Daily Current Affairs Updates – 22nd May 2017

Daily Current Affairs Updates – 22nd May 2017:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

DAYS TO REMEMBER:

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2017 observed

21 May: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

The 2017 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was observed across the world on 21 May 2017 with an aim to bridge the gap between different cultures. The Day celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

22 May: World Biological Diversity Day

Every year, May 22 is observed as International Day for Biodiversity or World Biodiversity Day. This date commemorates the date of Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity at UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi on 22 May 1992. In 2000, UN General Assembly via resolution 55/201 decided to celebrate World Biodiversity Day on May 22 instead of December 29, which was previously designated as International Biodiversity Day. The theme for 2017 for World Biodiversity Day is “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”.

Anti-terrorism day observed by AIR Jalandhar today

Anti terrorism day was observed by the employees of All India Radio Jalandhar today. Officers and employees took a pledge to safeguard the unity and integrity of the country and to work for communal harmony and peace. Employees also pledged that they would oppose all forms of terrorism and violence.

Haryana launches e-textbook portal for school students

The Haryana chief minister ‘Manohar Lal’ has launched ‘e-textbook portal’ for school students. Now, Students can download school books instantly from this e-textbook portal of the Haryana School Education Board. 26 textbooks (11 books of class IX, nine books of class X and three books each of classes XI and XII) have been uploaded on the portal and these can be easily converted into audio files. The portal also provides a facility to highlight certain portions of the e-textbooks making it easier for students to study.

State: Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh

Chief Minister : Manohar Lal Khattar

Governor : Kaptan Singh Solanki

High speed Tejas Express to be flagged off today

The high speed, air-conditioned Tejas Express will be flagged off today from Mumbai to Goa. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will flag off the premium luxury train through video conferencing. Having ultra-modern amenities like LED TV, wi-fi and CCTV, Tejas Express is a state of the art train capable of running at 200 kms per hour. However, due to constraints related to rail tracks, it will run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour.

Free Wi-Fi facility inaugurated at 28 Railway Stations

On May 21, Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu inaugurated free Wi-Fi facility at 28 Railway Stations of Konkan Railway from Kudal Railway Station in Maharashtra. Indian Railways has tied by with SYSCON/JOISTER for providing 2 Mbps peer-to-peer 24 hrs Free Wi-Fi bandwidth at 28 railway stations of Konkan Railway.

Rajasthan: GRAM to begin in Kota from May 24

The Rajasthan government will hold a series of seminars for agriculture experts and farmers during the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) which will be held in Kota from Wednesday. Director at the Horticulture Department Vijay Pal Singh said, the opening event will be attended by Senior Agriculture Economist at the World Bank, Edward Bresnyan, and Water Resources Minister Ram Pratap.
State : Rajasthan
Capital : Jaipur

Chief minister : Vasundhara Raje

Governor : Kalyan Singh

INTERNATIONAL

Hassan Rouhani re-elected as President of Iran

Hassan Rouhani was on 20 May 2017 re-elected as the President of Iran after winning the Iranian presidential elections 2017. This will be his second term as Iran's President. Rouhani won his second term by presenting himself as the candidate of change and social freedoms that ended many sanctions. Rouhani was first elected as Iran's President in 2013. He won 2013 elections by pledging to end Iran’s isolation and improve civil rights.

Country : Iran

Capital : Tehran

Currency: Iranian rial

President: Hassan Rouhani

Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei

Study on Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism (CRMM) for Solar Power GenerationProjects in Solar Rich Countries Commissioned

India along with countries like Argentina, Burkina-Faso, Chad, France, Ivory Coast, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Yemen has jointly commissioned a study to define and structure a Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism (CRMM) for solar power generation projects in solar rich countries. The commissioning of the study is aimed at dramatic reduction in the cost of finance for renewable energy and the overall price of electricity. The exercise is part of the international efforts aimed at implementing the the Paris Declaration of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) adopted on 30 November 2015.

US President calls for international isolation of Iran

US President Donald Trump today urged Muslim countries to deny sanctuary to extremists and called for international isolation of Iran, which he accused of fuelling "sectarian conflict and terror". Trump said in a major speech in Saudi Arabia, that from Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms and trains terrorists, militias and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region. "Until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together to isolate it and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they so richly deserve, the US President said.
Country: US.

Capital: Washington, D.C.

President: Donald Trump

Currency: United States Dollar

UNSC to hold meeting tomorrow in response to North Korea's missile test

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow in response to yesterday’s ballistic missile test by North Korea. Uruguay's mission to the UN said, the meeting was requested by the United States, South Korea and Japan. South Korean military said, the missile was fired from South Pyeongan province and flew about 500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. It was Pyongyang's second missile test in a week and 10th this year.
Country: North Korea
Capital: Pyongyang
Currency: North Korean won
Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

New technique to help deaf-blind 'watch' TV

Researchers from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have invented a technique that types Braille in real time and helps deaf-blind people "watch" television without intermediaries. The technique developed under "PervasiveSUB Project" compiles all the subtitles of television channels and sends them to a central server which forwards them to smartphones or tablets.

AWARDS AND HONOURS :

Jacqueline Fernandez wins UK Humanitarian Award

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez was on 19 May 2017 awarded with the International Humanitarian Award in Editor's Choice category of Asian Voice Charity Awards. The award recognises the work of charity organisations in the United Kingdom (UK) and abroad. Fernandez was awarded for her philanthropic work in India. She has been working with the charity 'Habitat for Humanity for last five years. This organisation works to help people to live with dignity by giving them homes to live in.

India's Prashant Ranganathan wins Intel International Science Award 2017 in US

Prashant Ranganathan, an Indian, on 20 May 2017 won the world’s largest pre-college science competition 'The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) 2017' in the United States. Prashant Ranganathan hails from Jamshedpur city of Jharkhand, India. Ranganathan received the award in the Environmental Engineering category for his project ‘Biodegradation of Chlorpyrifos using native bacteria’. His project will help farmers in biodegrading the pesticide which is plaguing the country.

SPORTS NEWS:

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

French midfielder N'Golo Kante on 21 May 2017 was named the Player of the Year by English Premier League. Kante saw off competition from teammates Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta, Tottenham Hotspur trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen, Everton's Romelu Lukaku, and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez to clinch the award. The French midfielder has earlier also grabbed the Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan to lift Federation Cup

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

India wins all 10 Gold Medals at South Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships

The South Asian Junior Table Tennis championship was held in Mount Lavinia, near Colombia in Sri Lanka. In a stunning performance, the paddlers from India have won all the 10 Gold Medals on offer in this tournament. Apart from 10 gold medals, the Indian participants have also won 14 medals, thus taking the medal tally to 14.

Mumbai Indians win IPL title for third time
In Cricket, Mumbai Indians lifted the Indian Premier League trophy for the third time, as they recorded a scintillating 1-run win against Rising Pune Supergiant in the title clash at Hyderabad last night. Opting to bat, Mumbai had posted a modest 129 for 8, with Krunal Pandya top scoring with 47. In reply, Pune got off to a decent start and were 71 for 2 in 12 overs. They needed 11 runs from the last over with 7 wickets in hand, before Mumbai paceman Mitchell Johnson took the wickets of Manoj Tiwary and Steven Smith on successive deliveries.

Alexander Zverev beat Novak Djokovic to clinch Italian Open Men’s Singles title
Alexander Zverev on 21 May 2017 defeated World No. 2 Novak Djokovic 2 6-4 6-3 to win the Italian Open. The final was held in Rome, Italy. With the win, Zverev became the youngest Masters 1000 titlist since a 19-year-old Djokovic won the 2007 Miami Open presented by Itau.