Daily Current Affairs Today 16 May 2017

Important Current Affairs Today 16 May 2017: Your daily guide for General Knowledge Preparation

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This article, Current Affairs Today 16 May 2017, includes all Major National, International, Business, and Sports events. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through this article, that is, Current Affairs Today 16 May 2017, we would recommend to you to try 16 May 2017 Current affairs test.

National News
1. Indian develops world’s smallest satellite.

Rifath Sharook, an 18-year-old student from Tamil Nadu, has developed what he claims is the world’s smallest and lightest satellite.
The satellite will be launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on June 21. It weighs only 64 grams.
The satellite is named as ‘Kalam Sat’ , It is named after India’s nuclear scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

2. Bengali made compulsory in West Bengal schools.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee has announced that school students across the state, irrespective of boards, will have to study Bengali as a compulsory subject upto Class 10.
English medium schools will have to make Bengali an optional subject from Class I so that the students can study it either as a second or third language.
This move by the Mamata Banerjee-led government comes after the centre announced the plan to make Hindi compulsory for all CBSE and ICSE students.
Chief Minister of West Bengal – Mamata Banerjee

3. ISRO to launch India’s most powerful, ‘game changer’ rocket.

ISRO will launch its most powerful rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III in June.
With the introduction of the Mark-III, India will not have to rely on expensive foreign carriers to launch payloads above 2.2 tonnes in weight.
Now, with the 640-tonnes GSLV Mark III ISRO can carry up to 4.4 tonnes heavy satellites to space.

4. Govt launches ‘Clean Money’ portal to prevent tax evasion.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has launched the ‘Operation Clean Money’ portal that aims to create a tax-compliant society.
The portal will identify those who have made deposits or purchases not in line with the declared income.
It will also enable transparent Tax Administration by sharing status reports, including an explanation of verification issues, and thematic analysis reports.

International News
1. UN threatens sanctions against N Korea over missile tests.

The UN Security Council has warned North Korea that it may hit it with a new round of sanctions in response to its latest missile launches and urged Pyongyang to stop its nuclear and ballistic missile activity.
UNSC also hinted that it might look at the possibility to tighten the grip on the state’s economy, which is already suffering under a heavy burden of international sanctions.
Headquarters of UNSC – New York, United States
Permanent members of the UNSC – China, France, Russia, UK and US.

2. Ukraine bans Russian social networks.

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has imposed a ban on Russia’s social media networks and internet services as part of economic sanctions against Russia.
Access to Yandex, a Russian equivalent of google and social media sites Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki, will be banned under a decree signed by Petro Poroshenko.
Other websites blocked under the order include those of the cyber security firms Kaspersky Lab and DrWeb.

Business News
1. India 2nd best for renewable energy investment.

India has overtaken the US to become the second-most attractive country after China for renewable energy investment, according to a report by EY.
India was ranked third on last year’s EY renewable energy country attractiveness index.
India’s plan is to build 175 gigawatts in renewable energy generation by 2022 and have renewable energy account for 40% of installed capacity by 2040.

Sports News
1. Tickets for FIFA Under-17 World Cup to start from Rs. 48.

The ticket pricing for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup has been set at Rs. 48 for the first phase of ticket sales.
The matches will be held in six venues, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, Goa and Kochi.
Venue of FIFA Under-17 World Cup – India

2. First 300 Run Stand In Women’s ODIs.

Indian women’s cricket team openers Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut have become the first pair in women’s ODIs to share a 300-plus stand for any wicket.
The duo achieved this feat against Ireland during the 8th match of the quadrangular ODI series in South Africa. Sharma and Raut put up 320 runs in 45.3 overs for the first wicket.
Captain of Indian women’s Cricket team – Mithali Raj

3. Jamsenpa first Indian woman to scale the Mount Everest 4 times.

Anshu Jamsenpa has become the first Indian woman to scale the Mount Everest for the fourth time.
She will attempt a double ascent to the world’s highest peak to make it a total five successful climbs.
If she is successful with her double ascent this time, Jamsenpa will set a record five climbs of Mount Everest.
Jamsenpa scaled the Mount Everest twice in May 2011 and again scaled the peak on May 18 in 2013.

4. Maria Sharapova denied wildcard for French Open.

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has been denied a wildcard for the French Open after failing to qualify on the basis of ranking points.
Currently ranked No. 211, Sharapova had not acquired enough ranking points to earn direct entry into the French Open, leaving her with no opportunity to compete in the first Grand Slam tournament to be contested since her return.
Sharapova returned to the tour last month in Stuttgart, Germany, after a 15-month suspension for a doping violation.
Her suspension, initially a two-year ban, was reduced on appeal last year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled that she had not doped intentionally but was not without fault.