connectivity and  powerful engines with advance face gear transmission to accommodate extra power.
    • The helicopter has the capability to regulate unmanned aerial vehicles, full IFR capability, and improved landing gear.
    • It has the ability to carry out accuracy attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from the ground.
    • The helicopter also has the capability to transmit and receive the Warfield picture, to and from the weapon systems through data networking, which makes it a lethal acquisition.
    • Further, the helicopter has an over the ocean capacity and is suitable for maritime operations, potentially empowering naval strikes.
    • The helicopter will deliver a noteworthy edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces.
    • A select Air and ground crew of the IAF have undergone training at the training facilities at the United States Army base Fort Rucker, Alabama.
    • The trained troops would be given the accountability to lead the operationalisation of the Apache fleet in the Indian Air Force.

    IMF bails out cash-strapped Pakistan with new loan of - 6 billion

    Following months of negotiations, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund have reached a
    contract, wherein the International Monetary Fund has finalised to provide the cash-strapped
    country with bailout fund worth $6 billion.
    The pact is Pakistan's 22nd bailout with the International Monetary Fund, as the country fights to
    deal with its falling economy, prompted by low growth, soaring inflation and mounting debt.
    Important Highlights

    • In a televised address freshly, Pakistan's finance advisor Abdul Hafeez Sheikh declared that the nation has a $12 billion gap in its yearly payments and it doesn’t have the capability to pay them.
    • Sheikh made the declaration while announcing the new pact with the International Monetary Fund.
    • Under the new loan contract, Pakistan will receive $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund
      in addition to $2-$3 billion from the World Bank and AD over the next 3 years.
    • The pact comes weeks after former World Bank official Sheikh was designated as Pakistan’s
      adviser on finance, after the sudden resignation of Pakistan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar.
    • The loan deal goals to support Pakistan’s strategy to enable extra balanced growth by dipping the
      internal and external imbalances, civilizing the business environment, increasing transparency,
      firming institutions and protecting social spending.

    Rain-loving snake discovered in - Mizoram

    A group of scientists have discovered a new “Rain loving” snake species from Mizoram in North-East India. The scholars have termed the specie “Smithophis Atemporalis.”
    The finding is momentous because such a finding has been made for the 1st time following
    almost 150 years. The discovery has not only opened a new reptile species but also a whole new
    genus after a gap of 150 years.
    Important Highlights

    • The discovery brings attention on the vibrant and largely explored biodiversity of the North-East, which is facing the extinction threats.
    • The new snake species have been found in the North-Eastern state of Mizoram. 
      The species is reported to be a non-venomous kind and stringently aquatic. The maximum listed size of the new species is about 2.5 feet.
    • According to the research, the new species is innocuous in nature and it can be located in various localities of Mizoram. Researchers, however, feel that it may have a wider distribution. 
    • The species is found to feed on frogs, lizards and it also lays eggs. Locally, the species is referred to as “Ruahlawmrul,” a rain-loving snake, because the activity of the snake upsurges during the rainy season.

    Who won Formula One Spanish GP ? - Lewis Hamilton

    Lewis Hamilton secured the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya, in Barcelona and the Mercedes fixed its 5th consecutive one-two finish.
    Important Highlights

    • At this Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes matched the record of 5 successive Formula One one-twos.
    • As Lewis Hamilton beat his colleague and pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas.
      It is only the 5th time in F1 history that a team has taken top 2 places for 5 straight races and only 3rd instance of Mercedes achieving feat since 2014.
    • Lewis Hamilton overtook his colleague and pole-sitter, Valtteri Bottas at turn 1 and stayed in front, thus winning Spanish Grand Prix for a 3rd consecutive year.
    • This was the 5-time and defending champion, L. Hamilton’s 76th career victory. With this victory he moved back to the top of drivers’ standings. Ahead of him only Michael Schumacher has above with 91 career victory.
    • The 2nd and 3rd places were grabbed by Valtteri Bottas in his Mercedes and  Max Verstappen in his Red Bull respectively.

    Manchester City retains Premier League football title successively in - 2nd Year

    The Manchester City secured the English Premier League football title for second successive year.
    Liverpool gained the second place in league.
    Important Highlights

    • The Manchester City club maintained its dominance by finishing the campaign with 14 straight wins and 98 points. It clinched the title by beating hosts Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club (or Brighton FC) with 4-1 on seasons final day.
    • Liverpool FC after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers FC with 2-0, stood as the runners-up of title despite with enormous 97 points.
    • This was City’s 4th Premier League title in last eight years. With this the club became first team to win  back-to-back titles in England’s top Premier League for a decade. Last time it was Manchester United who secured consecutively in seasons of year 2007-08 and year 2008-09.
    • Manchester City will play in the FA Cup final (is the last match in Football Association Challenge Cup) against Watford on 19 May 2019.

    International Nurse’s Day celebrated on  - 12th May 2019

    International Nurses Day was celebrated internationally on 12th May 2019. It is celebrated every year
    on birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the foundational philosopher of contemporary nursing.
    More about International Nurses Day
    The 1st proposal for Nurses Day was done in 1953, by an officer with United States Department of
    Health, Education and Welfare Dorothy Sutherland and 1st declared by President Dwight D Eisenhower.
    In 1965, it was 1st celebrated by the International Council of Nurses. Later, in 1974 International Council of Nurses recognized 12th May as International Nurses Day, to be celebrated every year to lime-light significant role played by nurses in providing best healthcare services.
    It is celebrated to honour, aids made by nurses in societies worldwide. It is planned each year by the ICN, which is group of above 130 national nurses’associations, with HQ in Geneva, Switzerland.
    International Council of Nurses recognizes various roles played by nurses which comprises providing and  handling personal care and treatment, working with families and communities, and playing a central role in public health, monitoring disease and infection.
    Theme for International Nurses Day 2019 was ‘Nurses– A Voice to Lead–Health for All’. Present year the Nurses Day coincided with Mother’s Day.

    SC to hear petition against Delhi HC verdict quashing IAS, IPS cadre allocation on - 17th May 2019

    The Supreme Court on May 13th, 2019 decided to hear the centre’s petition challenging the judgement of Delhi High Court, which suppressed the cadre allocation of IAS, IPS officers from the 2018 batch. The
    petition will be heard on May 17th.
    The matter was cited under urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv
    Khanna. 
    Important Highlights 

    • The Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court bench that the Delhi high court had asked the central government to repeat the whole exercise again. 
    • Mehta informed the apex court that those officers nominated under the cadre in 2018 batch have
      undergone training and were imagined to initiate joining their respective cadres from May 10th.
    • The petition comes after the Delhi High Court suppressed the Centre’s cadre allocations of IAS and IPS officers of 2018 batch under the new policy and ordered fresh cadre allocation.
    • The high court bench comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli acknowledged the submission of the officers and informed that cadre allocation is a matter that would distress the career of officers for all times to come.
    • The bench found that the re-allocation of cadres by the authorities should not take much time as it is done by machine.

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