Current Affairs 23rd May 2017

Current Affairs 23rd May 2017 - Important Points

• 19 killed in suspected terror attack following pop concert in - Manchester, UK
• Petroleum Minister co-chairs India OPEC Institutional Dialogue at - Vienna
• US, six Gulf countries sign MoU to - Curb financing terror organisations
• Hindi Advisory Committee recommends - State encouragement to teach Hindi voluntarily
• Series of projects in Gujarat inaugurated by - PM Modi
• Two Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers signed by - CBDT
• Second largest steel producer in the world - India
• Sand Mining in Narmada River banned by - MP Government
• India’s Rohan Chakravarty wins - WWF International President’s Award
• Free Wi-Fi facility at 28 Railway Stations inaugurated by - Railway Minister
• Environment Ministry charge taken by - Harsh Vardhan
• NASA names bacterium found on ISS after - APJ Abdul Kalam
• High speed Tejas Express launched by - Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu
• UK Humanitarian Award won by - Jacqueline Fernandez
• English Premier League's Player of the Year - N'Golo Kante
• US President calls for complete isolation of - Iran
• Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan to - Lift Federation Cup
• The Largest map of Universe ever created by - Astronomers
•  Intel International Science Award 2017 in US won by - India's Prashant Ranganathan

Current Affairs 23rd May 2017 - Details

19 killed in suspected terror attack following pop concert in - Manchester, UK

Nineteen people have been killed and about 50 injured in a blast at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom. Witnesses said they heard two loud bangs, reported to be in the foyer followed by the pop concert by Ariana Grande. Greater Manchester Police said there are a number of confirmed casualities and others are injured. The explosion cause is unknown but the North West Counter Terrorism Unit is treating it as a possible terrorist incident.

Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, has been closed and all trains are cancelled till further notice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attack in Manchester. In a tweet, Modi said, he is pained by the attack and India's thoughts and prayers are with the deceased families.

 Petroleum Minister co-chairs India OPEC Institutional Dialogue at - Vienna

Dharmendra Pradhan, the Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas co-chaired the 2nd India-OPEC Institutional Dialogue at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headquarters in Vienna, Austria  on 22nd May 2017. Pradhan held a one-to-one meeting with secretary General of OPEC Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo. Later on, he also discussed bilateral issues of interest at a delegation level dialogue.

He also highlighted India's steps that include timely payments and the honour that India provides to all its contractual commitments, Pradhan demanded acknowledgement through a discount at prices for large volume that India imports.

He said that for a long time OPEC subsidised western buyers at the cost of Asian buyers. The meeting took place two days prior to the OPEC Ministerial meeting that is scheduled to be held on 25th May 2017. OPEC is a grouping of 13 oil producing nations.

Key Highlights

• Pradhan highlighted the importance of India – OPEC engagement and discussed the production effects cut of 1.8 mbpd by OPEC and non-OPEC countries on the global oil market volatility.
• He informed the chairman that India had been and continued to be a reliable customer of OPEC countries, the only big economy where the demand for crude oil continues to increase each year.
• Underlining the importance of the market, Pradhan re-iterated the need to intense bilateral dialogue to change the nature of engagement from a buyer-seller relationship to an Energy Partnership.
• He called for understanding the consumers perspective and the demand centers and the changes that have taken place in these demand centers.
• Higher crude prices would decrease growth rate which will result in slowing down the demand for crude oil.
• The Minister was accompanied by Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Indian Ambassador in Vienna and CEOs of seven large refiners of India, both from the public and private sector including IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, MRPL, HMEL, Reliance and Essar. The CEOs also emphasised their points of view during the OPEC meeting.
• It was mutually agreed that India will host the next meeting in 2018.

US, six Gulf countries sign MoU to - Curb financing terror organisations

The United States and six Gulf countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to curb financing terror organisations like Islamic State,  Al-Qaeda, Hizbollah, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and the Haqqani Network on 23rd May 2017. 

The MoU was signed by the US president Donald Trump and six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh signed this MoU. These six Gulf Countries are Bahrain, Oman, Qatar,Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

MoU Highlights

• All seven countries together aim to establish Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC).
• The Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre will increase existing tools and cooperation with partners in the Gulf to forcefully address evolving threats.
• These seven countries planned to identify, track and share information regarding terrorist financial networks and related activity of mutual concern.

Hindi Advisory Committee recommends - State encouragement to teach Hindi voluntarily

The Hindi Advisory Committee recommended  on 22nd May 2017 that states should be encouraged to teach Hindi voluntarily instead of directing them to compulsorily teach the language in classes IX and X.

Committee recommendations 

• The members asserted that the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology should prepare technical terminology in trilingual form i.e. English, Regional languages and Hindi.
• The committee expressed that the ministry should increase the original Hindi correspondence in the Regions 'A' 'B' and 'C' in official use of Hindi.
• The Committee also emphasized that to increase the use of Hindi, simple and popular words should be used instead of difficult Hindi words.
• 18 offices located in regions 'A' 'B' and 'C' were awarded Rajbhasha Shields for doing excellent work in Official Language implementation in the meeting. 
• Two offices located in Tamil Nadu were awarded for doing excellent work in the Official Language Hindi implementation.

Series of projects in Gujarat inaugurated by - PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects of the Kandla Port in Kutch district of Gujarat on 22nd May 2017.

Addressing the gathering on this occasion, the Prime Minister said that infrastructure, efficiency and transparency are the major pillars of economic growth. He said good ports are important for the progress of India and Kandla has emerged as one of the finest ports in Asia. Modi thanked the Kandla people for the memorable welcome.

Projects are -

Construction of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Center, 14th and 16th Cargo berths, Railway Bridge at Sal junction, Mechanised fertiliser handling facility and purchase of two mobile harbour crane.

Two Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers signed by - CBDT

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed two Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APA) with Indian taxpayers on 22nd May 2017. The two Advance Pricing Agreements signed pertain to chip design and development of embedded software and Information technology sectors of the economy. After the signing of these two APAs, the number of APAs signed in Financial Year 2017-18 is now four. The progress of the APA Scheme is directly proportional to the Union Government’s commitment to encourage a non-adversarial tax regime. 

More about Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) Scheme

• In 2012,The APA Scheme was introduced in the Income-tax Act, 1961 and in 2014,the Rollback Provisions were introduced.
• The scheme aims to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and setting the prices of international transactions in advance for the maximum of five future years.
• Further, the taxpayer has the option to roll-back the APA for four preceding years, by which, total nine years of tax certainty is provided.
• Since its establishment, the APA scheme has showcased a lot of interest from taxpayers that has resulted in filing of over 700 applications in about five years.

Second largest steel producer in the world - India

India overtook Japan to become the second-largest steel producer in the world in 2016,as per the data released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) at a annual conference in Tokyo, Japan in May 2017.

Important Highlights

• India’s stainless steel production rose to 3.32 million tons in 2016. The data showed a hike of about 9 percent over 3.0 million tons achieved in 2015.
• The top producer of the steel of the world in the year 2016 is China.
• India was the third largest producer of raw steel and the largest producer of sponge iron in the world, in 2014 and 2015.
• The iron and steel industry in India is organised into three categories: main producers, other major producers and secondary producers.
• The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) is a non-profit research organisation found in 1996.

Sand Mining in Narmada River banned by - MP Government

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ordered an indefinite ban on sand mining in Narmada River on 22nd May 2017. The Minister made the announcement while addressing a press conference in the state’s capital, Bhopal.

Important Highlights

• It would be working along with experts from the IIT-Kharagpur in developing a blueprint for scientific ways of mining in the river.
• Its report would confirm how much sand can be safely mined from the river without causing any damage to it.
• The committee is expected to take at least four to six months to come up with its suggestions in the scientific mining.
• The state government’s decision to ban sand mining in the river comes just a week after Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi revealed the Union 
• government’s comprehensive action plan to conserve river Narmada at its origin point in Amarkantak in the Anuppur district of MP.
• The river, originates from Amarkantak and travels over 1000 km across 16 districts of MP, is considered the lifeline of the state.
• The CM of the state has imposed a blanket ban on the use of all kinds of machines for mining from the remaining rivers in the state. 
• To deal with the resulting sand scarcity, the government has decided to promote the use of manufactured sand,made by crushing stone.

India’s Rohan Chakravarty wins - WWF International President’s Award

Rohan Chakravarty, Indian wildlife and environment cartoonist won 2017 WWF International President’s Award in May 2017. He has been honoured for his efforts to inspire change and attitudes towards nature. Chakravarty, under Green Humour banner, runs a series of cartoons on nature conservation issues.

Key Highlights

• It is possibly one of the largest cartoon collections in the genre in India today.
• It is also the first Indian comic strip to be distributed internationally.
• The WWF International President’s Award 2017 was presented in Manado, Indonesia.
• The WWF International President’s Award is the global conservation organization’s top honour to recognize outstanding leadership in young conservationists.
• It acknowledges and encourages outstanding achievements of young people under the age of 30 who are making significant contributions towards conservation of nature.

Do you know?

Green Humour is published across several wildlife and environment magazines and newspapers.

Free Wi-Fi facility at 28 Railway Stations inaugurated by - Railway Minister

Minister of Railways, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated free Wi-Fi facility at 28 stations on the Konkan Railway on 21st May 2017. The provision has been made possible through a tie-up between the broadband and internet service provider SYSCON/Joister and Indian Railways.

Key Highlights

• The free internet would be available at a speed of 2 Mbps for 24 hrs. This initiative is in line with the Union government’s Digital India campaign.
• The service providers, SYSCON/JOISTER, which are already providing JOISPOT brand Wi-Fi in Pune & Mumbai institutes, have undertaken the project as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.
• The 24 hrs wi-fi facility will cover the station entrance and the surrounding area with unlimited data download.
• To access the free Wi-fi, users would have to open the Joispot mobile app and register using their name and mobile number and request for one time password (OTP).
• The facility will be provided at 28 stations from KOLAD to MADURE in the starting phase.
• Around 300 users at bigger stations and about 100 users at smaller stations would be able to access the facility at a time.
• The provision focuses to help the commuters and tourists on the Indian Railways to access important information and to use their time productively while waiting for trains at railway stations. 
• It is a step towards making India smarter.

Environment Ministry charge taken by - Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister of Science and Technology, Harsh Vardhan took over the additional charge of Environment Ministry on 22nd May 2017. Harsh Vardhan filed the seat left vacant after the death of Anil Madhav Dave, who passed away on 18th May after suffering cardiac arrest. 

Important Highlights 

• Harsh Vardhan planted a sapling on the premises of the ministry in the memory of Dave after taking the charge.
• Dave was about to take the final call on the approval of genetically modified mustard.
• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a body of the ministry that evaluates genetically modified crops, had recommended the commercial use of GM mustard on 11th May 2017.
• It was then left to the environment minister to take a final call on that issue.
• GM mustard, which was first developed in the early 2000s, was one of the first genetically modified food crops to be considered for commercial use.
• GM mustard is facing heavy criticism from environmentalists, anti-GM activists and the RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

NASA names bacterium found on ISS after - APJ Abdul Kalam

A team of scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) named a new organism after A P J Abdul Kalam, a former President of India in May 2017. The new organism is a bacterium, found only on the International Space Station (ISS) and has not been found on Earth. The bacterium has been named as Solibacillus kalamii to honour the late president APJ Abdul Kalam, who was also an aerospace scientist.

Key highlights

• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California researcherss discovered the new bacterium on filters installed on the ISS.
• The filter on which the new bug was found were on board the ISS for 40 months.
• Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior research scientist at the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group at JPL, published the discovery in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology in 2017.
• His main job is to monitor the station environment so that harmful bugs do not proliferate. 

High speed Tejas Express launched by - Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu launched high speed, air-conditioned Tejas Express,  a premium luxury train that will run from Mumbai to Goa on 22nd May 2017. The train will operate five days a week during non-monsoon period and three days in a week during monsoon period.

More about Tejas Express

• It encompasses ultra-modern amenities like Wi-Fi, CCTV, fire and smoke detection facilities,on-board infotainment,tea and coffee vending machine etc.
• It is India's first premium train that is capable of running at 200 kms per hour hence named as Aeroplane on Tracks.However, due to rail tracks constraints, it will run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
• It has automatic entrance door,and manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala.
• Tejas Express will operate between Mumbai and Karmali (Goa). It will have stops at Thane, Panvel, Ratnagiri, Dadar, and Kudal stations.
• There is Braille help installed for visually challenged passengers in the train.
• The train has bio-vacuum toilets facility in all the coaches. It also has hand dryers, water level indicators and touch-less water taps.

UK Humanitarian Award won by - Jacqueline Fernandez

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez was awarded with the International Humanitarian Award in Editor's Choice category of Asian Voice Charity Awards on 19th May 2017. The award recognises charity organisations work in the United Kingdom (UK) and abroad.

She was awarded for her philanthropic work in India. She has been working with the charity 'Habitat for Humanity' from last five years. This organisation works to help people to live with dignity by giving them homes to live in. 

Do you know?

writer Jeffrey Archer was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to various charity organisations over the years.

English Premier League's Player of the Year - N'Golo Kante

French midfielder N'Golo Kante was named the Player of the Year by English Premier League on 21st May 2017. He has earlier also grabbed the Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

More about N’Golo Kante

• Born on 29th March 1991, N'Golo Kante is a French professional footballer.
• Kante plays as a central midfielder for English club Chelsea and the France national team.
• Kante made his senior debut at Boulogne and then spent two seasons at Caen, the latter in Ligue 1.
• He joined Leicester City for a fee of £5.6 million and became an integral member of the club's first ever Premier League win in his only season at the club in 2015.
• He joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million and won the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards in his first season with the club in 2016.
• The Premier League Player of the Season is an annual association football award given to players in England.
• The recipient is chosen by a panel assembled of the league's sponsor consisting of members of football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Do you know?

Jamie Vardy was given the Premier League Player in 2015-16.

US President calls for complete isolation of - Iran

Donald Trump United states president called for an international isolation of Iran during his speech at the Arab Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh on 21st May 2017. Trump stated that Iran was fuelling sectarian conflict and terror by funding, training and arming terrorists and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the world.

Main highlights

• Trump condemned Iranian aggression in the region and said that the longest-suffering victims are the Iranian people only.
• He also condemned Syria's Assad saying that he has committed unspeakable crimes with the support of Iran.
• He also stated that 95 percent of the terrorist attacks victims are Muslims themselves.
• He called upon all the Muslim nations to ensure that no terrorist finds sanctuary on their land.

Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan to - Lift Federation Cup

The Bengaluru FC defeated Mohun Bagan 2-0 to lift the Federation Cup at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on 21st May 2017. After both sides played out a 0-0 draw in regulation time, it took two strikes from Bengaluru FC’s Vineeth to settle it at tie.

Interesting Highlights

• Bengaluru Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The club participates in the I-League, India's top-tier football league. It is the first ever club to have won the I-League in its debut season.
• Mumbai-based company, JSW Group currently owns this team.
• The club was made in July 2013.
• The Federation Cup is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India.
• The tournament had started in 1977.
• From its establishment, until I-League was started in 1997, it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India.

The Largest map of Universe ever! created by - Astronomers

Astronomers have created the first map of the large-scale structure of the universe based entirely on the positions of quasars using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Quasars are highly bright and distant points of light. Ashley Ross from the Ohio State University in the US said that the quasars are so bright that they can be seen  all the way across the universe and that is what makes them the ideal objects to use for making the biggest map yet.

Important Highlights

• The extra brightness of the quasars is due to the super- massive black holes found in their centres.
• As matter and energy fall into a quasars’ black hole, they heat up to incredibly high temperatures and start to glow.
• Scientists used the Sloan Foundation Telescope to observe the countless quasars in order to make the map.
• During the first two years of the survey, astronomers measured exact three-dimensional positions of more than 147,000 quasars.

 Intel International Science Award 2017 in US won by - India's Prashant Ranganathan

Prashant Ranganathan, won the world’s largest pre-college science competition 'The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) 2017' in the United States on 20th May 2017. Pratik Naidu from Virginia awarded in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Adam Nayak from Oregon won in Earth and  Environmental Sciences, Karthik Yegnesh from Pennsylvania won in Mathematics and Rahul Subramaniam from Connecticut won in the Microbiology category.

More about Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)

• Created and run by Society for Science & the Public (SSP), Since 1950,ISEF has been honoring young researchers. 
• ISEF is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition sponsored by Intel.
• ISEF this year brought together students from 78 countries.