Important Current Affairs 20th May 2017

Important Current Affairs 20th May 2017

Dear Aspirants,

Important Current Affairs 20th 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 20th May 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Kiren Rijiju to lead Indian delegation to the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction to be held at Cancun, Mexico

A high level Indian delegation headed by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju is leaving today for participating in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) to be held at Cancun, Mexico from May 22-26, 2017. 
●    More than 5,000 delegates, including Heads of State, Ministers, CEOs, disaster experts, volunteers, representatives from science and technology sectors and academia are expected to gather in Cancun
●    GPDRR is a global forum for strategic advice, coordination, partnership development and review of progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 which was adopted at the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in March, 2015 in Sendai, Japan. 
●    This will mark the first opportunity since 2015 that global leaders and stakeholders in disaster risk reduction will meet for the international community to review global progress in the implementation of SFDRR. 
●    It will also provide a platform for all stakeholders to galvanize their efforts in sustainable development and climate change adaptation, sharing of experiences, discussing innovative solutions, and charting out the course for an integrated approach at the international, regional, national and local levels.

Defence Acquisition Council Finalises Broad Contours of Policy to Engage Indian Private Sector in Manufacture of High-Tech Defence Equipment in India

Breaking new ground, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Defence, Shri Arun Jaitley, today finalised the broad contours of a policy aimed at engaging the Indian private sector in the manufacture of high-tech defence equipment in India.  
●    The policy is aimed at developing the defence industrial ecosystem in the country through the involvement of both the major Indian corporates as well as the MSME sector.
●    The policy, which was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations with Indian industry, envisages the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with qualified Indian industry majors through a transparent and competitive process wherein the Indian industry partners would tie up with global OEMs to seek technology transfers and manufacturing know-how to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.  
●    The policy will give a boost to the ‘Make in India’ policy in the Defence sector and set Indian industry on the path to acquiring cutting-edge capabilities which will contribute to the building of self-reliance in the vital sector of national security requirements.
●    The policy is expected to be implemented in a few selected segments to begin with, namely, fighter aircraft, submarines and armoured vehicles.  
●    In future, additional segments may be added.  Appropriate institutional mechanisms will be set in place to implement the policy.

First uterine transplant in India done successfully by Pune doctors

Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI) in Pune has successfully conducted the first uterine transplant in Indian women. The surgery was done by a team of 12 doctors from the hospital under the guidance of Dr Shailesh Puntambekar. 
●    The uterus was transplanted from a 44-year-old woman from Solapur into her 21-year-old daughter, who was unable to conceive. 
●    The surgery began at around 12.30 pm and ended at 9.30 pm on 18th May. Here are few interesting facts about the first uterine transplant in India.
●    The 21-year-old woman who underwent uterine transplant was born with a condition known as Mayer Rokitansky K ster Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. 
●    It is a congenital abnormality in which there is no vagina, cervix and uterus and affects one in every 5,000 women. Here's more on born without a uterus: Can you have periods, get pregnant and other questions answered.
●    Before the surgery, both the donor and receiver has to undergo various screening tests so as to ensure that the uterus can be transplanted. 
●    For uterus transplantation, the uterus can be taken from a blood relative of the woman who is undergoing transplantation. 
●    Hence, a mother, daughter, cousin or sister can donate the uterus.

NGT bans open defecation, waste dumping on Yamuna floodplains

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 19 May 2017 banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna. 
●    The tribunal also announced an environment compensation of Rs 5000 for those who violated the diktat.
●    The ban was announced by NGT bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar while hearing a plea on monitoring the implementation of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'.
●    In addition to this, the bench also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to the cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals.
●    Besides, the bench also directed the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river.
●    Earlier on 1 May 21017, the apex green panel had ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensuring that wastewater was cleaned before it reaches the Yamuna. 
●    It had sought a report with regard to the functioning of these plants.

Current Affairs 20th May 2017: AWARDS

Indian-American student Pranay Varada wins 2017 National Geographic Bee Competition

Pranay Varada, 14-year-old Indian-American student, on 18 May 2017 won the prestigious National Geographic Bee competition 2017. 
●    As National Geographic Bee champion, he gets USD 50000 in scholarship and other prizes.
●    He was declared the winner as he won the first tie breaker question when he correctly identified the Kunlun Mountains as the 1200 mile range that separates the Taklimakan Desert from the Tibetan Plateau.
●    Veda Bhattaram another Indian-American from New Jersey finished third at the finals, while Thomas Wright from Wisconsin was declared the runner up.
●    By winning the competition, Varada has maintained the dominance of the Indian-American community in the contest as for the past one decade, National Geographic Bee has been dominated by Indian-Americans.
●    In 2016, Rishi Nair, a sixth grader from Florida, won the contest. Varada was a runner up in 2016 National Geographic Bee.
 

Current Affairs 20th May 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

Japanese Cabinet approved bill to allow Japan’s first abdication of emperor in 200 years

Japan cabinet approves bill to allow emperor to abdicate Paving the way for the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in nearly two centuries, Japan’s Cabinet on 19 November 2017 approved a bill that would allow Emperor Akihito to step down.
●    The approval will allow Emperor Akihito to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to Crown Prince Naruhito, 57.
●    As per reports, the government envisions December 2018 as the possible timing for his abdication, the time when the Emperor will turn 85 years old. 
●    It also says that the abdication will also mark nearly 30 full years on the throne for the emperor.
●    Japanese Royal Couple, the Emperor and Empress to visit India
●    Earlier in 2016, the Emperor, who has had heart surgery and prostate cancer treatment, in a rare public remark feared that age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties. 
●    Akihito has sought to soothe the wounds at home and abroad of World War Two, which was fought in his father Hirohito's name, and to bring the imperial family closer to the Japanese people.
 

Current Affairs 20th May 2017: OBITUARY

Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell died

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said it had completed the preliminary post-mortem examination on 52-year-old Cornell but that "a full autopsy report has not yet been completed".
●    Soundgarden's current tour kicked off in late April and was planned to run through until May 27.
●    Cornell was a leader of the grunge movement with Seattle-based Soundgarden - with whom he gained critical and commercial acclaim - but also found success outside the band with other projects, including Audioslave, Temple Of The Dog as well as solo albums.
●    He was widely respected in the music industry.
●    Cornell reached success in every band line-up he was part of, his voice was memorable and powerful, and he was a skilled songwriter.
●    He collaborated on a number of film soundtracks, including the James Bond theme song for 2006's Casino Royale and The Keeper from the film Machine Gun Preacher, which earned Cornell a Golden Globe nomination.
●    Cornell also released solo albums, and Nielsen Music said as a band member and solo act, the singer sold almost 15 million albums and 8.8 million digital songs in the US.
●    The music industry mourned his sudden death online.