SIPVS Knowledge is Power
31 May 2018 Current Affairs
- International Conference on the TRIPS CBD Linkage 7-8 June 2018 in Geneva
India has taken the lead in seeking to revive WTO discussions on issues related to preventing theft of traditional knowledge.
- Government of India, along with the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and the South Centre (an inter-governmental organisation based in Geneva), are organising an International Conference on TRIPS- CBD Linkage in Geneva on 7-8 June 2018.
- Brazil and South Africa are some of the other countries that have joined hands with India on this crucial initiative.
- 3rd Meeting of India– U.K. Home Affairs’ Dialogue
The Third Home Affairs’ Dialogue between India and U.K. was held in Mumbai on May 30.
- The Government of India Delegation was led by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary and the Delegation from Home Office of the U.K. was led by its Second Permanent Secretary, Ms. Patsy Wilkinson.
- The Dialogue covered a wide range of issues including cyber security, women safety, organized crime, terror financing etc. and a need to put in place a mechanism for timely exchange of information and intelligence inputs on such issues.
- Ministry of Railways organizes a one day workshop ‘Mission Raftar’
Ministry of Railways conducted a one day workshop “Mission Raftaar” aimed at raising the average speed of freight trains and coaching trains in New Delhi.
- The workshop was inaugurated by Shri Rajen Gohain, Minister of State for Railways & Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman,Railway Board.
- All the members of Railway Board along with General Managers of Zonal Railways & Senior Railway officers were present on the occasion.
- Microsoft Is Now Third Most Valuable Firm Globally
Microsoft has surpassed Alphabet, the parent company of Google, in the market capitalisation for the first time in three years, becoming the third most valuable firm after Apple and Amazon globally.
- Microsoft had a market cap of $753 billion at the close of trading, almost $14 billion ahead of Alphabet.
- Aditya Puri in Barron’s list of top 30 CEOs
HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri has been named in Barron’s list of top 30 Global CEOs, for the fourth consecutive year.
- Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase, Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook figure in the list.
- Mr. Puri was featured as a ‘Growth Leader’. The other categories are ‘Visionary Founders’ and ‘Turnaround Experts’.
- Kamaljit Bawa first Indian to receive Linnean Medal
Indian botanist Kamaljit S. Bawa, president of Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), received the prestigious Linnean Medal in Botany from the Linnean Society of London on May 24.
- Dr. Bawa is the first Indian to win the award ever since it was first constituted in 1888.
- The scientist is being recognised for his pioneering research on the evolution of tropical plants, tropical deforestation, non-timber forest products.
- Yuvraj Singh Awarded ‘Most Inspiring Icon Of The Year For Social Welfare’
Indian star cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been awarded the ‘most inspiring icon of the year for Social Welfare” award by the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) for his exemplary contribution in the field of social welfare.
- Yuvraj, who was a member of India’s 2011 World Cup winning squad, was diagnosed with cancer (mediastinal seminoma) shortly after the World Cup.
- Yuvraj opened his foundation ‘YouWe Can’ that focuses on creating cancer awareness and helping educate the cancer survivors kids.
- CWG gold medallist discus thrower Vikas Gowda retires
Top discus thrower Vikas Gowda has retired from the sport after competing at the highest level for more than 15 years.
- He became the first and only Indian male to win a Commonwealth Games medal in discus throw.
- He is a four-time Olympian, who will turn 35 on July 5.
- He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.
- Ex-Himachal Pradesh governor Urmila Singh passes away
Former Himachal Pradesh governor and Congress leader Urmila Singh died due to prolonged illness at a private hospital in Indore. She was 71.
- Singh was appointed as the governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2010.
- Prior to that, she had served as the chairman of the National Scheduled Tribes Commission (NCTC).
- Vice President Releases Book ‘Straight Talk’
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has released the book ‘Straight Talk’ authored by the Member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Abhishek Manu Singhv.
- The former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
- The Vice President said that law makers should be elected based on four Cs– Capacity, Caliber, Character and Conduct and not on the basis of the other four Cs– Caste, Community, Cash and Criminal Prowess.
