Current Affairs 10th July 2017

Current Affairs 10th July 2017 - Important Points

• Mars soil may be toxic to alien life: Study by scientists
•  Former Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra passed away on - 9th July 2017
•  PM Modi returns from Hamburg as G20 Summit concluded on - 8th July 2017
•  Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas wins 2017 Austrian Grand Prix on - 9th July 2017
• Iraq announces victory over Islamic State in Mosul on - 8th July 2017
• Brazil's Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List on - 9th July 2017
• First pregnant man to give birth in Britain - Hyden Cross
• Ahmedabad becomes first Indian city to get UNESCO Heritage tag on - 8th July 2017
• Cambodia’s Sambor Prei Kuk temple zone gets UNESCO World Heritage Status on - 8th July 2017
• Import of aircraft, aircraft engines from ambit of GST exempted by - Union Government
• Digital initiatives to promote e-education launched by - President Pranab Mukherjee

Current Affairs 10th July 2017 - Details

Mars soil may be toxic to alien life: Study by scientists

As per a recent research conducted by scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, surface of Mars has chemical compounds known as perchlorates that can wipe out living organisms.
This discovery has major implications for hunt of alien life on the red planet as it means any evidence is likely to be buried deep underground. Journal Scientific published this study.

Important highlights

• The research was driven by the discovery of powerful oxidants known as perchlorates in the Martian soil a few years ago.
• Hints of perchlorates first showed up in tests performed by NASA’S Viking lander missions around 40 years ago. However, the fact was recently confirmed by NASA’s Phoenix lander and Mars rover, Curiosity.
• The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted signs of perchlorates in 2015. Many scientists suspected that perchlorates would be toxic for microbial Martians,though, alien bacteria might find a way to use the chemicals as an energy source.
• The researchers checked on Bacillus subtilis, a common soil bacteria and regular Earthly contaminant found on space probes, when it was mixed with magnesium perchlorate and blasted with ultraviolet rays similar to those witnessed on Mars. It was found that the bugs were wiped out twice as fast in the presence of perchlorate.
• Further tests found that the UV rays broke down the perchlorate into other chemicals, called hypochlorite and chlorite.
• In addition to that, the researchers also followed-up with another round of experiments that looked at the toxic affects of iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide, which are also found in Martian soil.
• As per further tests, when the bacteria were hit with UV rays in the presence of perchlorates,iron oxide, the bugs were killed 11 times faster than with perchlorates alone.

 Former Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra passed away on - 9th July 2017

Naresh Chandra, former Indian Ambassador to the United States, passed away on 9th July 2017 due to brief illness. He served as the Indian Ambassador to the United States between 1996 and 2001.

More about Naresh Chandra

• Chandra was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh and did his graduation and M.Sc. (Maths) degree from the Allahabad University.
• He joined the Indian Administrative Service in May 1956 and then till 1964, he served in different capacities in various districts of Rajasthan.
• He was also an Adviser to the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir in 1986 for 8 months period.
• Chandra had served as the Cabinet Secretary between 1990 and 1992.
• As the Indian Ambassador to the United States between 1996 and 2001, Chandra represented India in the US during the turbulent time after 1998 nuclear test.
• He was also awarded with the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.

 PM Modi returns from Hamburg as G20 Summit concluded on - 8th July 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned back to India on 8th July 2017 after concluding his engagements at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. This year G20 Summit was held with the theme “Shaping the Interconnected World”.
At the Summit conclusion, the leaders of G20 countries committed to focus on reciprocity, to keep markets open and non-discrimination as well as unfair trade practices.
PM Modi, during his visit to Hamburg participated in the plenary session of the summit and bilateral meets with the leaders of the G20 nations like the US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian President Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and among others.

 Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas wins 2017 Austrian Grand Prix on - 9th July 2017

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas won the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix held at Red Bull Ring Spielberg, Styria, Austria on 9th July 2017.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished just behind Bottas , grabbed the second place while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo stood third in the race.
Key Highlights

• Born on 28th August 1989, Valtteri Viktor Bottas is a Finnish racing driver currently competing in Formula One with Mercedes.
• He drove for Williams from 2013 to 2016.
• During his first 4 races for Mercedes, he bagged his first Formula One pole position (at the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix) and took his first victory at the 2017 Russian Grand Prix.
• The Austrian Grand Prix is a FIA sanctioned auto race, which held in 1964, 1970–1987 and 1997–2003.
• This Grand Prix returned to the Formula One calendar in 2014.
• The 2017 was the ninth round of the 2017 season. It also marked the thirty-first running of the Austrian Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship since the series establishment in 1950.

Iraq announces victory over Islamic State in Mosul on - 8th July 2017

Haider al-Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq declared the full liberation of Mosul and reclaim the city after three years of ISIL control on 8th July 2017.
The success was achieved after nine months of bitter fighting to displace the extremist group from the city where it proclaimed its caliphate. Abadi travelled to Mosul to reclaim the devastated city formally.

Battle of Mosul

• Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq.
• The city stands on the west bank of the Tigris which is opposite to the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank.
• It had been under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant since June 2014.
  Since October 2016, the city has been a site for a military operation to remove and defeat militant forces.
• Battle of Mosul, dubbed as "We Are Coming, Nineveh" started on 16th October 2016, with forces besieging ISIL-controlled areas in the Nineveh Governorate surrounding Mosul.
• The battle was the world's single largest military operation in almost 15 years.
• On 1st November 2016, Iraqi Special Operations Forces entered the city from the east. The advance into the city was slowed by elaborate defenses and by the presence of civilians. However, the Iraqi Prime Minister declared "full liberation of eastern side of Mosul" on 24 January 2017.
• On 19th February 2017, Iraqi troops began their offensive to recapture western Mosul.
• On 1st March 2017, it was announced that the Iraqi Army had taken control of the last major road to western Mosul.
• On 9th March 2017, Iraqi forces reached the Grand Mosque of al-Nuri from where al-Baghdadi had made a declaration of a "caliphate".
• On 3rd-4th May 2017, Iraqi forces fought to recapture the Old City area, tightening their control around the al-Nuri Mosque.

Brazil's Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List on - 9th July 2017

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO added Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site in the World Heritage List on 9th July 2017. The committee stated that Valongo is the most important physical trace of the arrival of African slaves on the American continent during its meeting in Krakow, Poland.

More about Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site

• Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site is located in Brazil, central Rio de Janeiro and encompasses the whole of Jornal do Comercio Square.
• The place where the site stands is the former harbor area of Rio de Janeiro where the old stone wharf was built for enslaved Africans who arrived in South America through Valongo from 1811 on wards. An estimated 900000 Africans arrived at that time.
• Valongo was the place where the slaves, often sick after the voyage, were taken to be sorted, quarantined and sold.
• The site possesses several archaeological layers, the lowest layer of which consists of floor paving in pe de moleque style, attributed to the original Valongo Wharf.

First pregnant man to give birth in Britain - Hyden Cross

Hyden Cross, 21 years old Britain's first pregnant man has given birth to a girl. He made headlines around the world earlier in 2017 when he announced that he was pregnant by a sperm donor.
Cross had legally become male through gender assignment three years ago.

He put his transition on hold to have a child. Reports suggest that his daughter, Trinity-Leigh, was born on 16th June 2017 by caesarean at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. After her birth, Cross became the first transgender man to give birth in the United Kingdom.
After the birth of the child, Cross is planning to return to complete his gender realignment as soon as possible. Under the gender reassignment,  he will have to undergo the process of removal of his breasts and ovaries.

This reassignment will be helping him to transform himself into a man from a woman.
The first man to give birth was Thomas Beatie in the US in 2008. He was born a woman and he did a partial sex change but kept his womb and was able to conceive.

Ahmedabad becomes first Indian city to get UNESCO Heritage tag on - 8th July 2017

The Indian city of Ahmedabad was declared India’s first World Heritage City, recognising heritage value of the walled city’s unique heritage on 8th July 2017. The World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO following a meeting in Krakwo, Poland made this announcement.
After the announcement, the city has now joined the likes of heritage cities like Paris, Galle in Sri Lanka,Edinburg, Cairo, among others.
Ahmedabad’s nomination received heavy support from around 20 countries lauding the peaceful co-existence of dominant Islamic, Hindu and Jain communities in the Walled City area.
The city had figured in UNESCO’s tentative list in 2011. Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner, Mukesh Kumar stated that there are 2600 heritage sites and over two dozen Architectural Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments and sites in the walled city.

Important Highlights

• The Historic City of Ahmadabad or Old Ahmedabad was founded by Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat Sultanate in 1411.
• It remained the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate and after that important political and commercial center of Gujarat.
• Despite having become extremely dilapidated and crowded, the walled city still serves as the symbolic heart of metropolitan Ahmedabad.
• Ahmed Shah I laid the foundation of Bhadra Fort in 1411 and it was completed in 1413 starting from Manek Burj, the first bastion of the city.
• Ahmed Shah I also established the first square of the city, Manek Chowk, both were associated with the legend of Hindu saint Maneknath.
• His Gujarat Sultanate ruled from the city until 1484.
• During Mughal rule, Bhadra Fort served as the seat of Gujarat Governor. The city flourished with addition of the several settlements in and around the city.
• During Mughal and Maratha struggle between 1707 and 1753 to control the city, the city was harmed and several suburbs were De-populated.
• The city fell under the rule of the East India Company, which stabilized the city politically and improved the trade in 1817.
• The Historic City of Ahmedabad continued to the center of political activities during Indian Independence Movement.
• The World Heritage Cities Program is one of six thematic programs formally approved and monitored by the World Heritage Committee.
• It aims to assist States Parties in the challenges to protect and manage their urban heritage.

Cambodia’s Sambor Prei Kuk temple zone gets UNESCO World Heritage Status on - 8th July 2017

Cambodia's Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site was inscribed on the UNESCO'S World Heritage List on 8th July 2017.
This inscription was made during the World Heritage Committee's 41st session in Krakow, Poland.
After this, the number of the country's tangible cultural properties in the list is three. The first two listed properties are Angkor Archaeological Park inscribed in 1992 and the Temple of Preah Vihear was included in 2008.

More about Sambor Prei Kuk

• The Sambor Prei Kuk temple zone is an archaeological site in Cambodia located in Kampong Thom Province.
• The complex dates back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom (late 6th to 9th century), which was established by King Isanavarman I as central royal sanctuary and capital.
• The central part of the complex is divided into three main groups. Each group has a square layout surrounded by a brick wall.
• The structures of the overall archaeological area were constructed at variable times: the southern and north groups (7th century) by Isanavarman I and the central group.
• Architectural features of the complex include octagonal towers, shiva lingams, numerous prasats,yonis, ponds, reservoirs and lion sculptures.

Import of aircraft, aircraft engines from ambit of GST exempted by - Union Government

The Union government has exempted the import of aircraft, aircraft engines and its parts via leasing route from the purview of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
This exemption from GST can be seen as a major relief to the aviation industry as it has been asking for relief from the dual levy of 5 percent at the time of import and another 5 percent during the payment of lease rent.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) had informed the government that the dual levy on aircraft leasing, 5 percent at the time of import and 5 percent at the time of payment of lease rentals, will result in a huge financial burden to the airlines.

More about the previous Tax regime

• In the previous tax regime, customs duty was exempt on the import of aircraft and its spares, and service tax was also not applicable on aircraft took on operating lease.
• This body was involved in putting forward displeasure of aviation industry.
• The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) is an association representing major domestic airlines Jet Airways,IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Air India.
• Before this, the concerns of the aviation industry were raised by the civil aviation ministry on several occasions before the revenue department.
• A notification from the Union Finance Ministry said that airlines will not be having to pay GST at the time of import. However, lease rentals will be subject to GST.
• Reports suggest that this double taxation would have resulted in a loss of Rs 800 crore to the aviation industry on aircraft lease.

Digital initiatives to promote e-education launched by - President Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee launched four major digital initiatives in to push e-education on 9th July 2017. These digital initiatives are SWAYAM Prabha, SWAYAM and National Academic Depository. The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development manages and supervises all these digital initiatives.

More about SWAYAM

• An indigenous designed Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), SWAYAM will be hosting all the courses taught in classrooms from 9th class till post-graduation.
• More than 400 Courses are available on SWAYAM covering all the non-engineering and engineering subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
• The UGC has also issued Regulation that allows credits transfer earned through the courses done through SWAYAM into the academic record of the students.
• Microsoft has constructed this platform with totally indigenous efforts and it can be accessed by anyone and anywhere at any time.