Current Affairs June 2014

Current Affairs June 2014

India successfully launched PSLV C-23 with 5 satellites

June 30, 2014

India’s ANTRIX (ISRO’s commercial arm) successfully launched 5 foreign satellites from four countries on board PSLV-C23 rocket which placed them in orbit.

The rocket was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and was also witnessed by PM Narendra Modi.

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C23 placed all five satellites into their respective orbits.

The rocket carried with it primary payload of 714 kg French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

PM Modi extolled the efforts Indian space scientists and asked the space community to develop a SAARC satellite.

He referred to pictures showing rocket components being transported on bicycles.

• SPOT 7: French satellite, it will be part of the existing Earth observation satellite. It has been built by European space technology company Airbus Defence and Space.
• AISAT: German nano-satellite, to focus on the global sea-traffic monitoring system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using AIS signals.
• NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2: Canadian satellite, they will perform Two-spacecraft precision formation flying using differential GPS with centimetre-level relative position and sub-metre level accurate position control system.
• VELOX-1: Singaporean satellite, it is a technology demonstrator for in-house design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter-satellite RF link.

Saina Nehwal clinches Australian Open Super Series title

June 29, 2014

Star Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal defeated Spain’s Carolina Marin to win the $750,000 Star Australian Super Series title.

The 6^th seeded Indian, who had clinched the India Open Grand Prix Gold earlier this year, dominated the contest throughout.

New Facelock Technology obviates the need to remember complex passwords

June 28, 2014

Researchers at the University of York in the U.K have developed a new technology named Facelock technology which provides an alternative to remembering complicated passwords.

Retaining complicated passwords has always been a difficult job for most people. There is also a risk of hacking if the passwords are kept too simple.

The new Facelock technology attempts to deal with these issues. It is based on human psychological trait of remembering familiar faces with close to 98% accuracy.

Facelock needs users to choose from a selection of faces that are well known to them. Then when they want to log in or get access to a secure system, a series of face grids is created, and users must select the familiar face in each grid.

As per researchers, it’s easy for users to select a familiar face from the crowd — but very difficult for others to hack, since none of the faces will stand out to them.

July 4 is the deadline for implementing Food Security Act

June 28, 2014

Adhering to its earlier decision of a 3-month extension to States and Union Territories to implement the National Food Security Act, the Union government’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is firm that the deadline for implementing the scheme is July 4, 2014. So far only 11 States have implemented the Act. 20 States and 5 Union Territories are yet to implement it.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal has urged the Centre to extend the July 4 deadline.

As per law the National Food Security Act has to be implemented within a year of its coming into force. West Bengal subsidized food grains were distributed among beneficiaries under several categories. But after the National Food Security Act is implemented in a State no such categories would exist.

The Ministry has clarified that if West Bengal does not implement the Act by the deadline, the several schemes in West Bengal under which food grains are distributed at a subsidized rate will not be stopped.

Current Affairs May 2014

Current Affairs May 2014

Google agrees to provide ‘Right to be Forgotten’

May 31, 2014

Google has launched a service to allow Europeans to ask for personal data to be removed from online search results.

It will now be possible for Europeans to request Google for the removal of their personal data from online search results. The move comes after a landmark European Union court judgment in May 2014, which gave people the “Right to be Forgotten“.

What is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’?

Links to “irrelevant” and outdated data should be erased on request. It would assess each request and balance “privacy rights of the individual with the public’s right to know and distribute information“.

It is a latest term which came out of a ruling of a European Court which was adjudicating over a case in which a Spaniard named Mario Costeja Gonzalez had argued that some of his old personal information put up on the internet 16 years back continue to appear in search results even today which, according to him, damages his reputation. Around 16 years ago when he was facing financial difficulties he had put up a property of his for auction – the details of which were covered in a newspaper, which subsequently went online. The auction happened in 1998, and with those troubles now behind him, Mr Gonzalez now wants to move on. But the old details on internet still hound him. Whenever you search for his name, news about the auction still features prominently. He argued that it should be removed from Google’s search results. The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union agreed with him, and in doing so set a major precedent over what is referred to as the “Right to be Forgotten“.

What next?

Following this ruling Google has made available ‘Right to be Forgotten’ Form which a person in EU can fill to request the search engine to prevent his/her unwanted personal information from appearing in the search results.The EU has been crusading for a new law on data privacy – of which “right to be forgotten” is a key component – since it proposed guidelines in January 2012. It argues that old, inaccurate or even just irrelevant data should be taken out of search results if the person involved requests it.

Does ‘Right to be Forgotten’ allows a person to request any of his information to be removed from the Internet?

No. Decisions on whether information should be removed from search engines depend “on the nature of the information in question and its sensitivity for the data subject’s private life and on the interest of the public in having that information, an interest which may vary, in particular, according to the role played by the data subject in public life”. It means the information would only be removed if the impact on the individual’s privacy is greater than the public’s right to find it.

As per guidelines, removal of information in the current context doesn’t mean deletion of information. They just wouldn’t appear in search results.

“Vitamin E” Beneficial or Harmful depends on its source

May 31, 2014

According to new research, certain forms of Vitamin A can be harmful for the lungs while certain other can be helpful in normal functioning of lungs. The research has found that a form of Vitamin E found in vegetable oils like Corn and Canola can harm lungs, while another form of the same vitamin found in Olive Oil can aid normal functioning of lungs. The scientists claimed that this could be one of the reasons why studies of the health effects of the vitamin have had given conflicting results so far.

Vitamin E exists in various forms called tocopherols and it is found in fats and oils. Supplements of the vitamin may contain a single type of tocopherol, or a mix. The study found that a form of the vitamin called ‘gamma tocophero’, which is found in corn, canola and soybean oils, are harmful for lungs.

The research suggests that consumers who use the vitamin and doctors who prescribe must be careful towards the source and formulation of the vitamin. It is sometimes mentioned on the labels of supplements, but not always.

Peter Mutharika takes oath as President of Malawi

May 31, 2014

After being victorious in the recently held presidential polls in Malawi, Peter Mutharika (74) was sworn in as the new President of the southern African country. He will replace outgoing President Joyce Banda.

Malawi (“The Warm Heart of Africa”)

Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It shares its boundaries with Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. Malawi is known as “The Warm Heart of Africa”.

Capital: Lilongwe

President: Joyce Banda

Currency: Malawian kwacha

Official language: English Language

Malawi is amongst the world’s least-developed countries. Malawi’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture, and majority of the population is rural. The government depends heavily on foreign aid to meet its development needs.

Army Chief endorsed as the new leader by Thai king

May 31, 2014

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej (86) has backed the army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who captured power in a coup, to run Thailand.

Why is Thailand under military rule?

The political situation in Thailand has been restive for past few months. At present, the country is under junta rule (army rule) after army seized power in a recent coup. According to its Army, the military has taken control of the government and suspended the constitution in order to reinstate order and enact political reforms.

There has been agitation in the country with the opposition accusing the current democratically elected government of corruption and demanding its dissolution. The coup comes after months of surging tensions. The cabinet has been directed to report to the military and gatherings of more than five people have been prohibited.

Have there been coups before in Thialand?

Yes, this is the 12^th military coup since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. The last coup was witnessed in 2006, when then PM Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the army after he was accused of corruption. Many accuse the army of being kind to the cause of his opponents in the current anti-government drive.

What are the roots of the Thailand crisis?

The politics in Thailand is polarized with mostly rural, often poor, supporting Mr Thaksin, whereas, the urban middle class is against him.

Ever since Mr Thaksin’s regime was toppled in 2006, there have been regular protests. But in the past few years the focus has been on the current Thaksin-aligned Pheu Thai government.

The protests began to aggravate into violence in November 2013, after the lower house passed a controversial amnesty bill which, as per critics, could make possible Mr Thaksin’s return from exile without serving time in jail.

As per the anti-government camp, at least 28 people have died since then.

The situation exacerbated further in May 2014, after a controversial court judgment removed Mr Thaksin’s sister Yingluck from her position as Prime Minister, saying she had abused her power by illegally transferring the National Security Chief to another position.