Top Weekly Current Affairs – 2020 May 18 to May 24

Current affairs is one of the inevitable and compulsive topic in almost every competitive examinations. It is inevitable for an aspirant to get updated on daily current affairs happening around the world. Daily newspaper reading and follow-ups are necessary for mastering these current affairs section. In this article, we have provided the top weekly current affairs from May 18 to May 24, 2020 which will help all aspirants to improve scores in their competitive examination like PSC, SSC, RRB and Banking.

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Top Weekly Current Affairs for all Competitive Exams 2020 May 18 to May 24

Here are the list of top current affairs of the week May 18 to May 24, 2020 which will be helpful for all competitive examinations like PSC, SSC, RRB, Banking etc.

Kerala brings Mission Grand Care to spread message of elderly safety

• The Kudumbasree Mission, had launched the scheme of Grand Care a massive awareness programme, prioritizing the safety and care of the elderly in the state and those arriving from abroad and other places.
  
• Kudumbasree, the women Self-Help Group is the pillar of COVID-19 awareness activities in the state from the beginning.
  
• This special campaign aims at a social change that prioritizes the well being of self and others, which is the need of the hour.

Indian Army to implement “ToD”

• In order to help the country fight unemployment generated due to COVID-19 and also citing resurgence of nationalism and patriotism, the Indian Army has launched “ToD”.
  
• ToD is Tour of Duty. ToD is a three year internship for youths to work as officers and soldiers in the Indian Army.
  
• ToD is for those persons who do not wish to take defence services as a career, but still want to experience adventure and thrills in the armed forces.
  
• The earnings made by the individual under the scheme have been made tax free. Also, these candidates are to be given preferences in public sector jobs and also in post-graduate courses.

PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu sworn-in for the 5th time

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally swore in his new government on 17 May for the fifth time.
  
• The ceremony of the swearing-in of Israel’s new government, the Knesset, was held in accordance with coronavirus social distancing directives.
  
• Netanyahu will be in power until 13 November 2021. This ended the 18-month political crisis in the country.
  
• The new government was set to confront serious crises in its first weeks, including the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus and a looming battle over Israel’s possible annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank.

A new species “Troglomyces twitteri” discovered

• A new parasitic fungus was discovered by a Denmark biologist called “Troglomyces twitteri”.
  
• The biologist Sofia Reboleira of University of Copenhagen, Denmark founded the species.
  
• The image was posted on Twitter by an entomologist on 1n 2018. He was sending millipede photos to people who had tweeted him. The photos were being sent for pooling purposes.
  
• The Fungi belong to the order called Laboulbeniales. These are fungi that attack millipedes and insects. They look like larvae.

Anil Kumble-led ICC committee recommends ban on saliva due to COVID-19 pandemic

• On May 18, 2020, Anil Kumble led ICC (International Cricket Committee) banned the use of saliva to shine the ball.
  
• The practice meant for swing bowling is now primarily held as health risk due to the threats of COVID-19.
  
• The former Indian Cricket player Anil Kumble is the current chairman of ICC Cricket Committee. The Committee has banned use of saliva to shine a cricket ball.
• Apart from this, the committee also recommended to increase use of DRS review per innings from two to three.
  

GoI: Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities Released

• On May 19, 2020, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released a star rating of garbage free cities for the year 2019-20.
  
• Around 5 cities were given 5-star ratings. This includes Ambikapur, Surat, Rajkot, Mysuru, Indore and Navi Mumbai.The ministry had given 3-star rating to 65 cities and 1-star rating to 70 cities.
  
• The rating system was launched by the Ministry in 2018. This was launched to provide a mechanism to achieve Garbage free status.
  
• Also, such a rating system will motivate cities to achieve higher cleanliness. The rating mainly focuses on solid waste management.

GoI implements Shekatkar Committee to create border infrastructure

• On May 18, 2020, the Government of India implemented the recommendations made by the Shekatkar Committee to create border infrastructure.
  
• The GoI based on the recommendation of the committee has adopted Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) to execute the works that costs more than Rs 100 crores.
  
• The recommendation of the committee to enhance procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crores to Rs 100 crores to the Border Road Organization has also been implemented.
  
• The Shekatkar Committee was formed in 2018. It was constituted by the Ministry of Defence under chairmanship of Lt General DB Shekatkar.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan named as chairman of WHO Executive Board

• The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has been elected as the chairman of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Board.
  
• He will assume the charge on 22 May 2020. He will succeed Dr. Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, who is the current Chairman of the WHO Executive Board.
  
• The Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals who are technically qualified in the field of health, each one designated by a member state elected to do so by the WHA. The Member States are elected for a tenure of three-year.
  
• The Executive Board meets at least twice a year and the main meeting is normally held in the month of January.

GoI: Scheme launched for 100% solarization of Konark Sun Temple and Town

• GoI has launched a scheme for the solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha.
  
• The announcement was made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The main objective of the scheme is to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’.
  
• The development will be to deliver the message of synergy between the sun temple and the modern use of solar energy.The scheme mainly aims at promoting solar energy.

Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Ashley Cooper passes away

• Former world no. 1 and four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Ashley Cooper passed away recently at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness.
  
• Cooper had won three of the four majors -the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US championships in 1958. Cooper had also won four doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments. He achieved the top rank in 1957.
  
• The Australian was recognised as the world’s best amateur player during the years of 1957 and 1958.
• A back injury in 1959 ended his professional career. Following this, Cooper returned to Brisbane, Australia and ran a business and worked as an administrator in the sport.
  

United Nations: India’s KHUDOL declared one of Top 10 Global Initiatives to fight COVID-19

• On May 22, 2020, the United Nations listed the KHUDOL initiative of Manipur as one of the top 10 global initiatives to fight against COVID-19.
  
• KHUDOL is an initiative of a NGO called Ya_All. Under the initiative, the NGO provides food, hygiene and health facilities to LGBTQ community, daily wage workers, and people with AIDS.
  
• The organization mobilized a network of 100 volunteers. Through the volunteers the organization distributed 1000 health kits, 1500 condoms and 6500 sanitary pads.

Abhas Jha appointed to Key position on Climate Change, Disaster Management in South Asia

• On 23rd May 2020, Indian economist Abhas K Jha was appointed by the World Bank to hold a key position on climate change and disaster management in South Asia.
  
• Jha’s appointment comes during the time when Cyclone Amphan has badly hit West Bengal, Orissa in India, and Bangladesh.
  
• Jha will help the South Asia region (SAR) Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change team to connect and collaborate across Global Practice boundaries.
  
• Abhas Jha joined the Bank in 2001 in the office of the Executive Director (ED) for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka. Since then, he has worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific regions.

Mizoram provides industrial status to Sports’

• The Mizoram State Government has recently provided industrial status to Sports.This has been done by the government to attract investment in the Sports industry.
  
• The Mizoram Government is framing new industrial policy under which the sports have been included as sports category.The State of Mizoram is known for its great interests towards sports.
  
• Of all the footballers in the north east states, Mizoram has a pool of football players that play in leading clubs of India.The state has also done extremely well in hockey and weightlifting as well.
  
• Indian Super League is considered as one of the top football leagues in India. At least 150 players in the league are from Mizoram.The league was launched in 2013 with the aim of growing the sport of football in India.
  

Despite COVID-19, Meghalaya prepares for National Games 2022

• Meghalaya is continuing its efforts in preparing for the 39th edition of the National Games in 2022 despite the prevailing health scenario caused by COVID-19.
  
• The Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for construction of adisabled-friendly stadium for hosting of the National Games 2022.
  
• The 39th Edition of the National Games is slated to be held in the year 2022 in the State of Meghalaya.
  
• Recently, doubts have been raised on the conduct of the 36th National Games to be hosted by Goa even as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has finalised October 20, next as the start date for the Goa National Games.

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