Current Affairs 3rd June 2017

Current Affairs 3rd June 2017 - Important Points

• Faceless fish in unexplored abyss discovered by - Australian scientists
• IIT Kharagpur develops new tech to make cheaper - Pollution-free biofuel
• Bicycle Patrols for better policing launched by - Delhi Police
• Indian origin Leo Varadkar set to become next - Ireland Prime Minister
• Who has been appointed as Judge in US Court of Appeals? - Indian-American Amul Thapar
•  Second Scorpene Class Submarine Ready for - Sea Trials

Current Affairs 3rd June 2017 - Details

Faceless fish in unexplored abyss discovered by - Australian scientists

A team of Australian scientists discovered a faceless fish and other weird and wonderful creatures in the deep waters of Australia during their scientific journey to the parts of the ocean never explored before in May 2017. This search area was the most unexplored environment on earth.

Key findings - 

• The scientists have been surveying the dark and cold abyss through nets, sonar and deep-sea cameras that was four kilometres below the surface.
• They came across a faceless fish, which has only been recorded once before by the pioneering scientific crew of HMS Challenger off Papua New Guinea in 1873.
• It has no eyes or a visible nose and its mouth is underneath.
• Puffed-up coffin fish, blind sea spiders, bright red spiky rock crabs and deep sea eels were collected by the team during their voyage from Launceston in Tasmania north towards the Coral Sea.
• Chief scientist Tim O'Hara from Museums Victoria led the team.

IIT Kharagpur develops new tech to make cheaper - Pollution-free biofuel

Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed a new technology which will change the way biofuel is manufactured  by making the process quicker, pollution free and cheaper. Dr Rintu Banerjee, Professor of Agricultural Department and Food Engineering on 31st December 2017 said, the technique ensures relatively faster production of bio-fuel and the process is completely green.

She said that the technology can change the future of bio-fuel manufacturing in India and make it more cost effective. Dr Banerjee also said the technology is ready for industry use. IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said today 'soil-to-soil' manufacturing technology developed for bio-energy is in the process of being patented. Dr Rintu Banerjee said "2g bioethanol can be produced from various naturally available lignocellulosic components. But in order to do so it needs to be treated chemically. Because of chemical treatment, the process contributes towards the pollution of the environment". Lignocellulose refers to plant's dry matter.

Bicycle Patrols for better policing launched by - Delhi Police

Delhi Police launched the Bicycle Patrols for better policing in the capital on 30th May 2017. Union minister of Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir flagged off the the Bicycle Patrols. In the first phase, a total of 65 high-end bicycles have been made operational. Out of 65 bicycles, 20 for East district,30 were allotted for North East district and 15 for Shahdara district.The scheme will be extended to other areas of Delhi as well.

Key Highlights of Bicycle Patrols

• As a part of green initiative for patrolling congested lanes, by-lanes,the parks, the cooperative societies, etc. bicycle patrols were launched. 
• These patrols were introduced to support further the existing motorcycle and PCR patrols of Delhi Police which focus mainly on crime prevention along the arterial and main roads of Delhi.
• Cycle patrols can go to even those places where traditional patrol vehicles cannot.
• They have access to narrow and heavily congested areas where other vehicles find it difficult to reach.
• They will also be utilized for patrolling during odd hours when the residents are taking rest, as they will not be that disturbing.
• One of the main focus areas of these bicycle patrols will be especially parks where citizens including senior citizens and women go for morning and evening walks.
• The bicycle patrols will also be introduced in the University campuses and nearby schools and colleges where the police officers will have a friendly interface with the students.
• The bicycle patrols will mostly be in 'buddy pairs' and will normally cover a distance of 2 to 5 kilometers in each patrol.
• Each bicycle will be fitted with cell phone docks and equipments for keeping other accessories.
• With additional health benefits at zero environmental cost for the riders, the bicycle patrol parties will also bring the concept of 'Policing by community involvement'.

Indian origin Leo Varadkar set to become next - Ireland Prime Minister

Ireland's governing Fine Gael Party elected Leo Varadkar as its new leader to succeed Enda Kenny as the Prime Minister on 2nd June 2017. He is a gay son of an Irish nurse and a doctor of Indian origin. Varadkar won an overwhelming majority among the center-right party's lawmakers and defeated ministerial colleague Simon Coveney.  However, Varadkar will be voted in as the next Prime Minister of the country during Ireland's Parliament session on 13th June 2017. Varadkar will become the Catholic country's first gay Prime Minister and also the youngest person ever to hold the office. 

Who has been appointed as Judge in US Court of Appeals? - Indian-American Amul Thapar

Indian-American Amul Thapar was appointed as a Judge in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on 2nd June 2017. US President Donald Trump approved his appointment. Thapar served on the District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky before his appoinment to the court of Appeals. US Senate chose Thapar with 52-44 votes on party lines.

More about Amul Thapar

• Thapar is a son of Indian-American immigrants.
• He was the Nation's first Article III judge of South Asian descent. 
• After clerkships with Judge S Arthur Spiegel of the District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and Judge Nathaniel R Jones of the US Court of Appeals, he started his legal career in private practice.
• Thapar is also a member of The South Asian Bar Association of North America's National Advisory Council. SABA awarded him Pioneer Award in 2010.
• He taught at the University of Virginia School of Law, Vanderbilt Law School, and the Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law.
• Thapar received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his law degree from the University of California in Berkeley.

 Second Scorpene Class Submarine Ready for - Sea Trials

The second Scorpene-class submarine, INS Khanderi launched earlier this year is ready for surface sea trails. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley announced this development who wrote a congratulatory tweet to the engineers of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), where it was built, for their sincere efforts in getting it ready for the surface sea trials. Jaitley further said that the commissioning of Scorpene-class submarines will significantly boost India's naval powers and strengthen the country’s defence, making our ocean safer & more secure. The first Indian Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari has already undergone various trials and is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy by this year end.

More about INS Khanderi

• It is the second out of the six submarines being built as part of 'Project 75' of Indian Navy.
• The diesel-electric attack submarine is named after the fort of Maratha forces that played an important role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century.
• The submarine was launched in the presence of Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and other dignitaries on 12 January 2017.
• Its features include superior movement and capability of launching a ruining attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.
• It can take diverse types of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine laying, intelligence gathering and area surveillance among others.
• It also carries the ability to launch attacks with tube-launched anti-ship missiles and torpedoes while being on the surface or underwater.
• The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics.