25 May 2016 – Daily Current Affairs

UNODC presents inaugural WWC (World Wildlife Crime) Report

On 24^th May 2016, the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) presented the inaugural WWC (World Wildlife Crime) Report. This report highlighted the illegal trade as well as poaching of thousands of various species across the world and the real threat they pose in environmental degradation. The report has urged different industries in taking responsibility in resolving this issue as most of the products manufactured from these illicit fauna and flora are food, furniture, fashion items and pets that are generally concealed in the general lives. The report was prepared with assistance from CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), WCO (World Customs Organization) and the ICCWC (International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime).

India, Afghanistan and Iran signed TTTC (Trilateral Transit and Transport Corridor) agreement

On 23^rd May 2016, India, Afghanistan and Iran signed the TTTC (Trilateral Transit and Transport Corridor) agreement. The signing was done in presence of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Iran Hassan Rauhani and President of Afghan Ashraf Ghani. The event took place in Tehran. The objective of this agreement was to facilitate and improve seamless goods transportation between Afghanistan and India via the port of Chabahar whose location is Iran’s South East region. This agreement aims to decrease the cargo tariffs as well as boost the economic development of the regions associated. Apart from the above, Iran and India also signed another agreement for developing the port of Chabahar and the cost of this operation will be around 150 Million (US) Dollars. This agreement will be complimenting the TTTC agreement.

Sarbananda Sonowal selected as Chief Minister (CM) of Assam

On 24^th May 2016, Sarbanand Sonowal (senior leader of the BJP and former Union Minister) swore as Assam’s Chief Minister. He took his oath in presence of the Governor of Assam PB Acharya and the state secretary at the Khanpara area at Guwahati.  After 1958, this was the second instance wherein a CM took oath in open field. With this oath, Sonowal becomes that second tribal CM of Assam. The first tribal CM of Assam was Jogen Hazarika who was elected in 1970. Sonowal is also the first CM from the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in Assam.

Second batch of thirteen Smart Cities announced by the Union Government

On 24^th May 2016, the second batch of thirteen Smart Cities was announced by the Union Government which will be developed under the SCM (Smart City Mission) project of Narendra Modi. The plan of smart cities was first launched in 28^th January 2016 with 20 cities in the first batch. In the second batch, Lucknow was at the top among 23 cities taken for the competition. As of now, total Union Territories/States covered under this plan has been 25 with plan for more. The selection of these cities was based on marks they scored during the fast-track competition conducted as well as the benchmarks set by top performers during the first competition. These thirteen cities are Warangal, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Shimla, Kolkata, Raipur, Chandigarh, Panaji, Bhagalpur, Imphal, Port Blair, Faridabad, Agartala and Ranchi.