Current Affairs 22nd July 2017

Current Affairs 22nd July 2017 - Important Points

• Quality mark logo for milk and milk products launched by - Union Government
• India dethroned Australia - In ICC Women's World Cup
• Qatar issues decree to amend law on combating terrorism on - 20th July 2017
• Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released National Trade Facilitation Action Plan on - 20th July 2017
• Chester Bennington, lead singer of Linkin Park died on - 20th July 2017
• Neil Armstrong Moon Bag sold for USD 1.8 million in New York on - 20th July 2017
• Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana for poors announced on - 20th July 2017
• Massive cosmic explosion on Proxima Centauri detected by - Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble jointly
• Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana launchced by - Union Government
• 90 lakh for construction of modern cattle pond released by - Punjab Government
•  MoU with NIUA for preparing Delhi Master Plan 2041 signed by - DDA
• Bicentenary Celebration of Paika Rebellion of Odisha inaugurated by - Pranab Mukharjee
• Who has been resigned as Press Secretary of US White House Sean Spicer resigns as Press Secretary of US White House ? - Sean Spicer

Current Affairs 22nd July 2017 - Details

Quality mark logo for milk and milk products launched by - Union Government

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched on 20th July 2017 National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB) quality logo for milk and milk products to signify safe and quality milk and milk products from dairy cooperatives. This move will be reinforcing the consumers' recognition that the quality mark is synonymous with good quality.

Important Highlights

• NDDB's quality mark will be providing dairy cooperatives and producer institutions the much-needed brand identity and a competitive edge.
• This will also be contributing to building consumer confidence in dairy cooperative brands.
• It will also be bringing about process improvement in the entire value chain from producer to the consumers to ensure availability of quality milk and milk products.
• This system does not propose any new or additional system for the food safety and quality management but lays down the processes needed to ensure safety and quality.
• The quality mark award would be valid for three years subject to maintenance of quality, food safety standards and compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

India dethroned Australia - In ICC Women's World Cup

Indian women cricket team vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur with her unbeaten knock of 171 off 115-balls helped India to jump into finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup of Cricket 2017.

To reach the finals of the world cup, India defeated the Australian women’s team by 36 runs at Derby in England on 20th July 2017.
Harmanpreet hammered 20 fours and seven towering sixes during her knock at the striking rate of 148.69, which is next only to New Zealand’s Suzie Bates’ 160.00 (which she scored 168 against Pakistan in 2009). She also bettered her previous ODI best score of 107 runs after this score. Harmanpreet’s blistering century of unbeaten 171 runs is the fifth highest overall and the third highest individual score by any player in the world cup.
Her 171 is also the second highest Individual score in One Day Internationals for India.
Deepti Sharma with her 188 not out holds the record of highest individual score in ODIs by an Indian women cricketer. She also scored her unbeaten 188 against South Africa earlier in 2017.
India will now face hosts England in the title clash on 23rd July 2017.

Qatar issues decree to amend law on combating terrorism on - 20th July 2017

Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, issued a decree making some changes some provisions of a law on combating terrorism on 20th July 2017. The decree has prepared two national lists for individuals, terrorist entities and states out the requirements for being included on them.

Important Points

• The decree includes definitions for terms such as terrorist acts,terrorist, crime, terrorist entities, financing of terrorism and freezing of funds.
• It also identified procedures related to some terrorist activities.
• Individuals and entities who accused of terrorist activities have the right to challenge the charges lodged against them before the court as per stated in the decree.
• The amendment to the anti-terror legislation is immediately effective upon its publication in the government newsletter.
• The order follows an agreement signed between the Gulf nation and the United States during US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s visit to Doha, which seeks to combat terror financing.
• Tillerson had praised Qatar for signing the deal and for committing to track down and disable terror financing.
• Qatar is the first Gulf state to sign such a pact with the US.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released National Trade Facilitation Action Plan on - 20th July 2017

The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) in New Delhi on 20th July 2017.
The finance minister said that the WTO-Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) was a major milestone for the global trading system after releasing NTFAP.
The WTO-Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on 22nd February 2017.
Jaitley also said India looks forward to ensure compliance with the TFA. He further added that this Action Plan gives a time bound map, not only to implement TFA but also for India's initiatives for trade facilitation and ease of doing business which goes beyond TFA.

Aim of the National Action Plan:

The plan is aiming to transform cross border clearance ecosystem through transparent, efficient, coordinated, digital, seamless and technology driven procedures, which is supported by state-of-the-art airports, land borders and sea ports.

Objectives:

The objectives include improvement in ease of doing business by reducing in cargo release time and cost, transparent and predictable legal regime, move towards the paperless regulatory environment and improved investment climate through better infrastructure.

Chester Bennington, lead singer of Linkin Park died on - 20th July 2017

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, passed away on 20th July 2017 in California, U.S.
He apparently hanged himself, which lead to his death.

More about Chester Bennington

• Born on 20th March 1976, Chester Bennington was an American singer and songwriter.
  Bennington was best known as the frontman for the rock band Linkin Park.
• He was also the lead singer for Dead by Sunrise and fronted Stone Temple Pilots between 2013 and 2015.
• He first gained fame as a vocalist after the release of Linkin Park's debut album, Hybrid Theory in 2000.
• He formed his own band, Dead by Sunrise, as a side project in 2005. The band's debut album, Out of Ashes, was released on 13th October 2009.
• He was ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader.
• Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California, was formed in 1996.
• Having adapted rap metal and nu metal to a radio-friendly yet dense layered style in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the band has explored other genres in their next studio album, Minutes to Midnight.
• This album topped the Billboard charts and had the third-best debut week of any album that year.

Neil Armstrong Moon Bag sold for USD 1.8 million in New York on - 20th July 2017

Neil Armstrong bag containing traces of moon dust was sold in an auction for USD 1.8 million on 20th July 2017 in New York.  An anonymous buyer bought this bag following a sluggish five-minute bidding war on the telephone.

The collection bag was used by astronaut Neil Armstrong to collect the first dust samples from the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission which was the first manned mission to the moon in 1969 and the auction marked the 48th anniversary of that mission.

During the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong collected nearly 500 gms of material finer than 1 centimeter, as well as 12 rock fragments bigger than one centimeter from five different locations at the Sea of Tranquillity.  It was the first and only artifact from the Apollo 11 mission that has been given in the private hands. Sotheby’s auction house organized the auction. Its previous owner was an Illinois lawyer, who bought it for USD 995 in 2015.

Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana for poors announced on - 20th July 2017

The Union Ministry of Rural Development announced on 20th July 2017 that it will be launching a new sub-scheme Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
This Yojana aims to provide an alternative source of livelihoods to members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas.
The sub-scheme will be providing safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services like e-rickshaws, 3 and 4 wheeler motorized transport  vehicles to connect remote villages with key services and amenities including access to markets, health and education for the overall economic development of the area.

Massive cosmic explosion on Proxima Centauri detected by - Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble jointly

Three space-based observatories Astrosat, Chandra, Hubble Space Telescope and a ground-based observatory HARPS have detected a massive coronal explosion on the nearest planet-hosting star Proxima Centauri.
The chance detection on 31st May 2017 came during a planned joint multi-wavelength simultaneous
observational campaign by these observatories which study the Proxima Centauri group of stars hosting an Earth-like habitable planet, named Proxima Centaur b which orbits within its habitable zone.
The team is investigating the characteristics of this flaring event now to understand the propagation of such energetic effects and events on the orbiting planetary world.

 Astrosat is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission built by a consortium of institutes across India led by ISRO Satellite Center , TIFR Mumbai, IIA Bengaluru, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Space Applications Center in collaboration with University of Leicester (UK) and the Canadian Space Agency. The NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center managed this Chandra program.

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana launchced by - Union Government

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley formally launched the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) on 21st July 2017. It is a pension scheme announced by the Union Government exclusively for the senior citizens aged 60 years and above available from 4th May 2017 to 3rd May 2018.

Key Highlights

• The Scheme can be purchased offline or online mode through LIC.
• The scheme provides an assured return of 8 percent per annum and is payable monthly for 10 years.
• The pension is payable at the end of each period as per the frequency chosen by pensioner for monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly/ yearly basis during the policy term of 10 years.
• The scheme is also exempted from Service Tax or GST.
• In case of the survival of the pensioner till the end of the policy term of 10 years, the purchase price along with final pension installment will be paid.
• Loan up to 75 percent of Purchase Price will be allowed after 3 policy years in order to meet the liquidity needs.
• Loan interest will be recovered from the pension installments and claim proceeds.
• It also gives the privilege of premature exit for the treatment of any critical illness of self or spouse.
• On premature exit due to medical emergency, 98 percent of the Purchase Price will be refunded.In case of the pensioner's death during the 10 years of policy term, the Purchase Price will be paid to the beneficiary.
• In case of suicide, there will be no exclusion and full Purchase Price will be paid to the beneficiary.

90 lakh for construction of modern cattle pond released by - Punjab Government

The Punjab Government has released Rs. 90 lakh for the construction of an ultra-modern cattle pond in a village called Kanian Kalan in Jalandhar district. Keemti Bhagat, the Chairman of Punjab Gau Sewa Commission made this announcement.
Elaborating more on the project, Bhagat confirmed that the project would be completed on the lines of the cattle pond at Mansa, having the capacity of more than 2000 cattle. Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar, Varinder Kumar Sharma stated that a detailed project report for the same had already been prepared by the animal husbandry department.

Important Highlights

• The project is expected to get completed in the next two months.
• Sub Divisional Magistrate Shahkot has been given the charge to oversee the project construction.
• The SDM would also be needed to ensure the maintenance of all kinds of records at the cattle pond.
• From the allotted Rs. 90 lakh, Rs. 50 lakh would be used to feed the live stock.
• Approximately Rs 16 lakh would be utilized for the construction of a new shed.

 MoU with NIUA for preparing Delhi Master Plan 2041 signed by - DDA

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) for preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2041 on 20th July 2017. DDA provided DDA to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, who is also the Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority.
Key Highlights

MoU with NIUA for preparing Delhi Master Plan 2041 signed by - DDA

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) for preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2041 on 20th July 2017. DDA provided DDA to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, who is also the Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority.

Key Highlights

• The Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2041 will enable strategic plan which would be the guiding framework of the planning and growth of Delhi till 2041.
• NIUA's approach for the project comprises four phases which neither be sequential and exclusive.
  It will involve building a base line quantitative understanding for Delhi at all the various levels with quantitative understanding from historical data,  primary data collection and data from the DDA.
• A qualitative issues understanding through stakeholder consultations with government agencies, experts, community groups, etc will complement this understanding.
• This data will be covered on a GIS platform to understand linkages across various developmental themes in the city.
• This enabling phase of the project will look at the strategy of neighborhood redevelopment via development control regulations, land pooling, land use, governance and local area planning.
• Moreover in order to facilitate ease of doing business for single-brand retail sector, the maximum ground coverage for commercial centers has been uniformly increased to 50 percent as per the Master Plan of Delhi 2021.
• The NIUA will also be engaging national and international experts for developing MPD 2041.

Bicentenary Celebration of Paika Rebellion of Odisha inaugurated by - Pranab Mukharjee

The President of India Pranab Mukharjee inaugurated the bicentenary celebration of the Paika Rebellion of Odisha organized by the Union Ministry of Culture on 20th July 2017.

President Mukherjee during the inauguration stated that the “Paika uprising was in the nature of a rebellion by Odisha people. It was aimed to uphold the Odishi people rights and sovereignty of them.

Paika Rebellion was the rebellion of Paikas and it was a National War ordinary people waged at the grassroots level who presented the dispossession of their Sovereign of his rights and the
consequential repressive measures that were followed. As we celebrating 200 years of the Paika Rebellion, it is time to remember our country's great history and pay respect to our great heroes.”

More about Paika Rebellion

• It was an armed rebellion against the British East India Company's rule in Odisha in 1817.
• The Paikas were raised in the rebellion group under their leader Bakshi Jagabandhu and projecting Lord Jagannath as the symbol of Odia unity.
• The rebellion quickly spread across most of Odisha before being ruthlessly put down by the company's forces.
• The Paikas were the traditional landed militia of Odisha. These warriors were charged with policing functions during peacetime.
• The rebellion had several economic, social and political reasons.

Who has been resigned as Press Secretary of US White House Sean Spicer resigns as Press Secretary of US White House ? - Sean Spicer

Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, resigned on 22nd July 2017 from his position following the appointment of Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci as Communications Director by President Donald Trump.

Spicer was asked to stay on as the Press Secretary and was asked to report to Scaramucci after his appointment. Moreover, he rejected this offer and resigned. After his resignation, Spicer’s top deputy Sarah Huckabee Sanders was appointed as a Press Secretary.

Scaramucci is a Fox News contributor and is known for his on-air defense for President Trump. Spicer handled the responsibilities of both Press Secretary and Communications Director for much of his tenure.
He oversaw the White House's response to a near uncontrollably surge of controversy, particularly concerning the potential ties between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials. His tenure was defined by his struggle to defend Trump administration. He was repeatedly seen issuing statements which were later proven to be false or misleading, often as a result of the President Trump's own public pronouncements.