Current Affairs 12th May 2017

Current Affairs 12th May 2017 - Important Points

• Who Flagged Off four Clean Himalaya Expeditions ? - Vijay Goel 
• India replacing its Research station in - Antarctica
• Who has been sworn in as President of South Korea? - Moon Jae-in 
• World Migratory Bird Day 2017 observed on - 10th May 2017
• International Day of Vesak celebrations in Colombo attended by - Narendra Modi
• International Court of Justice stays - Kulbhushan Jadhav's hanging
• Highest wicket taker in Womens One Day Internationals - Jhulan Goswami

Current Affairs 12th May 2017 - Details

Who Flagged Off four Clean Himalaya Expeditions ? - Vijay Goel 

Vijay Goel Sports Minister flagged off four Clean Himalaya expeditions and a Medical Mountaineering expedition to Mt Satopanth (7075 Mtrs) on 9th May 2017 at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)in Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Goel said that such initiatives by the IMF will not only help in ensuring safe practices during conducting adventure activities but will also add the skill levels of the youth, enhancing their employability, discipline and courage.

 He further added that adventure tourism holds great potential in enhancing the country’s economic growth.

Important Highlights

• IMF has launched four Himalaya Cleaning expeditions to popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh,Kashmir, Uttarakhand & Arunachal.
• This expedition is an effort to extend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to the Himalayas.
• ONGC sponsored it as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
• The course has received approval from the Medical Commission of the UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation).
• The team led by experienced mountaineer and Professor Anil Gurtoo will comprise 25 non-medical mountaineers and 25 trekkers.
• The total duration of the expedition would be from 8th May 2017 to 10th June 2017.

India replacing its Research station in - Antarctica

India is replacing its Maitri research station in Antarctica with a new one in the next three to four years. The same was announced by Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences on 9th May 2017. He made the announcement while speaking on the sidelines of a programme to formally commence ship building by Titagarh Wagons Ltd in Kolkatta, India. He also stated that India has planned to expand its research activity in the coldest continent and a new ship, with a special ice-cutting facility, will be procured for the purpose.

He added further the India is also drafting its own laws to safeguard its interest in Antarctica, as it is currently governed by international laws.

Interesting Highlights

• The Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program under the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India control.
• It was started in 1981 with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica.
• This program gained global acceptance with India's signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983.
• Gangotri base was replaced by the Maitri base from 1990.
• Bharati is the newest base commissioned in 2015, constructed out of 134 shipping containers.

Do you know?

 India has carried out over 30 scientific expeditions to the Antarctic as of 14th October 2010.

Who has been sworn in as President of South Korea? - Moon Jae-in 

Liberal politician Moon Jae-in was sworn in as South Korea's President in a ceremony at the National Assembly Seoul on 10th May 2017. Moon won South Korea's presidential election in a victory that ends nearly a decade of its conservative rule. Official results showed that Moon won a decisive victory with the highest turnout in 20 years despite drizzly weather 2220in South Korea. He won 41.1% of the votes compared with 24% for conservative candidate Hong Joon-pyo and 21.4% for centrist candidate Ahn Cheol-soo.

More about Moon Jae-in

• Born on 24th January 1953, Moon Jae-in is the 12th and current President of South Korea.
• Moon Jae-in is also a former human rights attorney.
• Moon Jae-in was also former chief-of-staff to the late President Roh Moo-hyun.
• Moon Jae-in served as the opposition leader of the Minjoo Party of Korea from 2015 to 2016.
• Prior to that, he was the Democratic United Party's candidate for the presidential election in 2012.

World Migratory Bird Day 2017 observed on - 10th May 2017

The World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2017 was observed across the world on 10th May 2017 with the theme for WMBD 2017 is "Their Future is our Future – A Healthy Planet for Migratory Birds and People." This theme throws light on the topic of Sustainable Development for Wildlife and People. The WMBD 2017 highlights the interdependence of people and nature and migratory animals - in particular birds, as they share the same planet and thus the same limited resources. The 2017 campaign aims at raising awareness on the need of a sustainable management of the natural resources, demonstrating that birds conservation is also crucial for the future of humankind. The World Migratory Bird Day is observed with an objective to raise awareness and highlight the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.

More about Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds

• It was founded to coordinate efforts to conserve bird species migrating between European and African nations.
• Its current scope stretches from the Arctic to South Africa covering the Canadian archipelago and the Middle East as well as Europe and Africa.
• The agreement focuses on bird species that depend on wetlands for at least part of their lifecycle and cross international borders in their migration pattern. It currently covers 254 species. 
• The event was founded as an effort of the UN's Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.

Do you know?

The World Migratory Bird Day is an annual global celebration started in 2006 by the United Nations.

International Day of Vesak celebrations in Colombo attended by - Narendra Modi

Buddha Purnima or "Vesak", the day of the Full Moon was observed globally on 10th May 2017. The day marks the birth of Gautam Buddha, who was born on the same day. It was also on this day that the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and also it was on the day of Vesak that the Buddha passed away.

Important Highlights

• The International Day of Vesak celebrations will be held in Colombo from 12th May to 14th May.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India will be travelling to Sri Lanka on 11th May to attend the festival.
• The festivities will include an International Buddhist Conference, which will witness participation from over 400 delegates from more than 100 countries globally.
• The International day was established by the UN General Assembly to acknowledge the contribution of Buddhism to the spirituality.
• This day is celebrated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions.

International Court of Justice stays - Kulbhushan Jadhav's hanging

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav  on 9th May 2017 who was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court for alleged spying.
• The Hague-based ICJ said Pakistan must take all necessary measures to ensure that Jadhav is not executed. It also directed Pakistan to inform them about the action taken.
• ICJ passed the official order a day after India approached the court against the death sentence that was given to Jadhav, a former naval officer.
• India also informed the court that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, the country where he was involved in business activities after he retired from the Indian Navy.
• After the ICJ order, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and informed her about the development. 

Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year named by - N'Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante voted the 2017 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association in the first week of May 2017. Kante topped the poll of the 340-strong membership ahead of his Blues team-mate Eden Hazard, with Tottenham’s Dele Alli in third place. 

Key Highlights

• Born on 29th March 1991, N'Golo Kante is a French professional footballer.
• Jhulan plays as a central midfielder for English club Chelsea and the France national team.
• He joined Leicester City for a fee of £5.6 million and became an integral member of the club's first ever Premier League win in his only season at the club in 2015.
• He joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million and won the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards in his first season with the club in 2016.
• Kante and Hazard collected more than 65 percent of the journalists’ votes together , which were spread over a record number of 17 different players.
• The 26-year-old Kante will receive the prestigious FWA accolade at a gala dinner in London on 18th May 2017.

Do you know?

He made his senior international debut in France in 2016. The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football.The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season. Stanley Matthews was the first winner of this award.

Highest wicket taker in Womens One Day Internationals - Jhulan Goswami

Indian women's team fast bowler Jhulan Goswami became the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s One-Day Internationals on 9th May 2017. Goswami broke the decade-long record Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s 180 wickets from 109 matches. Goswami dismissed South Africa's Raisibe Ntozakhe in an ongoing Women's Quadrangular Series in South Africa to claim her 181st victim in the 50-over format.

More about Jhulan Goswami

• Born on 25th November 1982, Jhulan Nishit Goswami is an all round cricketer who plays for the India national women's cricket team.
• She also plays for Bengal Women, East Zone Women and the Asia Women XI women's cricket team.
• She is noted for both her batting and bowling capabilities.
• She guided the Indian team to first test series win in England in the 2006-07.
• She won the ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007.
• She won the M.A. Chidambaram trophy for Best Women Cricketer in 2011.