Current Affairs 26 May 2016

Current Affairs 26 May 2016 - Important Points

• Union Cabinet approves MoU between United Arab Emirates Space Agency and - ISRO 
• US engineer Frances Arnold becomes first woman to win - Millennium Technology Prize
• Who sworned-in as Kerala Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan
• Union Road Transport Minister Gadkari launches safety feature-rich - Nirbhaya Buses
• Which programme releases report titled Actions on Air Quality - UNEP

Current Affairs 26 May 2016 - Details

Union Cabinet approves MoU between United Arab Emirates Space Agency and - ISRO 

Among Important National Current Affairs, The Union Cabinet has approved MoU which is known to be Memorandum of Understanding signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) for cooperation in the exploration and user of outer space for peaceful purposes. 

In this regard, decision was taken by Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 

The MoU aims to set up a Joint Working Group with members from ISRO and UAESA. It will also further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the MoU.

Do You Know - 

• In August 2015, during the visit of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to UAE, promoting space cooperation between both countries was highlighted. 

• However, in September 2015 it was also discussed earlier at the 11th meeting of India-UAE Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation.

US engineer Frances Arnold becomes first woman to win - Millennium Technology Prize

Among Important International Current Affairs, on 24 May 2016 Technology Academy Finland (TAF) announced American innovator Frances Arnold as winner of the 2016 Millennium Technology Prize.

Frances Arnold is the first female winner in its 12-year history, the 1 million euro prize is awarded biennially.

Frances Arnold, who is a Biochemical engineer received the 2016 Millennium Technology Prize in recognition of her discoveries that launched the field of directed evolution, which mimics natural evolution to create new and better proteins in the laboratory.

Know About Frances Arnold  - 

• Frances Hamilton Arnold is known to be an internationally recognized American scientist and engineer.

• Arnold pioneered methods of directed evolution to create useful biological systems, including enzymes, metabolic pathways, genetic regulatory circuits and organisms.

Who sworned-in as Kerala Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

Among Important National Current Affairs, Veteran CPI (M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn-in as 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.

However, left Democratic Front (LDF) had won 2016 state assembly election with majority of votes.  

P Sathasivam, who is a State Governor administered his oath of office and secrecy to him along with other 18 ministers of his government in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Do You Know – 

• The CPI (M)-led coalition of LDF had emerged victorious after winning 91 seats in the 140 member Assembly, in the 2016 state assembly election. 

• Then ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) had emerged as largest opposition coalition after winning 47 seats. 

Union Road Transport Minister Gadkari launches safety feature-rich - Nirbhaya Buses

On 25 May 2016, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched 20 Nirbhaya buses of Rajasthan State Transport Corporation (RSTC). 

Nirbhaya buses are fitted with all multiple safety measures which will help to protect women passengers in a better way.

These 20 buses have been launched as a pilot project under the NIRBHAYA scheme includes 10 luxury and 10 ordinary roadways buses.

Which programme releases report titled Actions on Air Quality - UNEP

On 24 May 2016, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the report titled Actions on Air Quality. This report was released during the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2).

According to the report, with the decline of the global air quality, action in some air quality areas points to political will to tackle this global public health emergency although current efforts still fall short.