IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MAY 23, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MAY 23, 2017

1)  PM launches various projects of Kandla Port Trust, Gujarat                                       
i. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has launched various projects of Kandla Port Trust at Gandhidham in Gujarat. 
ii. He unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stone for the construction of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Centre and the development of the 14th and 16th General Cargo Berth.
iii. He handed over Letters of Award for Construction of Interchange-cum-ROB (Railway Bridge) at Kutch Salt Junction, Deployment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes and Mechanization for the handling of fertilizers at Kandla Port.

2) India becomes second largest steel producer in the world                                          

i. India overtook Japan to become the second-largest steel producer in the world after China in 2016, according to data released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF).
ii. India’s stainless steel production rose to 3.32 million tons for 2016 showing an impressive growth of about 9% over 3.0 million tons achieved in 2015.
iii. The data were released at ISSF annual conference in Tokyo, Japan.

3) Free Wi-Fi Facility to be provided at 28 Railway Stations

i. Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has inaugurated the WiFi facility from Kudal Railway Station at 28 Railway Stations of Konkan Railway.
ii. Indian Railways has tied up with M/s SYSCON/JOISTER for provision of 2 Mbps peer to peer 24 hrs FREE Wi-Fi INTERNET bandwidth at 28 stations of Konkan Railway.
iii. This facility will help travelling public, commutes & tourists on Indian Railways to access essential information and they could use their time productively while waiting for trains at railway stations.  This initiative of corporation is a steps towards making a smarter India.

4) HDFC Life launches AI-based insurance email bot 'SPOK'                                          

i. HDFC Life announced the launch of an artificial intelligence-based application 'SPOK' that can automatically read, understand, categorize, prioritize and respond to customer emails sent to the private insurer.
ii. 'SPOK', an insurance email bot, can read customer queries within milliseconds and respond to them.
iii. The deployment of SPOK will improve customer experience, while providing the support staff with the bandwidth to focus on customer satisfaction.

5)Federal Bank launches new trading platform

i. Federal Bank, in association with Geojit, has launched a new trading platform called “Selfie” for customers.
ii. Designed and managed by Geojit, the trading platform will give its users absolute control over their investments with timely research inputs to make sound investment decisions.

6) Israel aerospace industries signs $630 million deal with India

i. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has closed another major deal worth 630 million US dollar with India to supply advanced long-range air and missile defense systems for four ships of the Indian Navy. 

ii. According to State-owned IAI, the contract is for supplying Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) systems.

iii. The LRSAM is a joint development by IAI and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The system provides the ultimate protection against a variety of aerial, naval and airborne threats. The deal, a major boost to the ‘Make in India’ campaign.

7) First draft of nuclear ban treaty released by UN

i. A United Nations-backed panel has publicly released a draft treaty banning the possession and use of all nuclear weapons.
ii. The draft treaty is the culmination of a sustained campaign, supported by more than 130 non-nuclear states, to prohibit nuclear weapons and persuade nuclear-armed states to disarm.
iii. Nine countries that are known to possess nuclear weapons are- the US, UK, Russia, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel has not supported the draft plan.

8)  World Biodiversity Day.

i. 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. 

ii. The theme for 2017 for World Biodiversity Day is “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”

9)India's Rohan Chakravarty won WWF International President’s Award 2017

i. Rohan Chakravarty, a wildlife and environment cartoonist from India, has won WWF International President’s Award 2017 for his efforts to change attitudes towards nature.
ii.The award is the top accolade given by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to recognize leadership in young conservationists who are under the age of 30 from around the world. The award ceremony was held recently in Manado, Indonesia.

10) Indian-born woman elected to City of London Corporation                                       

i. A 43-year-old UK entrepreneur has become the first India-born woman to be elected as a councillor to a ward in the UK. 

ii. Rehana Ameer, who was born and raised in Chennai, contested from Vintry ward in the City of London county as an independent candidate. 

11) Mathunny Mathews, the Real-life Hero of 'Airlift' passes away                                  

i. Indian businessman Mathunny Mathews died aged 81 in Kuwait after being part of the tiny emirate's fortunes and trials for over six decades.
ii. He was known as one of the heroes who made possible the largest civilian evacuation in known history and the main inspiration behind the 2016 Bollywood historical drama Airlift.

12) India's Vaishali wins gold in Asian Blitz Chess Championship
i. India's R Vaishali won the women's title with eight points from nine rounds in the Asian Continental Blitz Chess Championship in Chengdu, China.
ii. Vaishali drew her final round game against Uurtsaikh Uuriintuya of Mongolia to finish half-a-point ahead of Iran's Sarasdat Khademalsharieh and clinch the gold medal.
 iii. The Chennai player with an ELO rating of 2203 had finished third in the Asian Championship event.