Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2019

Notes:
The World Tuna Day (WTD) is observed every year on May 2 to highlight the importance of sustainably managed fish stocks in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tuna and tuna-like species are very important economically — to both developed and developing countries — and a significant source of food. They include approximately 40 species occurring in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. They are remarkable fish. Tuna can jump high out of the water; they travel in huge schools; they are warm-blooded. They have been known to team up with dolphins for protection from sharks. As a result of the amazing qualities of tuna, the fish are threatened by an overwhelming demand. Hence, WTD highlights the importance of reversing the decline in the health of the Ocean to ensure sustainable management of marine life, such as tuna, which we are so dependent on. It is an important step in recognizing the critical role of tuna to sustainable development, food security, economic opportunity, and livelihoods of people around the world.

Notes:
Dilip Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal. He has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or till a new incumbent joins the post. It is perhaps the first official appointment of a bureaucrat in Lokpal. Prior to this post, he was joint secretary at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Earlier, on 23rd March 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman. According to the rules, there is a provision for a chairperson and a maximum of 8 members in the Lokpal panel. Of these, four need to be judicial members.

Notes:
US Air Force General Tod Wolters has been sworn-in as the top military officer of the 29-nation NATO military alliance. He became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR) at a ceremony on Friday at NATO’s military headquarters in Mons, southern Belgium. Wolters succeeded General Curtis M. Scaparrotti. His term is likely to run two to three years, and will also be commander of U.S. forces in Europe. The NATO post of SACEUR is always held by an American military officer. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.

Notes:
After 8 years, India will once again mark its presence at the art world’s oldest Biennale in Venice, Italy that begins on 11th May 2019. The overarching theme at the 58th Venice Biennale 2019 is ‘Our Time for a Future Caring’, and India has decided to showcase Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi to ensure a memorable show at the art event. In it, 16 of the 400 Haripura posters will go up on the walls of the India pavilion with the theme ‘Hundred and Fifty years of Mahatma Gandhi’. This will be the second time India will have a pavilion of its own at one of the biggest art events in the world. The India pavilion is curated by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), and commissioned by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). The India Pavilion will revisit through diverse art forms, the indelible memory of Mahatma Gandhi, his philosophical ideas, and the many facets of Gandhi that continue to inspire, provoke and challenge the public, intellectuals and artists alike. In 1938, Mahatma Gandhi commissioned Indian modern artist Nandalal Bose to create paintings portraying different aspects of Indian life to be displayed at the Indian National Congress’ session in Haripura, Gujarat.

Notes:
The fourth of Indian Navy’s stealth Scorpene class Submarines of Project 75, INS Vela has recently launched for trials at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The submarines are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited, with the main collaborator being M/s Naval group, France. The INS Vela is the 4th of the six Scorpene submarines that has completed its out fittings at MDL. The Scorpene-class submarine in the Indian Navy has been termed as the Kalvari-class. In 2005, a contract was signed between French DCNS (now Naval Group) and MDL under Indian Navy’s Project-75 for the supply of six submarines. Of the six submarines, INS Kalvari was commissioned in December 2018 while INS Khanderi and INS Karanj are are in advanced stages to join the Navy fleet. The remaining two — INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer are in the in the “advanced stages of manufacturing” at the Mazagon Dock. The contract is expected to be completed by 2020. The Kalvari class is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines based on the Scorpene-class submarine being built for the Indian Navy.

Notes:
In a significant victory, India’s Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for a 5-year term beginning 2nd March, 2020. She posted the highest number of votes at 44. Ms Pavadia has been a member of the INCB since 2015 and her current term is set to expire in 2020. The victory added to India’s successful record of winning crucial elections at the UN and to the world organisation’s subsidiary bodies. Established in 1968, the INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the UN’s international drug control conventions. INCB consists of 13 members who are elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and who serve in their personal capacity.

Notes:
The World Red Cross Day (WRCD) is observed every year on May 8 to recognize the extraordinary contribution and incredible achievements of the stalwarts and volunteers around the world for helping the people in need anytime, anywhere. It is a gentle nod to all the volunteers who have made unparalleled contribution to people in need. The day is also known as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This date is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, who was born on 8 May 1828. He was the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize. The 2019 theme is “#love” or simply “love”, which will focus on broadening people’s understanding of the society by highlighting diversity and universality of work and approach of Red Cross. On this special day, several blood donation camps will be organised around the world and this day also offers an opportunity to provide voluntary medical services to society.

Notes:
Dr. NR Madhava Menon (84), the renowned academician and father of modern Indian Legal Education, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on May 8, 2019. He is credited for revolutionizing the field of legal education by establishing National Law Schools and by conceptualizing the 5-year integrated LLB programme. He was the founder Director of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore and the National Judicial Academy (NJA) Bhopal and the founder Vice Chancellor of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS). The nation honoured him with the Padma Sri in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to the legal field.

Notes:
The researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai have found a novel function for serotonin (a chemical that signals between neurons). The recent discovery establishes that serotonin is involved in the generation of new mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in neurons, increased cellular respiration and fuel (ATP) in the cell. The chemical can impact the manner in which neurons grapple with stress and affect the trajectory of ageing. Neuronal loss is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Abnormal mitochondrial functions are known to cause or contribute to neuronal death. Hence, the new findings from TIFR raise the possibility that serotonin signalling could be used to prevent mitochondrial abnormalities and neuronal loss. Serotonin’s newly indentified function has been studied in mice and rats. If it found to be true in humans, it may have important medical implications. The results of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The chemical name of serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).

Notes:
On May 6, US President Donald Trump bestowed Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. He won his first major in nearly 11 years at last month’s Masters Tournament, a comeback that captivated the sporting world. Woods is only the fourth and the youngest golfer ever to have received the highest American civilian award. The other golfers were Arnold Palmer (74), in 2004; Jack Nicklaus (65), in 2005; and Charlie Sifford, (92), in 2014. Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA tour. The Medal of Freedom is America’s highest honour for civilian accomplishment. President Truman first established the medal to honour extraordinary civilian accomplishments related to World War II. President Kennedy re-established the medal by executive order in 1963.