Current Affairs 25th May 2017

Current Affairs 25th May 2017 - Important Points

• First African to be elected as WHO Director-General - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• World's smallest nation Nauru ratifies - International Solar Alliance Pact
• Environment Ministry and OzonAction organised “Ozone2Climate” Technology Roadshow in - Agra
• Reader with guidelines for raising happy children released by - WCD Ministry
• Test flight completed by World's largest aircraft - Airlander 10 
• Exhibition displaying Stone Sculptures returned by Australia inaugurated by - Tourism Minister
• Kiren Rijiju unveils - World's first philosophical novel on God
• International Cricketer of the Year award won by - Ashwin
• Controversial godman Chandraswami passed away on - 23rd May 2017
• World Turtle Day 2017 observed globally on - 23rd May
• Hyperloop India to participate in - SpaceX’s Hyperloop Pod Competition II
• World’s first Robocop recruited by - Dubai Police
• Neil Armstrong’s Moon Dust Bag to be sold at an - Auction
• James Bond actor Roger Moore passed away on - 23rd May 2017

Current Affairs 25th May 2017 - Details

First African to be elected as WHO Director-General - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The World Health Assembly elected Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the new Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 23rd May 2017. Ethiopia’s Ghebreyesus will begin his five-year term on 1st July 2017. Ghebreyesus will succeed Dr Margaret Chan, who has been serving as WHO’s Director-General since 1st January 2007.

More about Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

• Prior to being elected as WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, 
• Ethiopia from 2012 to 2016 and as Minister of Health, Ethiopia from 2005 to 2012.
• The twenty-sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union endorsed his candidature for the next election of the 
• Director-General of the UN health agency as a sole African candidate in January 2016.
• He also served as Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, he led a comprehensive reform effort of the country's health system, including the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure.
• As a Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led the effort to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

World's smallest nation Nauru ratifies - International Solar Alliance Pact

Nauru, world’s smallest republic and the tiny island nation ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework pact on 23rd May 2017. After this, Nauru became the sixth country to ratify ISA pact. Five more African nations including Cote d’Ivoire, Somalia, Comoros, Djibouti and Ghana have committed to sign the Solar Alliance pact during the ongoing meeting of the African Development bank in Gujarat, India. India is joining this meeting for the first time.

More about International Solar Alliance Pact

• The International Solar Alliance was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande jointly on the first day of the COP-21 summit at Paris in 2015.
• The alliance will become a legal entity once at least 15 countries ratify and deposit the framework agreement.
• Till now, the total number of signatories to ISA framework agreement has reached 31, with only 6 countries having ratified the agreement so far.

Environment Ministry and OzonAction organised “Ozone2Climate” Technology Roadshow in - Agra

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow in Agra on 23rd May 2017. The roadshow was organised along with the UN Environment OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme. The Roadshow was inaugurated by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ajay Narayan Jha on the sidelines of the South Asia National Ozone Officers Annual Network Meeting – 2017. The Technology Roadshow was organised for the first time as a part of the annual network meeting for Ozone Officers of South Asia.

Key highlights

• The “Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow”, has 13 exhibitors that promoted ozone and climate-friendly alternative technologies to 
• HCFCs and HFCs in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector.
• The Technology Roadshow presented current refrigeration and air conditioning equipment designed to be more energy efficient.
• On the occasion, Dr Sharmila Nair-Bedouelle, head of the United Nations Environment’s OzonAction, highlighted UNEP’s Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) which provides significant support to Article 5 countries with meeting and sustaining their obligations under the Protocol. 
• She also added that, “The national ozone officers’ network meetings are a flagship of the CAP and offer a forum for an exchange of experience and knowledge transfer among national ozone officers”.
• Delegates from 20 countries and industry visited the 2017 exhibition and it was the first time the Ozone2Climate Technology 
• Roadshow was organised as a part of the annual network meeting globally. The National Ozone Officers (NOOs) from 13 South Asia network countries visited the Technology 
• Roadshow and gained information on state-of-the-art HCFC/HFC alternative technologies.
• The roadshow took place after the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

Reader with guidelines for raising happy children released by - WCD Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Development released a reader titled ‘Raising Happy Children and Providing Safe Childhoods’. Divided into three parts, the reader serves as a guide for parents, teachers and community members on how to prevent crime and violence by children and give suggestions to help them create a more protective and caring environment for their children.

Key highlights

• In the fast-changing world, it has been observed that children have limited interaction with those around them and have become more withdrawn due to technology impact.
• Violence experienced by children in their lives makes them react violently.
• Children coming from different class, caste and religion face different kind and level of deprivation in this changing politico-economic structure.
• The six major deprivations that affect majority of children in India include education,shelter, sanitation, immunization, nutrition and water.
• An inadequate home life is a major contributor to delinquency, rising the chances of a child committing criminal offences.

Test flight completed by World's largest aircraft - Airlander 10 

The world's largest aircraft, Airlander 10 successfully completed a test flight on in the third week of May 2017. The hybrid aircraft dubbed the Airlander 10 merges technology of airplanes, helicopters and airships. The aircraft is designed to stay aloft at altitudes of up to 20000 feet for up to five days while manned. It is the largest aircraft currently flying at a massive 302 feet long.

More about Airlander 10

• The Airlander 10 also known as Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 is a hybrid airship manufactured and designed by British manufacturer HAV.
• The airship flies using both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift with auxiliary wing and tail surfaces .
• It is powered by four diesel engine-driven ducted propellers.
• The behemoth flew for a total of 180 minutes to test its handling, improved landing technology, among other things on 10th May 2017.

Exhibition displaying Stone Sculptures returned by Australia inaugurated by - Tourism Minister

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Mahesh Sharma inaugurated an exhibition titled ‘Return of the Three Stone Sculptures from Australia to India’ in the National Museum at Janpath, New Delhi on 23rd May 2017. The exhibit marks the safe return of three Indian stone sculptures including the ‘Worshippers of Buddha’,‘Seated Buddha'and ‘Goddess Pratyangira’ to India from Australia.

Important Details

• The sculptures were purchased by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) from the Nancy Wiener Gallery in 2007 in New York and the Art of the Past antique store in New York in 2005. 
• These artefacts were stolen from temples or archaeological sites and smuggled out of India and sold with false ownership histories by the dealers.
• The NGA had acquired them unintentionally and reported discrepancy in the artefacts’ ownership history.
• These were handed over to Mahesh Sharma while he was attending a special event at the NGA in Canberra by Australian Senator Mitch Fifield.
• The owners of both the New York antique stores are currently facing trial for running an International smuggling racket.

Kiren Rijiju unveils - World's first philosophical novel on God

Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs unveiled a philosophical novel on God titled “Confessions of a dying mind: The blind faith of atheism,” in New Delhi on 23rd May 2017. The book is termed as world’s first philosophical novel on God, is penned by IAS officer Haulianlal Guite, published by a UK based Bloomsbury Publishing.

Key Highlights

• The novel explores interesting arguments against atheism.
• It looks into the nature of evidence, science, religion, and love in light of latest findings of modern science and the solid theories in philosophy.
• The book’s story revolves around the main character , an atheistic journalist, Albert Dyers, who undergoes a life transforming near-death experience.
• The book is presented as a series of novel discussions between Mr Dyers who is in coma and experiencing the effects of a near-death experience and a mysterious Mr Walker.
• The unveiled book is the first part of the three volumes.
• Haulianlal Guite hails from Churachandpur district of Manipur cleared his 2010 Civil Services Examination with an All India Rank of 33.
• He is bachelor in Philosophy from St. Stephen College, University of Delhi.

Controversial godman Chandraswami passed away on - 23rd May 2017

Controversial godman, Chandraswami, passed away due to multi-organ failure on 23rd May 2017 in New Delhi. His real name was Nemi Chand.

Important Highlights

• He was born in 1948 in Behror in Rajasthan and was a tantric, often called as godman by some people.
• He was attracted towards the study of Tantra from an early age.
• He left home in early years of his childhood only to become a student of Upadhyar Amar Muni and the tantrik pandit Gopinath Kaviraj.
• He later lived in Bihar jungles and meditated. He claimed to have extraordinary powers called siddhis.
• Chandraswami built an ashram known as Vishwa Dharmayatan Sanathan in Delhi's Qutub Institutional Area in 1991.
• The godman was arrested on charges of defrauding a London-based businessman of USD 100000 in 1996.
• The Jain Commission,dedicated in its report a volume to Chandraswami’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
• The Supreme Court granted him permission to travel abroad, lifting a ban on overseas travel imposed as a result of his alleged involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 2009.

International Cricketer of the Year award won by - Ashwin

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was conferred the much-desired International Cricketer of the Year award at the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) International awards 2017 on 24th May 2017.

Key Highlights

• Former Indian Cricket Captain Sunil Gavaskar and Chairman of RPG Enterprises Harsh Goenka presented the award at a function held at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai.
• It is the second award won by him after the ICC Cricketer of the year award in 2016.
• Ashwin played significant role in India's successful run during the home season  where it won 10 out of the total 13 tests played against New Zealand, Australia, England and Bangladesh and 99 wickets in the past 12 months.

World Turtle Day 2017 observed globally on - 23rd May

The World Turtle Day 2017 was observed globally on 23rd May 2017 with an aim to protect the turtles and tortoises and their rapidly disappearing habitats across the world. American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) sponsored this day.

Important Facts

• American Tortoise Rescue is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 that works to provide protection to all species of tortoise and turtle.
• ATR has placed about 4000 tortoises and turtles in caring homes so far.
• Organization's ultimate goal is to stop the illegal trade of turtles and tortoises around the world.
• ATR asks the pet stores and reptile shows to stop the sale of turtles hatchling and tortoisesas these stores do not provide proper information to the buyers.
• ATR assists law enforcement when undersize or endangered turtles are confiscated and provides helpful information and referrals to persons with sick, neglected or abandoned turtles.

Do you know ?

The World Turtle Day was proclaimed by American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) proclaimed this day in the year 2000.  Since then, it is celebrated yearly to create awareness about turtles and tortoises, the world’s oldest living reptiles in the world. 

Hyperloop India to participate in - SpaceX’s Hyperloop Pod Competition II

An American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, SpaceX will organise Hyperloop Pod Competition II in August 2017 at its headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The competition will see the participation of 24 teams across the world including a team from India’s BITS Pilani. BITS Pilani’s team will be participating with name Hyperloop India in the competition.

More about the Indian team 

• The Indian team constitutes of 25 participants from premier colleges of India.
• Each participant of the Hyperloop India team, mostly engineering and management students, will put their ideas together to build the pod that would meet the high-speed norms of the futuristic transport system Hyperloop.
• They started their project work on 22nd May 2017 at Bengaluru-based fabrication facility, Workbench Projects.
• Under the project they will develop OrcaPod, a prototype for speeds of up to 460 kilometres per hour by 1st August 2017, a deadline set by them.
• Hyperloop India is the only team in the country to reach the final design stage.

World’s first Robocop recruited by - Dubai Police

The Dubai police officially inducted the world's first operational robot police officer 'Robocop' into the force at the 4th Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) on 22nd May 2017.

Interesting Facts

• The Robocop is over 5 feet tall and weighs 100 kg. With its facial recognition software with which it can identify offenders.
• The robot is capable of speaking six languages and people can also use its built-in tablet device to access various police services.
• With its tablet, it can also communicate with people, respond to public queries, shake hands and can do a military salute.
• With its emotion detector through which it can recognize a person’s gestures and body language from nearly five feet away.
•  It can identify hand gestures from a distance of up to 1.5 m.
• The Robocop can tell when you are happy, sad or even smiling and itself respond accordingly.
• More importantly, when it comes to fight crime, the robot uses the internet of things, artificial intelligence and other smart technologies to spot offenders.
• It can live stream video footage to police officers in the force’s command and control centre with its inbuilt camera.
• Its in-built integrated system will get it connected to social media and other applications.

Neil Armstrong’s Moon Dust Bag to be sold at an - Auction

Neil Armstrong’s Moon Dust Bag will be sold at an auction at Sotheby’s auction house in New York on 20th July 2017. The announcement of the auction was made by Sotheby’s Auction House on 23rd May 2017. Bag will be up for auction along with a signed photograph of Armstrong’s companion Buzz Aldrin on the Moon and other noteworthy objects.  The auction will coincide with 48th Anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. The bag is expected to grab up to  USD 4 million.

Neil Armstrong’s Moon Dust Bag

• It is an extremely rare bag labelled as 'Lunar Sample Return'.
• It  was used by NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong to collect the first dust samples from the Moon. It contains remnants of moon dust.
• The bag was brought back to Earth 48 years ago and is an exceptionally rare thing of humanity’s greatest achievement.
• During the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong collected nearly 500 grams of material finer than 1 cm, as well as 12 rock fragments larger than one cm from five different locations on the lunar surface in the region called as the Sea of Tranquillity.

James Bond actor Roger Moore passed away on - 23rd May 2017

Former James Bond star Roger Moore passed away in Switzerland on 23rd May 2017 after a brief battle with cancer. The actor’s family confirmed the news by releasing a statement on his official twitter page, which read “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer. The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.” The family would be hosting a private funeral for the actor in Monaco as per his wishes.

More about Roger Moore

• He played the iconic role of James Bond after Sean Connery's retirement.
• Moore became the longest-running Bond, as he acted in seven films between 1973 and 1985.
• He also played Simon Templar in television series ‘The Saint’ between 1962 and 1969.
• He was very passionate about his humanitarian work with the UNICEF.
• He became the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991 and worked to protect children’s rights mainly.
• He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for his services to charity.