Current Affairs July 2016
(Weekly Current Affairs - June 26-July 2, 2016, 2016)
Current Affairs - World
(Weekly Current Affairs - June 26-July 2, 2016, 2016)
Current Affairs - World
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim meets PM
- The President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi 30.06.2016. During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at the World Bank’s continued support to India, especially in priority areas like Smart Cities, Ganga Rejuvenation, Skill Development, Swachh Bharat and Power for All. Dr. Kim said he was impressed by the progress made towards the ambitious targets in these programmes.
Antarctic ozone hole is starting to heal: Scientists
- Researchers say they have found the first clear evidence that the thinning in the ozone layer above Antarctica is starting to heal. The scientists said that in September 2015 the hole was around 4 million square kilometers smaller than it was in the year 2000, an area roughly the size of India.
- The gains have been credited to the long term phasing out of ozone-destroying chemicals. The study also sheds new light on the role of volcanoes in making the problem worse. Ozone is important because it blocks out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Its absence increases the chances of skin cancer, cataract damage, and harm to animals and plants.
India-born Rajesh Agrawal appointed London's Deputy Mayor
- Rajesh Agrawal is a British Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist who, in June 2016, was appointed Deputy Mayor of London for Business. He is best known as the Founder, Chairman & CEO of London based commercial foreign exchange company RationalFX.
- Born and brought up in Indore, India, Agrawal arrived in London in 2001 and became a fin-tech entrepreneur and innovator, according to an interview published on London Loves Business, was earning a £65 a month living in India until a job opportunity brought him to London in 2001.
3 Indian naval ships reach Russia to enhance maritime cooperation
- Three Indian naval ships have reached Russia as part of efforts to enhance maritime cooperation between the navies of both countries. A statement by the Navy said in New Delhi that INS Sahyadri, Shakti and Kirch, under the Command of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral S V Bhokare, reached Vladivostok on a four-day visit as part of deployment of the Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea.During the visit, the ships will have professional interactions with the Russian Navy aimed at enhancing co-operation between the two forces.
Bangladesh becomes one of the 1st nations to secure loan from China-led AIIB
- Bangladesh has become one of the first countries to have secured a loan from the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The country will get $165 million for a power distribution system upgrade and expansion project. The board of the bank approved its first 4 loans totally $509 million to 4 countries yesterday within 6 month's of its establishment.The other 3 countries are Pakistan, Indonesia and Takjikistan. Totally financed by the AIIB, the Bangladesh project will expand electricity coverage by providing 2.5 million new connections in rural areas, upgrade 2 grid substations and convert 85 km circuit overhead distribution lines into underground cables in north Dhaka.
Current Affairs - India
"Read India Initiative" Flying Sikh launched the project
- Milkha Singh launches project that involves setting up of libraries in 700 government-run schools to benifit over 3.5 lakh underprivileged students. Backed by the S.Chand Group, one of the largest deuctional content providers in the country, each library will start with some 400 books provided by the publishing group.
CSIR launches anti diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched BGR-34, an anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug designed for type 2 Diabetes mellitus. A CSIR-NBRI release said in Bengaluru that BGR-34 is developed jointly by National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP). BGR-34 has been economically priced at 5 rupees per tablet as compared to latest DPP4 inhibitors globally. It said the modern diabetes drugs are known for side-effects and toxicity while BGR-34 works by controlling blood sugar and limiting the harmful effects of other drugs.
India to become full member of MTCR
- India is all set to join the Missile Technology Control Regime, MTCR(Missile Technology Control Regime) on 27.06.2016 as a full member. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, New Delhi had applied for membership of the MTCR last year and all the procedural formalities have been completed. He said, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will sign the document of accession into MTCR in the presence of Ambassadors of France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg in New Delhi on 27.06.2016.
Nine regional parties become members of NEDA
- Nine regional parties have become members of the North East Democratic Alliance, NEDA. The Convenor of the Alliance Mr Himanta Biswa Sarma told AIR that three parties from Assam including Asom Gana Parishad and two parties from Meghalaya have become part of it. He said, one each from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim were also included in the alliance.
Sameer Mon emerges as the fastest athlete in the country
- Veteran sprinter Sameer Mon has won gold in 100 metre at the 56th National Inter-state Senior Athletics Championships in Hyderabad. Representing Manipur, Sameer clocked 10.60 seconds to become the fastest athlete in the country. Karnataka athlete Reena George's switch-over from 400 metre to 100 metre proved successful as she won the women's 100 metre dash in 11.99 seconds. Khyati Vakharia of Karnataka cleared a season best 3.80 metre to win the women's pole vault.
- In women's 100 metre hurdles, M Sugina of Kerala clocked a personal best of 14.17 secs to win gold. Tamil Nadu duo of B Dhanalakshmi and D Keerthana also delivered their bests to secure the next two spots. D Sreekanth, also of Kerala, took his first major title in men's 110 metre hurdles by clocking a personal best of 14.54 seconds.
Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) INS Tarasa launched by Indian Navy
- Indian Navy has launched INS Tarasa, the fourth and last ship in the series of the Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC). It is being built by Kolkata (West Bengal) based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), for the Indian Navy. The WJFACs are ideally suited and used for interception of fast-moving surface craft. INS Tarasa like the previously launched ships of WJFACs series has been named after the picturesque island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in Bay of Bengal. It is an improved variant of the Car Nicobar-class high-speed offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
PM Released Book-"The Birds of Banni Grassland"-
- The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a book titled “The Birds of Banni Grassland” in New Delhi, on 28.06.2016. The book was presented to the Prime Minister by the Scientists of Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE).
- The Book is a compilation of the research work, relating to more than 250 species of birds found in the Banni area of Kutch, Gujarat. The Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE), located at Bhuj, has been studying the plant, bird and marine life in the Rann of Kutch for over 15 years.
N.S. Vishwanathan as New Deputy Governor of the RBI
- The Central Government has appointed N.S. Vishwanathan as Deputy Governor of the RBI (Reserve Bank of India). His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NS Vishwanathan will shall have term will be for three years and will succeed Harun R Khan, who will superannuates on July 7, 2016 on turning 62.
LCA Tejas inducted into Indian Air Force
- The first squadron of indigenously designed and manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF). State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first two Tejas aircrafts to IAF as part squadron at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment in Bengaluru. Key Facts The first squadron of LCA Tejas has been named as ‘Flying Daggers’. Its base will be located in Sulur, Tamil Nadu. It will have total 20 aircrafts, including 4 trainers.
National Conference of State Panchayati Raj Ministers in New Delhi
- National Conference of State Panchayati Raj Ministers in New Delhi 28.06.2016 today. Mr. Singh will also release the 1st Outcome Report on MGNREGA for 2016-17.Panchayati Raj ministers and senior officials from different states and elected representatives for all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions will attend the conference.
Current Affairs - Sports
Argentina wins 2016 Champions Trophy title Women's Hockey
- Argentina women’s team has won the 2016 Champions Trophy title of Hockey by defeating Netherlands. In the final match played at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, UK, Argentina women’s team defeated Netherlands by 2-1 goals. With this victory, Argentina women’s team has won the Champions Trophy title of Hockey for record seventh time. Earlier they had won it in 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. In 2016 title, goals Argentinean team were scored by Martina Cavallero and Noel Barrionuev. For the Netherlands team single goal was scored by Maartje Paumen.
ICC ODI Cricket Team ranking 2016
- India maintains No. 3 position inWith 110 rating points India is placed below Australia (123) and second-placed New Zealand (113). Australia has retained its number-one ranking following its 58-run victory over the West Indies in the final of the tri-series in Barbados, but South Africa has dropped behind India in fourth place after it failed to reach the summit clash.
- South Africa's three loses and one no-result has meant it has dropped two points to join India on 110 points, but behind Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point. The biggest gainer from the tri-series is the West Indies, which has retained its seventh ranking but more importantly it has gained six points to open up a seven-point advantage over eighth-ranked Pakistan.
- In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, India's Virat Kohli is placed second while Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan occupy the sixth and eighth positions respectively. South Africa's AB de Villiers has continued to lead the ODI batsmen chart while his countryman Hashim Amla is placed third.
Lionel Messi retires from international football
- Lionel Messi has decided to retire from international football. Argentina's captain Messi took this call to hang his boots from international soccer after losing Copa America final. The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out -- Messi's fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina. Messi's dramatic announcement followed Argentina's third loss in a major final since 2014.
- They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the World Cup in 2014 and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the final of the 2015 Copa America. Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America.
Four more Indians qualify for Rio Olympics
- It was a good day for Indian athletes. After Dutee Chand's qualification, four more Indians have qualified for the Olympics in their respective events. Ankit Sharma qualified for Olympics in men's long jump after meeting qualification mark in Kazakhstan. Ace sprinter Srabani Nanda also simultaneously booked her seat for Rio 2016 as well.
- In Archery, Atanu Das qualifies for Rio Olympics in the men's individual recurve event. The 24-year-old beat Jayanta Talukdar and Mangal Singh Champia to advance to the summer games. Mohammad Anas has qualified for the upcoming Rio Olympics by shattering the men's 400-metre national record on the second day of Polish Athletics Championship.
National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships begins in Hyderabad
- 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, a qualifying event for the Rio Olympics, will begin in Hyderabad 28.06.2016. As many as 744 athletes, including 264 women from 26 states will take part in the five-day event. So far, 21 athletes have qualified for the Rio Olympic Games besides the women's 4x400m relay squad. A Sri Lankan relay team will also take part in the event in its bid to attain the Rio qualification standard. This is the fourth time that senior Nationals have returned to Hyderabad.
Sujoy Bose appointed CEO of NIIF
- Centre has appointed Mr. Sujoy Bose, Director and Global Co-Head, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, International Finance Corporation, Washington, as the Chief Executive Officer of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Ltd. A Finance Ministry press release said in New Delhi this evening that Mr. Bose has extensive international experience in the infrastructure sector including experience in raising funds from international investors.