Current Affairs 17th June 2017

Current Affairs 17th June 2017 - Important Points

• 1st X-ray Space Telescope to study black holes launched by - China
• 50-MW solar PV plant in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh by - Adani Group
• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2017 observed on - 15th June 2017
• First Indian woman Member of ITLOS - Neeru Chadha
• 3 Islamic State group leaders to terrorism blacklist added by - US
• Architect of Germany's re-unification, Helmut Kohl passed away on - 16th June 2016
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Kochi Metro on - 17th June 2017
• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2017 observed globally on - 17th June 2017

Current Affairs 17th June 2017 - Details

1st X-ray Space Telescope to study black holes launched by - China

China launched its first X-ray Space Telescope named 'Insight' to study black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts successfully on 15th June 2017. This Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) was carried into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert by Long March-4B rocket.

Important Highlights

• The 2.5-tonne telescope will allow Chinese scientists to observe the interiors of pulsars and magnetic fields for better understanding of the evolution of black holes.
• It will also help scientists to search the bursting of gamma rays against the  waves due to gravity  and  to study how pulsars can be used for spacecraft navigation.
• Insight is more capable of finding neutron stars and black holes  emitting bright X-rays than other space telescopes as it has a broader detection area and  a larger energy range making it easier to scan the galaxy.
• This Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope carries three x-ray telescopes to observe at energies ranging from 20 kilo electron volts  to 200 kilo-electron volts as well as an instrument to monitor the space environment.
• While orbiting 550 kilometers above the planet over an operating lifetime of 4 years approximately, the HXMT will perform an all-sky survey to discover a thousand x-ray sources.

50-MW solar PV plant in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh by - Adani Group

Infrastructure conglomerate Adani Group announced commissioning of a 50 megawatts (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh in the second week of June 2017.
The plant has been set up under the National Solar Mission Scheme with an investment of Rs. 315 crore.

Important highlights

• The plant will be using String Inverter Technology with crystalline silicon modules allowing miniature level control of solar power generation.
• Power generated by the plant will be transmitted via 21.5 km long transmission line with voltage of 132 kilovolts, connecting with UP Power Transmission Corporation's (UPTCL) Mahoba Substation, as stated in NTPC agreement.
• The project is expected to create direct and indirect employment for 250 people approximately.
• The Mahoba plant adds to Adani Group's growing solar power portfolio which includes a 40 MW solar plant at Bitta, Gujarat, 100 MW solar power plant in Bhatinda, Punjab, and the recently unveiled 648 MW solar power plant in the Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. With these, Adani Group's total solar energy capacity goes upto 838 MW.

Do you know?
Solar power plant in the Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu is the world's largest solar power plant at a single location.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2017 observed on - 15th June 2017

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed globally on 15th June 2017 to voice against abuse and suffering inflicted on older people with the theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is "Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue".

Main Objectives of the session:
Material abuse of older persons and Framing financial exploitation within the context of human rights;
Promote research across countries to identify the scale and severity of financial exploitation and its affects on older people, their families, communities and countries in order to raise mass awareness and to inform appropriate responses;

• Elder Abuse in India
  As per a study titled How India Treats its Elderly - HelpAge India conducted A National Study that says around 44% of the people surveyed stated that they were treated badly in public.
• 53% believed that Indian society has the problem of discrimination against elderly people.
• In Bengaluru, 70% of elders said they had experienced abuse and misbehave in public places.

First Indian woman Member of ITLOS - Neeru Chadha

Indian nominee Neeru Chadha became the first Indian Woman to be elected as the Member of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on 15th June 2017. Chadha, International law expert, got 120 votes which is the highest number in the Asia Pacific group. She will be serving for nine-year term as the Judge at ITLOS from 2017 to 2026.

More about Neeru Chadha

• Neeru Chadha is a renowned lawyer and also the first Indian woman to become the Chief Legal Adviser in the Union Ministry of External Affairs  and has advised the government on diverse issues relating to the sea law involving interpretation of various provisions of the UNCLOS.
• She used her great international arbitration and litigation experience for the Govt. of India in its maritime delimitation case with Bangladesh.
• She also represented India for the case filed by Italy in ITLOS where two Italian marines were accused of shooting two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012.
• She also served as an agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case with the Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to cessation of nuclear arms race.
• She represented India in various other conferences and multilateral meetings in the United Nations including Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation and International Institute for the Unification of Private Law etc.
• She has also represented India at The Hague Conference, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
• She holds PhD in law from the University of Michigan and the University of Delhi.

Do you know?

• ITLOS is one of the dispute settlement mechanisms under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. which was entered into force in 1994. It was established in 1996.
• It is composed of 21 independent members who are elected among people enjoying the highest reputation of integrity and fairness and are recognized competence in the field of the sea law.

3 Islamic State group leaders to terrorism blacklist added by - US

The United States Administration led by President Donald Trump blacklisted three senior members of the Islamic State group including their group's leader, the chief recruiter in India and a recruiter for attackers who carried out two deadly assaults in Europe on 15th June 2017.
All these three members, according to the US State Department and Treasury, has committed or pose a significant risk of committing terrorist attacks that threaten US national interests.

With the move, all three men were added to a list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, freezing any assets that they may have had within US jurisdictions and barring Americans from conducting any kind of transactions with them.

These three identified men are -

Oussama Ahmad Atar
Mohammad Shafi Armar
Mohammed Al Binali

Mission Retro-Fitment to enhance the passenger experience launched by - Indian Railways

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched Mission Retro-Fitment to enhance the passengers experience by upgrading existing fleet of coaches with better furnishing, aesthetics & amenities and better safety features to provide a safe and comfortable travel on 13th June 2017. Refurbished coaches will have world class ambiance along with modular toilets with concealed plumbing,LED Lights, powered Venetian blinds, branded fittings,
Anti-Graffiti coating, Bio toilets, Fire and Smoke Detection System, Braille Signage and more number of mobile / laptop charging points, etc.

Important Highlights

• Mission Retro-Fitment is an ambitious program to upgrade the furnishing level and amenities in the Indian Railways coaches.
• This is one of the largest retro fitment project in the world as Indian Railways will be refurbishing and retrofitting 40000 coaches by 2022-23.
• It will be providing overall better travel experience.
• This mission is expected to be challenging as it will be carried out without affecting the traffic operation.
• The approximate average cost involved for refurbishing and refitting every coach is Rs 30 lakhs.
  Coach Rehabilitation Workshop of Bhopal has already refurbished 57 coaches.

Architect of Germany's re-unification, Helmut Kohl passed away on - 16th June 2016

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor who presided over both German reunification and the creation of the eurozone, passed away on 16th June 2016
at his house in Ludwigshafen, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
He was one of the main drivers of the Maastricht Treaty for European unity and the unification of Germany. Jean-Claude Juncker , European Commission chief has ordered flags at EU institutions to be flown at half-mast to pay homage to the late political stalwart. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Kohl who was her mentor, was the right man at the right time, who seized a historic chance to overcome the divide running through Europe.
More about Helmut Kohl

• He was born on 3rd April 1930 into a conservative, Catholic family.
• His experiences in his hometown of Ludwigshafen in the Rhineland during the World War Two, shaped his political outlook,  as the town was heavily bombed because of its huge chemical.
• Representing the centre-right Christian Democrats, he was the longest-serving German chancellor of the 20th Century, led the country for almost 16 years from 1982 to 1998.
• After the Berlin Wall fall, He is credited with bringing East and West Germany together.
• He together with his French ally, President Francois Mitterrand is also credited with the introduction of the euro.
• His relations with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher were frosty throughout their time in office.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Kochi Metro on - 17th June 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Kochi Metro on 17th June 2017 at an inaugural ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. It will be India’s eighth metro rail service and the first in a tier-II city.
The Prime Minister was joined by other dignitaries including Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Metro Man E Sreedharan. Prime Minister has taken ride on the newly constructed rapid transport to Pathadippalam from Palarivattom .

Key Highlights

• The total stretch of Kochi Metro will cover 26 km and it will have 22 metro stations.
• The first phase is the longest phase, will cover about 13 km with 11 stations between Palarivattam Aluva and in Kochi city.
• The metro service is also the first in India to use Communication Based Train Control technology to minimize terrors and maximize frequencies.
• The time taken to travel from Palarivattom to Aluva is about 45 minutes by road, the Metro will cover the distance in just 23 minutes.
• The total cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 6,000 Cr. It was executed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and will be operated by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).
• E Sreedharan acted a project advisor, once he acted DMRC head. The service fare is expected to vary from a minimum of Rs 10 to a maxim of Rs 40 maximum.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2017 observed globally on - 17th June 2017

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed globally on 17th June 2017 with a campaign 'Our land. Our home. Our Future' to  promote public awareness of international efforts to conflict desertification. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought examined the important link between migration and land degradation.

The day reminds everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through strong community involvement, problem-solving and co-operation at all levels. Desertification is the land degradation in semi-arid,arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by climatic variations and human activities. More than 250 million people are directly affected by desertification, and about one billion people in more than hundred countries are at risk.
These people include most marginalized, many of the world's poorest and politically weak citizens.