David Grossman wins The Man Booker International Prize 2017
- David Grossman (63-years) has become the first Israeli author to win the 'Man Booker International Prize 2017' for his novel ‘A Horse Walks Into a Bar’.
- He will share the award money USD 64,000 with his translator Jessica Cohen.
- From 2016, the Man Booker International Prize has evolved to encourage more publishing and reading of quality fiction in translation and the prize is to be awarded annually on the basis of a single book.
Note:
- The Man Booker Prize is world’s most prestigious English-language literary award launched in 1969 and presented by the Man Group.
- The award aims at promoting the finest literary work in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English and published in the United Kingdom (UK).
Bhupen Hazarika Award conferred to Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi
- Eminent writer ‘Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi’ has been selected for the 5th Bhupen Hazarika National Award 2017.
- The award has been instituted a Maharashtra-based social organization ‘Sarhad’ for outstanding literary work at national and international level.
- The award consists of Rs. 51,000, a memento and a certificate.
- Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi belongs to the West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- His famous novel includes Mauna Onth Mukhar Hriday (Silent lips, murmuring hearts) which won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2005.
Neeru Chadha elected as first Indian woman Member of ITLOS
- Indian nominee, International Law expert ‘Neeru Chadha’ (first Indian woman) has been elected as the Judge of the United Nations' International Tribunal for Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
- Chadha got 120 votes with the highest in the Asia-Pacific group.
- She has been appointed as a judge at the tribunal for a nine-year term from 2017 to 2026.
- Neeru Chadha holds law degrees including Ph.D. in law from the University of Delhi and the University of Michigan.
Note: The Hamburg-based ITLOS, established in 1996, is one of dispute settlement mechanisms under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that entered into force in 1994.
India re-elected to UN's principal organ on economic, social, and environmental issues
- India has been re-elected to the UN's principal organ on economic, social, and environmental issues for another three-year term.
- India was among 18 nations to win election to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
- India obtained 183 votes in the Asia Pacific category.
Note:
- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
- It is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals.
UN General Assembly approves creation of new UN Office of counter-terrorism
- The UN (United Nations) General Assembly (193-member) has adopted a resolution to establish a United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to help Member States implement UN’s global counter-terrorism strategy.
- Now, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office (CTITF) and the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) currently under the DPA (Department of Political Affairs) will be transferred to the new office.
- The UN counter- terrorism architecture will contribute to the world body’s broader efforts to promote conflict prevention, sustainable peace, development and headed up by an Under-Secretary-General.
Facebook to use Artificial Intelligence to prevent posting of problematic content
- According to the Facebook officials, it will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prevent the posting of problematic content.
- The company uses AI to find and remove terrorist content immediately before users see it.
- The move is aimed at preventing videos of crimes and other inappropriate content from being streamed.
Note:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) image-matching technology will block photos and videos of suspected terrorists.
- The technology will also flag text that may advocate terrorism and prevent its uploading.
Pioneer of judicial activism Justice 'P N Bhagwati' passes away
- Former Chief Justice of India (17th) P N Bhagwati (95-year), considered a pioneer of judicial activism in the country for introducing the concept of PILs (Public Interest Litigation) passed away after brief illness.
- As a Supreme Court judge, Bhagwati introduced the concepts of public interest litigation (PIL) and absolute liability to the Indian judicial system.
- He remained on the Chief Justice of India post from 12th July 1985 until his retirement on 20th December 1986.
- In 2007, Bhagwati was awarded India's second highest civilian award the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs.
Note:
- In Indian law, Article 32 of the Indian constitution contains a tool which directly joins the public with the judiciary.
- A PIL may be introduced in a court of law by the court itself, rather than the aggrieved party or another third party.
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves for setting up of a cloud-based IP CCTV surveillance system in state
- Andhra Pradesh Cabinet presided by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has approved for setting up of a cloud-based IP CCTV surveillance system in the State.
- Andhra Pradesh will set up a surveillance cloud with the technical support of Statewide Fiber Optic Network Infra’s Network Operations Centre for security, traffic control, real-time monitoring, cleanliness of the surroundings and other purposes.
- It has also been decided to procure another 14,770 surveillance cameras to the existing 5169 cameras to establish Statewide Surveillance Platform.
- The two data centers would come up in Visakhapatnam and Amaravati.
CCI imposes Rs. 87 crores fine on Hyundai Motor India
- Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 87 crores on Hyundai Motor India for unfair business practices with respect to providing discounts for cars.
- According to CCI, the company contravened competition law through arrangements which resulted into resale price maintenance and by mandating its dealers to use recommended lubricants and oils.
- In it order, the CCI asked the company to cease and desist from such anti-competitive practices.
Note: Competition Commission of India is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
Export of spices & spice products achieves growth of 12 % in 2016-17
- According to Spices Board in Kochi, 9.48 lakhs tons of spices were exported earning over 17 thousand crore rupees.
- In 2015-16, the country had exported 8.43 lakhs tons worth around 16 thousand crores.
- Chilli continued to be the most sought after spice, registering an increase of 27% in value in the last fiscal year.
- Cumin was the second most exported spice recording a rise of 22% in quantity and 28% in value.
AIIB Approves USD 150 million for India Infrastructure Fund
- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved USD 150 million equity investment loan to the India Infrastructure Fund aims to invest in mid-cap infrastructure companies in India.
- This loan will be the bank’s first equity investment to fund private projects.
- Note:
- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
- The bank has 52 member states while another 25 are prospective members (as of May 2017) and was proposed as an initiative by the government of China.
ICC Champions Trophy: India storm into final beating Bangladesh by 9 wickets
- India has stormed into the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 with a crushing win over Bangladesh by 9 wickets at Edgbaston, England.
- Earlier, Bangladesh put on a fighting total of 264 runs losing 7 wickets in its maiden semi-final appearance in the tournament.
- India met the target with 59 balls to spare, Rohit Sharma (123 runs not out) and skipper Virat Kohli (96 runs not out).
- Now, India will face Pakistan in the final on Sunday at Oval in London.
- This will be India's fourth final appearance in the ICC Champions Trophy.
- Final Score Board:
- Bangladesh: 264-7 (50 overs)
- India: 265-1 (40.1 overs)
- Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma (India).
