Current Affairs 30th May 2017

Current Affairs 30th May 2017 - Important Points

• Aeronautical Test Range at Chitradurga inaugurated by - Defence Minister, Arun Jaitly
• Satyabrata Rout honoured with - Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar
• MoUs signed at India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference are - 8
• Order against Abu Salem in 1993 Mumbai blasts case likely to be announced by - TADA Court
•  Borussia Dortmund beat Frankfurt to - Lift 2016-17 German Cup
• India’s first Electric Mass Transport Project launched in - Nagpur
• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2017 observed on - 29th May 2017
• ISRO set to launch India’s heaviest rocket - Fat Boy
• 2017 Monaco Grand Prix won by - Sebastian Vettel
• Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win - 13th FA Cup
•  Four agreements signed between Mauritius - India
• South Korea beat China to win - 2017 Sudirman Cup

Current Affairs 30th May 2017 - Details

Aeronautical Test Range at Chitradurga inaugurated by - Defence Minister, Arun Jaitly

Arun Jaitley,Defence Minister inaugurated the newly built Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chitradurga in Karnataka. It will also contribute to the region development in which Chitradurga is located.

More about Aeronautical Test Range (ATR)

• ATR is the first of its kind range in the country meant to conduct flight-tests of originating unmanned and manned aircrafts.
• Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE),outdoor testing and evaluating facility was set up by the, one of the premier laboratories of the DRDO. 
• The Radar center houses are Primary Radar and Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR). 
• Spread across 4029 acres, strategic test range will also have a two km runway soon besides other tracking and control equipment where a rail link to the facility is also planned. 

Satyabrata Rout honoured with - Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar

Satyabrata Rout was selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar on 29th May 2017 for the year 2016. He is a professor from the Theatre Arts Department, S N School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad. He also participated in national and international theatre festivals, directed a number of plays and conducted many theatre workshops globally.

More about Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar

• Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama gives this award as a recognition to practicing artists.
• The award gives purse money of Rs. 1 lakh, along with a citation, a shawl and a brass plaque.
• The awards are given in the categories of music, dance, theatre, other traditional arts and puppetry, and for contribution/scholarship in performing arts.

MoUs signed at India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference are - 8

India has hosted a two-day Pacific Islands Conference in Suva. The India-Ministry of External Affairs hosted Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference held between 25th and 26th May 2017. The conference that was inaugurated by the Acting Fijian Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum saw the signing of eight MoUs on the day of inauguration. These MoUs were signed on 25th May 2017 by five participating nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Nauru, Samoa and Niue. Gen. (Dr) V.K. Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs inaugurated the session of conference on behalf of India. 

Key Highlights

• Ministry of External Affairs organised the conference, held under the framework of the FIPIC (Forum for India Pacific Islands Co-operation).
• The Presidents and Prime Ministers along with the business academics, civil society members, leaders, and youth from the Pacific Island Countries participation.
• In November 2014, FIPIC summit was held at the level of Government Heads in November 2014 in Suva, Fiji, which was followed by the FIPIC-II summit held in August 2015.
• VK Singh during the conferencce also announced that India will contribute USD 1 million to Fiji's Trust Fund for their Presidency of COP-23 to be held in November 2017.

Do you know?

FIPIC was formed to strengthen India’s relationship with the Pacific Island Countries in November 2014

Order against Abu Salem in 1993 Mumbai blasts case likely to be announced by - TADA Court

TADA (The special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act) court is going to pronounce its orders against the underworld don Abu Salem and others in connection with the 1993 blasts case. The other accused are Feroze Abdul Rashid, Tahir Merchant,Karimullah Khan and Mustafa Dossa. In 2006,The TADA court had convicted 100 accused, including Yakub Memon who was hanged on 30th July 2015. Another accused, Salem currently at Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts as well as a number of other cases related to murder and extortion. He was sentenced life imprisonment in February 2015 by a special court in relation to the 1995 murder case of Mumbai builder, Pradeep Jain.

Key Facts

• 13 bomb explosions blasted through the commercial and social hubs of Mumbai on 12th March 1993.
• These attacks were carried out in revenge for riots that killed many Muslims.
• This was the first of its kind serial-bomb-blasts across the world in the entire history.
• The blasts killed approximately 257 people and over 713 were injured in the mishap.
• These were time bombs and placed in such a way to cause maximum devastation and create a major rip in the communal fabric of the city and the nation.
• Dawood Ibrahim, Underworld gangester is believed to be the mastermind behind these attacks.
• While Yakub was executed and Abu Salem is under judicial custody, the other two main suspects in the case - Ibrahim and Tiger Memon- have managed to escape trial.

 Borussia Dortmund beat Frankfurt to - Lift 2016-17 German Cup

Borussia Dortmund defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the German Cup final held at the Olympiastadion, Berlin on 27th May 2017. It is the fourth title of the victorious Borussia Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund had already earned automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2017–18 edition of the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, Germany's premier football competition.

About Borussia Dortmund

• Borussia Dortmund is a German sports club based in Dortmund at North Rhine-Westphalia.
• It is a part of a large membership-based sports club with more than even 145000 members making it the second largest sports club by membership in Germany.
• The team plays in the top tier of the German football league system,the Bundesliga.
• This club is one of the most successful clubs in German football history.
• This team was founded in 1909 by 18 players of foootball from Dortmund.
• Eight German championships, four DFB-Pokals, five DFL-Supercups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup won by the team.

India’s first Electric Mass Transport Project launched in - Nagpur

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated India’s first Electric Mass Transport Project in Nagpur on 26th May 2017.

Key Highlights - 

• The pilot project predicts a fleet of 200 electric-powered public transportation vehicles that will run on Ola Cab's app platform in Nagpur.
• Total investment of Mahindra & Mahindra in technology, products and plants of e-vehicles was more than Rs 600 crore. 
• Ola will own all these electric-powered public transport vehicles.
• CM also inaugurated an Electric Charging Station at the Nagpur airport which was built by Ola itself.
• Three other charging stations in Nagpur owned by Ola have 53 charging points that can charge entire fleet of 200 e-vehicles.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2017 observed on - 29th May 2017

• The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2017 was observed on 29th May 2017 with the theme Investing in Peace around the world.
• The Day also honoured more than 3500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 117 in the year 2016.
• While the official International Day of United Nations Peacekeeper’s Day is on 29th May, UN Headquarters in New York celebrated the day on 24th May 2017. 
• On the occasion, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who fell while serving for peace.
• Two Indian peacekeepers, Brijesh Thapa and Ravi Kumar, were among the 117 military, police and civilian personnel who were honoured with this medal.

Important Facts

This day is celebrated to honour the memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. To pay tribute to all people who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of dedication, professionalism and courage.

Do you know?

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was first celebrated in 2003.

ISRO set to launch India’s heaviest rocket - Fat Boy

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) will be launching the heaviest yet smallest rocket also called 'Fat Boy' ever made by India , the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III 

(GSLV Mk- III) on 5th June 2017. The rocket weighs as much as 200 full-grown Asian elephants to carry the heaviest satellites. It can also enable India to send manned missions to space, making India the fourth nation in the world to be able to do so.

Important Highlights

• It has a new and advanced indigenous cryogenic engine to lift it off to the geostationary orbit.
• It will goin to help India to be self-dependent to launch satellites on its own as it would be capable of placing 4-tonne class geosynchronous satellites into the orbit.
• ISRO is prepared to launch the new vehicle after testing it over various components over 200 times.
• The launch vehicle made its first test flight on 18th December 2014, as the LVM3-X/CARE mission from Sriharikota, Barrier Island located off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

Do you know?

At present, only three countries — US, Russia and China—have the capability of sending manned missions to space.

2017 Monaco Grand Prix won by - Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel won the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco, La Condamine and Monte Carlo, Monaco on 28th May 2017. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen secured the second place, while the third place was secured by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was at third place.

More about Sebastian Vettel

• Born on 3rd July 1987, Sebastian Vettel is a German racing driver, currently driving in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari.
• He won the Formula One World championship for fours years continuously in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 with Red Bull Racing.
• He started his career as a test driver in Formula One for BMW Sauber.
• He made his debut at the 2007 United States Grand Prix with the team.
• In 2009, During his first year driving for Red Bull, he finished the season as the youngest-ever World's Driver Championship runner-up. 

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to - Win 13th FA Cup

Arsenal won its 13th FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, the reigning Premier League champions on 27th May 2017 at the Wembley Stadium in London, England. Just 4 minutes into the match and Arsenal were in the lead with Alexis Sanchez’s right-foot shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The goal, which was extremely controversial, was the fastest ever FA Cup final goal.

Important Highlights

• In the second half, Arsenal maintained its 1-0 lead well.
• Chelsea were reduced to ten men in the second half after its mid-fielder Victor Moses, made a second foul and was sent off at the 68th minute.
• Chelsea made its come back with striker Diego Costa’s equalizer in the 76th minute.
• Curling shot sent off by Costa past Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and hit the bottom left corner of the goal.
• Arsenal picked up its lead just three minutes after when its forward Olivier Giroud, who had come in as a substitute just few moments earlier chipped a ball in front of goal that found midfielder Aaron Ramsey for an easy score on the header.
• After his win, Arsenal managed to salvage a disappointing season in which it failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
• On the other hand, Chelesa fell short in its attempt to grab its second-ever double cup. 

 Four agreements signed between Mauritius - India

India and Mauritius signed four agreements including maritime security, marine science and technology on 27th May 2017. These agreements will going to help the two nations to boost the bilateral relation between them. The agreements were signed after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pravind Kumar Jugnauth,Mauritian counterpart who was on a three-day state visit to India from 26th May to 28th May 2017.

MoU Lists -

• To set up Civil Services College in Mauritius.
• MoU on Maritime Security.
• MoU on Research and Education in Marine Sciences and Technology. 
• MoU between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India and Mauritius Oceanography Institute, Mauritius.
• US Dollar 500 million Credit Line agreement between Export-Import Bank of India and SBM Mauritius Infrastructure Development Co. Ltd.

 South Korea beat China to win - 2017 Sudirman Cup

South Korea defeated China to lift their fourth Sudirman Cup title at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on 28th May 2017. South Korea’s women shuttlers played an amazing game to beat 10-time champions China with a 3-2 win in the final played at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Australia. Event was hosted outside Asia and Europe since its establishment in 1989 for the first time.

More about Sudirman Cup

• It is the world mixed team badminton championship.
• This Cup is named after a former Indonesian badminton player and the founder of PBSI (Badminton Association of Indonesia),Dick Sudirman.
• The tournament takes place after every two years.
• There are five matches in every round viz. men and women's singles, men and women's doubles and mixed doubles.
• There is zero prize money in Sudirman Cup. 
• The players play for their respective countries and only to earn BWF world ranking points and national prestige.

Do you know?

The first Sudirman Cup tournament took place in Bung Karno Stadium, Central Jakarta, Indonesia on 24th May– 29th May 1989. China was the winner of 2015 Sudirman Cup.