1) PM launches various projects of Kandla Port Trust, Gujarat
•The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has launched various projects of Kandla Port Trust at Gandhidham in Gujarat. 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.
•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
•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). 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.
•The data were released at ISSF annual conference in Tokyo, Japan. Leading Indian stainless steel players include SAIL, Salem, Jindal Stainless, BRG, Viraj Profiles Ltd, Sunflag Iron and Steel, and Panchmahal steel. K.K. Pahuja- President, Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) has attended the ISSF annual conference in Japan.
3) Tata Sons appoints Saurabh Agrawal as Group CFO
•Tata Sons has appointed Saurabh Agrawal, an investment banker who was formerly with the Aditya Birla Group, as its Group Chief Financial Officer. He will join the company from July 2017. Agrawal, among India’s most successful investment bankers, brings with him over two decades of experience in the capital markets.
•He joins Tata Sons from the Aditya Birla Group, where he was Head of Strategy. Before that, he has been Head of the Corporate Finance Unit of Standard Chartered Bank in India and South Asia, and the Head of the Investment Banking Division in DSP Merrill Lynch.
4) India's Rohan Chakravarty won WWF International President’s Award 2017
•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.
•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. With over 400 cartoons, Chakravarty has one of the largest online cartoon repositories under the banner of Green Humour that centers around environmental issues.
5) Israel aerospace industries signs $630 million deal with India
•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. According to State-owned IAI, the contract is for supplying Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) systems.
•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.
6) India's Vaishali wins gold in Asian Blitz Chess Championship
•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.
•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. The Chennai player with an ELO rating of 2203 had finished third in the Asian Championship event.
