09 May 2016 Current Affairs
Anti-Hijacking Bill Passed In Parliament
Parliament has passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014 with Lok Sabha
approving it on 9 May 2016. The Rajya Sabha had passed on 4 May 2016. The Bill
provides for the death penalty even if ground handling staff and airport
personnel are killed during such acts. In the previous Bill, hijackers could be
tried for the death penalty only in the event of death of hostages, such as
flight crew, passengers and security personnel. The Bill defines hijacking as
seizing control of an aircraft in service, unlawfully and intentionally, by
technological means or by exercising force, coercion, or any other form of
intimidation. The Bill covers several acts within the definition of hijacking
which includes attempt and abetment of hijacking, making a credible threat to
commit hijacking and organizing or directing others to commit hijacking.
Union Govt Released Commemorative Coin On Maharana
Pratap
A commemorative coin of Rs 100 and a circulation coin of Rs 10
were released on 9 May on occasion of 475th birth anniversary of Maharana
Pratap. The coin was released by Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma in New
Delhi. Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar is regarded as one of the greatest
warriors in Indian history. The Union Ministry of Culture has been celebrating
the 475th Birth Anniversary of Maharana Pratap during 2015-16 in association
with the State Government of Rajasthan.
Bison Declared U.S. National Mammal
US President Barack Obama on 9 May signed National Bison Legacy
Act into law officially making the American bison the country’s first national
mammal. With this, Bison, the animal that once roamed North America, joins the
ranks of the Bald Eagle as the official symbol of the country. Its designation
as national mammal do not hampers bald eagle’s position as the national animal
because eagle that is birthed through eggs in not a mammal.
“Indian Scientist Bags SGD 3 million Grant
From Singapore’s NRF”
Dr Manvendra K Singh, a scientist from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur
city, was awarded a grant of SGD 3 million (about 14.7 crore rupees) by
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF). Dr. Singh in the first week of
May 2016 announced that he is among the seven young scientists from across the
world to be endowed with the Singapore NRF fellowship. The scientist has been
awarded the fellowship to pursue research in the field of congenital and adult
cardiovascular diseases.
