TNPSC Current Affairs May 15-21, 2016 (Weekly Current Affairs in English)

TNPSC Current Affairs May 15-21, 2016 
(Weekly Current Affairs in English)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: WORLD

1. G-7 summit 2016
  • G7 Finance Ministers and central bank governors have held discussions on the world economy, ahead of next week's G7 summit to be held in Ise-Shima, central Japan. 
  • The first day of the 2-day meeting ended in the northern Japanese city of Sendai 19.05.2016.  Among world economic issues that they have discussed are the slowing Chinese economy and lower crude oil prices. 
  • They also discussed ways of dealing with tax evasion and questionable tax avoidance in reaction to disclosures in the Panama Papers.
2. UN Honours over 100 Peacekeepers who Lost lives while Serving
  • The United Nations has honored peacekeepers, who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag around the globe. 
  • A wreath-laying ceremony in honor of all men and women who lost their lives in peacekeeping operations worldwide was held at UN headquarters in New York. More than 3,400 United Nations peacekeepers have died since 1948.
3. Billion people face global flooding risk by 2060
  • A British aid charity is warning that by 2060 more than a billion people worldwide will live in cities at risk of catastrophic flooding as a result of climate change. 
  • BBC reports quoting a study by Christian Aid that the US, China and India are among the countries most threatened. It says the Indian cities of Kolkata and Mumbai will be most at risk. The eight most vulnerable cities on the list are all in Asia, followed by Miami in the US. 
  • The study says that the priority should be to rapidly reduce carbon emissions and limit temperature increase by switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy.
4. Egypt Air crash
  • Egyptian military found the wreckage of the crashed Egypt Air aircraft in the Mediteranean Sea. The ill-fated plane flying to Cairo from Paris went down with 66 people on board 19.05.2016.
5. ROANU’ cyclonic storm moves towards Bangladesh
  • The cyclonic storm “Roanu” has been named by Maldives.The word “Roanu” means “coir rope” in Maldivian.
  • The cyclonic storm ‘ROANU’ over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal moved east-northeastwards and lay centred at about 160km east of Paradip in Odisha and 435 km southwest of Chittagong in Bangladesh over northwest Bay of Bengal.

6. Indian-American student wins prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award
  • A 15-year old Indian-American student has won the prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award for creating a device for people who can not walk well through disease or injury. 
  • Syamantak Payra, a student at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards worth 50,000 dollars for developing a low cost electronically aided knee brace that allows an individual with a weakened leg to walk more naturally. 
7. World Hypertension Day being observed on 17.05.2016
  • Nearly one billion people are estimated to be affected by Hypertension worldwide, and this figure may increase to 1.5 billion by 2025; right treatment and lifestyle can help in containing hypertension. 
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INDIA

8. 3D structural analysis of Jagannath Temple in Odisha 
  • The Centre has said it would like to undertake a 3D structural analysis of the over 800-year-old Jagannath Temple in Puri to further strengthen it and assured the Odisha government that the 12th century shrine will remain intact.
9. Six central universities likely to start department of yoga
  • Six central universities, one each in the north, south, east, west, central and northeast are likely to start department of yoga from the forthcoming academic session.
  • These are Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Visva Bharati in Shantiniketan, Central University of Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Manipur University in Imphal and, either the Central University of Rajasthan in Ajmer or Central University of Gujarat in Gandhinagar.
10. President Pranab Mukherjee to visit China from May 24
  • President Pranab Mukherjee will be on a state visit to China from May 24 to May 27.
  • He will be accompanied by a high level delegation which includes Union Minister for Textiles, Santosh Gangwar, 4 members of Parliament and heads of prominent higher education institutes of the country. 
  • During the visit the President will be holding bilateral meetings with top Chinese leadership including his counterpart Xi Jin Ping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. President will also address a gathering of academicians and students in Beijing.
11. Buddha Purnima being celebrated on 21.05.2016
  • Buddha Purnima is being celebrated 21.05.2016. Many Buddhists visit temples on Vesak to listen to monks give talks and recite ancient verses. 
12. World's Largest single rooftop solar power plant 
  • World's largest single rooftop solar power plant of 11.5 Mw capacity has been inaugurated in Beas near Amritsar in Punjab.
  • Spread at a single rooftop stretch of 42 acre at Dera Baba Jaimal, the project was synchronised earlier this year. The plant was dedicated to the people of the state by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The project would generate clean and green energy sufficient to power approximately 8000 homes. 
14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi  two-day visit to Iran on 22nd of this month. 
  • During the visit, the Prime Minister will call on the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and will hold talks on a wide range of subjects of mutual interest with President Dr. Hassan Rouhani. 
  • The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran will provide a timely thrust to the ongoing efforts of the two countries and their business entities to expand bilateral cooperation and mutually benefit from new opportunities in the wake of lifting of secondary sanctions against Iran earlier this year. India and Iran share longstanding civilization ties.
15. Draft National Policy for Women 2016 out
  • The policy, Draft National Policy for Women 2016  has been released for the first time since 2001. The policy has been placed in public domain for consultation with all stakeholders including NGOs and civil societies among others.
  • The policy will address issues related to widows and universal health benefits for all women apart from dealing with issues of single women will act as a roadmap over the next 15-20 years for dealing with women's issues, ranging from discrimination against women to the expectations of the new emerging aspirational woman.
16. Vai charik Mahakumbh at Ninaura, Ujjain
  • An International Conference on the Right Way of Living, a three-day (12.05.2016 -14.05.2016) Vai charik Mahakumbh has been organised in Ninaura, Ujjain from Thursday. 
  • The scholars gatherd at Ujjain says that Kumbh is not only a fair but a congretaion of diverse thoughts that need to be disseminated. Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena is a special invitee. Dignitaries from 41 countries will be attending the conclave.
17. ISRO Chairman UR Rao honoured with  'International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Hall of Fame'. 
  • Eminent space scientist Prof UR Rao will be honoured by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) with the 2016 'IAF Hall of Fame Award" for his outstanding contribution to the progress of astronautics within the framework of the IAF activities.
  • The IAF award is intended to reward personalities for their contributions to the progress of astronautics and the Federation.
18. BJP govt completes its two years of governance 
  • BJP govt completes its two years of governance On 16th May, 2016, BJP-led NDA under the leadership of Narendra Modi registered a landslide victory, virtually decimating the Congress in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. 
  • As the leads poured in on May 16, 2014, it was clear that BJP was steaming ahead to country's biggest election victory in 30 years. As results for all 543 Lok Sabha seats were announced, the NDA secured 336 seats, not only far ahead of the half-way mark but also relishing a victory whose scale they had not themselves anticipated.
19. Trial run of Delhi Metro's new driverless trains flagged off
  • Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged off the trial run of Delhi Metro's new driverless trains 18.05.2016. This train equipped to travel on Unattended Train Operations mode. 
  • The new trains will undergo rigorous trials to ensure that they are ready for smooth operations after the commissioning of the 58-km-long Mukundpur- Shiv Vihar and the 34-km-long Janakpuri (West)- Botanical Garden corridors, by the end of this year, although initially, train operators will run them.
20. India successfully test fires Supersonic Prithvi-II missile
  • India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile Prithvi-II from a test range off Odisha coast. 
  • The missile was launched at 11.15 a.m. on 15.05.2016, from the launching complex off the coast of Odisha. With a strike range of 350 km, the surface-to-surface Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. 
  • The success of Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile test now strengthens India's position in the very exclusive Ballistic Missile Defence club of the US, Russia and Israel.
21. National Dengue Day observed on 16.05.2016
  • The Government of India has declared May 16 as National Dengue Day, a day to mark the toll the deadly disease has been taking in terms of lives and to reaffirm nationwide efforts to tackle the scourge by using both education and medical intervention. 
22. Center spent over Rs 500 crore on saving desi cows in country
  • Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the Center has spent more than Rs 500 crore on saving desi cows in country. Addressing a national conference on Gaushalas in New Delhi 16.05.2016, Mr. Singh said the present government started National Gokul Mission. 
  • He said first time after independence Gokul village has been established in the country. On the occasion, Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar said he has ordered Animal Welfare Board to check and report how cruelty can be stopped against cows during transportation.
23. Sikkim celebrated statehood day
  • Sikkim on 16.05.2016 celebrated its 41st anniversary of joining the Indian Union..
  • It was on this day in 1975 that this erstwhile kingdom joined the Indian Union as its 22nd State following the 36th Constitution Amendment. A function was held in capital Gangtok to mark the day.
CURRENT AFFAIRS SPORTS

24. Indian women win silver medal in Asian Team squash Championships
  • Indian women's squash team have won the Silver medal in the Asian Team squash Championships. In the final played at Taipei in Chinese Taipei today, they lost to Malaysia by a 0-2 margin. India's performance was better than their bronze-medal finish in the earlier edition of the championship.
25. Max Verstappen becomes youngest F1 winner in history at Spanish Grand Prix
  • Dutch teenager, Max Verstappen, became Formula One's youngest race winner. Max Verstappen won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix in his debut race for Red Bull at the age of 18, becoming the youngest-ever winner of a Grand Prix and the first racing under the Dutch flag. 
  • Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel came second and third after Verstappen. It was a close competition all through the race in barcelona and verstappen made his two stop strategy work to seal a thrilling victory. 
26. India lose to China in semi-final of Uber Cup
  • Indian women's team settled for a bronze medal after suffering a 0-3 defeat at the hands of defending champions China in the semifinals of the Uber Cup badminton championship, at Kunshan in China.
  • After top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu went down narrowly against their respective opponents in the two singles match, Jwala Gutta and N Sikki Reddy also bit the dust in the first doubles, ending India's campaign. 
27. Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to win first Italian Open title

Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic on clay for the first time to win the Italian Open Men's Singles Tennis title. The third-ranked Murray defeated the top-ranked Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 yesterday. It's Murray's first title in Rome and it comes exactly a week before the French Open begins. 

28. Taiwan Open Athletics Championship: Dutee bags second gold
  • Dutee Chand has bagged her second gold by winning the women's 200 metres race at the Taiwan Open Athletics Championships. At Taoyuan City in Taiwan 20.05.2016, India made a clean sweep of medals in the race. 
  • Dutee clocked 23.52 seconds in the 200 metre sprint final to win the gold while compatriots Srabani Nanda and H M Jyothi accounted for the silver and bronze. Dutee had won a gold in the women's 100 metre dash 19.05.2016 in a slow time of 11.50 seconds, thereby failing to qualify for Rio Olympics, for which she needed to touch 11.32 seconds.
29. Federer pulls out of French Open 2016
  • World number three and former champion Roger Federer pulls out of the French Open tennis tournament, citing fitness issues.
  • Federer's withdrawal ends his record streak of playing at 65 consecutive grand slam tournaments. 
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