Current Affairs 27th July 2017

Current Affairs 27th July 2017 - Important Points

• Jimmy Choo bought by - Michael Kors
• New method to generate human antibodies developed by - Researchers
• 100m backstroke world gold in record time won by - Kylie Masse
• MoU signed between Uttarakhand government and AAI - to develop civil aviation sector
• Delhi government constitutes State Names Authority on - 25th July 2017
•  Trump announced ban on Transgender individuals from serving in US Military on - 27th July 2017
• N Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away on - 27th July 2017
• Universal standards for pepper, cumin and thyme adopted by - International food standard body CAC
• Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed by - Parliament
• Second highest tiger count in India recorded by - Uttarakhand

Current Affairs 27th July 2017 - Details

Jimmy Choo bought by - Michael Kors

Global fashion luxury brand Michael Kors announced to buy global luxury footwear and accessories brand Jimmy Choo for approximately USD 1.2 billion on 25th July 2017.

After this, Michael Kors focuses to this in demand global brand to its lot as its own handbag and accessories sales suffer. The Boards of Directors of both Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo approved this transaction.

Highlights of the Deal

• Under the terms of the transaction, Jimmy Choo shareholders will be receiving 230 pence per share, with an enterprise value of USD 1.350 billion approximately.
• Pierre Denis will be continuing in his role as Chief Executive Officer of Jimmy Choo. He is leading the company since 2012.
• In addition to that, Creative Director Sandra Choi will be creative and design teams at the company.
• This acquisition is expected to increase the positioning in the attractive luxury footwear segment along with providing an opportunity to grow in the men’s luxury footwear category.
• This acquisition will also be helping to grow Jimmy Choo sales to USD 1 billion.

New method to generate human antibodies developed by - Researchers

A team of scientists developed a method to produce specific human antibodies rapidly in the laboratory. The Journal of Experimental Medicine published this report on 24th July 2017.
The revolutionary technique could speed the production of antibodies to treat a wide range of diseases and help in the development of new vaccines.

Key Highlights

• B cells of the body produce antibodies to fight off bacteria, virus and other invasive pathogen infections.
• When a B cell recognizes a specific pathogen-derived "antigen" molecule, it can proliferate and develop into plasma cells which then secrete large amounts of antibody capable of binding to the antigen and fighting the infection.
• Researchers replicated this process in the laboratory to generate specific antibodies from B cells isolated from patient's blood sample.
• In addition to encounter a specific antigen, B cells need a second signal to start proliferation and develop into plasma cells.
• Short DNA fragments also called CpG oligonucleotides activate a protein inside B cells called TLR9, it gives that second signal.

100m backstroke world gold in record time won by - Kylie Masse

The 21-year-old, Masse, clocked 58.10 seconds at the world aquatics championships in Budapest, Hungary breaking Gemma Spofforth’s previous mark of 58.12 seconds in 2009 world championships in Rome, at the time when neoprene suits are banned.

After winning this title Masse, who won a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, also becomes Canada’s first ever woman world champion swimmer.
She followed her bronze in Rio with silver medals in the 100 backstroke and the 4 by 100 relay at the 2016 short-course world championships held in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
From the United States, Kathleen Baker who was 0.48 seconds behind Kylie came on second rank and won silver, while Emily Seebohm of Australia brushed off a cold to claim bronze with 0.49 seconds behind.

MoU signed between Uttarakhand government and AAI - to develop civil aviation sector

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed an agreement with the Uttarakhand government and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) to develop the state’s civil aviation sector. This MoU is a part of the body’s effort to create, maintain, upgrade, and manage the civil aviation infrastructure in the country.

Key Objectives

• It is aiming to identify relevant factors influencing the development of civil aviation infrastructure in Uttarakhand and to assess commercial potential of various airports of the state.
• The deal also includes identifying considerations for airport operations in the state and to evaluate site related technical and engineering parameters for the development of projects.
• The AAI would also be helping in making an estimate of the capital outlay for the future projects and in the development of master plan for future and existing civil aviation infrastructure in the state.
• Other than this, it will be assisting the UCADA to obtain necessary clearance for airport operations starting with the upgraded airport at Pithoragarh followed by the one at Chiniyalisaur.
• Uttarakhand Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy and Anil Gupta, General Manager (Business Development) signed this MoU together.

Delhi government constitutes State Names Authority on - 25th July 2017

The Delhi government constituted the State Names Authority, a separate body mandated to name government roads and institutions under the state purview on 25th July 2017. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will be heading the State Names Authority (SNA).

Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain will going to be the Vice-Chairman of the Authority. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has given his approval for the authority formation.

The authority will be having a total of 34 members including the Union home secretary, the Union HRD secretary, the DDA vice-chairman, the Delhi PWD secretary and the Delhi Principal secretary (Home).

 Trump announced ban on Transgender individuals from serving in US Military on - 27th July 2017

The President of United States, Donald Trump announced on 27th July 2017 that the US government won't be accepting transgender individuals to serve in any of the role in the U.S. Military.

He made this announcement through a series of tweets on his official Twitter account stating that the decision was taken after consultation with Generals and military experts. He concluded in the tweet that their military must focus on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.

Trump has reinstated the ban that former Democratic President Barack Obama lifted last year allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military openly.

Defence Secretary Ashton Carter argued while announcing the decision on 30th June 2016 that the US Defence Department and the military needed to avail themselves of all talent possible in order to remain the finest fighting force in the world. Finally, This reversed decision has put a full stop on the years of efforts that were put into eliminating barriers to military service based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

N Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away on - 27th July 2017

N. Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away on 27th July 2017 Bengaluru due to a heart attack. He was the 17th Chief Minister of Karnataka. He headed the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government between May 2004 and February 2006.
More about N Dharam Singh

• Born on 25th December 1936, Dharam Singh Narayan Singh was an Indian politician.
• He was the Karnataka Legislative Assembly member for seven consecutive terms and a Parliament member representing Bidar in the 14th Lok Sabha.
• He started his long career in politics as an Independent Corporator in the Kalaburagi district City Municipal Council by contesting against his own brother.
• He joined the Indian National Congress in the late 190s and remained a staunch loyalist since then.
• He served as a minister under various Chief Ministers such as M. Veerappa Moily, Devaraj Urs, S. Bangarappa, S. M. Krishna and R. Gundu Rao.
• He also handled diverse portfolios like Home, Urban Development, Excise, Social Welfare and Revenue.

Universal standards for pepper, cumin and thyme adopted by - International food standard body CAC

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted three Codex standards for green, black, and white pepper, cumin and thyme, paving the way for universal agreement to identify quality spices in various countries.
Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 26th July 2017 the decision taken during the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s 40th session in Geneva during 17th to 22nd July 2017. This step is seen as a major recognition of India’s efforts to benchmark global spices trade.
Important highlights

• The CAC member-countries together approved the adoption of Codex standards for the three spices, which would be helping to evolve a common standardization process for their global availability and trade.
• The Codex standards were adopted in the wake of India conducting three sessions of Codex Committee on Culinary Herbs and Spices at Kochi in 2014, Goa in 2015 and Chennai in 2017. It was only during the Chennai session that the consensus was achieved.

Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed by - Parliament

The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 received Parliamentary approval after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 26th July 2017. Lok Sabha passed the bill earlier in April 2017.
The bill seeks to amend the Collection of Statistics Bill, 2008 and empowering the Center to collect statistical data from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by the ‎Minister of Statistics and Program Implementation, D.V.Sadananda Gowda in the Lok Sabha on 20th March 2017.
The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 facilitated the collection of statistics related to social, economic, scientific, demographic and environmental aspects, by local, state and central governments.
However, The act was not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, given the state’s special status under Article 370.
The new bill hence seeks to amend the 2008 act and extend its jurisdiction to cover Jammu and Kashmir for the collection of statistics pertaining to subjects that fall under the Union or the Concurrent list of the Constitution as applicable to Jammu and Kashmir including banking,citizenship, education, forests and labor.

Second highest tiger count in India recorded by - Uttarakhand

Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand announced that the count of tigers in Uttarakhand shot up to 242 with a hike of 63 big cats in the year 2017. Alongwith that, 11 cubs were also found in the two tiger reserves, the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Corbett Tiger Reserve in the state.

Uttarakhand is the second state in terms of tiger count after Karnataka, which has 400 big cats.
According to the latest statistics, at least 208 tigers have been identified in Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, up from last year's 163. Also six cubs were identified there.  At least 34 tigers have been identified in Rajaji Tiger Reserve in 2016-17, up from previous year's 16. Five cubs were also found there.
Approximately 535 cameras installed in Corbett Tiger Reserve played a key role in collecting the recent data. On the other hand, 562 cameras were put at strategic locations in core areas of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve in collaboration with the Indian Wildlife Institute and World Nature Fund (WNF).

More about Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve

• It is the oldest national park in India to protect the endangered Bengal tiger, located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and established in 1936.
• The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative and was named after Jim Corbett, who played a key role in its establishment.