Current Affairs June 2016
Tnpsc Current Affairs June 12-18, 2016
Tnpsc Current Affairs June 12-18, 2016
(Weekly Current Affairs)
Current Affairs -World
1. World Blood Donor day celebrated 14th June
The World Blood Donor Day is being observed across the world on 14 June to raise the public awareness about the need for safe blood donation. Observance of the day seeks to spread awareness about the need for safe and secure blood supplies. It also seeks to provide an opportunity to draw public attention to the importance of blood donation for saving lives.
2. Obama meets Dalai Lama at White House
The United States President Barack Obama met Tibetan Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama at the White House. During the meeting, Obama voiced support for preserving Tibet's unique religious traditions. Despite China's objections to the meeting between two Nobel laureates, Obama met with the Tibetan leader. However, the White House maintained that the U.S. Policy on Tibet that it is a part of China, has not changed.
3. India, Thailand to firm up maritime security cooperation
India and Thailand are set to firm up cooperation to combat terrorism, and boost maritime security, defence ties and trade during Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha's maiden visit to India, officials said on 15.06.2016. India will focus on issues such as trade, support for Thai agricultural products and cooperation on education and tourism. He said Gen Prayuth has said to put all items high on agenda. And will discuss boosting cultural exchanges between the two nations. India and Thailand will also look for joint projects in solar energy, space applications and space technology sectors.
4. Canadian House of Commons votes for gender neutral anthem
Canada's House of Commons has voted to render the country's national anthem "O Canada" gender neutral. The bill changes the second line of the anthem from "true patriot love, in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command."
5. India, Ghana sign three agreements
India and Ghana have signed three bilateral agreements to strengthen co-operation in varied fields. These agreements were signed after delegation level talks between President Pranab Mukherjee and his Ghanaian counterpart John Dramani Mahama in Accra. The signed agreements include one for visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports and one for setting up a Joint Commission. Civil Nuclear Cooperation
6. UK astronaut Tim Peake boards capsule for return to Earth
UK astronaut Tim Peake is preparing to return to Earth after an historic six month mission to the space station. During his stay, he made the first spacewalk by a UK astronaut, remotely steered a robot on Earth and ran the London Marathon. A Soyuz capsule carrying Major Peake and two other crew members will land in Kazakhstan today. He is the first person to visit space under the UK banner since Helen Sharman in 1991.
7. Peter Thomson elected as President of United Nations (UN)
Fijian diplomat Peter Thomson has been elected as President of 71st session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Peter Thomson becomes the first representative from the Pacific island states to get elected for the largely honorific post in the UN’s 71-year history. Thomson will begin his tenure in September 2016 at the commencement of the 71st session of UNGA and will replace incumbent President Mogens Lykketoft. Peter Thomson is a Fijian diplomat. Since February 2010, he was Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
8. Jupiter-like planet Kepler 1647b orbiting two suns discovered
Scientists using NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope have discovered a Jupiter-like circumbinary planet named Kepler1647b orbiting a system of two stars. The planet was discovered by astronomers from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre and San Diego State University (SDSU). Kepler1647b is the largest such cosmic body ever found. Circumbinary planets are those planets that orbit two stars.
9. NASA's Juno spacecraft counter Solar System's Lagest Planet Jupiter
NASA's Juno spacecrft is poised to go closer to Jupiter than any spscecreft ever before. It is well equipped to counter the extreme radiation environement of our Solar System's Lagest Planet Jupiter. On the evening of July 4, Juno will fire its main engine for 35 minutes, placing it intoa polar orbit around the Gas Giant Jupiter.
10. NASA to build quieter, battery-powered airplane
NASA is building a new battery-powered experimental airplane nicknamed "Maxwell" that will be more efficient, quieter and will benefit travellers by reducing flight times, fuel usage, as well as overall costs. With 14 electric motors turning propellers and all of them integrated into a uniquely-designed wing, NASA will test new propulsion technology using an experimental airplane now designated the X-57 and nicknamed "Maxwell."
Current Affairs -India
11. Air Services Agreement between India and Taiwan 2016
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India-Taipei Association in Taipei (India’s representative office in Taiwan) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (Taiwan’s representative office in India).
12. 15 years contract contract between India and International Seabed Authority
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of 15 years contract by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for undertaking exploration and other developmental activities related to Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted area of 10,000 sq km. It will be done in parts of Central and South – West Indian Ridges (SWIR), located in the Indian Ocean.
By signing the 15 year contract, India’s exclusive rights for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted Area in the Central Indian Ridge, and South West Indian Ridge in Indian Ocean will be formalized.
13. Union Cabinet approves retirement age of doctors of Central Health Services to 65 years
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for enhancement of the age of superannuation of (i) Non-Teaching and Public Health Specialists of Central Health Service from 62 years to 65 years and (ii) Doctors of General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) sub-cadre of Central Health Service (CHS) to 65 years.
14. First Three Women Fighter Pilots Commissioned
The Indian Air Force (IAF) created history by inducting Three women fighter pilots for first time. The three women fighter pilots are Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chatuvedi and Mohana Singh. They were officially commissioned as fighter pilots in the IAF in presence of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a ceremony held at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
15. Union Cabinet approves between India and Saudi Arabia on Labour Co-operation for General Category Workers’ Recruitment Agreement
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Agreement on Labour Co-operation between India and Saudi Arabia. The Agreement was signed in Riyadh on 2-3 April, 2016 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia.
The Agreement would benefit the Indian emigrant workers, especially in the unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories of workers who are working in Saudi Arabia without consideration of caste, creed, religion or gender.
16. Foreigners arriving on e-Tourist Visa up by 180% this year
The number of foreigners arriving in India on e-Tourist Visa rose by about 180 percent this year. An ASSOCHAM report released in Kolkata yesterday said that 43,833 tourists arrived in India on E-Tourist Visa at the end of May this year, compared to 15,659 during May 2015.
This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries, the report said. The e-Tourist vis was introduced on 27th November 2014
17. Union Cabinet approves India’s Membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Indian membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) consortium by signing an MoU with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for geosciences. This is a government-funded, Public Law Foundation of the State of Brandenburg, Germany.
18. Tamil Nadu government closes down 500 state run liquor outlets 19.06.2016
The Tamil Nadu Government closed down 500 state-run liquor outlets from today. After assuming the office recently for a second term, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa ordered reduction of working hours of all liquor outlets by two hours. Though the government headed by the party during its previous term refused to climb down from its position that prohibition is impractical and lead to huge revenue loss, it has now begun to honour its commitment to gradually bring down curtains on the 6826 liquor shops beginning with 500 of them from 19.06.2016
19. Union Cabinet approves MoU with Taiwan for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sector
The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding between Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India and India Taipei Association in Taipei, Taiwan for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sector. The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Food Processing, Genetic Resources as well as Environmental Sustainability.
20. PM conferred with the Highest Civilian Honour of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been conferred with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, Afghanistan’s highest civilian honour. He was bestowed the honour by President Ashraf Ghani after the inauguration of the landmark Afghan-India Friendship Dam. It is the Highest Civilian honour bestowed by Afghan government to Afghan national as well as foreigners in appreciation of their services. The citation on the reverse of the medal reads: “nishan-e dawlati Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan”, or “State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan.”
21. Dedication of the Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, jointly dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka, the newly renovated Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna. The stadium has been in disuse since 1997.
22. ISRO to launch record 20 satellites on June 22
Indian Space Research Organisation will launch a record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 willbe used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the Second Launch Pad(SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 09.25 AM, ISRO said on 16.06.2016 Thursday.
23. Union Cabinet Approves of Civil Aviation Policy 2016
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Civil Aviation Policy. This is the first time since Independence that an integrated Civil Aviation Policy has been brought out by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. India to become 3rd largest civil aviation market by 2022 from 9th. Domestic ticketing to grow from 8 crore in 2015 to 30 crore by 2022
24. Centre approves proposal for Greenfield Electronic Park in Odisha
The Centre has approved a proposal of the Odisha government for the development of Greenfield Electronic Park spread over an area of 203 acres in Bhubaneswar. With an investment of Rs. 205 crore, the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation which is developing the electronic park, will house around 100 units of an electronic manufacturing cluster with state-of-the-art infrastructure and common facilities
25. President Pranab Mukherjee receives highest civilian award of Ivory Coast
President Pranab Mukherjee has been presented National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast, the highest civilian award of the West African country. The award was bestowed upon Pranab Mukherjee during his two days visit to Ivory Coast on the second leg of his three-nation African tour. With this, Mr Mukherjee’s became the first Indian President to visit Ivory Coast. He was invited by Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara.
Current Affairs -Sports
Saina Nehwal overcame a poor start in the first game to defeat Sun Yu of China 11-21, 21-14, 21-19 in a match that lasted over an hour to clinch the Australian Open Badminton title in Sydney.
This was Saina's second Australian Open title, having previously won in 2014. The Indian ace started off brightly by taking a 4-2 lead in the first game but Sun bounced back in style and won the next seven points on the trot.
27. Dharamsala, Ranchi among 6 venues to host Test for first time
Six new Test centres, including Dharamsala and Ranchi, will host five-day matches for the first time during a packed home season for the Indian cricket team beginning with the New Zealand series in October-November.
28. 14th Champions Trophy Hockey, London
Australia beat India 3-1 in the final of Champions Trophy Hockey tournament in London. India settled for silver after losing to Australia in penalty shootout. Both the teams failed to score a goal even after getting several penalty corners during regulation period and the match went into the shootout to decide the winner.
Indian team qualified for their maiden Champions Trophy final despite suffering a 2-4 defeat in their final pool match of the tournament against Australia on Thursday. India made it to the summit showdown after Belgium settled with a 3-3 draw against Great Britain in their group clash.
29. Dhoni becomes 4th in world to reach 350 dismissals in ODIs
Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday became the fourth wicket keeper in the world to reach 350 dismissals in One-day Internationals, while widening the gap further with his India predecessors. Dhoni has so far taken 261 catches and effected 89 stumpings in 278 matches. As far as dismissals in the 50-over format are concerned, Dhoni is the only Indian in the 300-club, which he scaled during an ODI against New Zealand in January 2014.
30. India clinch ODI series against Zimbabwe
A dominant India predictably completed a 3-0 whitewash by bulldozing a sub-par Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the final ODI cricket match here today in what turned out to be one of the most one-sided series in recent times. India also completed a hat-trick of whitewashes against the hosts, having won earlier ODI series by 5-0 and 3-0 margin in 2013 and 2015 when Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane led the sides respectively.
For Dhoni, there were two milestones that he achieved from the series. With 107 wins as captain, he equalled Allan Border for the second highest number of wins in ODI history behind Ricky Ponting (165).
31. Saina and Srikanth improves two places at Batminton ranking
Indian ace Saina Nehwal jumped two places to reach the World No. six in the latest BWF ranking released. Saina, who clinched the Australian Open title -- her first of the season -- last Sunday, now has 75,369 points in her kitty. In men's singles, Kidambi Srikanth who had reached the semifinals at Sydney, also improved two places to reach World No. 11 with 52,086 points.
P V Sindhu was static at World No. 10, while Ajay Jayaram who skipped the Australian Open to focus on training, slipped three places to be at the 24th spot. H S Prannoy, who is recovering from an injury, also lost four places to be at the 28th spot. In men's doubles, Rio-bound Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy slipped a place to be at the World No. 21st spot, while women's doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa also dropped down to World No. 16.