Important Current Affairs 18th May 2017

Important Current Affairs 18th May 2017

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important Current Affairs 18th May 2017 in English and Hindi, which will update you with latest headlines, news from various domains i.e: National News, Sports, Business, Awards & recognition. It is useful for the preparation of competitive exams like: SSC, SBI, IBPS PO, Clerk, Railways & Various other Entrance examinations.

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Current Affairs 18th May 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

CIC to organise a Seminar on implementation of the Right to Information

The Central Information Commission (CIC) is organising a Seminar on implementation of the Right to Information here tomorrow. 
●    The Chief Information Commissioner Shri Radha Krishna Mathur will deliver the Inaugural Address and Information Commissioner, CIC, Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu, will give a talk on “Scope of Privacy of Public Servant”. 
●    Information Commissioner, CIC, Shri Yashovardhan Azad will deliver the address at the Valedictory Session.
●    Academicians, practitioners, researchers, NGOs/civil society groups and other stakeholders will be giving well researched original presentations, including case studies during the Seminar. 
●    Speakers of eminence will include Ms. Anjali Bhardwaj, co-Convenor, National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI), Shri Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Ms. Amrita Johri, Member, NCPRI, Shri S.C. Agrawal, RTI Activist, Shri Venkatesh Nayak of CHRI, Ms. Pankti Jog of Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, Dr. Susanta Kumar Mallick, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Savitri Women’s College,  Odisha, Shri B.H. Veeresha, Trustee, Mahithi Hakku Adhyayana Kendra, Shri Rajesh Mehtani, U.P. State Resource Person (RTI), Shri Deepak Singh, Sr. Telecom Office Assistant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd.). 
●    Presentations will focus on important aspects of the implementation of the Right to Information Act 2005. 

Standard Operating Procedure for cases of Missing Children developed by WCD Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for tracing of missing children as per the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated January 13, 2015 in the matter of Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India & Ors, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 75 of 2012. 
●    The Apex court had observed that there are many Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by States to trace out missing children and therefore, had directed the Ministry of WCD, to take help of TISS to compile a model SOP which may be used by all States/UTs to deal with cases of missing children and to follow a uniform procedure throughout the country.
●    The SOP for tracing of missing children is finalized in consonance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules 2016. 
●    The SOP mainly deals with the tracking of missing children and their rehabilitation after recovery. 
●    It defines roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders such as Police, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) etc.
●    Rule 92(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules 2016 defines a missing child as – a child whose whereabouts are not known to the parents, legal guardian or any other person or institution legally entrusted with the custody of the child, whatever may be the circumstances or causes of disappearance, and shall be considered missing and in need of care and protection until located or his safety and well-being established.

Minister of Railways Inaugurates Round Table Conference with Non Railway Stakeholders on Railway Security Issues 

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated the Round Table Conference with non Railway Stakeholders on Railway Security Issues.
●    Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain was specially be present to grace the occasion. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital, Member (Staff) Railway Board Shri Pradeep Kumar, other Railway Board Members and senior officials were also present on the occasion. Shri S.K. Bhagat, DG/RPF summed up the deliberations at the end of the daylong session. 
●    The inputs by various stakeholders were submitted in course of the discussion and effort will be made to implement them.
●    Speaking on the occasion Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that Safety and Security on Railways has always been challenging and hence have acquired great importance. 
●    There are lot of challenges in safe & secured running of trains. In India there are various vulnerable sections in our network. Indian Railways is looking at different ideas from different stakeholders for improving the security issues in Railways. 
●    For Example Indian Railways has started Central monitoring system for monitoring security in Konkan Railways. Railways is now giving more emphasis on intelligence gathering and forensic issues. 
●    Indian Railways is taking various additional measures to improve the security of women passengers across its network. 
●    Indian Railways has to closely work with local police as the Law & Order is a State Subject. This ideation is needed to meet new challenges in Security issues of Indian Railways.

Separate Department of Disability Affairs to be set up by States

Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment while addressing the “15th National Review Meeting of State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities on Implementation of Act-1995” stressed for the need that States should create/setup separate Department of Disability Affairs with appointment of full time Independent State Commissioner in accordance with provisions of PwD Act, 1995 for effective implementation of the Act as well as welfare Programmes & Schemes of Education, Training, Skill Development and rehabilitation of the Disabled (Divyangjan) in the society.
●    He chaired the opening session of the 2-day long National Review Meeting, which was attended by 11 States Commissioners and 15 representatives of the State Commissioners/State Government and representatives from Central Ministries and National Bodies under Ministry of Social Welfare.  
●    He stated that there is great need for empowering and strengthening the Divyangjan in the Country by safeguarding their rights and privileges entrusted by the Act.  
●    The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has become an important & prominent among all Ministries of the Central Government for making all round efforts for better education, vocational training & rehabilitation of the Divyangjan in society so that could lead a respectable life.

Current Affairs 18th May 2017: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Australia on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime. 
●    The proposed MoU would strengthen the relationship between India and Australia for building peace and stability in the region through exchange of information, expertise, experience and capacity building. 
●    The MoU is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring interaction and cooperation in the areas identified. 
●    The mutual cooperation would facilitate the institutional interactions between the two countries. 
●    The MoU, once in force, would help in curbing combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime.

 

ICJ stays Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution till final order

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 18 May 2017 stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav till its final decision. 
●    Ruling in favour of India, the Court asked Pakistan to keep it informed about the measures, including on consular access, taken by it in this connection.
●    Reading out the verdict at The Hague, Netherlands, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said that India has the right to consular access to Jadhav under Vienna convention. 
●    He said the court considers that it has prima facie jurisdiction in the matter as there is a dispute between the parties.
●    He said acts alleged by India fall in the Vienna convention which guarantees state to be given access to its citizen. 
●    He added the rights invoked by India under the Vienna Convention are plausible.
●    After the order, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the ICJ order has come as a great relief to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India. 
●    She also said that the union government is grateful to Harish Salve for presenting India's case so effectively before ICJ.
●    Swaraj assured the nation that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the government will leave no stone unturned to save Jadhav.
 

Current Affairs 18th May 2017: AWARDS

Indian scientist Shrinivas Kulkarni wins Dan David Prize 2017

Indian scientist Shrinivas Kulkarni on 18 May 2017 won the prestigious Dan David prize 2017 for his contribution in the field of astronomy. 
●    He was awarded in the 'Future' category which is dedicated to astronomy this year.
●    He will share the award with Andrej Udalski of the University of Warsaw and Neil Gehrels of NASA for their discoveries on time-domain astrophysics.
●    Kulkarni is a professor of astrophysics and planetary science at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. 
●    He is a pioneer and leading figure in time-domain astrophysics across the electromagnetic spectrum who built and conducted the Palomar Transient Factory, a large-area survey of the night sky in search of variable and transient phenomena.