Current Affairs 4th April 2017

Current Affairs 4th April 2017 - Important Points

• Fungus that eats plastic discovered by - Scientists
• International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2017 observed on - 4th April 2017 
• Who has been appointed as first woman head of Gujarat’s police force ?- Geetha Johri
• Terror attack at metro system of - Russia
• Ban on polyethene manufactured below 50 microns by - J&K Govt.
• Brayan Jimenez, former President of Guatemalan Football Association, banned for life by - FIFA

 Current Affairs 4th April 2017 - Details

Fungus that eats plastic discovered by - Scientists

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have discovered a soil fungus Aspergillus tubingensis that can break down plastic materials with its enzymes. This discovery could help solve the ever-growing problem of plastic waste that is threatening to destroy our environment.

Important Points

• The plastic-eating fungus is discovered in Islamabad, Pakistan when the scientists in the hopes of finding an organism that could feed off plastic waste took samples of the soil and various pieces of rubbish.
• Scientists have identified that the fungus, that ordinarily lives in the soil, can also grow on the surface of plastic. 
• The fungus in its process of growth secretes enzymes that can break the chemical bonds between the plastic molecules, or polymers when it grows on the plastic surface. 
• This is the first such discovery of its kind that could make plastic disposal in the safe manner a possible reality. 
• Before this, all attempts to deal with plastic waste including burying, recycling, incineration have proved to be unsustainable, costly and hazardous to human health.

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2017 observed on - 4th April 2017 

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was observed on 4th April 2017 across the worldwith the theme "Needs driven. People Centred". Mine action ensures that landmines and explosive hazards in war-torn areas are found and destroyed.

Important details on United Nations Mine Action Strategy (UNMAS) 2006-2010

• The United Nations mine action activities are guided by four strategic objectives identified in UNMAS for 2006-2010. These are:
• To reduce death or injury by at least 50 per cent.
• To mitigate the risk to community livelihoods and expand freedom of movement of at least 80 per cent of the most seriously affected communities.
• For integration of mine action needs into national development and reconstruction plans and budgets in at least 15 countries;
• The UN General Assembly on 8th December 2005 declared that 4th April every year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

 Who has been appointed as first woman head of Gujarat’s police force ?- Geetha Johri

Indian Police Service officer Geetha Johri was appointed as the first woman Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat on 4th April 2017. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja.

Important Highlights 

• Previous officer, Mr. Pandey’s resignation was accepted by the state government on 3rd April 2017.
• A petition in the Supreme Court was filed to challenge the extension given to him, as his name featured in the top accused list in the controversial fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan and three others. 
• After this move Johri, who is the first woman IPS of Gujarat cadre, has become the first woman to head the Gujarat’s police force.

Terror attack at metro system of - Russia

Approximately 11 people were confirmed to be dead and over 43 injured after a bomb blast ripped through a train carriage on 3rd April 2017, while travelling between two metro stations in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city.

Key Highlights

• The explosion occurred around 2.30pm local time after the train had left Sennaya Ploshchad metro station. 
• The train driver continued to the next station, Tekhnologichesky Institut, in order to make evacuation easier.
• The blast was mainly felt in the carriage where the device had been detonated, third from the front of the train. 
• A second and much larger explosive device was found and diffused at a different metro station, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, in the city center. 
• Investigators suspect that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who left that explosive at the metro station before boarding the train with the other device.

Ban on polyethene manufactured below 50 microns by - J&K Govt. 

Jammu and Kashmir government imposed a blanket ban on the use of polyethene bags manufactured below fifty (50) microns on 3rd April 2017. The Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology of Jammu and Kashmir,Choudhary Lal Singh said that the government is taking all the possible measures to prevent the state’s environment and ecology from being polluted.

Key Highlights

• The manufacturer's name and address will now be required to print on the bags, failing of which, strict action will be taken against them.
• Producers of the plastic carry bags will have to obtain registration from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), in the case of registration absence, no person will be allowed to manufacture these carry bags.
• The brand owner or the producer of these plastic carry bags will have to submit its action plan to buyback or waste 
• The government will also organise awareness camps to educate mass about the ill effects of non-biodegradable products. 

 Brayan Jimenez, former President of Guatemalan Football Association, banned for life by - FIFA

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee of the FIFA banned Brayan Jimenez, the former President of the Guatemalan Football Association (FENAFUTG) for life  on 3rd April 2017.

Key Points

• The investigation against Jimenez was opened on 4th December 2015.
• It was conducted by Dr Cornel Borbely, the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, 
• based on a press release from the United States Department of Justice on 3rd December 2015.
• On 29th July 2016, Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of wire fraud conspiracy. 
• The adjudicatory chamber, chaired by Hans?Joachim Eckert, found Jimenez guilty of having violated Articles 13 (General rules of conduct), 
• 15 (Loyalty), 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting), 19 (Conflicts of interest), and 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.