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  • WBCS Current Affairs 19th August to 25th August 2017 Part 2
    Posted on August 19th, 2017 in Current Affairs, Weekly Current Affairs
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    WBCS Current Affairs 19th August to 25th August 2017 Part 2

    36) Five Indian-origin persons have featured in Fortune’s 2017 ’40 Under 40′ list of young and influential people in the field of business inspiring others with their work. They are Leo Varadkar (age: 38), Divya Nag (26), Rishi Shah (31), Shradha Agarwal (32) and Leila Janah (31). Fortune’s annual list of 40 young and influential people is an annual ranking of the most influential young people who are under 40 of age. It has termed them as “disruptors, innovators, rebels and artists” inspiring others. Key Facts: The Fortune’s 2017 ’40 Under 40′ list has been topped by French President Emmanuel Macron (39) who is France’s youngest leader since Napoleon and had won presidential elections in May 2017. The list also includes Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on the second spot, followed by Brian Chesky (3rd), Nathan Blecharczyk (3rd), Joe Gebbia (4th), Serena Williams (7th) etc. Leo Varadkar: He was ranked fifth on the list. His father was born in India. He is doctor by profession and is Ireland’s youngest leader in centuries as well first-ever gay to hold the office. Divya Nag: She was ranked 27th. She oversees Apple’s ambitious ResearchKit and CareKit programmes that encourage developers to build health- related apps She is Stanford dropout founded a stem-cell research startup and began a medical investment accelerator at the age of 23. Rishi Shah and Shradha Agarwal: They were ranked 38th on the list. They are founders of health-tech firm Outcome Health. Their company raised over US $500 million at a valuation of more than $5 billion. Leila Janah: She was ranked 40th on the list. She is CEO and founder of non-profit Samasource. She daughter of Indian immigrants who had moved to the US.

    37) Scientists have developed an artificial womb that can be used in future to save the lives of extremely premature human babies. It was successfully used to incubate healthy baby lambs for a week. The research showed that preterm lambs were successfully maintained in a healthy, infection-free condition with significant growth, for a period of one week using ex-vivo uterine environment (EVE) therapy. Key Facts: The artificial womb is a high-tech amniotic fluid bath combined with an artificial placenta. To mimic a womb, researchers had created a temperature-controlled bag filled with electrolyte solution as a substitute for amniotic fluid that lambs swallow and take into their lungs. They had attached the umbilical cord of preterm lamb to the device that exchanges carbon dioxide in blood with oxygen. In early-stage animal testing, the lamb appeared to grow normally inside the system. Significance: The artificial wombs can facilitate development of premature babies in a uterus-like environment. Further development, EVE therapy can prevent the severe morbidity suffered by extremely premature infants. It can potentially offer a medical technology that does not currently exist.

    38) A six-member all-woman team of the Indian Navy will set sail to circumnavigate the globe on the sailing vessel INSV Tarini. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-woman crew. The expedition has been aptly titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ with an aim to promote women empowerment in the country and ocean sailing by the Indian Navy. Key Facts: The voyage of Navika Sagar Parikrama will begin from Goa in the first week of September 2017 and culminate on their return in March 2018. The entire distance will be covered in five legs, with stop overs at four ports Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands) and Cape Town (South Africa) for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary. The project is considered essential towards promoting Ocean Sailing activities in the Indian Navy while depicting Union Government’s thrust for ‘Nari Shakti’ i.e. empowering women. INSV Tarini: INSV Tarini is a 55 foot sailing vessel has been built indigenously by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa. It was inducted into the Indian Navy in February 2017. INSV Tarini is the sister vessel of INSV Mhadei. Its mast is 25 metres and has been custom-built by M/s Southern Spars, Cape Town (South Africa), for sailing in extreme conditions. It carries a suite of six sails, including a main sail, head sails (Genoa and stay sails), downwind sails and storm sail. It has Raymarine navigation suite and an array of satellite communication systems on board through which contact can be made from anywhere. Earlier Expeditions: The first Indian solo circumnavigation was undertaken by Captain (Retd) Dilip Donde from August 2009 to May 2010 onboard the Indian built vessel, INSV Mhadei. The first Indian non-stop solo circumnavigation was undertaken by Cdr Abhilash Tomy from November 2012 to March 2013.

    39) The Union Defence Ministry has cleared a proposal to procure six AH-64-E Apache attack helicopters along with weapons systems from American aerospace giant Boeing for the Indian Army. Decision in this regard was taken at the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. DAC is Defence Ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement. Decision taken by DAC: AH-64-E Apache attack helicopters: The six will come along with associated equipment, spares and weapons system. It will be a follow on order to the deal India had signed in September 2015 with Boeing and the US government for 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers. The AH-64-E Apache choppers are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters which have advanced weapons systems and night-fighting features. Till now, Indian Army was not having its own fleet attack helicopter. Army was using the fleet of Russian Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters with the help Indian Air Force. Purchasing gas turbines: DAC also cleared another proposal for buying gas turbines from Ukraine for two Admiral Grigorovich class ships being made in Russia for India.

    40) The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched the “Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali” campaign. The campaign was launched with an aim to reduce adverse environmental conditions especially pollution in the country after post Diwali celebrations due to excessive bursting of crackers which contributes significantly to air and noise pollution. Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali Campaign: The campaign aims at enlightening the children about harmful fire crackers. It will motivate children to not to buy fire crackers, instead buy a gift, food items, or sweets for poor and underprivileged children living in their locality. Under this campaign, the MoEFCC will undertake various activities for creating awareness among various stakeholders and encourage people to participate in combating air pollution. Some of the activities will include promoting Green Diwali among school children include stickers/logo distribution, advertisement on public ransport systems, poster competition, public appeal using Radio. Social media campaign will be also undertaken uder it. Moreover an online video competition will be conducted, where any individual or organisation can make a video on the theme ‘Pollution Free Diwali’. Background: The weather after the post 2016 Diwali celebrations in Delhi and NCR saw extreme pollution due to excessive bursting of crackers. The adverse air pollution in Delhi and NCR had reached beyond permissable levels that led Government to declare emergency situation in the national capital, which led to closing down of schools, construction sites and power stations.

    41) The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched two mobile Apps – MyFASTag and FASTag Partner in to facilitate the availability of FASTags for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) project. The mobile apps will ease the process, making it possible to buy or recharge FASTags easier using mobile button. Key Facts: MyFASTag: It is a consumer application that will facilitate consumer to purchase or recharge FASTags on it. It also helps to keep track of transactions and provides for online grievance redressal. FASTag Partner: It is a merchant application. It will allow agencies like Common Services Centre (CSC), banking partners and vehicle dealers to sell and enroll FASTag . In addition, it can be also used to activate dormant RFID tags built in 74 lakh cars in the country following the 2013 Gazette Notification in this regard. This application will aid to convert these RFID tags into FASTag (ETC Tag). Background: NHAI has announced complete rollout of FASTags for ETC on all 371 NHAI toll plazas from 1 September 2017. One lane in every toll plaza will be a dedicated FASTag lane where no other form of payment will be accepted. In order to enable the availability of FASTags for ETC, NHAI has taken two steps in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). They are online and offline sale of sale of FASTags through Common Services Centre (CSC) near toll plazas. Even FASTags can now be purchased online from Issuer Banks websites, NHAI website and will be delivered by courier at the door step of the purchaser. Electronic Toll Collection (ETC): It is electronic payment system on highway tolls that does not have human involvement. ETC systems use vehicle-to-roadside communication technologies to perform an electronic monetary transaction between vehicle and toll collection agency. It aims to make travel more convenient, faster and environment friendly for people. FASTags: FASTag is a radio frequency identification device that enables cashless transaction at toll plazas without stopping the vehicle at the toll plazas. It employs RFID technology for making toll payments directly from the pre-paid account linked to it. This system aims to remove logistic inefficiencies at toll plazas and has the potential of saving Rs 60,000 crore in terms of time and fuel bills.

    42) Veteran photographer S Paul passed away in New Delhi. He was 88. Paul was a self-taught photographer who discovered his passion for the art as a teenager. He joined The Indian Express in the 1960s and retired in 1989. About S Paul: Paul was born on 19 August, 1929 in Jhang, Pakistan. He had moved to India after Partition after his family shifted to Shimla. His younger brother, Raghu Rai is also a renowned photographer. He received recognition and fame as a professional photographer after his pictures were selected for publication in three renowned British publications Miniature Camera, Amateur Photographer and Miniature Camera World. Paul was the first Indian to be profiled by The British Journal of Photography in 1967. He was the first Indian to win the Nikon International Photo Contest in 1971. Famous B&W Magazine of US had described him as ‘The Henry Cartier-Bresson of India’.

    43) Veteran photographer S Paul passed away in New Delhi. He was 88. Paul was a self-taught photographer who discovered his passion for the art as a teenager. He joined The Indian Express in the 1960s and retired in 1989. About S Paul: Paul was born on 19 August, 1929 in Jhang, Pakistan. He had moved to India after Partition after his family shifted to Shimla. His younger brother, Raghu Rai is also a renowned photographer. He received recognition and fame as a professional photographer after his pictures were selected for publication in three renowned British publications Miniature Camera, Amateur Photographer and Miniature Camera World. Paul was the first Indian to be profiled by The British Journal of Photography in 1967. He was the first Indian to win the Nikon International Photo Contest in 1971. Famous B&W Magazine of US had described him as ‘The Henry Cartier-Bresson of India’.

     

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