Current Affairs 9th June 2017

Current Affairs 9th June 2017 - Important Points

• Trump nominates Christopher Wray as new - FBI director
• World Oceans Day 2017 observed globally on - 8th June 2017
• $318 million line of credit to Sri Lanka will be provided by - India
• UN campaign ‘Super Dads’ joined by - Sachin Tendulkar 
• Spain's Princess of Asturias Award for Literature won by - Polish poet Adam Zagajewski 
• May’s future as British PM uncertain as - Conservatives lose majority
• Ex-UN General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann died on - 8th June 2017
• Eminent social rights activist Mehrunnisa Dalwai passed on - 8th June 2017
• New Prime Minister of Nepal - Sher Bahadur Deuba
• Who has been inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame? - Muttiah Muralidaran
• Centre clears Kambala Bill cleared by - Union Ministry of Law and Justice
• 2nd National Health Editors' Conference on Yoga inaugurated by - Ministry of AYUSH
• Bopanna-Dabrowski win mixed doubles title in - French Open

Current Affairs 9th June 2017 - Details

Trump nominates Christopher Wray as new - FBI director

Trump nominated lawyer and former Justice Department official Christopher Wray as the new Director of FBI on 7th June 2017. Wray would be replacing James Comey, whom Trump dismissed on 9th May 2017 amidst the agency's ongoing probe into the alleged Russian involvement in the US Presidential elections. Wray’s nomination would be requiring confirmation from the US Senate.

More about Christopher Wray

• He was raised in New York and attended Phillips Academy.
• He graduated from Yale University in 1989 and then from Yale Law School in 1992.
• He currently works for King & Spalding's Washington and Atlanta offices where he is handling various white-collar criminal and regulatory enforcement cases.
• He previously served as assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's criminal division from 2003 to 2005 while working on corporate fraud scandals and cases involving U.S. financial markets.
• Wray is best known to always put justice before politics.

World Oceans Day 2017 observed globally on - 8th June 2017

The World Oceans Day was observed on 8th June 2017 across the world with the theme Our oceans, our future. This year’s theme is connected to the Ocean Conference which took place from 5th to 9th June at United Nations headquarters in New York. The concept of a World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as a way to celebrate world’s shared oceans as well as to raise awareness about the important role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help save it.

Following this, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 5th December 2008 designated 8th June as the World Oceans Day through its resolution.

$318 million line of credit to Sri Lanka will be provided by - India

India signed an agreement with Sri Lanka on 6th June 2017 to provide fresh assistance of USD 318 million as a line of credit for the development of the nation’s railway sector. This line of credit worth 318 USD agreement was signed between RHS Samaratunga who is the Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Mass Media and David Rasquinha who is the Managing Director of India's Export-Import Bank in Colombo India already provided four lines of credit amounting to approximately USD 966 million to Sri Lanka to develop its railway sector. 

Sri Lanka uses these credit line facilities to work on the Southern and Northern railway lines and for the fresh purchase of rolling stocks. According to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Transport, improving passenger transportation facilities is the need of hour to attract passengers towards railways and its a cost-effective mode of transportation.

UN campaign ‘Super Dads’ joined by - Sachin Tendulkar 

Cricketer legend Sachin Tendulkar will be joining the likes of David Beckham and Noval Djokovic for a United Nations campaign titled Super Dads. The UNICEF initiative Super Dad highlights the critical role that fathers play in their children’s early development. The initiative that was launched on 6th June 2017, few days prior to the Father’s Day ( on 18th June), will celebrate fatherhood by highlighting the importance of love, protection,play and good nutrition for the healthy development of young children’s brains. Other Super Dads campaign participants were Mahershala Ali,Hugh Jackman, Thalía, the All Blacks, Daniel Cormier, Lewis Hamilton and Chris Weidman.

Spain's Princess of Asturias Award for Literature won by - Polish poet Adam Zagajewski 

Polish poet and author Adam Zagajewski won the Spain's prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Literature 2017 on 8th June 2017. He was awarded for his resolute stance in freedom defense and the search of beauty, fine aesthetic sensibility and work of great human depth. Zagajewski is one of the most pre-famous contemporary Polish poets, essayists and novelists from the so-called 'Generation of New Wave'.

More about Adam Zagajewski

• He was born in 1945 in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine).
• He graduated in both Psychology and Philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the city in southwestern Poland.
• He joined the dissident group Teraz and created two of the most iconic slogans for the New Wave movements 'Powiedz prawde' (Tell the truth) and 'Mow Wprost' (Speak up) in the 1970s.
• He was a big rebel during Poland's Communist era and was forced into exile in 1982 and lived in France, Germany and the US for about two decades.
• Some of his best-known works include the poetry collections "Tremor" in 1985, "The Canvas" in 1990, "Mysticism for Beginners" in 1997, and "World Without End: New and Selected Poems" in 2002.
• Some of his best applauded essays are "Solidarity, Solitude" in 1986, "Two Cities" in 1991 and "A Defense of Ardor" in 2002.

 May’s future as British PM uncertain as - Conservatives lose majority

The snap general elections called by Prime Minister Theresa May have proven to be catastrophic for her Conservative party with it managing to achieve 310 seats only as per the latest results released on 9th June 2017. Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservative party had won 315 seats while the opposition Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn had won 261 seats. There are total 650 seats and 326 are needed for a party to secure a parliamentary majority and with 647 of the 650 seats. But now declared, no single party will be able to secure a clear majority, making Hung Parliament an unavoidable outcome.

Important Highlights

• The Scottish National Party (SNP) has won 35 seats, the Liberal Democrats have gained 12 and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has secured 10.
• The total voter turnout is estimated to be approximately 68.7 percent.
• May’s decision to call an early election has costed her party a handful of ministers.
• While the conservatives have lost 12 seats, the Labour party has gained around 29.
• Jeremy Corbyn, 68-year-old opposition leader has called for May to step down saying that she should make way for a government that is truly representative of the country.
• However, May is refusing to quit as Prime Minister insisting that UK needs a period of stability at this time.
• The conservatives are planning to work on making a government – most likely to make a pact with the DUP.

Ex-UN General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann died on - 8th June 2017

Former Foreign Minister of Nicaragua and former President of the UN General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann passed away on 8th June 2017.

More about Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann

• D'Escoto Brockmann was appointed as a priest of the Maryknoll Missionary Society in New York and adopted the doctrine of liberation theology in 1961.
• He secretly joined the Nicaraguan Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) against the Somoza dynasty in 1975.
• Pope John Paul II declared that D'Escoto Brockmann could not celebrate Mass because of his government activities in 1984.
• Pope Francis lifted the suspension and permitted D'Escoto to celebrate Mass in 2014.
• He was sent to New York as a Nicaragua's representative before the United Nations in 2007. 
• He served as the UN General Assembly President between 2008 to 2009.

Eminent social rights activist Mehrunnisa Dalwai passed on - 8th June 2017

Mehrunnisa Dalwai, famous social activist, author and wife of the late thinker and Marathi writer Hamid Dalwai passed away on 8th June 2017 at her residence. She also founded Maharashtra Talaq Mukti Morcha and Islamic Research Institute.

More about Mehrunnisa Dalwai

• She was born on 25th May 1930 in Pune.
• She married one of Maharashtra’s most remarkable and intense social reformers, Hamid Dalwai in 1956.
• Hamid, the author of the classic –Indhan, devoted himself completely to the cause of uplifting the women status within the Muslim community.
• The couple together worked with full efforts to liberalize the Muslim community and take a stand against fanatical Islamism and Brahminical Hinduism.
• She write Her autobiography, "Mi Bharun Pawle" in marathi and it is considered an inspirational piece for the progressive movement.
• Following the death of her husband in 1977 at the age of 44, Mehrunnisa immersed herself in the working of the Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, a reformist organisation that was founded by her husband in Pune.
• This organisation focused on resolving problems faced by the Muslim community, socio-cultural transformation and charting its history.
• Mehrunnisa was the president of the organisation for several decades.

New Prime Minister of Nepal - Sher Bahadur Deuba

Sher Bahadur Deuba took the oath as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time on 7th June 2017. He was elected as the nation’s 40th Prime Minister on 6th June 2017. Nepal’s President, Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Rashtrpati Bhawan in Kathmandu administered the oath taking ceremony. Deuba won by securing 388 votes out of the total 558 votes cast in the parliamentary vote.

Key Points

• Deuba, the only contender, would be succeeded Maoist leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who resigned last month to honour a power-sharing deal.
• He will be forming a small Cabinet in a day or two, which will be expanded after a few days.
• Deuba is going to take over at a time when Nepal is undergoing a political turmoil.
• The country is holding its first local-level polls in almost 20 years but Madhesi people are resisting this move.
• The inhabitants of the southern Terai region, who share cultural ties with Indians, have also been demanding for more political representation.
• Deuba has very close ties with India, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree from New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2016.
• He is also said to be in good terms with famous Indian political leaders.
• His good relations with India could also help in pacifying the growing dissent among the Madhesi community.

Who has been inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame? - Muttiah Muralidaran

Legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson after the India versus Sri Lanka ICC Champions Trophy match at The Oval on 8th June 2017. After this, Muralidaran became the first Sri Lankan to be inducted into this prestigious list. He is the 83rd player to be formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

More about Muttiah Muralidaran

• He is the most successful Test bowler in Tests and One Day Internationals with 800 wickets in 133 matches.
• He has taken 67 five-wicket innings hauls and 22 10-wicket match hauls in the Test matches.
• He is also the most successful player in ODI cricket with 534 wickets in 350 matches.
• He was a member of the squad that won the ICC Cricket World Cup of 1996.
• He was also the one who shared the ICC Champions Trophy with India in 2002.

Centre clears Kambala Bill cleared by - Union Ministry of Law and Justice

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has cleared the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2017 by legalising Kambala, a traditional race involving buffaloes Bill. The Bill will become law after getting the President's assent.

More about Kambala

• It is an annual Buffalo Race that is sponsorsed by local landlords and households in the coastal districts of Karnataka, India to entertain the rural people.
• For Kambala, Slushy/marshy paddy field track is used.
• The sports season generally starts in November and goes until March.
• The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, each pair race in two separate wet rice field tracks, controlled by the whip-lashing farmer.
• To ensure smooth operation of the same, a ‘Kambala Committee’ is formed and it arranges races in several categories like Adda Halage, Hagga Hiriya, Kane Halage,Hagga Kiriya,Halage.
• A well-organised Kambala attracts over 20000 spectators who cheer on the Buffaloes for completing the race.

Background

• In November 2016, the Karnataka high court banned kambala (annual buffalo race) along with bull-cart race in the state while hearing a case filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) stating animal cruelty.
• The high court had stayed these traditional sports in view of the Supreme Court’s ban on jallikattu, a traditional bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
• The Karnataka Assembly had passed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill 2017 on 13th February 2017 to allow kambala after facing protests by people and Kambala organisers.

 2nd National Health Editors' Conference on Yoga inaugurated by - Ministry of AYUSH

Shripad Yesso Naik who is an independent charge or Minister of AYUSH inaugurated the second National Health Editors' Conference on 9th June 2017 with the theme “Yoga for Health and Harmony” at the National Media Center in New Delhi in association with Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy.

Important Highlights

• This conference aims to give insight to the journalists about the scientific aspects of yoga and its health benefits.
• There will be over 150 Health editors and media persons from Regional, National and International media organizations.
• Senior officers of PIB and Ministry of AYUSH will also be present in the occasion.
• Famous yoga experts and modern medicine will be presenting highlights from recent research works on yoga aspects.

Do you know?

The first National Health Editors’ Conference on Yoga was organized in 2016 by Ministry of AYUSH and PIB.

Bopanna-Dabrowski win mixed doubles title in - French Open

India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian teammate Gabriela Dabrowski won the mixed doubles title at the 2017 French Open of Tennis on 8th June 2017. The Indo-Canadian pair defeated the pair of Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Colombia's Robert Farah by 2-6, 6-2, 12-10 in the finals played at Philippe-Chatrier Court of Paris, France. 

It was their maiden French Open mixed doubles title for this Indo-Canadian pair of Bopanna and Dabrowski.