Important Current Affairs 23rd May 2016

India’s Reusable Space Shuttle Launched

• India successfully launched its maiden indigenous winged Reusable Launch Vehicle, RLV from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Re-Usable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator, RLV-TD is aimed at putting satellites into orbit around earth & then re-enter the atmosphere.
• The nine-metre-long rocket weighs 11 tonnes.
• The cost of this project is 95 crore rupees.

Denmark Wins Thomas Cup Badminton Title

• Denmark created history by winning the Thomas Cup Finals for the first time.
• The Danish team upset the favored Indonesians 3-2 in the final in Kunshan,China to take this year’s title.
• Denmark has become the first European country to win the world team title.
• The Thomas Cup is an international men’s badminton competition among member nations of the Badminton World Federation.

Ken Loach Wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

• British director Ken Loach’s film I, Daniel Blake has won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.
• I, Daniel Blake is a drama about a middle-aged widower in northern England who can neither work nor get government benefits after a heart attack.
• Loach previously also won the top award for The Wind That Shakes The Barley.
• The Cannes Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France.

Bedi Appointed As Puducherry Lt.Governor

• BJP leader and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi is appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
• The LG post in the Union territory had been lying vacant for the past two years.
• Bedi is a recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award as well as UN Medal for outstanding service.
• She also earned a law degree at the Delhi University in 1988 & a Ph.D from IIT Delhi’s Department of Social Sciences in 1993.

Obama Land in Vietnam for Historic Visit

• U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Vietnam ahead of a three-day trip.
• It is aimed at sealing the transformation of an old enemy into a new partner.
• Obama aims to boost defense and economic ties with the country.
• He will be the third U.S. president to visit Vietnam since ties were restored in 1995.
• The trip is designed to highlight the President’s continued pivot to Asia.

Hanchinal Wins Award for Crop Research

• RR Hanchinal has been selected for the 6th MS Swaminathan Award.
• He is the Chairperson of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, New Delhi.
• He has also been associated with the Indonesian government as an Advisor for field crop research.
• The award is conferred biennially upon Indian scientists who have worked in India in any branch of agriculture to enhance productivity.

Biological Diversity Day Observed

• The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as international Biological Diversity Day.
• The day is observed to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issue.
• The day underpins peoples’ livelihoods & sustainable development in all areas of activity, including sectors such as agriculture,forestry & tourism.
• The theme 2016 is Mainstreaming Biodiversity;Sustaining People & their Livelihoods.

Jayalalithaa Sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM

• AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa has sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister for second consecutive term.
• Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah administered the oath of office to the Chief Minister and 28 members of the cabinet.
• AIADMK won the elections with 134 of the 232 Assembly seats.
• It was under MG Ramachandra Menon’s rule that AIADMK won two consecutive terms.

Pankaj Wins Asian 6-Red Snooker Title

• Pankaj Advani has created history in Abu Dhabi by clinching the Asian 6-Red Snooker title.
• Advani has become the first in the world to hold both world and continental titles in 6-red snooker at the same time.
• He defeated top-seeded Malaysian Keen Hoh Moh 7-5.
• He won the final in a battle of fluctuating fortunes by keeping his nerves intact.

Nepal Confer Literary Award on Sikkim CM

• Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling was conferred the ‘Yug Kavi Siddhicharan Award’ by Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
• He was awarded for his commendable contributions in promoting Nepali literature in India.
• The event was organised in Kathmandu on the occasion of 105th birth anniversary of the late poet Shrestha.
• He has been awarded twice by the Sikkim Sahitya Parishad.