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

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally swore in his new government 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. Benny Gantz will serve in the specially created role of alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister. 

Foot Notes: About Israel
President: Reuven Rivlin
Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
Capital: Jerusalem
Currency: New shekel

2. Zubair Iqbal appointed as MD of J&K Bank, Chibber to continue as chairman

• The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration approved the appointment of senior vice president (SVP) of HDFC bank Zubair Iqbal as the new Managing Director (MD) of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, for a period of 3 years.
• In another order, Rajesh Kumar Chibber, who is currently MD and Chairman of J&K bank, has been reappointed as the Chairman for the period of 3 years.
• The RBI had extended the tenure of Chibber as MD of the bank for a period of 3 months in April 2020.Parvez Ahmed was removed by the erstwhile state government on alleged charges of corruption, nepotism and favouritism.

Foot Notes: About Jammu & Kashmir Bank
Headquarters:  Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Tagline: serving To Empower.

3. A Book titled “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Fang Fang released

• The book titled as “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Chinese literary writer Fang Fang is a compilation of online diary entries and social media posts that document 60 days of lockdown during COVID-19, captures the challenges of daily life and the changing moods and emotions of being quarantined without reliable information & is a remarkable record of the extraordinary time. 
• The book was released in India in an ebook format published by HarperNonFiction, the audio will follow on May 26.

4. World AIDS Vaccine Day observed every year on 18th  May

• World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, is observed on May 18 across the world. 
• It is primarily celebrated to emphasise upon the need for a vaccine for Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and recognises the efforts of health professionals and researchers who have been working towards this goal.
• The first World AIDS Vaccine Day was observed on May 18, 1998. Exactly one year ago, on May 18, 1997, the then United States president Bill Clinton had asserted upon the importance of creating a vaccine for the deadly disease.

5. India joined  EU resolution of 61 countries  at WHO meet seeking a probe into coronavirus crisis

• India is among 62 countries that have moved a proposal at the World Health Assembly to “identify the zoonotic source” of the coronavirus. China and the US are not part of the resolution.
• The proposal is part of a seven-page draft resolution moved by 35 countries and the 27-member European Union, and is likely to be taken up at the Assembly, which is the decision-making body of the WHO. The resolution is being backed by three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — UK, Russia and France — along with Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey, among others.
• This is the first time India has taken a position in an international forum on the origin of the virus and the need for an independent evaluation of WHO’s response to the crisis.

Foot Notes: About WHO
Founded: 07 Apr 1948
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founder: Brock Chisholm
Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

6. Indian Army’s only cavalry unit  set to replace horses with tanks

• The Army is planning to convert its famous 61st Cavalry, the only active serving horse cavalry regiment in the world, into a regular armoured regiment with tanks. A senior officer at the Army headquarters said the aim was to transform the Jaipur-based 61st Cavalry into “a combat force” from its present role of being “largely a ceremonial unit” that also engages in sporting activities like polo. 
• The famous 61st Cavalry is being converted into a regular armoured regiment on the basis of a recommendation made by the Lieutenant General DB Shekatkar (retd) committee in a report on sharpening the army’s combat edge and trimming its revenue expenditure.
• The Jaipur-based 61st Cavalry is likely to be equipped with T-72 tanks
• The 61st Cavalry was raised in Jaipur in October 1953 by putting together mounted elements of cavalry regiments of the erstwhile princely states of India.
• Rich in sporting history, the regiment accounts for one Padma Shri, 10 Arjuna Awards, 11 Asian Games medals and a raft of representations at the Polo World Cup and international equestrian competitions. 

Foot Notes:
Chief of the Army Staff : General Manoj Mukund Naravane
Chief of Defence staff: General Bipin Rawat
Commander-in-chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh

7. Borrowing limit of states raised from 3% of Gross State Domestic Product to 5% in 2020-21

• The government has decided to increase the borrowing limits of states from 3% to 5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the year 2020-21.
• The state governments, so far, have borrowed only 14% of the limit which is authorised to them while 86% of the limit remains unutilized.
• The finance minister said that part of the borrowing will be linked to specific reforms like increasing job creation through investment and promoting urban development, health and sanitation. 
• Rs 15000 crore have been announced for states, essential items, testing labs and kits, along with rolling out of teleconsultation services, the launch of Aarogya Setu app and protection to health care workers with adequate PPEs.

8. ISRO directs startups to build local tech for Gaganyaan mission

• India's space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has directed the startups to develop tools and machines for its maiden human space flight Gaganyaan-1 mission. ISRO focuses to potentially help them build products and solutions that they can exploit commercially. The move is expected to open up opportunities for new types of companies to come up in India
• Amid lockdown, ISRO has identified a set of 17 technologies that to develop locally at lower costs for use in its Gaganyaan missions. ISRO has opened up its facilities to companies like Larson & Toubro and HAL to build its polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).

Foot Notes: About ISRO
Founded: 15 Aug 1969
Headquarters: Bengaluru, India
Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
Chairman: Kailasavadivoo Sivan

9. Centre Approves Modified Project Report Of Ujh Dam In Jammu And Kashmir

• The centre has given approval to a modified detailed project report (DPR) of the Ujh Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 9,167 crore.
• The Central Advisory Committee for consideration of techno-economic viability of major and medium irrigation, flood control and multipurpose project proposals accepted the project proposal subject to certain conditions.
• The proposal was approved keeping in view its strategic importance from Indus Waters Treaty angle for utilisation and regulation of waters flowing across the border.
• The modified Ujh MPP is located on river Ujh, one of the main tributaries of river Ravi, in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. A 116.00 m high dam is proposed at the river with full reservoir level (FRL) at 608 m.

Foot Notes: About J&K
Capital: Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)
Lt. Governor: G. C. Murmu

10. Iran’s OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili passes away after brain haemorrhage

• Iran’s OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili died after suffering a brain hemorrhage and spending nearly two weeks in a coma.Kazempour, 68, had served as Iran’s governor to OPEC since 2013 and was seen as a key aide to Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh.
• Kazempour Ardebili was a key figure in Iran’s oil industry and served as the country’s deputy foreign minister and deputy oil minister in the 1980s. 
• He was ambassador to Japan in the early 1990s, while at the same time serving as OPEC governor.

Foot Notes: About Iran
Capital: Tehran
Currency: Iranian rial
President: Hassan Rouhani

About OPEC(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries):
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
Founded: September 1960, Baghdad, Iraq
Secretary-General: Mohammed Barkindo