Latest Current Affairs – June 26 2018
1. Queen allows UK to leave European Union
The UK’s Queen Elizabeth II gave royal assent to the Brexit bill that would allow the country to leave the European Union (EU). The EU withdrawal bill repeals the 1972 European Communities Act through which the UK became a member of the bloc. The bill was passed by both houses of the UK Parliament last week.
2. Centre launches app for delivering passports to applicants
On the occasion of ‘Passport Seva Divas’ (June 26), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched a mobile app aimed at delivering passports to applicants at the addresses provided by them. Users from across the nation can use the ‘Passport Seva app’ for applying for a passport, following which police will arrive at their residences for verification.
3. Russian billionaire becomes leader of ‘world’s first space nation’
Russian billionaire and scientist Igor Ashurbeyli officially declared himself as the leader of the world’s first space nation ‘Asgardia’. Ashurbeyli’s brainchild Asgardia aims to be an independent space nation, with its own government, currency, justice system and calendar. Focused towards establishing a permanent settlement on the moon in 25 years, Asgardia already has 2 lakh citizens.
4. US approves first marijuana-based drug
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first marijuana-based medicine in the country which will be used in the treatment of epilepsy. The FDA approved the drug Epidiolex developed by UK-based firm GW Pharmaceuticals. The drug will be used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome in patients aged two years or above.
5. India to sign ₹3,400cr deal with Israel to buy 4500 missiles
India is set to sign a ₹3,400-crore ($500 million) deal with Israel for the purchase of around 4,500 Spike missiles for the Indian Army. Spike is a fourth-generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile designed by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Reportedly, the deal will be signed ahead of Israel Defence Director-General Udi Adam’s visit to India on July 2.
6. India most dangerous country in the world for women: Survey
India has topped the list of the most dangerous countries in the world for women, according to a survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. It was ranked one due to the “high risk of sexual violence and the risk of being forced into slave labour” that women face. Afghanistan and Syria were placed on the second and third spot.
7. Pallavi Darua crowned as India’s first ‘Tribal Queen’
Pallavi Durua of Odisha’s Koraput district was crowned as the first ‘Tribal Queen’ at the Adi Rani Kalinga Tribal Queen competition held in Bhubaneswar. Panchami Majhi of Titlagarh and Rashmirekha Hansdah of Mayurbhanj were declared as the first and second runners-up, respectively. The trio will star in a short movie on tribal culture, produced by a Mumbai-based producer.
8. ADNOC joins Saudi Aramco to build Ratnagiri Refinery
The world largest oil refinery cum petrochemical project is set to come up in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri. UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company or ADNOC along with Saudi Arabia’s ARAMCO will together have a 50% stake in the greenfield Ratnagiri refinery project.
While 50% stake will be shared between Aramco and Adnoc the rest will be with Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum.
9. UN decides 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
The General Assembly of United Nations has decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It is to express its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
The theme for 2018 is “Listen First – Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.”
10. London is the most desirable city in the world for overseas workers
According to a survey conducted by the Boston Consulting Group and totaljobs.com. London beat New York, Berlin and Barcelona to take the top spot as the most desirable city in the world for overseas workers.
Meanwhile, the UK overall has dropped three places in the country rankings, falling from second in 2014 to fifth.
11. Kalki Koechlin will be conferred with French honour
For contribution in enhancing Indo-French ties in cinema, Actor Kalki Koechlin will be conferred with the French distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres).
The award will be presented by the Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, who will be undertaking a two-day trip in Mumbai on June 22-23 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sustainable urban mobility, cultural, academic and corporate sectors between France and India.
12. MS Dhoni signed as the first brand ambassador of Sumadhura Group
Sumadhura Group, one of South India’s city-based realty majors, has roped in MS Dhoni as its first brand ambassador to represent the brand in all their national campaigns, in a multi-year engagement.
13. Lewis Hamilton wins French Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton reclaimed the world championship lead with a dominant victory in the French Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver led from start to finish other than one lap around his pit stop to move 14 points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who finished fifth.
14. Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje conferred with Chief Minister of the Year award
The award was given at the 52nd Skoch Summit held in New Delhi. Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh was the chief guest at the function. Efforts of the chief minister and state government were appreciated in implementing the prime minister’s Digital India campaign for benefitting the common man.
15. FICCI awarded at X International IT Forum, Russia
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) received an award during the event, for its support and active participation at the forum, consecutively for two years.
The prime objective of the X International IT Forum was to leverage on the unique strengths of the Indian IT industry potential and Russia’s innovative products.
More than 1,500 participants from 55 countries participated in the forum, which has established itself as an international venue for discussion of key issues in development and implementation of digital economy in the region.
16. Second tranche of Bharat-22 ETF oversubscribed, receives bids worth Rs 15,436 crore
The second tranche of Bharat-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) saw bids worth Rs 15,436 crore from investors, which is more than twice the amount sought to be raised. Through Bharat-22 ETF, comprising shares of 22 companies, the government had targeted to mop up Rs 6,000 crore with a green-shoe option of another Rs 2,400 crore.
Subscription has come in for 2.57 times of the base issue size of Rs 6,000 crore. The total bids that has come in is for Rs 15,436 crore and 1.2 lakh applications have come in.
17. India, Seychelles ink 6 MoUs
India and Seychelles signed six agreements in key areas including cybersecurity and took important decisions regarding maritime security and defense.
- A MoU was signed to provide Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of small development projects through local bodies.
- Another MoU was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Republic of India and, the Department of Information Communications Technology of the Republic of Seychelles.
- A MoU was signed to provide Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of small development projects through local bodies, educational and vocational institutions.
- MoU for Cultural Exchange Program was also inked between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles for the years 2018-2022.
- A technical Agreement on Sharing White Shipping Information was signed between the Indian Navy and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Center of the Republic of Seychelles.
- Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles also signed a MoU.
18. World Food Prize 2018 awarded to Lawrence Haddad and Dr. David Nabarro
The World Food Prize 2018 was awarded to Lawrence Haddad and Dr. David Nabarro for their individual but complementary global leadership in elevating maternal and child undernutrition within food security. Lawrence Haddad is British economist and food policy researcher and Dr. David Nabarro has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) on health and hunger issues.
The World Food Prize is most prominent global award for individuals whose breakthrough achievements alleviate hunger and promote global food security. The award was conceived in 1986 by Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, considered as father of the Green Revolution.
19. Aldabra Giant Tortoise: Seychelles gifts two giant tortoise to India
In a goodwill gesture, Seychelles has gifted a pair of giant Aldabra tortoise to India. The pair will be kept at Hyderabad Zoo. The giant tortoise, endemic to the east African island nation, weighs around 120 and 150 kg and have the ability to live for up to 200 years. In 2010, Seychelles had loaned two giant tortoise to Shanghai Zoo in China, while another pair was presented to Guangzhou Zoo in 2014, according to Seychelles News Agency.
20. Ministry of Health signs MoU with Indira Gandhi National Open University
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed an MoU with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to scale up the short term healthcare courses through its available robust platform. Under this MoU, curriculum for 10 courses especially designed for the health sector will provide more than 14 lakh trained manpower by 2025.
MoHFW will provide for financial assistance to IGNOU for establishing the structure and initiating the programs and the courses will be initiated in a phased manner across the Country by IGNOU.
