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  • Current Affairs 21st July 2017

    Updated : 21-Jul-2017

    Current Affairs 21st July 2017

    • New giant ocean sunfish species discovered by - Australian researcher
    • Google introduces recruiting app 'Hire' for businesses on - 18th July 2017
    • Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions in Lok Sabha received by - LK Advani
    • Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir banned by - Indonesia
    •  Right to Privacy cannot be absolute right stated by - Supreme Court
    • Controversial anti-terror bill approved by - French Senate
    • US panel votes to impose tougher conditions on Pakistan to receive US aid on - 19th July 2017
    • MoU between India and Netherlands on cooperation in space technology apprised by - Union Cabinet
    • Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership Bill 2017 cleared by Lok Sabha on - 19th July 2017
    • 'Janahitha' for speedy redressal of public grievances launched by - Telangana
    • mAadhaar app for syncing Aadhaar data on mobile phone launched by - UIDAI
    •  Projects for Climate Change Adaptation in Three States approved by - Environment Ministry

    Current Affairs 21st July 2017

    New giant ocean sunfish species discovered by - Australian researcher

    A new species of giant ocean sunfish named as the hoodwinker (mola tecta), the heaviest type of bony fish that can weigh over two tonnes and grow to three meters long is found by Marianne Nyegaard, who is an Australian researcher from Murdoch University in Perth. She found the species while researching sunfish in the Indo-Pacific region as part of her PhD.

    Important highlights

    • The new cold water species has so far been found around New Zealand,off Africa, around the southeast coast of Australia and southern Chile.
    • The latin name for the species is Mola tecta taken from the Latin tectus meaning disguised,it is given because the species has gone undiscovered for so long.
    • The ocean sunfish is the heaviest known bony fish in the world so far.
    • Adult ocean sunfish typically weighs between 247 kilograms to 1000 kilograms.
    • It resembles a fish head with a tail with its main body is flattened laterally.
    • Sunfish live on a diet consist mainly of jellyfish.

    Google introduces recruiting app 'Hire' for businesses on - 18th July 2017

    Google launched 'Hire', a recruiting app for small- and medium-sized businesses that integrates seamlessly with G Suite on 18th July 2017. The launching of this Hire app is seen as an apparent move to compete with Microsoft-owned LinkedIn.

    More about 'Hire'

    • Hire will be making it easy to identify talent, build strong candidate relationships and efficiently manage the interview process end-to-end.
    • It seamlessly integrates with G Suite apps like Gmail and Google Calendar that are being used by over three million businesses in order to drive recruiting efforts.
    • With this app, businesses will be able to communicate with candidates in Gmail or 'Hire' and emails will be synced automatically in both.
    • Interviews can also be scheduled in 'Hire' with visibility into an interviewer's schedule from Google Calendar.
    • The app will also be enabling businesses to track candidate, then analyze and visualize the data in Sheets.
    • Hire also add important details in Calendar invites viz contact information, the full interview schedule and what questions to focus on.
    • This app and G Suite work well together with each other so recruiting team members can focus on their top priorities instead of wasting time in copy-pasting across tools.

    Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions in Lok Sabha received by - LK Advani

    Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna (LK) Advani received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions as a Parliamentarian in the Lok Sabha on 19th July 2017. Hamid Ansari, Vice President gave him the award at a function organised by the Lokmat Media Group to honour distinguished Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members.

    Interesting Facts

    • Jury headed by former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil selected the awardees.
    • The criteria for choosing the awardees included whether the parliamentarians followed the rules of procedures of the House.
    • The Jury also considered if these parliamentarians spoke only about their constituencies, their states or country as a whole.
    • They also considered if parliamentarians took into account the situation developing across the world in terms of International relations, economic situation, cultural relations, war, peace and science & technology.

    Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir banned by - Indonesia

    Indonesia banned Islamic organisation Hizb-ut Tahrir Indonesia under a controversial presidential decree in July 2017.
    This step has been taken to safeguard the existence of the Island nation’s pluralist state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. The legal status of Hizb ut-Tahrir campaigning for the country is to adopt Islamic law and become a caliphate, was revoked on 19th July 2017 in order to protect Indonesia's unity.
    On the other hand, the Islamic organisation condemned this ban and stated "it will not remain silent", vowing to challenge this decision in court. It is for the first time in the reform era that the government had disbanded an organisation without due process of law.

    More about Pancasila
    It is a foundational philosophical theory of the Indonesian state, comprises of two Old Javanese words derived from Sanskrit originally: panca, meaning five, and sila, meaning principles.  It is composed of five contends and principles that they are inseparable and interrelated:

    • A divinity that is an ultimate unity
    • A just and civilized humanity
    • The national unity of Indonesia
    • Democracy predicated on the inherent wisdom of unanimity arises from deliberation among popular representatives
    • Social justice for all Indonesian people

     Right to Privacy cannot be absolute right stated by - Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court stated on 19th July 2017 that the Right to Privacy cannot be an absolute right and the state may have some power to put reasonable restriction.
    The decision came when the Apex Court’s nine-judge Constitution bench was examining the issue to check whther the Right to Privacy can be declared as a Fundamental Right under the Constitution or not.

    During the day-long hearing, the bench said, being a small sub-sect of liberty, Right to Privacy is an amorphous right not absolute.

    Along with that, the bench headed by the Chief Justice JS Khehar also asked the Union Government and others to help it about the contours and ambit of test on which the width and scope of the Right to Privacy will going to be tested and also of its infringement, if any, by the State.

    Other members of the bench were Justice J Chelameswar, Justice S A Bobde, Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Justice R K Agrawal, Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.
    The bench said we live in an age of big data and the state is entitled to regulate the data whether it is for the purpose of controlling crime, taxation or other activities.
    The argument was continued on 20th July 2017 and the Attorney General put the government's view across.

    Controversial anti-terror bill approved by - French Senate

    Controversial anti-terror bill approved by - French Senate

    Lawmakers in France’s conservative-dominated Senate approved controversial legislation on 18th July 2017 to further strengthen France’s anti-terror laws by a majority vote.
    The French senators has passed the draft bill by a vote of 229 to 106.
    The Bill will now be presented to the lower house of the National Assembly for a vote in October 2017.

    Key Highlights

    • The new security laws, a campaign pledge of President Emmanuel Macron, would be replacing a state of emergency imposed after November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.
    • Authorities have this power to place suspects under the house arrest, order house searches, and also to ban public gatherings without the prior approval of a judge under the state of emergency measures.
    • Under the proposed legislation, some of emergency state practices would be becoming permanent law.
    • It would be turning warrant less property searches and house arrests into common police practice.
    • However, the step has been criticized by rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, it has been described as draconian by them.
    • However, Gerard Collomb Interior Minister of France has defended the new bill, stating it as an important step to combat what he described as the “ever present” terror threat.

     US panel votes to impose tougher conditions on Pakistan to receive US aid on - 19th July 2017

    A key US congressional panel voted in favor of a bill meant to impose tougher conditions on Pakistan to receive US assistance.
    The House Appropriations Committee approved by voice voted the 2018 Foreign and state Operations Appropriations Bill on dated 19th July 2017 seeking certification from Rex Tillerson to disburse the US aid to Pakistan, making it conditional for Islamabad to take action against terrorist groups. The bill would now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

    Important Highlights of the Bill

    • The bill requires the secretary of the state to certify that Pakistan is indeed cooperating with the US in counter- terrorism efforts against extremist groups like the Quetta Shura Taliban, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Tayba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and al-Qaeda.
    • It also needs the secretary of the state to check that the country is taking effective steps in order to prevent such terrorist groups from basing and operating in Pakistan and carrying out cross-border attacks into the neighboring countries.
    • Along with that, the state secretary also has to certify that Pakistan is not supporting any kind of terrorist activity against the United States or its coalition forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies are not interferring extra-judicially into political and judicial processes of Pakistan.
    • The certification also needs to include that Pakistan is not financing or supporting schools linked to the Taliban terrorist group or any other designated terrorist group and that Islamabad is preventing the production of nuclear-related expertise and material.
    • The bill further authorizes the secretary of state to suspend aid to the country if it fails to make measurable progress in order to meet the set benchmarks.
    • The bill stated that no funds appropriated under the the 'International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement', 'Economic Support Fund',and the 'Foreign Military Financing Program' for Pakistan may be made available unless the secretary of state certifies to the committees that the country is taking strict and appropriate action against terrorist groups.

    MoU between India and Netherlands on cooperation in space technology apprised by - Union Cabinet

    The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Netherlands on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes on 19th July 2017.

    The MoU was signed between both the sides on 11th May 2017 and 22nd May 2017 at Bangalore and The Hague respectively.
    Important Highlights

    • It will be enabling the cooperation in space science, technology and applications including satellite communication, remote sensing of the earth and satellite based navigation.
    • It will also be allowing for Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system and application of space technology.
    • It calls for setting up a Joint Working Group with ISRO members and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) to work out the action plan to implement this MoU.
    • It will be providing momentum to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication,space science and satellite navigation.
    • It will be developing a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity.

    Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership Bill 2017 cleared by Lok Sabha on - 19th July 2017

     The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill 2017 on 19th July 2017 through a voice vote in the lower house.
    The proposed Bill grants statutory status to the fifteen Indian IT Institutes in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance. In addition to that, the Bill enables these institutions to grant degrees to their students in the academic courses conducted by them.

    More about IIIT PPP Bill, 2017

    • There is no financial implication in regard to the proposed IIIT PPP Bill 2017.
    • The Bill will be declared the existing IIITs in Public Private Partnership as Institutions of National Importance with powers to award degrees.
    • The Bill now has entitled the institutions to use the Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Master of Technology (MTech) or PhD degree nomenclature as issued by a University or Institution of National Importance.
    • The grant of a formal degree in Information Technology, Engineering or PhD will be adding a boost to the prospects of the graduating students in the job market.
    • The grant of a formal degree will also be enabling the institutes to draw enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology.
    • Every institute shall be open to each and every student, irrespective of caste, gender, creed, disability, domicile, ethnicity, social or economic background.

    'Janahitha' for speedy redressal of public grievances launched by - Telangana

    The Telangana government launched a special portal called “Janahitha” to receive complaints from the public on 19th July 2017. Telangana Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy inaugurated this program in Suryapet district on a pilot basis. Reddy said that the state government was maintaining transparency in all aspects and putting all out efforts to resolve the issues of people living in the state’s remote areas.
    Important Highlights

    • The portal, which has been developed by Telangana’s IT department, is a single window for all grievances and their management.
    • It is aiming at facilitating the public to submit their complaints online and get speedy redressal.
    • The public, instead of visiting offices, can lodge their grievances through different means like e-mail,portal, WhatsApp or calling at the call center from their homes.
    • The public can also apply for various welfare schemes through this facility.
    • The program would be implemented in a phased manner across the state after four months.
    • The complaint redressal process would be monitored by officials at the district headquarters and Secretariat in Hyderabad, who will be sending SMS to the citizens on their status.
    • Citizens would be notified of their complaints status through SMS.
    • In cases where officials fail to redress the grievances within the set time, negative marks will be given to them.

    mAadhaar app for syncing Aadhaar data on mobile phone launched by - UIDAI

    The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched the mAadhaar app for syncing Aadhaar data on the mobile phone, a move that will negate the need to carry the Aadhaar card in wallets on 19th July 2017. The mAadhaar app is only available on Android phones and can be downloaded on the Google Play Store at present.

    Key Points

    • Once you register in mAadhar app, your Aadhaar card profile including address, phone number, and other details get stored on the app.
    • The app let users share their Aadhaar profile and data with third-party applications through QR codes,NFC, Barcodes or even through email.
    • There is a sharing of QR code and eKYC data by Aadhaar Number holder system in order to share details.
    • Before downloading the Aadhaar app on Android phone, users need to make sure the mobile number on the smartphone is the as same as the one linked to Aadhaar card.

     Projects for Climate Change Adaptation in Three States approved by - Environment Ministry

    The National Steering Committee on Climate Change under the Chairmanship of Secretary MoEF&CC, Ajay Narayan Jha approved three Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)  at a meeting in New Delhi on 19th July 2017.
    The Governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Sikkim for funding under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) submitted the DPRs.
    The project reports seek to address the vulnerabilities arising due to climate change in the three states that are not being dealt by the ongoing schemes of the state governments and central. They especially focus to address the vulnerabilities in climate sensitive sectors of the states including agriculture, animal husbandry, forests, water and coasts.